Luxury Hotels in London - a Luxury Explorer guide

How does a legend get reborn? Go to the finely overhauled The Connaught in London's village of Mayfair to discover the answer. I did. I am converted, and I now believe in legends having a second life. The Connaught did not undertake this venture without seriously considering the implications of change. Some people don't like change but, as The Connaught was ready for a refreshing refurbishment...

If you have yet to visit the Sanderson Hotel, a skip from Oxford Street and a hop into Soho and theatre-land, then you could be forgiven for driving past - assuming it was yet another late fifties institutional London office block. Stop. Entering the Sanderson impels a surreal feeling of futuristic throwback, regardless of your age: Austin Powers meets Woody Allen in Sleeper, while Caroll's Alice sips on a divine cocktail called 'Envy'...

The Berkeley hotel could hardly be better located if it shifted an inch, let alone a mile. It is ranked among the best hotels in London - quite a mean feat - and right now I would say it was the outright winner for "buzziness". Only The Berkeley has, at one end of the ground floor, Petrus, featuring marvellous double Michelin-wonder Marcus Wareing and his adorable celebrity maitre d' sidekick Jean-Philippe Susilovic...

Something big has hit the Dorchester. It's not a meteor, but it is galactic; a star propelled at an impressive pace, with skill, imagination, creativity and delectability. If this is the first time you've heard the name, it certainly won't be the last: a true Scouser named Aiden Byrne. The Dorchester has reached an all time high, but now it is set to go even higher...

If you don't fall in love with One Aldwych at the first encounter then, at the very least, you will fall in deep respect. It is a staggeringly smooth, slick, stylish tour de force in a magically theatrical location.
One Aldwych was built in 1907 by Mewes and Davis for The Morning Post newspaper. The exterior glistens with the patina of its past and the architecture stands out as something quite unique on this theatre-laden street...

From its dazzling location at the hub of Covent Garden, West End theatres and Trafalgar Square, St Martins Lane is a dramatic and daring reinvention of the urban resort. Smart, witty and sophisticated, Philippe Starck's design is a brilliant marriage of influences - from modern to baroque. It is often referred to as magical, being one of a kind with a sparkling energy...

Situated in the heart of London, The City, Threadneedles is a private universe of cosseting comfort, style, space and unique charm. Coming in from the bustling Threadneedle Street, a street steeped in fascinating history, you are transported into a calm retreat lit ethereally by the extraordinary central Dome made of stained glass from the 19th Century...

We stayed in a corner suite overlooking Hyde Park. Almost every kind of pursuit takes place within its 625 acres all year round; jogging, horse-riding, rollerblading, swimming, boating, tennis, cycling, casual cricket and football and, of course, the leisurely stroll. Hyde Park is a fascinating world within London housing a number of famous attractions...

The Halkin sits perfectly in perhaps the most exclusive postcode of London: SW1, in Belgravia. This area is made up of Georgian houses, the most magnificent architectural period, with plane trees lining most sidewalks and a patrician ambiance resonating in the expensive air. Although within easy access of shops, being between Knightsbridge and Mayfair, the Halkin is a calm retreat from all the bustle...

Durley House is a suite-hotel a few doors down from Harvey Nichols on Sloane Street and a few doors up from the King's Road. It overlooks Cadogan Gardens and each suite is decorated in English country style to reflect its glorious Georgian facade. In the winter the fires are roaring and you can wake up to a full English breakfast brought to you by your butler...

This grand affair has perhaps the most convenient and agreeable addresses in London. A Kelly Bag's throw from Bond Street, this hotel landmark is luxurious, graceful, serene and has the Michelin starred chef, Gordon Ramsey, cooking up a storm in the sensational eponymous restaurant. The Evening Standard - while mentioning some famous faces who patronize the hotel such as Tom Ford, Sophie Dahl and Kate Moss - describe Claridges as being 'traditional without being stuffy, stylish without being transient'. Well you know what they say... if it's good enough for them...