Travel test

WHAT: Bermonds Locke, Tower Bridge. Challenging your view of staying away from home, instead of booking a hotel you can bag your own eco-friendly apartment.

The property has a bar, restaurant and cafe, co-working space and its own gym. Rooms from £99 a night, with other locations in London as well as Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin and Munich. lockeliving.com WHERE: Just minutes from London Bridge station and the Tower of London, you’re near enough to the major players while also being away from the hubbub. Nearby are the foodie delights of Borough Market and fantastic restaurants and pubs on Bermondsey Street. EXPERIENCE: On arrival at the screened-off reception, we were asked to complete a self-certification form to declare we were free from Covid symptoms. It was very reassuring.

The decor at Bermonds Locke is divine – a stylish, urban oasis.

You can order takeaway food to your room and skip a busy breakfast room. The team can also deliver fresh groceries or recipe boxes to your room to eat in.

Our studio room was a great size. Bermonds Locke’s smallest studios start at 23 square metres – bigger than the average boutique hotel room. The largest are a luxurious 35 square metres – the size of a very large London serviced apartment.

We had a good-sized kitchen that included a dishwasher and full-size fridge freezer. The fresh milk was a nice touch. Along with a comfy double bed, our room had a huge sofa and large telly.

You really could stay all week in comfort – perfect for a staycation or work trip.

As well as a gym, there are free yoga classes. And you can dine out at The Dairy or grab a yummy chia bowl for breakfast at all-day cafe Shaman.

QUIBBLES: Bermonds Locke is very trendy, which won’t suit everyone.

VERDICT: Innovative, safe stay and great value-for-money. 9/10

■■ Check the latest Government Covid guidance on hotel stays before booking.