Indulge in Timeless Opulence With a Stay at the Claridge’s Hotel

With Michelin-starred food, butler service and designer furnishings, staying at the Claridge’s Hotel provides the perfect luxurious escape

Words Hannah Hopkins

The Hotel

Opened in 1898, Claridge’s is a seven-storey terracotta-faced pile designed by the same architect who later built Harrods department store. A true London landmark, it’s considered to be one of the best five-star luxury hotels in the world. Based in well-heeled Mayfair with grand Art Deco decor, timeless glamour and impeccable service, it’s not hard to see why. It has had a litany of starry guests including royalty, celebrities, tycoons, fashionistas and very wealthy families, but for most it’s the perfect way to sample luxury service for a special occasion. With landmark style and a palpable sense of energy and fun, it really is the best address in town.

The Rooms

There’s no such thing as a bad room at Claridge’s. All 203 rooms are unique and opulent with specially commissioned furniture, marble bathrooms, exceptionally comfortable beds and furnishings, and state-of-the-art technology. For something really special, blow the budget on one of the specially-commissioned suites which have been designed by Viscount Linley, Guy Oliver and Diane von Furstenburg. The cream of the crop, you’ll get your own butler – just press the button when you need them – a Dyson hairdryer to try out and a Burberry trench coat to wear during your stay. Low-key but high luxe, with floor-to-ceiling picture windows and extra-deep baths, the Deluxe King rooms are also worth noting for lovebirds.

The Food

Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred Fera is the main draw. Its interiors perfectly complement its natural approach to dining, with a spidery-branched tree taking centre stage and warm, natural tones of walnut, bronze and green in the furnishings. Slide into one of the leather banquettes and dine on the seasonal à la carte menu or the seven-course tasting menu with dishes like pearl barley and bulgur in stout or raw Dexter beef in coal oil. Wine pairings courtesy of the sommelier, including the likes of pink sparkling dessert wine, are out of this world. To get closer to the action at Fera, book the six-seat chef’s table called Aulis, where dishes are cooked right before your eyes. Post dinner we recommend a nightcap while comfortably ensconced in the soft velvet of the Fumoir bar with original Lalique glass panels.

Out and About

Shopaholics will love the location of Claridge’s – a mere hop from Fenwick department store, the jewellers and antiques dealers of Bond Street, South Molton Street’s boutiques and all the high street stores on Oxford Street. Break up all that shopping with an iconic afternoon tea in the hotel’s glamorous Foyer & Reading Room, then head to the West End to catch one of the capital’s biggest and best shows. The perfect way to do London in style.