Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury

Although constructed in 2000, the Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury -- with its uniform glass and brick facade -- occupies a building that mirrors the (in)famous 1960s modernist architecture of its immediate surroundings. Inside, however, the feel is more 21st century. The hotel's spacious reception area is sparsely dotted with contemporary low-profile seating in dark leather, finished with simple clean lines, and decorated with colorful artworks celebrating the capital. The ambience never breaks away from its mid-market, chain-hotel origins, however interiors are well-maintained and there's plenty of common space abuzz with a range of business and tourists guests. An Irish pub, with cozy wood booths and international flags, also attracts the odd local resident.

The hotel is located on a relatively quiet street just off Russell Square and its Tube station in the Bloomsbury neighborhood of central London. The modernist/brutalist Brunswick Centre is just next door, and also houses various restaurants and shops, as well as a cinema showing independent films. The British Museum is just a couple of blocks away. The swanky restaurants and pubs of Fitzrovia are within 10 to 15 minutes on foot, while Tottenham Court Road station and the start of Oxford Street shopping are a 15 minutes' walk. The King's Cross train station and transport hub is also under a mile away, where the Eurostar terminates.

The hotel has 316 rooms, all of which are decorated in the chain's signature styling of simple modern furnishings, carpeted floors, and patterned fabrics. The color scheme consists of blues and grays, with small, brightly colored abstract prints on the walls. There are few surprises with in-room amenities -- flat-screen TV, tea/coffee facilities, and Wi-Fi (though not free of charge). A choice of pillows and blackout curtains are a bonus, while rooms are relatively spacious for London -- however windows don't open, and despite air-conditioning rooms can feel stuffy in the summer. Although generally well-maintained, some of the rooms are showing signs of wear, and a few suffer from poor internal soundproofing.

The hotel's restaurant -- The Junction --  serves a full breakfast buffet each morning (not generally included in the rate) as well as your typical menu of international dishes for lunch and dinner. The Junction Bar & Lounge is fairly swish, in a chain hotel fashion, and serves Starbucks coffee as well the usual salads and sandwiches, plus some international entrees. Drinks can also be enjoyed in the Callaghans Irish pub on the ground floor of the hotel, which also serves fairly tasty pub food and has a small beer garden. The hotel is particularly well-catered for business, with a well-equipped business center in addition to 15 funky, contemporary-styled meeting rooms, some with space for hundreds of guests. Wi-Fi, however, is not free of charge for regular guests and can get expensive. An off-site gym is available for a fee. Kids eat free.