Claridge’s

Character and identity

In the heart of Mayfair, moments from Bond Street, Claridge's has been trading on its Art Deco glamour since the Jazz Age, and the chequered-floor lobby with its Chihuly chandelier above a vast white-rose display remains the property's calling card. Across roughly 200 rooms and suites styled by the likes of Bryan O'Sullivan, Diane von Furstenberg and Michelle Wu, the look runs from traditional to deco-geometric. Culinary Director Simon Attridge oversees Claridge's Restaurant and The Foyer (home to the century-old afternoon tea), the 1930s Fumoir bar pours vintage cocktails, and André Fu's 7,000-square-foot subterranean spa sits 120 feet below ground.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for here is the combination of Art Deco theatre, the afternoon tea ritual and a service culture that quietly makes things happen. The hotel itself is the occasion, so commit to it: book a suite in the newer wing (the O'Sullivan-designed Mayfair, or the Georgian if budget allows) for balconies over Brook Street, and time a visit around the unveiling of the designer Christmas tree if you can.