Hotel Review: One Aldwych, London

The clue to the address is in the name. The very first building on the Covent Garden side of Aldwych, the location is perfect for enjoying the buzz of the piazza with its street performers, independent craft stalls and the Royal Opera House just around the corner. If it's theatre you're after you've got the Lyceum on one side and the Novello on the other. Alternatively, saunter across Waterloo Bridge to all the enjoy the artistic buildings of the Southbank.

By car: around 2 hours from Brighton, 2 hours 30 mins from Bristol and Birmingham, and 4 hours from Manchester.

By train: there are direct trains to London Waterloo from Salisbury (1 hour 30 mins), Portsmouth (1 hour 30 mins) and Exeter (3 hours 15 mins). The hotel is a five-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to London.

The hotel had a complete refurbishment in 2019 and the interiors are fresh and bright with British-made fabrics and furniture in all the rooms. The in-house florist creates dramatic floor-to-ceiling floral displays in the lobby and over 400 pieces of contemporary art are displayed on walls throughout the hotel, including a piece that was created live on stage during a Clash concert.

Service is attentive and super friendly with nothing too much trouble. The guest library has a book collection curated by the designer Paul Smith and is a comfortable place to while away a wet afternoon. A good-sized gym has all the latest equipment, including exercise bikes that connect to video spin classes. A private 30-seater cinema can be enjoyed if you book a "film and fizz" dinner.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Spa
• Swimming pool
• Pet-friendly
• Free Wi-Fi

The hotel makes the most of the unique architecture (the building was designed by the same architects that worked on the Ritz in London and Paris). This results in circular suites in the front of the building and interesting shapes in the other rooms. You'll find calming dusky pinks, teals and violets feature in the British-made furniture.

Room types: Classic Room, Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Studio Suite, Suite, Signature Suite

Key amenities: ensuite shower or bath, Mitchell & Peach toiletries, tea and coffee facilities, Bang & Olufsen speakers, TV, free Wi-Fi

Coeliacs around the country make the pilgrimage to Indigo restaurant for their crisp battered fish and chips. The entire menu is gluten and dairy free and the kitchen can also deal with other intolerances if given enough notice. Although they might be an ingredient or two down, there's nothing lacking in taste and dishes are exquisitely presented.

Indigo: local, sustainably sourced cuisine, modern European dishes. Open daily for breakfast, weekends for lunch and Weds-Sun for dinner. Mains from £21.