The Bermondsey Square Hotel

New to Bermondsey — and walkable from London Bridge — the 1960s design-led, 79-room Bermondsey Square Hotel is filled with sleek lines and bright colours. Walking into the large and airy reception-cum-bar area, I felt like I’d walked straight into something from an Austin Powers movie.

The theme doesn’t stop downstairs, though, with standard rooms boasting fancy iPod docks, Apple TVs that connect to laptops and wetroom-style showers. The four loft rooms — the hotel’s piece de resistance — are named after ladies in 1960s songs (namely Jude, Lucy, Ruby and Lilly). I stayed in Lilly, presumably from the 1960s hit
Lily the Pink, despite it being predominantly white in tone: white curtains, white bed, white gadgets and a white hammock perched on a large balcony offering views of the square below with its shops, bars and independent cinema. Those lucky enough to stay in Lucy can also enjoy a private eight-man hot tub on their own deck.

The hotel has an open-plan bar, restaurant and shop serving locally sourced food and drink, as well as events space, including a terrace holding up to 150 people. Best of all, it’s three-star, so the price tag won’t send your wallet into a spin.