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‘Not that I intend to die, but when I do, I want to go to Claridge’s,’ said Hollywood actor Spencer Tracy – just one of many A-listers who fell in love with this historic hotel in millionaire’s-playground Mayfair.
Undeniably the most glamorous and timeless of all London’s 5 stars, it might blow the budget, but service is as polished as the Art Deco interiors, and there’s a choice of destination restaurants and sexy bars. The tiny leather- and mirror-clad Fumoir is a throwback to the 1930s, with sidecars and juleps served in Lalique crystal glasses at a marble horseshoe bar.
The top-floor gym and Sisley spa has wonderful views as well as deliciously indulgent treatments – the anti-ageing facials have a fanatical following.
But Claridges’ glamorous history is the main draw: this is where the Duchess of Cambridge got ready for her wedding to Prince William; back in 1945, Winston Churchill briefly moved in.
One of London’s poshest postcodes, this W1 tourist address sits pretty between the mega-bucks boutiques of Bond Street and Mayfair’s swanky townhouse.
You’re walking distance from the more proletariat high street offerings of Oxford Street’s shops, Soho’s bars and the West End theatres, while the simple green pleasures of Hyde Park are a few minutes’ walk to the west.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 miles]
The world’s most famous royal palace and home of the British monarchy since Queen Victoria, is a fairly bland affair. Go in summer months to see the State Rooms and gardens, and stay to see the Changing of the Guard with enjoyable, entertaining fanfare.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
A pictorial ‘who’s who’ of British culture past and present, from royals to pop icons, showcasing hundreds of years of history.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
One of the world’s greatest collections of Western European paintings, with more than 2,300 works on display from Da Vinci to Monet.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.6 miles]
World-famous, incomparable military parade dating back to the 17th century, involving thousands of soldiers, horses and musicians in full regalia, occurs each June to mark the Queen’s official birthday.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 2.5 hours
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
An 18th-century mansion of masterpieces sitting pretty on Piccadilly, home to one of Britain’s oldest collections of fine art and regular blockbuster exhibitions.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
Meet the queen, get a selfie with Stormzy and take the controls of the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca at the world’s leading and original wax museum.
Best for ages: 8+ | £30
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.8 miles]
A magical leafy setting that’s as memorable as the shows themselves, Regent’s Park Outdoor Theatre is one of London’s must-do entertainment experiences.
Best for ages: 18+ | £25 | 1-3 hours
London, United Kingdom (UK)[2.1 miles]
Famous for its picturesque alfresco ice rink in winter and the Edmund J Safra fountains in the summer, this elegant neoclassical building is also home to an art gallery and upscale restaurant.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination.
