Classic English service in a row of converted town-houses

Word to the wise: The garden-facing rooms are blissfully quiet in the morning, but are subject to a moderate amount of noise from the hotel’s al fresco restaurant on summer evenings.

Noteworthy for: The Montague actually delivers on its promise of old-fashioned English service, unlike many of London’s pricier ‘traditional’ hotels.

The Montague’s location in the heart of literary Bloomsbury – bordered by wide, quiet streets and just around the corner from the British Museum – gives it a tranquil feel that’s almost impossible to find so close to London’s city centre. Unlike many of the larger hotels in the area, it’s not a magnet for the backpacking hordes – you’re more likely to share the elevator with a visiting university professor or a young author.

Each room is bespoke, and while space is at a premium – this is London, after all – there is no shortage of creature comforts, from dark wood furnishings to well-stocked marble bathrooms. Best of all is the service: a combination of Continental efficiency and classic English manners that’s nearly impossible to find in the capital these days.