luxury

IF you want an affordable hotel that feels way above its pay grade, you’re in luck.

Here is everything you need to know about staying at Holiday Inn Bloomsbury.

Where is the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury?

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the capital, Bloomsbury is known as a literary hub.

And the newly refurbished hotel has rooms inspired by 20th century British writers, artists and other creatives.

What are the rooms like?

There are 317 in total, each of which is fresh and bright.

I stayed in a Premium Room, which was bigger than typical London hotel rooms with enough room for a small sofa, desk and a bathroom of dreams.

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It also had little extras that make a trip special: earplugs, an eye mask and pillow spray.

I felt as though I was staying in a luxury hotel without the huge price tag. Rooms start from £199 per night for a King Premium. See ihg.com.

What is there to eat and drink there?

Dinner is served in the Artful Critic, which has a laid-back vibe and is open for food and drinks from 10am until 1am.

The menu showcases British classics: burgers, pasta, pizzas and curry plus daily specials. If you’re travelling with kids under 12, they eat free. Bonus.

Breakfast is served in a different area and as well as fruit, pastries, cold meats and cheese, there was an extensive hot selection.

There’s also an on-site Starbucks concession.

What else is at the hotel?

The hotel has an onsite gym and if you are travelling for work, the WiFi is really good.

Rare for London, there is an on-site car park.

But the hotel couldn’t be better placed for getting around London.

It is just a few steps away from Russell Square tube station and five minutes away from The British Museum.

Is it family friendly?

Kids under 17 eat and stay free. There are also family rooms where connecting rooms and cribs are available on request. 

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

For easy access there are a variety of features like wheelchair accessible rooms accompanied with grab bars, tall toilets, and handrails in bathrooms. 

‘Can honestly say it was the absolute best hotel we’ve ever stayed in. Beautiful hotel in a stunning location. Every room was very grand and oozing history’

As non-stop summer gives way to the quiet days of autumn, there’s no better time to get away for a relaxing mini-break if you’re already mourning holiday season. And for those in need of a pamper, luxury hotels across the UK are offering seasonal spa packages to help guests unwind.

Hand Picked Hotels has launched special autumn stays at picturesque locations throughout the country, including an Amber Hours Autumn Spa Break for Two at selected mainland spa hotels up to November 30. This two-night escape includes breakfast, an Autumn Champagne Afternoon Tea with seasonal treats, and a 50-minute Tranquillity Pro Sleep Ritual for two, as well as use of the spa facilities.

Guests who book this break will also get a complimentary 200ml Tranquillity Pro Sleep Bath and Body Oil by Comfort Zone to take home. The Tranquillity Pro Sleep Ritual is a massage treatment designed for optimal sleep, meaning this could make the perfect gift for stressed-out loved ones in need of a pamper, or a romantic getaway for couples.

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One of the top-rated choices of hotel where the Amber Hours Spa Break is available to book, according to reviews on Tripadvisor, is Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa in Cheshire. This award-winning stay set in 38 acres of gardens, pasture and parkland boasts a 4 AA Red Star status, the AA’s top accolade given to hotels in the UK and Ireland.

The AA writes of this 19th century Nantwich mansion: “Bedrooms are spacious and appointed to a high standard with wide-screen TVs; many rooms have separate walk-in showers as well as deep tubs. Public areas are delightful and retain many original features. There is an extensive, state-of-the art spa and leisure complex.”

Book an Amber Hours Spa Break

Available on stays up to November 30

Hand Picked Hotels

See the offers

This getaway for two is available at selected Hand Picked Hotels locations and includes breakfast, afternoon tea, a massage, and use of the spa facilities

The AA also singled out the hotel’s fine dining experience as one of the highlights of a stay at Rookery Hall, with the restaurant taking inspiration from the surrounding Cheshire countryside for a menu of classic British dishes with a “contemporary twist”. And there’s plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation, from suites with views over the gardens to unique feature rooms, with prices starting from £172 per night this autumn.

Guests here or at any other Hand Picked Hotels stays can also book an Amber Hours Retreat, which will see those staying for one night treated to an Autumn Champagne Afternoon Tea and a complimentary room upgrade up until November 30. Stays of two nights or more will also include a specially created three-course autumn dinner with this package.

Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa is also the top-rated spa hotel stay in Cheshire on Booking.com, with a ‘Superb’ rating of 9.3 out of 10 based on more than 600 reviews. Coming in second place is Manor House in Alsager which has a spa garden with hanging beds and a herb garden, followed by Grosvenor Hotel & Spa in Pulford, home to 75 bedrooms and two restaurants offering AA Rosette-awarded dining.

Back at Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, the hotel has earned an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars on Tripadvisor based on more than 2,500 reviews, with one guest writing: “We would go as far as saying Rookery Hall is the best hotel and spa experience we have ever had in the UK (and we have been to many). Everything was perfect, from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. The room was wonderful and the food in the restaurant was exceptional.”

Another reviewer echoed: “Can honestly say it was the absolute best hotel we’ve ever stayed in. Beautiful hotel in a stunning location. Every room was very grand and oozing history, absolutely stunning. The service and every single member of staff were outstanding.”

And a third person fed back: “This was our fourth stay and once again we were blown away by our experience. From the warm welcome upon our arrival our stay was exceptional and this is because the hotel in our opinion has the best staff, they are simply incredible. The hotel provides the peace and relaxation we were after with a touch of luxury.”

One person felt that the food menu had room for improvement, however, feeding back: “The place is lovely and the staff are incredible but they really need to upgrade their vegetarian options.”

A member of staff from the hotel responded to this review: “We do offer a separate plant-based menu alongside the vegetarian dishes on our main menu, and had we been made aware at the time that you were vegetarian, we would have been more than happy to provide this and guide you through the additional options available. If this was something we were aware of and did not offer, then I can only apologise.”

A different guest remarked: “My only negative comment would not really be too specific to Rookery Hall as such, but during our one night stay, there was a large wedding party staying at the hotel who took up most of the bar during the course of the afternoon.”

Meanwhile, someone else praised: “Had a super overnight stay and dinner. What a lovely experience that we all enjoyed. The staff without exception were so charming helpful and exactly how a great hotel should operate. Dinner was delicious in a lovely dining room and our suite had a beautiful bathroom and very comfortable bed.”

THIS travel club can save you a whole lot of money when going on holiday – and Sun readers can try it out for just £1.

Ever wanted to swap those noisy airport cafes and hard airport seats for somewhere a little more comfy and relaxed, where free food and drink is flowing?

Try Travelzoo for 30 days for £1

For £1, you could bypass the airport chaos entirely and kick back in a stylish, comfy airport lounge with ice-cold drinks, super-fast Wi-Fi and somewhere to put your feet up

Travelzoo are a money-saving club where members can bag a load of travel benefits, including free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed.

The membership costs £30 for the year, which is already a steal.

But Sun readers can bag a 30 day free trial for only £1 by clicking here.

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So before your next holiday, you could be chilling in an airport lounge with bottomless food and drinks (including alcohol) in exchange for that quid rattling around in your pocket.

We all know the dreaded feeling. You’ve dragged your bags through the terminal, braved the queues, and finally made it to the gate – only to look up at the screen and see the dreaded words: DELAYED.

Suddenly, you’re searching for a seat in a packed airport terminal, clutching a soggy-yet-expensive airport sandwich.

But if you’re a Travelzoo member, you get access to over 1,600 lounges across 500+ airports in more than 100 countries.

The way this works is simple. When your flight is delayed by one hour or more, you get airport lounge tickets automatically sent to you by email or text.

Inside these stylish lounges you’ll find things like private and comfy seating, free Wi-Fi and charging points, and even showers, desks and sleep pods in some locations.

Try Travelzoo for 30 days for £1

You’ll also get complimentary food and drink, which includes alcohol.

So even if your flight is delayed for multiple hours, you know you’ll have access to good-quality food, drinks and even somewhere to nap.

“As soon as I got the delay notification from Delta, I received an email with lounge pass PDFs” writes one Travelzoo member, Holly.

“Our flight ended up being delayed six times and the lounge pass was a lifesaver.

“This lounge had free food, drinks, snacks, Wi-Fi, showers, etc. It was worth it!”.

Another member, Angela, said she used it at London Heathrow after a delayed flight saga.

She said: “Travelzoo notified me of our delay and sent vouchers to a lounge that was way better than the one my credit card had.”

Usually, access to these airport lounges would require an elite membership status with an airline, or an expensive day pass.

However you can access these lounges with Travelzoo no matter who you are flying with, even with economy class tickets.

Airport lounge day passed typically cost between £30 – £40, whereas a Travelzoo membership costs £30 for an entire year.

That means just one delayed flight would justify the cost of an entire year’s membership.

You could easily spend over £30 on meals and drinks for the family in the airport Wetherspoons, but instead you’ll have your own less-crowded, more comfy zone with access to all the snacks and drinks you’ll need.

Best of all, you can register up to three travel companions on your itinerary for free – meaning your family or mates get the VIP treatment right alongside you.

Travelzoo members don’t just get airport lounge benefits – they also get access to super cheap holidays.

There are members-only sales and hand-picked holiday deals that give members access to some of the best holiday bargains out there.

For example, members can bag Benidorm package holidays for £179pp, a two-night staycation for two in Northumberland for £89, or a charming English inn stay for £59.

Members will be alerted when flash holiday sales go live, and can bag these exclusive discounts before anyone else.

Sun readers can try Travelzoo for 30 days for just £1 by clicking the button below.

Try Travelzoo for 30 days for £1

Prices correct at the time of publication.