St Martins Lodge

St Martin’s Lodge stands opposite Leicester Cathedral, overlooking its peaceful gardens. It’s also just 50 yards from the King Richard III visitor centre and a 10-minute walk from the train station in the city’s historic Greyfriars area. In other words, you would be hard-pushed to find a better location in Leicester. But it’s not just the location that recommends a stay here. St Martin’s Lodge is a Grade II listed building that’s been recently refurbished to provide a boutique place to stay. The result is clean, modern and stylish en-suite rooms in a building with heritage features — and city-centre parking included in the price.

The 28 rooms have all been individually styled to fit around the lodge’s historic architecture which is most evident in the elegant staircase and high-ceilinged hallway, complete with chandelier. The ground floor plays host to accessible rooms with a choice of twins, doubles, and superior king-sized rooms all crowned by the luxurious junior suite which occupies the top floor. Whichever you choose, you’ll find it has been decorated in muted hues with flashes of colour and pattern to liven the look. The junior suite and some superior rooms have free-standing baths in their en suites while the rest offer walk-in showers. Each bedroom also features a flatscreen TV, WiFi, mini fridge and a Nespresso coffee machine.

It’s important to note that this place is room-only: there’s no bar or restaurant here but with such a fantastic location in a city that’s crammed full of them, there’s really no need. For breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, there are options within 100 metres. The same goes for entertainment. The cathedral couldn’t be closer and, while it’s not as big as some, its recent history in becoming the final resting place for King Richard III, has put it on the map. The story of how he got there is told in the King Richard III Visitor Centre, a very short stroll away. The medieval, timbered guildhall museum is also worth a look and almost as close. But it’s not all historic attractions: the university, modern shops, theatres and concert venues are within minutes’ walk and the city’s sports stadiums and National Space Centre are no more than two miles away.