Hotel Amano Covent Garden

‘Amano’ means ‘they love’ in Italian, and what is there not to love at the London location for this well-established and rather cool German hotel brand, which has set up shop in the heart of Covent Garden?  First of all, the location is terrific, just around the corner from Drury Lane’s Theatre Royal, but the hotel is stylish and personable too, which is something central London hotels are often not. The rates are also moderate by central London standards.

The hotel has 141 guest rooms, spread over six floors, each designed to the same exacting, contemporary specifications and style, complete with high quality furnishings, clean lines, flatscreen TVs and Daluma eco-toiletries. The building itself is 19th century and full of architectural quirks, so no room is exactly the same:  categories start at ‘Cosy’ and move up through ‘Comfy’, ‘Roomy’ and ‘Roomy Plus’, with Cosy being perfect for a solo traveller or a couple on a budget and Roomy Plus large enough to accommodate an extra roll-up bed if needed.  Try to snag a corner room if you can (room numbers ending in 17), which are extra spacious and have floor-to-ceiling windows. For a touch of glamour, the hotel’s four ‘Goldy’ rooms have a free-standing golden bathtub – slightly Brothers Grimm, we grant you, but perfect for a treat or romantic occasion. They also accept dogs in some rooms, and provide all sorts of cute amenities for furry friends.  As for other facilities, the hotel’s restaurant – Penelope’s – offers top-notch Spanish Middle Eastern cuisine, plus there’s a fabulous rooftop bar on the 7th floor, which has some of London’s most spectacular panoramic views, DJs spinning tunes and cocktails on tap – an ideal spot for both an early evening aperitif or a nightcap.

Finally, there's the hotel's location – crucial in a large city like London, where it's important to be based in the neighbourhood that suits you and your holiday plans best. Covent Garden is not only virtually as central as you can get, it's also a vibrant, must-see part of town for anyone who enjoys shopping, theatre, restaurants and bars, as well as a spot of history and culture. Based here, you're walking distance from major sights like the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square, Theatreland, Soho and Chinatown, plus you have a multitude of places to eat and drink on your doorstep. A perfect place, in short, to base yourself for an unforgettable trip to London.