Zone locale

Foodies delight at the sweet and savoury treats, fresh farm produce and locally sourced meat in Borough Market, about 13 miles from the hotel. Stop for lunch and feast on artisanal focaccia bread or homemade steak-and-kidney pies while the kids enjoy a fist-sized chocolate meringue. Afterwards, you could walk along the river past Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe to cross the Millennium Bridge.

Valentines Mansion & Gardens are only a few minutes by taxi from the hotel. The 1690s mansion has recreations of Georgian and Victorian rooms and grounds with vibrant rose gardens and rococo grottoes. Imagine life as a country squire as you ascend the wide staircase to the upper floor, a studio that showcases local artists' work, from painting and ceramics to carvings and intricate glasswork.

You can test your cycling skills on the Lee Valley VeloPark's banked Olympic track, or swim lengths in the London Aquatics Centre's 50-metre pool, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 25 minutes' drive from the hotel. If you prefer to watch, catch a sporting fixture at the Copper Box Arena, or climb Anish Kapoor's soaring ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture for views over the park and the city.

If you have your children with you, you can take them to see tigers, gorillas and playful penguins at the ZSL London Zoo, only 13 miles from the hotel. Walk through enclosures with free-roaming monkeys, butterflies and armadillos; look out for giraffes, otters and pygmy hippos. If you need a break, there are plenty of places where you can stop for a coffee, an ice cream or a stone-baked pizza.