On a fleeting visit to London, DAVE FLETT finds just the place to stay with sky-high views thrown in too

FOR a hotel that specialises in evening cocktails, the Hilton London Metropole provides the perfect opportunity to mix business with pleasure.

Long a popular choice for domestic and overseas businessmen, with its ability to manage events for up to 3,000 delegates, the Edgware Road establishment is now a sound choice for families considering the capital for a Christmas break.

Such is the hotel’s all-embracing nature that children of any age can accompany you into the executive lounge, should you need to check work emails.

Spacious rooms, originally designed for American businessmen, now double up to provide the largest family rooms in London with two double beds and a pair of 32-inch LCD TVs, meaning night-time relaxation need not lead to a battle for remote control supremacy.

Alternatively, mum and dad can stay in one room while older children are accommodated in another at half the price.

Located ten minutes from Oxford Street and the Westfield shopping centre, the hotel offers discounted tickets for most London attractions such as Madame Tussauds, the Planetarium and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, as well as West End shows like The Lion King and Wicked.

Children up to the age of ten can also eat and drink for free at the Fiamma Restaurant, with the numerous eateries at the hotel providing a welcome retreat from the fast pace of the city, where dining options can often be over-priced and underwhelming.

The views from the 23rd-floor Minako At The Met, which serves excellent Asian Fusion food, are some of the best in London and, while children are welcome in line with the hotel’s family-friendly theme, the option is also there for parents of a romantic disposition to take advantage of the hotel’s Safehands baby-sitting service.

Reflective glass panels between the window tables provide a clever means of ensuring privacy and intimacy while sampling one of the 50 cocktails on offer is a must, with the signature Thai Bellini – a blend of lychee and peach puree, lime, lemongrass and champagne – highly recommended.

Staying on the subject of food, a one-night stay will not be sufficient to sample everything on offer from the mouth-watering breakfast buffet, which rivals Las Vegas hotels for its size and variety.

If you can avoid sinking to the bottom due to the culinary temptations on offer, the swimming pool is also worth a visit with floats and toys once more catering for your little ones.

Ideal for tired legs, the hotel lies only a 20-second walk away from Edgware Road and is in an equally attractive location for car users just off the A40.

It is also just four underground stops from King’s Cross train station for Yorkshire-based visitors.

Availability should not be a problem, as no other UK hotel is able to sleep as many guests.

• For further details and to learn about the latest offers visit hiltonlondonmet.com/hotel or phone 0207 4024141.