Antiquarian bookshops, ornate old pubs, stately Georgian squares and creaky old antique shops… The Bloomsbury area of London feels like a city within a city. The home of the British Museum, this dignified district of grand brick-built houses, neat gardens and whitewashed terraces harks back to a more civilized, less garish age.

Its literary and academic connections run deep, with the University of London and its myriad departments – among them Birkbeck and the School of Oriental and African Studies, adding to its rather rarefied air.

And at the heart of it all, just a roar away from the lions which guard the ridiculously grand classical frontage of the British Museum, is one of the capital’s most enjoyable hotels.

The Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury is, like the area that surrounds it, a classy, though understated, grande dame.

Exquisitely refined on the outside – with its stripes of red brick and white stone, and grand rotunda-topped tower, it is sleek, modern and minimal on the inside – all dark polished wood and muted tones.

A magnet for tourists, for obvious reasons, it is also perfect for inveterate lovers of antiquities, keen to spend a weekend exploring the precincts of the British Museum – in my opinion, the greatest in the world – with its treasures from Greece, the Middle East, China and from closer to home – its current Hoards exhibition on hidden British history being particularly worthy of a peek.

Which is how I found myself checking in, one rather bleak Friday evening, for a quick blast of self-improving culture and self-indulgent luxury.

The rooms echo the hotel’s theme of classic style and cutting-edge comfort. A long passageway leading to an area kitted out with ironing board (unused in my case) and minibar (instantly plundered) and then on to the bedroom, with a huge bed, almost equally huge TV and that all important iPhone dock and speaker for those late-night sounds. Colours are toned down, fabrics are plush and the view from the window, over neighbouring flats and the rooftops of London, fascinating.

Being a traditional sort of hotel, the restaurant came as a surprise, offering essentially a choice of only two items: steak or lobster.

The concept takes some getting used to, but works – as long as you know what to expect.

Vegetarians are catered for too, with salads (yawn) and a good looking risotto dish, but this is essentially a haven for fish and meat lovers – and great fun it is too.

The lobster (available as a whole or half) was as fine as any I’ve tasted. Enjoyable to extricate from its shells and claws, it was a messy, juicy, fishy affair (apologies to the couple on the adjoining table for my ungainly theatrical display and for the airborne claw meat).

The steak looked pretty fine too – a 10oz dry-aged fillet served as standard, and was served with a lovely herb butter, though was a humdrum alternative to lobster.

Both cost an exceptionally good value £20 with a huge bowl of fries. More sides are also available – though given the size of the portions, you may regret pushing the boat out any further. I certainly did – though made use of the stylish bar next door to restore my strength over a very fine single malt (a peaty Laphroaig, actually – in my opinion the king of whiskies. Not cheap but then you only need the one… or maybe two… doubles).

Oxford Mail:

  • The Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury

If drinking’s your thing, the hotel is ideally placed – with a string of those high-ceilinged distinctly London boozers with their ornate carved woodwork and decent ale, on every corner.

The more cultured might want to eat early and head the short distance to Theatreland; the less cultured could do the same and head to the fleshpots (or what passes for such, these days) of Soho.

I did the latter – though kept it tame at the fun-loving, easy-going and, I’m delighted to report, hipster-free O Bar.

Bleary eyed and back at the Radisson the next morning, it was time for a classic full English breakfast with gallons of tea, and on to the British Museum, where I went in search of Lindow Man: a poor chap preserved in peat, dating back to 2 BC. I joined a small crowd, stroking our chins – grimacing but unable to drag ourselves away.

How very English.

How very Bloomsbury.

THE FACTS
* The Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury, 9-13 Bloomsbury Street, London.
Book at 020 7666 2662 or radissonblu-edwardian.com/
Rates start this weekend at £169 a night.

* Between March 21-April 10, the hotel is offering a special Easter package, including a night in a deluxe or standard room with complimentary full English breakfast, free wifi and a chocolate Easter egg from world-famous chocolatiers Charbonnel et Walker. Also available at other Radisson Blu hotels.