City of London Club

Situated in the Square Mile, the capital's most historic quarter, the City of London Club is quite unlike anywhere else to stay in the capital. It's first and foremost a private members' club, with all the elegance, history and sense of privilege that implies. It boasts a grand entrance hall with a suitably sweeping staircase, and any number of cosy bars and lounges and private dining rooms. Unusually, it's also home to some rather swanky – and very contemporary – guest rooms that anyone can stay in on a visit to London: just the ticket if you're looking for comfort and elegance in a central London location at an affordable price.

The rooms themselves occupy two floors at the top of the building and were added to the Club's facilities a couple of years ago. Members obviously get preferential rates, but even the prices for mere mortals are a fraction of what you pay for a similar level of comfort at even the most ordinary central London hotel. And – let's be honest – there's nothing ordinary about the City of London Club. The rooms break down into four categories – Club (the cheapest), Double, Junior Suites and the top-notch Prince Philip Suite. Given the shape and age of the building, no room is the same, but they've all been thoughtfully designed and furnished and are very comfortable and well equipped – each with large Hypnos beds as standard, plus high-quality bed linen, desks, WiFi, air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibars, Smart TVs and en-suite bathrooms complete with toiletries and robes. Some have their own dressing rooms, too.

It's a short stroll from your room to the sleek haven of Churchill's Bar, with its own rooftop terrace equipped with external heaters and blankets, where you can enjoy a cocktail before descending to dinner in the Club's fancy members' restaurant, where the food is traditional yet contemporary in style and presentation – think scallops or potted shrimp followed by duck leg confit or fillets of lemon sole; they also serve roasts and typically decadent desserts. In summer, the tables spill out into the Club's atmospheric private courtyard – hemmed in by the modern mercantile buildings of the City – and although no catering other than breakfast is available on weekends (8.30am – 11.00am), there's no shortage of places to eat nearby.

Because The City is relatively quiet, the Club is available for exclusive use at weekends, so the next time you're planning a get-together with family or friends, it's worth considering renting a group of rooms for your own personal use – together with as much (or as little) of the Club's catering facilities as you require. It not only makes a unique and very special place for a party or celebration, it's bang in the centre of London too, with everything the capital has to offer almost literally on your doorstep.

Given such sumptuous surroundings and high-end facilities, it will come as no surprise that the Club is available for wedding hire. The lavish interiors are a photographer's dream – the grand staircase seems almost custom built to show off the bride's train. Moreover, this heart-of-the-city setting means the happy couple can capture their big day with shots by some of London's most iconic landmarks such as nearby Leadenhall Market and St Paul's Cathedral.

Either way, whether you come as a group, couple, family or a wedding party, you couldn't be better placed to enjoy the historic sights, pubs and restaurants of the City, or for that matter trendy Spitalfields and Shoreditch – both just a hop, skip and jump away. You're also just a short walk from a variety of tube stations that can whisk you to the West End and most other parts of central London in minutes.