And I can assure you that you’ll feel like you’re there for your entire stay; from the ‘namaskar’ that every member of staff – clad in Indian dress – greets you with, through to the décor which makes you feel like you’ve entered a palace in Mumbai, The LaLiT London offers its guest much more than just a hotel stay – it encapsulates the essence of India, fooling you into feeling like you’ve travelled across the world when you actually haven’t left London.

Housed in what used to be St Olave’s grammar establishment for boys from 1835 to 1968, the hotel is the first international offering from the luxury Indian hotel group The LaLiT. Many of the bedrooms which once used to be classrooms or offices in the grammar school now have super comfortable beds wrapped in Indian fabrics, with tall, hand-embroidered silk headboards in warm cream, white and orange. The original beams add a homely feel to the luxury interiors and the bathrooms come with marble temperature-controlled flooring, Japanese Toto toilets and mother-of-pearls mirrors with an anti-fog system. All the necessary amenities like a minibar, a Nespresso machine and a 40-inch LED TV are there too. Spread across three floors, a few of the 70 individually designed rooms and suites boast Shard views, whilst the Thames Suite offers a stunning view of the river.

During our stay, we popped into the Teacher’s Room (or the bar) for a chai infused cocktail before dinner to prepare our tastebuds for the culinary adventure which Baluchi Restaurant guarantees. The restaurant, which once used to be the school’s assembly hall, has been turned into an opulent, royal blue room which celebrates everything Indian but still nods to the building’s history. Sapphire-tinted glass chandeliers adorn the high ceiling and the wooden floors and wood-clad walls create a warm and intimate ambience.

Food at Beluchi Restaurant is all about modern Indian gourmet cuisine. The carefully crafted menu celebrates Indian flavours, serving a selection of proteins in fragrant sauces, finished off with creatively cooked garnishes. Mains can be paired with a scrumptious selection of traditional naans, rotis or parathas, or of course - rice. Breakfast is served there too and offers a spectacular collection of traditional Indian breakfast dishes, in addition to British and continental staples.

For a more relaxed and quick meal, try The Naan'ery where you can sample four Indian breads, made with seasonal ingredients and paired with a complementing wine. In addition to a 24/7 gym and a small spa that mixes both Eastern and Western therapies, The LaLiT London also offers two meeting rooms (suitable for 8 or 12 attendees).

The LaLiT London enjoys an excellent location for both people who are visiting London for work and travellers - it’s about a five-minute walk from London Bridge and its underground station and a ten-minute walk from The Shard.

For more information and to book your stay, go to http://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-london/