The Grand Hotel Birmingham

Combining beautiful Victorian architecture with modern features, Birmingham's Grand Hotel is the perfect place to relax. Situated on one of the city centre's most prestigious streets. Colmore Row, it's as monumental a building as the name suggests, Grade-II-listed and encompassing the things that all posh hotels used to feature – a huge ballroom, an elegant Art Deco lobby, and a bar and restaurant that feature among several grand public spaces. It has also recently reopened after a major refurbishment, so is looking better than it has done  for some time.

Even the smallest of the hotel's guest rooms has a spacious feel, and they have all been updated in a contemporary style, with neutral colours and a simple yet beautiful décor that is a sassy blend of retro and modern styles; seating in each room offers additional colour and a chic look, and all rooms have tea- and coffee-making facilities, including Nespresso machines,  flatscreen TVs and en-suite marble bathrooms with classic Molton Brown toiletries. Suites come with four-poster beds draped in beautiful linen. The Penthouse suite has an open dining and living area adorned with rusty orange, ochre, and mahogany coloured furniture.

Head to The Grand's New York-style brasserie Isaac’s for breakfast, and for its seafood menu later in the day, maybe after you have enjoyed a cocktail or two at the eye-catching, Parisian-style Madeleine, which also serves bar snacks and afternoon tea.  Afterwards, you're perfectly placed to explore central Birmingham on foot, taking in St Paul's Cathedral, Birmingham Hippodrome, the Jewellery Quarter and much more.