The Threadneedles

On arrival
The entrance to this imposing stone building sits rather unassumingly on Threadneedles Street, giving no indication to the surprise which lies in store; once through the doors of a small lobby you enter an impressive circular hall which opens onto an even bigger lounge, also circular, where sturdy columns support a magnificent glass dome standing more than six metres from the ground.

The dome sits high above the lounges of the hotel where 1930s-style tables and armchairs surround the centrepiece, a thick oriental carpet depicting huge brightly-coloured tropical fish, almost a work of art in its own right, and a big wooden table displaying an astounding collection of cacti and exotic plants. Noises do echo in this immense space but the gentle yellow light filtering through the dome, the warm colours of the décor and the large wooden partitions make for a room which is more impressive than intimidating.

The rooms
The elegant mix of neutral and warm tones add a stamp of serenity to the rooms. The beige carpets are thick with slight embossing, the walls are painted cream or covered in beautiful dark wood panelling and the bathrooms are fitted out in sandstone. Self-colours, smooth surfaces and pure lines prevail. The beds are topped with a host of white pillows, with one coloured cushion sitting proud among them, a duvet and Egyptian cotton sheets.

Despite the apparent simplicity, the rooms are extremely well equipped with a multitude of little touches: from the carefully selected contemporary art to orchids, music systems to televisions (mainly flat-screens) in every room, not to forget the retro-style electrical controls and the magazines in the toilet.

The room layout is simple and well thought out, providing a comfortable space to work and relax. The bathrooms are very pretty and functional. Most have both shower and bath and all have a flat screen television.

Room types
The hotel offers three main types of room: the Doubles (Luxury and Deluxe), Studios (Executive King and Studio) and finally the Suites (Suites and Penthouses). Overlooking the street or a light open courtyard, the rooms all have the same equipment and services, the difference lying in the size of the room itself and whether or not it has a seating area (separate or integrated).

The suites pay homage to great men, carrying the names of explorers whose adventures you can read about in the books provided. The bright and airy Penthouses on the top floor have sloping ceilings and a view over the buildings of the City. One even has its own terrace.

Services
In addition to the wide range of complimentary services - free morning newspaper, bottle of water on evening turndown, personalised business cards with the hotel address, CDs on loan from an extensive music library.

Hotel guests can book a massage or treatment from a specialist company, gain priority access to some London clubs through the hotel concierge and even benefit from a personalised shopping service at some top class boutiques, including Louis Vuitton.