Tucked away just off Marylebone’s bustling High Street is a hotel that combines modern comfort with old school elegance. Genteel and inviting, the Durrants is formal and refined, without being stuffy. This isn’t the Ritz (ornate chandeliers, marble columns, excessively opulent surroundings), and it isn’t Travelodge either. Needless to say the Durrants is somewhere in between, and it’s far more snug and welcoming than both establishments combined.

When you first step into the Durrant’s hotel lobby it feels like you’ve arrived at a classic country estate, but with the convenience of being in central London. George Street is a relatively calm avenue of the West End: occupied, but not too busy; residential but a stone’s throw from Marylebone High Street and the West End’s main artery: Oxford Street.

Not without its imperfections (bouncy floors, dated décor, peculiar touches like a sofa placed on the side of a corridor – odd, but convenient if you’ve knocked back a few too many brandy’s at the bar and can’t quite make it to bed!), the Durrant’s endearing flaws and quintessential English character make it all the more charming.

With 92 rooms joined by winding corridors, adorned with original art and antiques throughout, the hotel has a timeless quality, and its elegant fixtures stand as a reminder of the building’s 18th century origins. Created from a terrace of Georgian houses the hotel has incorporated several neighbouring residences into the original structure, with the key features being its restaurant and bar; open to both residents and non-residents.

The bar’s cosy communal side rooms offer the perfect place for visitors to unwind, with pine-and-mahogany-panels, leather arm chairs, painted portraits, and large windows (ivy framed on the outside) overlooking genteel George Street. Drinks come with complimentary crisps (I'm also treated to some tasty wee cocktail sausages) and the bar staff are friendly and efficient.

My room is poky but cosy, with dark wood furniture and a decent bed. There’s a reasonable sized wardrobe (containing a safe), a confined but clean bathroom, and a plasma screen TV that stands out against its old-fashioned surroundings. Striped cream wallpaper and an embroidered floral bed quilt make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The furnishings are traditional and outdated, while being as quaint and familiar as your grandmother’s guest room.

Feasting in the decorous restaurant is a pleasant dining experience. The menu features heavily on traditional British fare such as roast beef (carved in front of you), as well as some tasty alternatives: sea bass, gravlax, and delicious desserts including crusty crème brûlée and poached pear tart with cream served by an attentive gentleman waiter dressed in customary attire who's as sweet as the treats he serves. Breakfast (English or continental) is dished up in the restaurant from 10.00am.

My night at Durrants Hotel was a warming experience; I felt like I had stayed with family. This little-known, privately-owned gem is a modest, relaxing alternative to the countless - and incredibly pretentious - designer hotels popping up all over London. It’s unlikely you’ll find any diva celebrities being 'papped' outside of here; the Durrants establishment is far too classy for such shenanigans. With incredibly friendly, helpful, and courteous staff, it’s a relief to visit a hotel that is superior in service and remains faithful to time-honoured British traditions.

Durrants Hotel, George Street, Marylebone, London W1H 5BJ
Reservations: 020 7935 8131

By Abbey Stirling/MOLI