Hotel Review: 11 Cadogan Gardens, London

It has a fantastic location in the heart of Chelsea, tucked away in leafy Cadogan Gardens behind Sloane Square. Step outside the door and hit the shops of King's Road or discover Chelsea's vibrant culinary scene - there's plenty to suit all tastes, from neighbourhood pizzerias to fine dining restaurants. You're within striking distance of some of London's top attractions, including the V&A, the Natural History Museum and the Albert Hall. The world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show takes place a short walk away. The Saatchi Gallery is round the corner, displaying work by lesser-known young and international artists.

By car: the hotel is 4 hours from Manchester and 2.5 hours from Bristol.

By train: Sloane Square tube is 3 mins' walk away; London Victoria is a 10-min taxi ride. Book trains to London.

Cross the threshold and you enter a dramatic and decadent world with dark wood fittings, dim lighting and period furnishings. It's all nooks and crannies - a library, lounge, bar, reception, patio and Mirror Room - where you can hide away and forget about daily life. It seeks to exude an aura of decadence coupled with an understated, somewhat worn feel (paint, for example, is flaking off some oils on canvas, although it appears to have been deliberately left that way).

The reception area is hidden away at the back of the property, lending the hotel a home-away-from-home feel. Staff are attentive and will go out of their way to help. There's a Library with plush sofas and 19th-century books lining shelves, as well as a comfortable drawing room with a lovely stone fireplace and historic portraits adorning the walls and, adjacent, a conservatory giving onto an itsy-bitsy outdoor area. Guests get private access to leafy Cadogan Gardens

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Private garden
• Terrace
• Fitness centre
• Free Wi-Fi

Some rooms are classically styled, with traditional furnishings, dark wood fittings, four-poster beds and heavy drapes, while others have a more contemporary flavour, with cream-coloured furnishings, fluffy carpets and elegant pleated lampshades, and there are lovely, fully serviced apartments in a renovated six-storey townhouse round the corner.

Room types: Petite Room, Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, Signature Suite, Cadogan Suite, Sloane Suite, Apartment

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, Nespresso machine, DAB radio, TV, free Wi-Fi

Tucked away at the back of the hotel, buzzing Hans' Bar & Grill is a local neighbourhood restaurant offering all-day dining. The cuisine is contemporary British, with a nod to vegan and plant-based dishes. On the menu, you'll find the likes of grilled scarlet prawns, falafel burgers and 28-day-aged ribeye steak. For a pre- or post-prandial drink, head to The Chelsea Bar, decked out in dramatic shades of gold and charcoal. The à la carte breakfast is good, with juices, smoothies, freshly baked pastries, and eggs made to order.

Hans' Bar & Grill: stylish café bar, al fresco dining. All-day menu, open daily. Mains from £15.