Penthouse Suite, Marylebone Hotel
Urban, chic and modern without straying too far into minimalism, the top-tier suite at Marylebone Hotel has something few London hotels could match: a 40 square metre private terrace fitted with a fireplace and a flatscreen television. The terrace is the suite’s pièce de résistance but the 80 square metre interiors are equally as alluring, with a separate dining room, an open-plan lounge, dining room and bar, and a sophisticated marble bathroom, fitted with a monsoon shower and whirlpool tub. Guests can simply totter downstairs to dine at the elegant 108 Brasserie for exemplary farm-to-fork British fare, while the famed West End district is minutes away.
The Kensington Suite, The Kensington Hotel
British luxury meets classic French elegance in this 180 square metre sanctuary, which includes not one, but two separate living rooms and three bedrooms, all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows. The exclusive boutiques of fashionable Knightsbridge are a mere coin toss away, while culturalists will appreciate the hotel’s location close to the Victoria & Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall.
After you’ve spent a day soaking up the 19th century charm of South Kensington, you can spend the evening soaking like royalty in the suite’s claw-footed roll-top Victorian bath. The elegant tub is just a taste of the suite’s antique furnishings, which includes decorative fireplaces, a lacquered cocktail cabinet and 1930s Murano and Waterford Crystal chandeliers.
Cinema Suite, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences
Lights, camera, luxury. The Cinema Suite is an opulent – if not eccentric – tribute to film history, the 170 square metre space designed by acclaimed Indian couture designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. An atmospheric boudoir of Chesterfield lounges, stag heads and gold-gilded frames featuring all the cinematic greats like Pedro Almodovar and Francis Ford Coppola, the suite has two bedrooms and a study artfully crammed with books and antiques.
There’s also a powder room (perfect for those red-carpet preparations), but film buffs staying in for the evening can watch movies on the 85-inch 3D television with a Steinway Lyngdorf surround-sound system. As for popcorn? Simply summon the butler to order your ‘cinematic platter’.
Opus Suite, The Berkeley
This lavish suite affords a 270-degree view over Hyde Park and Wilton Place in Knightsbridge, but the interiors are a visual feast in their own right. Designed by world-renowned interiors architect Andre Fu, responsible for Singapore’s Fullerton Bay and Hong Kong’s The Upper House, the aesthetic blends symmetry and understated elegance, along with bespoke furnishings and a curated series of commissioned artwork – handpicked by the designer himself.
With muted earthy tones, bamboo, limestone and hammer-headed bronze accents, the suite is fitted with state-of-the-art integrated technology, a Poggenpohl kitchen and dining room seating up to 10 people, along with an eco-smart fireplace. Special mention must go to the bathroom: made entirely from solid marble, it spans an enormous 28 square metres. Unsurprisingly, guests can expect an experience that excels on every level, from the personalised Rivolta pillowcases and robes to the Burberry trench coat, which you can borrow for the duration of your stay, should London’s grey skies prevail.
Royal Suite, Jumeirah Carlton Tower
With a name like Royal Suite, it’s no surprise this suite features furnishings befitting of Buckingham Palace, fitted with every regal amenity under the sun from a free-standing bar and kitchen with a 10-seat dining room table to 24-hour butler service and a Bang & Olufsen audio visual system. There’s even a Swarovski crystal-studded ceiling in the bathroom, which comes kitted out with a jacuzzi, under-floor heating and REN amenities.
The 155 square metre suite overlooks the vista of Cadogan Gardens and the high-end boutiques on Sloane Street, and along with a private entrance, tech-savvy features abound, including remote controlled curtains and lights and a door video security system. Listen to the soothing sounds of a resident harpist while having afternoon tea at Chinoiserie, or dine on British cuisine at the three AA Rosette restaurant, the Rib Room. Fitness buffs will adore the Peak Health Club & Spa, which, along with a gymnasium, has a golf simulator, an award-winning spa and a 20-metre indoor stainless steel swimming pool.
Sterling Suite, The Langham
Sterling by name, pure gold by nature, the Sterling Suite at The Langham will be unveiled later this month after the hotel’s final stages of renovation, and it’s not only tipped to be the most luxurious stay imaginable, it’s the city’s largest at 450 square metres with a possible six bedroom configuration, making it ideal as a family stay (for those with deep pockets). With three master bedrooms and three deluxe rooms, the suite is inspired by the heritage of English pageantry and precious materials. Designed by Richmond, the attention to detail and design is consummate, with hand blown Murano glass light fixtures by Barovier & Toso and Baroncelli, and more than 60 fabrics and textiles from luxurious suppliers, among them Rubelli and Dedar, Pierre Frey and Townsend leathers.
Artwork by revered British artists and photographers lines the walls, while custom-made furniture features exquisite gold and silver leaf hand-painted finishes, and marble and antique mirror work. Among the ample list of luxuries, the drawing room features a unique dual-tone piano, a bespoke fireplace and a butler’s bar, while the expansive dressing room has delicate, hand-painted chinoiserie on silver leaf panels and verre eglomise glass with gilded age details. Suite guests can enjoy the hotel’s exclusive facilities (such as the new member’s club, The Langham Club), and enjoy a private lift via Langham House, a private dining area and a separate home theatre lounge. Along with a 24-hour butler service, this suite really is the cream of the crop.
Belgraves, The Penthouse
With interiors masterminded by Brit designer Tara Bernerd, the Belgraves has the sophisticated aesthetic of a private member’s club with a distinct edge. With rich textures and sleek, contemporary lines, the hotel’s moody dark hues are offset by bold artworks – a signature style that carries over to the premium pad: the Penthouse suite.
Spread out over 70 square metres, the suite has all the luxurious trimmings to warrant its name, such as a king-sized bed fitted with Sferra linens and a leather headboard; a colossal solid marble bathroom with Frette terrycloth robes and Ren amenities and a step-out terrace. There’s also a guest bedroom, which could prove rather useful when your friends refuse to leave. You can mix up a drink at the suite’s wet bar, cosy up in front of the fireplace, or explore the hotel’s other offerings, from the cigar terrace, where you can sample a vintage Cuban cigar and a cocktail, to Pont St – overseen by chef Sophie Michell.
Royal Suite, Baglioni Hotel London
Wake with a sense of La Dolce Vita to a leafy view over Hyde Park from the most prestigious suite at the Baglioni Hotel London. The Italian owned hotel is a favourite among visiting A-listers, and it’s only a short saunter from the city’s historic and cultural landmarks and nightlife, including the Royal Albert Hall. With Murano chandeliers, silk and velvet upholstered furnishings, a marble fireplace and the hotel’s signature striped fabric walls, this three-bedroom suite is luxuriously appointed and spans 240 square metres with two living rooms and an expansive terrace.
You can soak in the tub of the sumptuous black marble bathroom (stocked with Italian made Ortigia amenities) or book in for a leisurely afternoon at the on site Baglioni SPA, which has Turkish baths and Natura Bissé beauty treatments. Expect classic Italian hospitality and finesse throughout, from the Mediterranean cuisine and Sassicaia wines at Brunello Restaurant, right down to the Illy espresso machine in your suite. Naturally, you’ll have a chauffeur-driven Jaguar service for the duration of your stay, along with a private butler.
Ham Yard Hotel, Terrace Suite
Bright, bold and beautiful– the interiors of this luxury boutique hotel conceptualised by Firmdale Hotels designer Kit Kemp and hotelier husband Tim, are gorgeously vibrant with Kemp’ eye-catching textiles scattered throughout, from hand-embroidered Suzani curtains from Kit Kemp’s Chelsea Textiles collection to brightly patterned headboards. The 145 square metre Terrace Suite is the hotel’s plum stay, with a living room, dining area, powder room and an Italian Boffi kitchen, it affords views over a tree-filled courtyard and of London’s skyline from the terrace.
With two king-sized bedrooms, the granite and oak bathroom has a walk-in shower, a freestanding tub and Kit Kemp’s range of Rik Rak amenities. There’s a butler to take care of any requests, a minibar filled with British treats, and even a personal iPad or Macbook to use for the duration of your stay. The hotel is a mere amble from Piccadilly Circus, but for evenings in, there’s plenty to entertain with a restaurant and lounge, a rooftop garden, a drawing room, library, 176-seat theatre and even a four-lane bowling alley.