The Hoxton, London

A gloomy London day was suddenly brightened by walking into The Hoxton – Great Eastern Street’s urban lodge. From the modern, eclectic open plan reception/bar/restaurant area to the friendly, casual staff this hotel makes a great first impression.

The Hoxton prides itself on being a luxury, up-market, no fuss hotel offering special extras that make all the difference. From complimentary spring water to a Prêt breakfast delivered to your door in the morning they have thought about how to stand out from the crowd.

With a distinctive Banksy inspired vibe, the Formation room by Adrian Kilby, one of the new East London Rooms, had all the mod cons one needs for a night in the city. From the glorious red leather arm chair to the cosmic-sized bed and exposed brick walls The Hoxton is obviously trying to give visitors a unique East End experience.

The large window opening onto the roof gave the compact room a spacious feel by adding natural light and a view over the neighbouring rooftops.

You could quite easily relax here by pampering yourself with the Aveda toiletries under the wonderful power shower, using the free Wi-Fi or watching movies on the large flat screen TV, after a day of travelling, shopping or working.

Downstairs the American diner meets industrial cool bar, surrounding the British colonial courtyard, had an exciting buzz, enjoyable music and a good mix of people by 10pm. With a great selection of cocktails and good friendly service this is a pleasant space to have a glass of bubbles and meet up with friends.

With links to 17th century madhouses, Guy Fawkes and Alfred Hitchcock, Hoxton today has a lively arts and entertainment scene with a range of cool and interesting places for a night out.

Whether you’re after a beer and a game of Ping Pong at The Book Club on Leonard Street or being serenaded by UkeyLove at the Three Blind Mice, an unpretentious underground bar on Ravey Street, there’s something for everyone in Hoxton.

After a night out on the town The Hoxton provides an extremely comfortable sleeping experience. Guests can cosy up in duck down duvets and have a surprisingly restful night’s sleep considering you’re in the midst of a bustling city.

The Hoxton Grill is open early for a scrumptious selection of pastries, hearty English breakfast or a serve of American pancakes. The laid back style makes you feel welcome and relaxed making for a perfect start to the day.

So whether you’re in the city for business or having a London mini-break The Hoxton is the perfect base for everyone.

The Hoxton – 81 Great Eastern St, London, EC2A 3HU – 020 7550 1000

Miss B

Belinda Wanis, aka Miss B, is a Belle About Town who likes to bring a little bit of style into every aspect of her life. An experienced journalist with over 20 years in the industry she turned to the web, creating Belle About Town in early 2010, to fill a gap for tech-savvy stylish women who want the best life has to offer at their fingertips. She loves a decadent cocktail bar, a beautifully cut dress, cultural getaways, quality over quantity and is partial to Asian-fusion food. A globetrotter, who has lived in Australia, the UK and Denmark, she enjoys holidaying in the sun and you can often find her on a beach in Thailand or on shopping breaks in Sydney or New York. But her first love is, of course, London!