Place To Stay

Firmdale's Number Sixteen in Sth Kensington.

The Soho Hotel & Haymarket Hotel

One Aldwych, above, and the new W Hotel in Leicester Square, below.

Whenever I go on holiday or away for work, I spend ages trying to find the "right" accommodation. As I have blogged before, one of the most important aspects of having a great time is having somewhere to stay that has attitude. It doesn't have to be the most expensive place but it does have to have been well considered and reflect the vibe of the place and culture.

I'm off to London soon and have spent days looking at hotels. It is hard to go past the Firmdale Hotels website. They have six hotels in inner London, all decorated in a modern English way with lots of quirky art, bold fabrics, unexpected colour and an overwhelming amount of upholstery. Then the dilemma is which one to choose?

The Haymarket Hotel is the newest and most hyped, but I am also tempted by one of the smaller hotels, Number Sixteen, which is tucked into the chi-chi neighbourhood of South Kensington.

Yes, there are other new hotels like the W group's latest venture in Leicester Square, which looks like a nightclub and calls its staff "talent" as well as the very stylish One Aldwych which is a glorious Italianate corner building on the outside and sleek and tailored on the inside.

Such choice.