As the nights draw in, there’s no better time to take a short city break in the capital than autumn. We checked into our new favourite London haunt, The Bloomsbury and came up smelling of roses (and candles).

There’s something slightly unnerving yet adoringly indulgent about arriving at a hotel for the first time and the doorman already knows your name; has your favourite cocktail waiting on the bar; your bags effortlessly whisked away and your shoes polished before you’ve even entered the door.

Ok, they didn’t polish my shoes, but should I have asked, I am in no doubt it would have been hastily arranged.

Welcome to The Bloomsbury, our marvellously seductive London bolthole for the weekend, a place with oodles of Twenties-style razzmatazz, fine dining and a doorman who could well have been doubling up as Dynamo, judging by how well he seemed to know us.

Placed discreetly off Tottenham Court Road, the hotel is close to the action yet pleasantly quiet considering you’re just a five minutes stroll from the West End, Soho and Covent Garden.

But who needs all that, when you’ve got The Bloomsbury – an oasis of calm amidst the hectic hustle and bustle of London life.

This is a place that instantly draws you in and seduces you into never wanting to leave.

With its Victorian grandeur, art deco features and 20s style inspired art, combined with a modern refresh by celebrated designer Martin Brudnizki, you’ve got a heady and intoxicating mix going on and it works.

So much so, we were soon three cocktails down and being ushered to our table on the inside-outside Dalloway Terrace, where we sat amidst a sea of foliage and flowers, yet only minutes from the noise and bright lights of the West End.

Heated in winter and the perfect spot to eat al fresco in the warmer months, it manages to strike an impressive balance between English country garden and a glorious Mediterranean dining experience and the menu doesn’t disappoint either.

The fillet steak was faultless and was only enhanced by the arrival of some truffle-laden fries that very nearly stole the show.

The courgette and pea risotto with cashel blue cheese and toasted pine nuts, along with an array of extra sides including green beans with confit shallots and lemon butter was equally as impressive and you’d be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable setting to enjoy it all.

And as the wine flowed and the sounds from the hotel’s Coral Room drifted across the terrace, we found ourselves wandering downstairs to the hotel’s highly seductive, candle-lit and emerald-hued “speakeasy” bar where a live singer was in full flow and a nightcap of vintage spirits awaited.

It feels like the hotel that just keeps on giving and that certainly rang true when it came to our bedroom – a luxurious suite – bursting with stylish touches, soft velvets, white marble and even black flannels – ideal if you’re removing make-up apparently. Throw in a double marble topped vanity unit and a trolley full of Malin + Goetz toiletry goodies and what girl wouldn’t be happy to be brought here?

Everything was spacious, luxurious and well designed, the bed huge, comfy and inviting plus all the latest tech to keep even the biggest nerd happy.

Breakfast was another festival of flavours, tempting you in once again with its array of smoked mackerel, charcuterie boards and a mouth-watering mountain of fresh bagels, pastries, fruits and juices to choose from.

It’s the sort of place where you really want time to stop so you enjoy it all a little longer before having to venture outside into the madness again.

It’s the perfect location for those who want to party or take in a West End show; the perfect escape for those who want a luxurious central bolthole with all the trimmings and the perfect spot for those who want to do both.

Just don’t tell everybody, because despite its amazing location, it somehow manages to feel like a secret you’ll want to keep all to yourself.

As for Dynamo, he had one more trick up his sleeve, and as we left he conjured up a beautifully-scented hotel candle for us to keep – the exact one we had commented on the night before.

And if that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.

Prices from £276 per night

The Bloomsbury, 16-22 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3NN
T: 020 7347 1000
W: doylecollection.com/hotels/the-bloomsbury-hotel