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Threadneedles, a boutique hotel that sits close to Bank Station in central London, is housed in a former bank building that dates back to 1856. It shares many personality traits with its predecessor - it is masculine and polished, having been restored to a very high standard. Threadneedles attracts an affluent, money-loving crowd, helped along by its position in the financial heartland of the city.

The facilities

The lobby is large and imposing. A vast dome of stained glass towers overhead, neo-Classical columns circle the sitting area and on the gleaming walnut bookcases sit travel tomes and Louis Vuitton cases. The overall atmosphere, however, is relaxed. The staff are chatty and friendly, the armchairs over-stuffed and inviting, and the general buzz of people milling about transform it into a comfortable communal area.

Threadneedles doesn’t have a spa or gym facilities, but it does boast a very popular restaurant and bar, Bonds. The actual bar was the former service desk at the bank; this boutique hotel knows how to preserve a sense of history in the Grade II listed building. The delectable drinks menu is beloved by guests and non-guests alike and there are over 65 signature cocktails to choose from.

The rooms

The rooms are elegant and refined, with cheeky little touches in unexpected places. Against a palette of pale browns, beige and bright modern artwork, the amenities appear discreet and well-hidden. There are iPod docks, flat-screen televisions and internet access, as well as endlessly-stocked mini bars. The tea and coffee making facilities are tucked away under polished walnut wood, as are the international plug adaptors.

The bathrooms of this boutique hotel are sizable. Top-to-toe marble, most have separate walk-in rain showers and baths big enough for two. The cute monogrammed rubber ducks and bath menus keep things light-hearted. Decadent to the end, there’s champagne and rose-petals for the girls and cognac and biscuits for the boys. We like.