After a busy day Christmas shopping or seeing the sights in the capital, the last thing you want to face is a long trip home.

So for festive shopping until you drop – or taking the pick of the January sales – there’s The Levin, a little gem of a hotel tucked behind Harrods in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge, just 30 metres from the tube station.

The sophisticated boutique townhouse hideaway offers a perfect combination of welcoming home comforts, friendly service and luxury in the ideal location.

It’s such a hidden treasure that our cabbie hadn’t heard of it, although as soon as we mentioned its better-known neighbouring sister hotel – the five-star The Capital – he knew exactly where to take us.

At The Levin we found contemporary charm, attentive service and stylish accommodation.

The 12 bedrooms are designed in a 1930s style with fabrics by British designers William Yeoward and Designers Guild and Art-Deco feature lighting by Sharon Marston.

All the in-room facilities you’d expect to find in a high-end hotel - air conditioning, spa-grade toiletries, free high-speed internet access, Nespresso machine and even a Penguin Classics mini library are in place – and it has a particularly personal feel too.

We were soon on chatting terms with the lovely and helpful receptionist, who explained where everything was located and how things worked.

After dumping our bags, lunch was taken in the adjoining Restaurant at The Capital, where the new chef Adam Simmonds comes with a stellar reputation – Michelin star at both his previous establishments and held over many years.

Relaxed and unstuffy (not always the case in Knightsbridge), the menu is focused on all things British.

He uses fresh seasonal ingredients to create some interesting dishes such as salt baked celeriac with fresh curd, gooseberries, lovage and truffle or parmesan custard, Scottish girolles, tarragon and wet almonds. And, our attentive and knowledgeable waiter recommended some excellent wines to make sure we enjoyed the flavours all the more.

Oxford Mail:

It’s open daily for lunch from noon to 2pm and for dinner from 6.30-10pm, and Levin guests can cross-charge the meal to their room.

Breakfast was in the pleasant open-plan reception area, a help-yourself buffet affair which added to the impression we were in an upmarket B&B or even a private house party.

Feeling suitably mellow and well fed, we were ready to hit the shops!

For style and sophistication, London’s original boutique grand hotel, The Capital, is next door.

The Capital offers 49 superb bedrooms including eight suites, a stunning penthouse and a selection of comfortable apartments.

The stylish Capital Bar complements a sophisticated restaurant, and there is a variety of elegant rooms for private hire and dining. In addition to The Levin, 10 Capital Apartments for longer stays are also available: all accommodation options are just across the pedestrian walkway from Harrods – convenient, if you’re feeling flush, for picking up something showy for someone special (or even yourself!).

Also close by are Harvey Nichols, Hyde Park and significant London landmarks such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Royal Albert Hall. The West End and Theatreland are a short taxi ride away – as are the bright lights of Oxford Street.

Oxford Mail:

This year London’s biggest shopping street has outdone itself, with Christmas lights, new restaurants and popular destinations such as Selfridges – with its new restaurant Brasserie Of Light.

A visit to the opulent store and its famous window displays is always fun, but even more exciting is the Winter Carnival on the roof at nearby John Lewis – which this year has taken on an Americana theme.

It includes fairground horses, bumper cars and all-day entertainment. And when it all gets too much, there’s that lovely bed back at The Levin to sink into.

  • The Levin, is at 28 Basil St, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1AS.
  • The hotel is the sister property to The Capital, (warwickhotels.com/the-capital). It has 12 well-appointed and sizeable rooms and a lounge area linked to the reception where a hot and cold breakfast buffet and all day coffees and teas are served.
  • For reservations see warwickhotels.com/the-levin or call 020 7589 6286.