Haymarket Hotel

Glam boutique hotel in the heart of London's Theatreland with fab interiors, bold colour schemes and a funky subterranean pool

Kit Kemp's interior design has placed her Firmdale group of hip boutique hotels in a class of their own. Following on from the Soho Hotel, the most recent addition, the Haymarket, brings you to the very heart of London's West End, between Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. Outside it's all landmark Regency design. Inside you'll find a fusion of styles: pale oak flooring, fresh vivid colours (canary yellow Louis XVI chairs as you enter the lobby), an effortless blend of fabrics, textures, contemporary sculptures and organic artwork. Everywhere you look, you crave to touch.

Upstairs its 50 bedrooms and suites are supremely comfortable without a stitch of stuffiness nor pointless minimalism. Quality is beyond question, down to bathroom products made by Miller Harris exclusively for the hotel. But if you want to "WOW", wander below decks to the psychedelic swimming pool - complete with pewter bar, gold Chesterfields and pink light show. Obsessive attention to detail, impeccable service and bold yet graceful design make this somewhere very special. Best of all, everything works.

Highs

• Beautiful, quirky interior design
• Slap bang in the middle of London's West End, close to top end shopping enclaves, theatres and galleries
• Fabulously comfortable rooms with more space than you might expect for the location
• Stunning communal spaces, from the twinkling swimming pool (pools are rare in London and it's a first for the Kemps) to the breathtaking Shooting Gallery with its exquisite hand-painted wallpaper
• Top drawer service, concierge and housekeeping that can provide anything from curling tongs to shaving kits

Lows

• The extras can mount up: breakfast, VAT, WiFi and hefty honesty bar prices
• We found the temperature of the pool a tad too refreshing - although perfect for doing laps
• Occasional private events can preclude use of pool but this is always temporary and they will let you know in advance