Rooms

Spread over 3 floors, rooms are cosy but bright gems of colour, from cobalt blue to red pepper. Our Deluxe King was a vivid lime green, offset with a white French Provençal wardrobe and desk. Beds are solid wrought-iron, dressed in crisp white linens and a striped Mexican blanket. There's air-con (a little noisy), portable fans (on request) and decent WiFi, but no in-room tea or coffee-making facilities. We suggest asking for a room at the back - they are quieter.

Reclining on the bed, we looked up to a trio of lit alcoves cut into the wall, holding a cross, a doll and a bottle of vintage Havana rum. Along with retro Spanish film posters and Romanian stained glass, it’s these quirky displays that make the Church Street décor unique.

Most bathrooms are ensuite, but if you're on a tight budget you can book one with a shared bathroom. Ours was gleaming, with multi-coloured ceramic tiles shipped from Guadalajara - even the sink was tiled (sunny yellow and blue in our case). Most have showers, a few have baths, and there are complimentary toiletries and fluffy towels.

Features include:

• WiFi

Eating

A simple continental breakfast (for a modest extra cost) includes delicious pastries, artisanal jams, lovely cheese, DIY egg cooker, and unlimited filter coffee; but perhaps a little short on fruit or veggie options. But overall we think it's definitely worth the extra.

Although there are no other meals served on site, there's plenty within walking distance; just ask at reception for the latest recommendations. For a relaxed lunch, Borough Market is a 20-30 minutes' bus ride from the hotel (depending on traffic) or about 50 minutes' walk if you want to explore on foot. After our dinner, we returned to the hotel for a nightcap in the kitsch honesty bar. The stained-glass artistry is stunning.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Walk up The Grove (past beautiful houses) to Denmark Hill and jump on a fast train to Blackfriars on the South Bank. From here, wander along past street art, buskers, The Oxo Tower, Gabriel's Wharf and the National Theatre to the London Eye; then train it back from Waterloo (via Clapham Junction)
  
• On sunny days, jump on a bus (10 mins) to leafy Brockwell Park and join swimmers in the Lido; or walk and enjoy panoramic city views from the top of the hill
  
• The Number 12 bus (opposite the hotel) goes to Oxford Street's shops, via Big Ben and Piccadilly Circus; a great-value tour of the sights!
  
• Back in Camberwell, The South London Gallery has progressive exhibitions (including Gilbert & George and other Turner Prize winners); the GX Gallery is a smart showplace for paintings
  
• Head to Brixton for lively open-air markets (including a farmers' market on Sundays, and a rotating monthly vintage clothes, flea, craft and bakers), international eateries, a film at The Ritzy, famous Electric Avenue, or live music at the famous Academy
  
• Drink cocktails and listen to live music in the hotel's basement 'Communion Bar'. There's a daily Blessed Hour from 5-8pm
  
• The Horniman Museum is a 30-minute bus ride away in Forest Hill, which is brimming with natural history artefacts and has very pleasant gardens with stunning views across the city.
  
• Head to Greenwich (approx. 30-minutes' taxi or two bus hops) for the Royal Observatory, soak up our maritime history at the Cutty Sark ship or head to another bustling, covered daytime food market.
  

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children are welcome and we stayed with our baby daughter but bear in mind this is a city hotel on a busy street and there are no family facilities.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

There's a Triple Room or families can take the double and single rooms that share a bathroom (ask on enquiry). King rooms can fit a baby cot and some have a bath.

Cots Available, Family Rooms

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is on Camberwell's Church Street (A202), near Camberwell Green, in south London. The nearest train station is Denmark Hill (about 700m). The nearest Tube stations are Oval (about 1.5km / 20 minutes' walk, or a short bus ride) and Brixton (a little further, ditto).

By Air
The closest airport is London City (16km away), but most flights land at London Heathrow (30km away) or London Gatwick (25km away). For a list of airlines serving these airports, click the links below.

From the Airport
The hotel offers transfers from all London airports - ask on booking. You can also catch a taxi, but it's just as easy to go by public transport.

By Car
Driving in London can be stressful but if you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. Drivers can park nearby; purchase a permit from reception.

Getting Around
The quickest way to travel around London is by train and Tube. There are also frequent buses from outside the hotel straight into the centre (around 30 minutes).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around