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Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes

By Carla Bevan on Tuesday 25 March 2008

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Marie Claire hotel reviews: Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes

By word association alone, the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes hotel on London's Baker Street conjures up images of pipe-smoking Victorians and dark, musty old rooms. The reality, thankfully, couldn't be more different.

Situated just a few minutes from Baker Street tube station, and a stone's throw from some of London's biggest tourist attractions (think Madame Tussaud's, London Zoo, Oxford Street, Bond Street), this has to be the ultimate in city tourist chic.

Although there are an impressive 119 rooms to choose from, the whole place is done up like a boutique hotel and the bar and restaurant belie its four-star status.

In fact, it's the buzzy bar at the entrance which gives this place its immediate charm. With plenty of bar stools and cosy armchairs, the vibe is laidback but cosmopolitan, while the cocktails are fantastic. (I got beyond excited when my boyfriend's scotch and soda arrived with three different glasses: one for the scotch, a little decanter for the soda and another for the ice.)

In fact, so set up were we with the drinks, food (the restaurant too is worthy of a visit even if you aren't staying the night) and a blissful night's sleep (I'm not quite sure how they manage to make a room on Baker Street soundproof, but somehow they did), that the next day we walked all the way to Waterloo to meet friends rather than take the tube.

And if that isn't a sign of a good night's sleep, I really don't know what is.

Details: Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes London, 108 Baker Street, London W1U 6LJ (020 7034 4830, www.parkplaza.com)