Plaza Nueva / Centro

Hotel Inglaterra Sevilla

★★★★★

The Hotel Inglaterra has been welcoming travellers on the Plaza Nueva since 1857, which makes it one of the oldest hotels in Seville, and it remains one of the most dependable mid-range choices in the centre. The Plaza Nueva is a broad square of palms and benches in front of the City Hall, on the tram line and at the junction of the old town's main shopping streets, the Calle Tetuán and the Calle Sierpes, and from the hotel you can walk to the Cathedral in five minutes, to the river in five more, and to Triana across the bridge in a quarter of an hour. The hotel itself is a classic, well-kept city hotel rather than a design statement, with traditional décor, professional service and a range of room categories, from classic doubles and twins to deluxe and premium rooms, and the most sought-after rooms of all, those with a private terrace overlooking the square. The facilities are more complete than in most old-town hotels: a restaurant and tapas bar, the SEIS bar-restaurant, a rooftop terrace with views over the city, La Galería Club lounge with complimentary tea and coffee, a buffet breakfast, a 24-hour reception with tourist information, and, rarely for the centre, on-site parking for guests arriving by car. Small pets are welcome. It is a good choice for first-time visitors who want a central, practical base, for couples who book a terrace room, and for travellers arriving by car who want to park once and walk everywhere.

Who it suits: first-timers, couples and travellers who value a central location and reliable comfort over boutique style. Families can make it work in the larger rooms, though there is no pool. Those looking for a patio house or a rooftop pool should look at the casa palacio hotels of Santa Cruz instead.

Living in it: book a room with a terrace over the Plaza Nueva if you can; they are worth the supplement. Take a drink on the rooftop terrace in the evening, and use the hotel as a base for exploring both banks of the river: the Cathedral and Alcázar to the south-east, the Setas and El Salvador to the north, and Triana across the Isabel II bridge. The square can be lively during festivals and processions, especially in Holy Week, when several brotherhoods pass nearby; ask for an interior room if you are a light sleeper. Booking direct often adds small extras, such as a daily bottle of water. The tram stop on the square links the hotel to the Avenida de la Constitución and the San Bernardo area, useful on hot days, and the Calle Sierpes and Calle Tetuán shopping streets start at the corner, which makes it a convenient base for shopping as well as sightseeing.

Value: rates are mid-range for central Seville and rise during Holy Week and the April Fair. Seville does not currently charge a tourist tax. The value case is location and practicality: a historic, well-run hotel on one of the city's main squares, with parking, a rooftop terrace and terrace rooms, at a fair price.