The Stratford Hotel ★★★★

It couldn’t be further from it now, but Stratford was, for quite some time, an agricultural community built on marshland. In fact, it wasn’t until the Victorian era that the area transformed with the introduction of industrialisation, the railway, and the docks. A hundred years later, it returned to a diminished status, as the industrialisation that came to define the area was severely rolled back. Soft pushes towards a more commercially robust area began in earnest, until the Olympic bid suddenly catapulted development. Now, every inch of it is chic and contemporary, and the Manhattan Loft Gardens building, occupied by The Stratford, is the current cherry-on-top. Towering above the station, three eye-catching notches cut through the building, each of them featuring an architectural sky garden boasting vistas of the city.

The Stratford Hotel London is a design hotel, and upon entering, you’ll be struck by the timeless sophistication of the space. You’ll be staying in the Standard Room, a deceptive name, given that it’s the absolute epitome of Scandinavian chic, with its tasteful lighting and supremely plush bed. Likewise, the Medium Room is elegant and contemporary, with a touch more space for additional seating. You’ll love the complimentary ultrafast Wi-Fi and international calls, whilst dog-owners will be delighted to know they can even bring their beloved pets – a feat virtually unheard of in an inner-city hotel of this calibre.

The Stratford aims to be a highly communal space in an attempt to combat the isolation that often comes hand-in-hand with both city-breaks and city-living. The eateries epitomise this approach. Enjoy all-day dining at the Stratford Brasserie, a restaurant characterised by its defiant break from ‘rough’ aesthetic tropes plaguing East End establishments, in favour of Scandinavian elegance - with an open kitchen, lounge and outdoor terrace. Ben Harrington (Soho House) implores you to try tasty seasonal dishes made with local produce. Come September, head to Allegra, where Patrick Powell promises to blend high-end European cuisine with warm hospitality. You can dine outside, bordered by The Highline sky garden overlooking the Olympic Park. And a moment of relaxation at the Mezzanine, with its premium spirits and finest Champagnes, never goes amiss. If Stratford wasn’t the place to be already, it certainly is now.