Salthouse Harbour Hotel, Ipswich, Suffolk

The hotel is right on the quayside at the centre of the Ipswich Waterfront district - probably the town's nicest neighbourhood in which to stay. It's a short five-ten-minute walk to the town centre from the hotel but it's a pity you have to cross a busy main road to get there. The hotel's restaurant is probably the best in the area but the nearby Bistro on the Quay is pretty good and you can also take trips on the Orwell river from a nearby wharf.

By car: London is 2 hours 15 minutes away, Cambridge 1 hour 20 mins and Norwich 1 hour 30 mins. There is limited free parking at the hotel.

By train: Ipswich Train Station is a 15-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the hotel. Trains run to London Liverpool Street, Cambridge, Lowestoft and Norwich. Book trains to Ipswich.

The style of the hotel is no-holds-barred contemporary- a successful blend of waterfront warehouse conversion and modern extension that has a real identity of its own. It's relaxed, comfortable and very welcoming, decorated with quirky modern art and intriguing ethnic artefacts picked up on the owners' foreign travels.

The service at the Salthouse Harbour is the best kind - relaxed, confident and attentive but never in your face. It's not a full-service hotel and isn't overloaded with facilities, but they do have 24-hour room service and they work with a local spa to provide massages and other treatments.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Afternoon tea
• Children's menu
• Vegan menu
• Wine nights
• 24-hour room service
• On-site parking
• Access to local spa
• Marina views

The rooms vary quite a lot, from those in the original converted warehouse to the often larger and more spectacular rooms and suites in the modern extension. Naturally, the rooms at the back, where there's not much of a view, are cheaper, and to really make the most of the place it's worth paying a bit extra for a room at the front.

Room types: Salthouse Rooms, Marina Rooms, Contemporary Rooms, Penthouse Suite

Key amenities: temple Spa toiletries, balcony with marina views, work desk, TV, coffee-making facilities, luxury teas and hairdryer, free Wi-Fi

The restaurant is a slick affair that could reasonably claim to be the town's best, with lots of non-resident custom. The current chef is a former 'Suffolk Chef of the Year' and is keen on local fish and seafood but always has a steak on the menu along with favourites like oysters and fish and chips.

The Salthouse Eaterie: fresh, seasonal ingredients, local produce, Suffolk Chef of the Year 2019. Open every day for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner overlooking the harbour. Mains £15-£28.