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

It’s fair to say that Dundee is having a bit of a moment just now. The V&A opened in September of last year, and pretty much every major travel magazine has named the city as a ‘can’t miss’ destination, thanks everything that’s going on. There are a surprising amount of galleries, both traditional and modern, and the city is small enough to walk around in a day or two, so it’s great for a weekend break into the bargain.

If you’re heading through to Dundee, which, incidentally, is Scotland’s sunniest city, the place to stay has to be the brand new Hotel Indigo Dundee. Opened in the city over the summer, and the result of a three-year, multimillion pound renovation, Hotel Indigo Dundee is a former linen mill, and it feels like no other hotel I’ve stayed in in Scotland.

Taking cues from the hotel’s industrial past, the lobby is filled with relics from Dundee’s past. Think video games, mills and marmalade – it’s been laid out so it’s a great place to take a laptop and set up shop for a few hours, and you can even order food and drink there if you get peckish!

Thanks to the building’s linen mill past, the rooms are chock-full of character. Some rooms have original brick ceilings, whilst others have iron beams and stunning views overlooking the Tay River.

Our room was up on the top-floor, and came flooded with light thanks to the velar windows. It was the perfect spot to get some work done too, thanks to the huge desks, and I am obsessed with the Dundee-themed decorations. The artwork on the walls payed homage to local drinks legend Bon Accord, whilst the blankets come courtesy of locally-trained artist Hillary Grant.

The cushions are also specially-made, and are all about marmalade. They’re also adorable!

The bathrooms are also absolutely stunning – the showers all come with a fun marmalade decal, and the bathrooms come stocked with Arran Sense of Scotland goodies. They smelled absolutely divine, and when paired with the rainfall showers – it was a heavenly experience!

After a heavenly night’s sleep in their Hypnos beds (which were unbelievably comfy!) we were more than ready for breakfast in the stunning Daisy Tasker restaurant.

Named after a former mill-worker, who organised socials for the mill, the restaurant is an absolutely stunning spot, which has the most perfect industrial-chic vibes. It’s also been awarded 2 AA Rosettes – so you know it’s great!

You can choose from a seriously generous buffet, and/or a hot menu. Since I’m not the biggest breakfast fan, I stuck to yoghurt and seeds, but I saw quite a few hot dishes which looked and smelled absolutely sublime!

You can book a night at Hotel Indigo Dundee directly here