When we were down south last month, we were so lucky to be invited to stay in two of by Mansley’s stunning apartment suites – 44 Curzon Street (full review here) and The Strozzi Palace Boutique Suites in Cheltenham. We had opted to stay in London first, and had planned to drive from the city through to Cheltenham early-ish on in the afternoon so we could fully enjoy what the town has to offer. Enterprise, however, had other ideas, so we actually ended up leaving London at 7pm, reaching the fabulous Strozzi Palace close to 10pm. Not ideal since we wanted to soak up every second of the place!

Located right in the heart of Cheltenham, the Strozzi Palace Suites are a collection of six stunning residences only minute or so from the centre of town. With a fabulous Italianate Palazzo facade, the residences feel wonderfully opulent from the offset. The suites are also completely up-to-date, offering a virtual doorman meaning that even when we arrived later on in the evening, our check-in process was seamless.

A day or two before your stay, by Mansley text you your entrance code which acts as a key for both the exterior door and your room. This means that, if like us, you’re delayed or arriving later on in the evening, you don’t need to worry about letting anyone know – you just pop in your code, and you’re good to go!

We were staying in the stunning Milano suite. Located on the first floor, it was gloriously chic space, with large living space, fully equipped kitchen and cosy bedroom. We loved the slick ensuite, which was wonderfully modern, and kitted out with Gilchrist & Soames goodies.

We got to explore our suite further the next morning, and we were absolutely delighted with what we found. The living room, complete with beautiful cast iron fireplace was absolutely beautiful. With large television, comfy sofa, and enough room to spread out and relax.

There was even a beautiful desk area which was perfect for setting up my laptop and powering through a few emails in the morning. What we loved, was how well thought out the apartment was – from the keyless entry (no cards to lose or break) through to little extras like a shopping bag left out for any groceries, to the continental breakfast in the fridge, by Mansley have created an apartment truly tailored to the modern traveller.

Whether you’re in Cheltenham for work or for leisure, make sure to check out the Strozzi Palace Suites – you’re going to love them!

Thank you so much to by Mansley for our stay – you can find out more about the Strozzi Palace Suites, and book your own stay here.

It had been literally years since I’d been in London. Considering I used to visit at least once a year, it felt long overdue, so when 44 Curzon Street got in touch to see if I’d like to visit, I absolutely jumped at the opportunity. Situated right in the heart of Mayfair, it is one of the most centrally located residences possible. It’s on the same street at the Saudi Arabian Embassy, so you know it’s incredibly safe too – a bonus if you’re travelling alone.

The location also made it perfect if you’re after a base for a longer stay. When we were checking in, a fellow guest was actually extending their stay for a few weeks (which is always a good sign!) so we knew we were good hands! The building is divided into studio and one bedroom apartments, and there is an adorable vintage lift to use if you have mobility issues, or if you’re staying on a higher floor.

We were in apartment 4, which had been divided into twin beds, and offered prime people-watching views to the front of the street. Cleverly designed so that the bedroom overlooked the rear of the building, it meant nights were quiet, whilst the hustle of bustle was contained to the front of the property.

Having an additional sitting room was such a bonus during our stay. Not only was it beautifully decorated, but it was the perfect spot to relax, unwind and even catch up with a little work in. I loved starting the day with a coffee (the kitchen comes fully equipped with Nespresso machines and some capsules to start you off) and we enjoyed sitting in here in the evenings to unwind before heading out to supper.

Even if we hadn’t had supper plans, it wouldn’t have been an issue thanks to the apartment’s fully equipped kitchen which had everything from microwave to grill oven. We only had the time to enjoy some cheese and biscuits as a bit of an evening snack, but having cutlery, crockery and space to enjoy it in really did make all the difference.

What we absolutely loved about 44 Curzon Street was how homey the whole place was. Staying there felt like visiting a friend or relation – super cosy and very convenient. The concierge is available throughout the day, and can help with recommendations for where to go and what to visit during your stay, whilst the space and freedom of staying in an apartment was a real treat.

Since 44 Curzon Street is so well-located, getting out and about each morning was incredibly easy. The street directly outside of the apartments is pedestrianised, but we just headed up to Half Moon Street and always managed to grab one within a minute or so. It’s location in the heart of Mayfair is perfect if you’ve got some shopping planned – it’s under a mile away from Harrods and I strolled up to Selfridges within 15 minutes or so.

As you can probably tell, we had an absolute ball staying at 44 Curzon Street, and have already recommended it to everyone who will listen. From it’s wonderful location, to the cosy interiors, it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for where to stay in London – in fact, we’ve already discussed our return!

You can find out more about by Mansley’s 44 Curzon Street here.

Outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Manchester is probably my most-visited area. Not the city perhaps, but I’ve been finding myself in nearby Cheshire almost monthly. It’s a lovely spot, so whenever I get the chance to visit, I jump, and I’m always on the lookout for a great place to stay. Last week, we made a weekend of the drive, and booked into Hotel Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station, one of the city’s newest hotels, and I’m glad to say, we were not disappointed!

Located in the very heart of the city, and literally only steps from the Victoria train station, the building used to be a tea office, with a modern addition tacked on, and if you’re looking for a centrally located hotel in Manchester, this is the one for you!

The rooms reflect the history of the building, and ours, a King, was located in the original building, and previously a tea office – hence the adorable Alice in Wonderland-esque decorations. Hotel Indigo Manchester only opened a few months back, and as a result the hotel still feels wonderfully crisp and new.

Since we had been driving for hours to get down to Manchester (with a quick stop-off in Prestbury to see friends) the room was a welcome treat. The only downside was that we couldn’t use all the facilities – there is a 24 hour gym, a gorgeous restaurant (Mamucium) and there is even an on-site coffee shop which we managed to head to for breakfast the next morning.

The design of the whole hotel, much like many of the new Hotel Indigo properties (you can read my thoughts on the beautiful Dundee property here) has been so well thought out. I loved the deep velvet and touches of marble in the room, but perhaps my favourite part was the bathroom.

With a rainfall shower decorated with the most adorable delft tiles, it was an absolutely glorious spot to wash away grime of travel. It was such a fun change from the usual white and marble bathrooms hotels tend to go for!

Perhaps the only downside to the hotel is the lack of on-site parking, but Hotel Indigo do have a relationship with the NCP carparks nearby and offer reduced rates. Since it was dark, I managed to miss a turn, and ended up somewhere in the middle of the town, but head to the Arena carpark and you shouldn’t go wrong!

You can find out more about Hotel indigo Manchester – Victoria Station here