It takes all my energy to muster up the enthusiasm required to tackle the dreaded mountain of Christmas shopping which is fast approaching.

And yet this year was different, largely due to Seven Dials in London, a gorgeous, intimate, boutiquey, kitsch district in London’s West End which boasts over 120 shops, 50 vibrant cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs, two luxury hotels and five theatres.

If you baulk at London and its possibilities, befuddled by choice, and traumatised by the traditional Christmas hell holes such as Oxford Street, then take it from me, this is the sane way to do it.

Whether you go for the day, the evening or stay overnight and make a proper trip of it, all the hassle and angst can be left firmly at home.

The train from Oxford Parkway to Marylebone is easy and then it’s just a short taxi trip away from One Aldwych Hotel in central theatreland – the perfect retreat from the busy streets outside. First up was a stunning cocktail in the modern hotel bar. And then round the corner to the hotel’s new Basque restaurant Eneko, set up by three Michelin starred Spanish chef Eneko Atxa’s, meaning we were wined and dined to within an inch of our lives. Indeed it was one of the best meals in a long time, the attention to detail second to none, the vibrant, detailed, tasty food a pleasure to behold, while the atmosphere was distinctly unpressurised and fun.

And while local cocktail bar The Escapologist beckoned, we opted instead to get a decent night’s sleep and the shop in style the next day, an easy decision to make considering the lure of our sleek, generous, contemporary hotel room.

After a wonderful breakfast courtesy of room service, we ventured down to the hotel pool and spa where I enjoyed an amazing OSKIA facial, setting me up for the day ahead as I emerged glowing from our luxurious residence.

Time being of the essence, we made a bee-line for new cult Boston beauty shop Fresh, whose skincare products are creating a massive media buzz, emerging, bags loaded, to venture on to my favourite perfume shop in the whole world Miller Harris, which boasts the only female perfumier in the country.

Her fragrances are second to none, the complexity and depth of the evocative notes coming one after the other, all ably explained by Guillaune who helped us narrow our choices down to the one perfect bottle of scent. More bags, and onwards, as we marvelled at the extent of the shops and the range of products and amenities. The brands are here too, from Office to Lee, G Star to Orla Kiely, Benefit and Tatty Devine, all interspersed with one-off boutiques galore. By tea time, our growing number of bags meant we needed a sit down, providently provided by the uber sleek and brand new Monmouth Kitchen, affiliated to the Mercer Hotel. It serves a modern take on a High Tea (£26), and I was an instant convert enjoying the cerviche style mini tacos, the lemon scones with nectarine preserve, the delicious bruschetta and even the white peach and oregano panna cotta.

Full both culturally, materially and gastronomically we then headed home, our 24 hour London trip over, my Christmas shopping done. Seven Dials is the way forward.

Tonight is Seven Dials main shopping event from 5pm-9pm, boasting an immersive switch-on and a 20% discount across 100 brands, on Monmouth, Earlham, Endell, Shelton, Neal and Mercer Streets, Shorts Gardens, Neal’s Yard, and the Seven Dials monument. SevenDials.co.uk

One Aldwych from £305 per night www.onealdwych.com