Review of Number Sixteen, by Nadia Latif

Number Sixteen is a chic and sleek boutique hotel tucked away in London's South Kensington. One of the most visited areas of London, South Ken is a throng of bars, restaurants, shops and museums - not a place you'd immediately associate with a good night's sleep. This Firmdale sibling, however, is a white stucco sanctuary. Once just a modest Victorian townhouse, it has been transformed into a luxury B&B by the artful handling of Kit Kemp.

In the reception, the hustle and bustle of the street outside is swallowed up by the boutique hotel's hushed ambience, soft lighting and tastefully muted decor. The service here is relaxed, yet attentive; check-in is efficient, and we shown to our bedroom with the minimum of fuss.

It's the public spaces that make Number Sixteen special. There are two drawing rooms downstairs that guests make full use of, either curling up on an oversized armchair with a book or lounging on the pillowy sofas with their various Apple appendages.

Number Sixteen doesn't have a restaurant, although there is a lends a more grown-up mood to the cream-and-gingham shading of the communal areas. 24-hour room service menu to make full use of and plenty of eateries to explore in the surrounding streets. What it does provide is a sumptuous breakfast, served in the summery conservatory that looks out onto a beautiful, lemon-tiled courtyard for languid summer evenings.

Each of the 42 rooms has been individually designed. All have a fresh, light touch and a contemporary English twist. Think pure white quilting offset with overstuffed raspberry-striped armchairs, or lustrous wooden furniture balanced by playful elephant prints. The marble bathrooms are spotless, with deep baths, plenty of fluffy towels and a double sink unit. The beds, needless to say, are gorgeous.