What Threadneedles has to offer the business crowd is clear - it's opposite the Bank of England, so is an amble from most business in the City, has sexy meeting rooms and value speedy lunch menus. What it offers the leisure visitor is less obvious, but it shouldn't be overlooked.

For a start, there's the interior design - the hotel occupies a former nineteenth century Victorian banking hall, which it has sensitively adapted into a striking lobby, bar and restaurant on the ground floor. The understated entrance to Threadneedles, off the eponymous street, gives no clue as to what awaits - a striking hand painted stained-glass dome above the reception area that is bordered by vast pillars, and some elaborate plasterwork. The décor is modern and simple, so as not to compete with the surroundings, and original features, including marble banking counters have been preserved.

The restaurant is elegant – another tall ceiling, columns, dark wood flooring, dramatic lighting and artwork and stunning floral displays. The adjoining bar was buzzing with a city crowd and had a sultry atmosphere with low lighting and a trendy menu of cocktails and tapas.

Check-in was informal – the receptionist was dressed impeccably but his manner was chatty and I was invited to sit down while he found my details. Another smartly dressed staff member showed me to my room with some more idle chitchat on the way.

Novotel London St Pancras, NW1

No points for character, but this hotel is handy for the Eurostar and has comfort, attentive staff and splendid food

BACKGROUND

• The Bermondsey Square Hotel, London

• The Fox and Anchor, Smithfield, London, EC1

• Andaz, Liverpool Street, London EC2

• The Zetter, London EC1

• Apex City of London Hotel, EC3

BACKGROUND

• The Fox and Anchor, Smithfield, London EC1

• Threadneedles, City of London, EC2

• The Hoxton, London, EC2

• Sleep Inn, Tower Hill, London E1

Related Internet Links

• More hotels in East London and The City

Related Links

• Andaz, Liverpool Street, London EC2

• The Fox and Anchor, Smithfield, London EC1

My room was a suite with a compact office and lounge area and bedroom of the same size. The décor is a little less dazzling than the restaurant downstairs – still tasteful and stylish but less bold than the restaurant. The classic boutique hotel muted tones of creams, browns and olive greens dominated, with some fun contemporary art adding a bit of character. The bed was comfortable, linen crisp, and technology is obviously a priority. The flat-screen television had a keyboard for internet access, and below it a radio with an ipod dock and there was a trendy slim-line silver and black phone.

The minibar had some fun additions – Green and Blacks chocolate, cereal bars, Asahi beer… and other pleasant distraction included arty books and a good number of London guidebooks, plus a sheet of information about what was happening in London the weekend I stayed at the hotel and some information on local attractions.

The bathroom was smooth marble with Korres toiletries, waffle cotton bathrobes and a good power shower, although I did hear another guest complain about the strength of their shower. My only criticism was the door to the bathroom, which was opaque glass with a clear edge – so you could see flashes of your room mate as they passed the door – surely if they want to be seen they could leave the door open?

The hotel offers treatments with an in-room spa company from £90 for a massage and £40 for a facial. Wireless high-speed internet access costs £9.95 for ten hours – at a business hotel you’d expect it to be free.

Breakfast (served 6.30am-10.30am Monday-Friday and 7.30am-11am weekends) was an attractive spread of fresh fruit, Dorset muesli-style cereals, pastries, bread and juices, plus an impressive selection of teas and fresh coffee. The Full English (£19) was so-so – undercooked bacon, tasteless mushrooms but great sausages a good scrambled egg.

Dinner was better – the ingredients were fresh, the presentation colourful and the meat, fish and vegetables cooked perfectly.

Dishes include roasted diver-caught scallops with chorizo and squid ink polenta or gazpacho Seville style to start; slow cooked Baillet mountain pork with young spring vegetables and onion lyonnaise or wild Scottish halibut roasted with shimeji mushrooms and caramelised baby onions to follow; and finally coconut rice pudding with mango or vanilla crème brulee among the tempting puddings. These a la carte options cost around £36 for three courses without wine, or there’s a fixed price menu for £19.50 for two courses and £24.50 for three courses. Wine starts at £16.50 a bottle and £5.75 a glass.

The 69-room Threadneedles is one of 13 in the Eton Collection – three others in London, two in Leeds, two in Edinburgh and the rest elsewhere in Europe.

Bottom line: Rooms start from £165 at the weekend and £250 in the week. The hotel is currently offering an exclusive package with the British Museum including tickets to it Terracotta Army exhibition. The package costs from £179 per room per night for a weekend night bedroom, breakfast and tickets to the exhibition, which is ten minutes away by tube. On January 11 and 12 the package will include a talk with the exhibition’s curator and a glass of champagne in the hotel bar.

Best thing: the evening meal

Worst thing: the see-through bathroom door

Access all areas: the hotel is wheelchair accessible and there are two bedrooms adapted for wheelchair users

Need to know: Threadneedles, 5 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AY; tel. 020 7657 8080, www.theetoncollection.com

Food: 8 out of 10

Service: 8 out of 10

Room: 7 out of 10

Value: 7 out of 10 (if you can get the reduced weekend rate)

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