NYX Holborn, London

WHERE AND WHY

This is the place if you want to get into that New York state of mind... in the middle of London.

The four-star NYX in Holborn strives for a Big Apple vibe, with lots of neon, groovy art and a cool rooftop bar. In the evening, the Midtown Bar is given over to throbbing beats from the decks and the bearded hipsters move in.

It’s an exciting place to be, even on a more traditional family weekend with two seven-yearolds in tow, who people-watched pop-eyed. Happily, NYX manages to keep all its customers content. Far from finding the city that never sleeps, we were undisturbed and comfy in our well-appointed family room, with two big dreamy beds, feather and down duvets, deluxe toiletries and Nespresso machine.

The staff were welcoming and helpful, with a terrific colouring book and pens for the girls (and a free drink for me!) while we waited to get in a few minutes early. One of many nice touches. The girls loved the pool, which is a very decent size for central London. Spa treatments are also available.

ON THE MENU

The Midtown Bar is another top spot for watching the world go by, with its big windows, and as the sun set on a wet evening, it was a moving tableau of lights reflected on glistening roads, a cliche of old London town with its hustle of red buses, black cabs and umbrellas.

I tackled a very good, quite expensive Welsh Rarebit burger (£19) and pint (£6.50) while the occasional local glimpsed enviously from the top of a passing double decker. It was a surprise that the triple-cooked chips (£7) cost extra.

Afterwards, the girls demolished a Choc on Choc NYX sundae as big as their heads (£10) while I survived the amazing Banoffee Pie version (£9.50) before waddling off to bed as turntables were set up and the late shift began.

Breakfast had everything you could desire.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Holborn is a fine place to be for a quick trip to London, slightly away from the madness of the West End tourist hotspots, but close enough to be anywhere you need to be within minutes.

We found it an easy, fascinating walk to the Monument and St Paul’s one day (Great Fire of London project), to the South Bank on another, and the British Museum is, literally, just round the corner. There’s a tube station across the road, but the bus is a fine, cheap, regular conveyance if you want to see more sights.

WAKE-UP CALL

Rooms at the NYX Hotel London Holborn start at £143 a night.