It's been one of those trips my boyfriend and I have been meaning to do for a long time - take a few days out in London and explore.

So, at the weekend we did just that.

We hopped on a train from Kent and took a short journey into the Capital for a stay at The Pelham Hotel in South Kensington.

After a very short walk from South Kensington underground station we were greeted with a bold white, classy, elegant town house.

Notably, once inside, the hussle and bussle of London's streets soon faded.

Having looked up the rooms ahead of our stay, we were both keen to see which one we'd get and it didn't disappoint.

A junior suite which included an enormous bed with luxurious linen, a bathroom with all the little extras you need (including soft dressing gowns and slippers) and then there was the walk in wardrobe (a must for every woman!)

The five star hotel has 51 bedrooms - all uniquely decorated.

Ours was country classic but with a twist. It consisted of antique furnishings, an over-sized headboard and art deco style wallpaper.

With the hotel being so well located, during our stay we were able to enjoy several walks into Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park stopping off for lunch and coffee at nearby cafes.

We were also able to look around several museums situated nearby.

We opted for the National History Museum and the Saatchai Gallery - both free entry and worth the visit!

After walking several miles around the city we were ready to unwind.

The hotel has a drawing room - a charming area where we could sit comfortably and have a drink before heading down for dinner. It features a well stocked Honesty Bar including champagne, a range of spirits and soft drinks. A perfect area to relax.

Dinner at La Trattoria by Alfredo Russo is a must. Having recently been refurbished it offers an intimate place to dine beneath the hotel.

Before I describe the delicious food - I need to mention the staff.

Both the waitress Alexa and manager Marco were passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the restaurant, the food that's served and both catered for us perfectly.

As described on the hotels website Alfredo's menu is made to be "shared" - and that we did.

It's traditional, homely and honest Italian food.

We ordered the antipasto misto (a selection of cured meats and pickles) with bread for starters (they even catered for me who can't eat gluten), we then moved onto the first course which included the tagliatelle al ragu (tagliatelle pasta with beef ragu) and the pasta e fagioli (pasta and Tuscan bean stew) for first course.

It was then the turn of the mains - we ordered the brasato al vino rosso (braised beef in red wine) and the merluzzo acqua pazza e pomodorini (poached cod in a savoury broth).

I was completely stuffed and couldn't manage a desert but my boyfriend, Rick, had the panna cotta - even though the tiramisu, we were told, is 'the best in town'.

The restaurant is transformed come the morning. It's light and fresh and there's a range of breakfast options available to start the day.

From the tradition full english, eggs cooked anyway you like, and a huge variety of fruit, cereals and yogurts.

When it came to us leaving the hotel we thought we'd write a note in the guest book to thank the staff for our stay. It seems we weren't the only one who's were impressed!

Click for more details and prices at The Pelham Hotel