The Berkeley is a proper old-school address with spectacular Hyde Park views. In the same family as The Connaught and Claridge’s, it always has an eye on keeping things fresh. For example, non-guests queue up for in-house patissier Cédric Grolet’s croissants.

Designer Anya Hindmarch’s village is a collection of joyful and evolving stores on the Pimlico side of Pont Street. There’s been a mesmerising stationery shop and a kitsch scuba store as well as annual installations including a magical Christmas grotto and an ice cream project serving mad flavours such as Heinz baked beans and Branston piccalilli. Year round, head to Anya Café for a shopping pit stop of playful Battenberg slices and googley-eyed cupcakes. 

The Dorch rules Park Lane with a historic guest list that includes David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor. The pink marble bathroom in the Harlequin Penthouse was installed especially for the latter. These days we love the scalloped armchairs in the Martin Brudnizki-designed Vesper Bar (named after Ian Fleming, another former guest) and medical-grade facials in the spa. Plus, the knockout views from the summer terrace, which remains a relative secret.