After ten minutes of wandering around Cadogan Gardens searching for my hotel, I stopped a woman and asked where the Draycott was. “Right there, under the Union Jack,” she said. I had walked past, but hadn’t noticed the small brass nameplate. Discreet or what? This would be a great place to hide if you were a celebrity dodging the paparazzi. “Great for an affair too,” said my husband, who had gone through the same wandering ritual to meet me.

Once inside, the Draycott is rather like the splendid home of a rich uncle. It’s three Edwardian houses knocked together to create a very English hotel: all antique prints, squashy sofas, silk pleated lampshades and real fires. There’s even a smoking room.

There are 35 rooms, all named after authors and actors, decorated in classical style, and most with living flame fires. We liked the peaceful Agatha Christie, which had a huge comfy bed, separate sitting area, CD and DVD player, and old books by the lady herself. There was a large marble bathroom with Penhaligon toiletries, and a big kitchen with a well-stocked fridge.

The drawing room and the Bernard Shaw room have direct access to Cadogan Gardens, with its flowering cherry trees. Ellen Terry, decorated in jaunty red and green stripes, is a tiny single but has been cunningly fitted out and, at £120, is good value for this part of London.

The staff wouldn’t discuss guests, but investigative journalism reveals that Pierce Brosnan, Gary Oldman, Isabella Rosellini and the Queen of Denmark have stayed.

There’s no restaurant, just room service, but the menu was imaginative and reasonably priced — chicken stuffed with liver pâté for £15.90 and a smoked salmon sandwich at £8.50. I thought £21 for a bottle of Pinot Grigio was a bit steep but it was a good vintage and properly chilled.

The Draycott also had nice touches, such as afternoon tea at 4pm, champagne at 6pm, and hot chocolate late at night. An excellent billet, I’d say.

Sampling the fare: supper for two, with wine, about £50.

Bottom line: B&B singles from £120, doubles from £160.

Need to know: The Draycott, 26 Cadogan Gardens (020-7730 6466, www.draycotthotel.com.

Room: 10 out of 10
Food: 7 out of 10
Service: 9 out of 10
Shoportunities: 10 out of 10

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