Where to Stay

Capital Gains

The idea behind this buzzy ‘urban lodge’ says Sinclair Beecham, co-founder of Pret a Manger, is ‘not to rip you off or piss you off. So instead of mini bars selling water at £3.99 a bottle, it has Pret water and Bollinger at retail prices, free broadband in the lobby, calls at 3p per minute to UK landlines – and rooms for as little as £1.

In practice, with a discount-airline pricing model, it is likely to set you back £59-£149, but that’s still exceptional value. Five minutes’ walk from Liverpool Street Station, The Hoxton is well placed for work or play, and to help you do the latter it provides a credit-card-sized guide to all the hot spots ‘within staggering distance’. There’s also an on-site bistro, The Hoxton Grille, serving healthy Bircher muesli and not-so-healthy Hoxton Fry Ups to compliment the free but meagre Lite Pret breakfasts.

The style is hip-industrial, with a touch of luxury: brick walls, leather sofas, and eagle sculptures soaring over the double-height lobby: duck-down duvets and slate bathrooms; and funky lighting by Isometrics.

ROOM TO BOOK All rooms are the same. Go for one at the back, with a view of the city skyline, or pick your favourite floor colour.