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destination Guide series<br />

london


elite guide to london<br />

HigHligHts of loNDoN 3<br />

oNly elite 4<br />

The most exclusive VIP experiences, hand-selected by <strong>Elite</strong> <strong>Traveler</strong><br />

coNcierge recommeNDatioNs 5<br />

London’s top concierges share their personal suggestions for the perfect day<br />

WHere to<br />

WHat to Do<br />

NeeD to kNoW<br />

➤ stay 10<br />

➤ DiNe 22<br />

➤ be pampereD 36<br />

➤ DuriNg tHe Day 38<br />

➤ DuriNg tHe NigHt 41<br />

➤ featureD eveNts 45<br />

➤ sHoppiNg 47<br />

➤ mariNas 55<br />

➤ private Jet termiNals 56<br />

➤ eXclusive traNsport 58<br />

➤ useful iNformatioN 59<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com 2<br />

royal ascot<br />

clariDge’s Hotel<br />

WimbleDoN teNNis<br />

loNDoN skyliNe<br />

Some places offer unforgettable experiences... So do we<br />

TO GET A CHARTER QUOTE<br />

PLEASE CALL +44 1252 377 977<br />

WWW.TAGAVIATION.COM


highlights of london<br />

Enjoy London’s unique mix of traditional and modern during your stay<br />

Dating all the way back to the Romans,<br />

who named it Londinium, London has<br />

occupied its current spot on the map of<br />

England for over two millennia. Officially the<br />

most-visited city in the world, its rich and<br />

incredibly diverse historical and cultural<br />

heritage attracts travelers from around<br />

the globe, each and every one keen to<br />

experience the multitude of things on offer in<br />

England’s capital.<br />

©tHE MERLiN ENtERtAiNMENtS <strong>LONDON</strong> EYE<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> EYE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)871 781 3000 (booking line)/ +44 (0)871 222 4002 (events team)<br />

Address: The London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster<br />

Bridge Road, SE1 7PB<br />

Website: www.londoneye.com<br />

An unbeatable experience for those who wish to see all of London’s greatest<br />

landmarks in one fell swoop. A ride in this larger-than-life ferris wheel gives<br />

visitors the opportunity to view the capital from a completely new perspective,<br />

offering unparalleled panoramas by night and day. A pre-flight cinema experience<br />

with 4D goggles, giving simulated weather effects and sounds, makes for an<br />

extra-memorable experience. Book a private capsule for a more intimate viewing,<br />

private dinner, or corporate event.<br />

GORDON RAMSAY<br />

Maitre d’: Jean-Claude Breton<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7592 1611<br />

Email: carolinecrofts@gordonramsay.com<br />

Address: 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP<br />

Website: www.gordonramsay.com<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Style / ambiance: One of the first London restaurants to receive three<br />

Michelin stars, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is an essential for any<br />

discerning foodie. Frequently rated one of the world’s best dining<br />

experiences, the flagship of Ramsay’s restaurant empire focuses on the<br />

best of ingredients to create sublime flavors. Head Chef Clare Smyth<br />

ensures that dishes are cooked and presented to perfection, whilst the<br />

intimate setting makes for an unforgettable event.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

In this multifaceted city, old rubs shoulders<br />

with new everywhere you look: ancient<br />

cobbled streets wind between and behind<br />

the futuristic towers of the financial district,<br />

traditional pubs sit side by side with modern,<br />

swanky bars, old-fashioned theatres exist in<br />

harmony with award-winning new auditoria,<br />

spacious parks border busy shopping areas<br />

– all of which makes London an extremely<br />

varied and exciting place to be. The options<br />

3<br />

for entertainment and enlightenment are<br />

endless, whatever visitors are after.<br />

A source of particular excitement for<br />

London and Londoners is the upcoming<br />

2012 Olympic Games. Having already<br />

played host to two summer Olympics,<br />

London is undergoing extensive<br />

developments for the next to ensure that it<br />

is the most magnificent yet.<br />

HARRODS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 1234 (general)<br />

Address: 87–135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7XL<br />

Website: www.harrods.com<br />

A London institution, Harrods is the go-to for luxury goods and, most<br />

importantly, classic London souvenirs. Stop off at this immense<br />

department store for designer clothing, accessories, beauty products,<br />

homeware and gifts such as the famed Harrods tea caddies. Also make<br />

sure to sample one of Harrods’ many restaurants or bars, the best of<br />

which are undoubtedly the renowned Georgian Restaurant, the Veuve<br />

Clicquot Champagne Bar, and Ladurée, a London outpost of Paris’ most<br />

famous patisserie.<br />

REStAuRANt GORDON RAMSAY<br />

HARRODS


Only elite<br />

Whatever you do during your visit to London, make sure you take in one of the following for the ultimate VIP experience<br />

ROyAL ASCOT<br />

ANNuALLy IN JuNE<br />

VIP contact: Karen Smith, PR manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1344 878430<br />

Email: karen.smith@ascot.co.uk<br />

Website: www.ascot.co.uk<br />

An iconic occasion in the European social calendar, this famous race meeting<br />

brings together world-class jockeys and horses with a glittering array of<br />

society’s finest. Watch the thoroughbreds thunder down the racecourse from<br />

the Royal Enclosure, Ascot’s most exclusive viewing area, where you can<br />

expect to mingle with royalty, socialites and racing aficionados. Otherwise,<br />

hire out a private box to enjoy the races in a more tranquil setting. In between<br />

races, swan about on the lush green lawns, enjoying the electric atmosphere<br />

as photographers snap away at the glorious outfits and gravity-defying hats<br />

on show. The dress code is traditional: men must wear full morning attire and<br />

top hats, whilst for women a modest, classy outfit is a must.<br />

CARTIER, GuARdS POLO CLub<br />

SHOOTING AT CAERHAyS<br />

Contact: Sally Gammell, Manager of The Vean<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1872 500025<br />

Email: manager@thevean.eclipse.co.uk<br />

Website: www.caerhays.co.uk<br />

Located in a sheltered valley overlooking a cove on the south Cornish coast,<br />

Caerhays Castle and its surrounding grounds are the stuff of Anglophile<br />

dreams. Built in the 19th century, this picturesque estate offers guests the<br />

opportunity to experience old English hospitality and traditions, most notably<br />

game shooting. Over 80 days of shooting take place each year, with the shoot<br />

extending to over 4,000 acres and featuring at least 40 separate drives. All<br />

the game – predominantly pheasant but also partridge – is reared on-site<br />

from egg to bird by three full-time keepers, ensuring birds of the best quality.<br />

Shooting days are interspersed with round-the-clock refreshments, including<br />

a lavish post-shoot afternoon tea followed by a personal tour of the castle by<br />

its owner Charles Williams. During the shoot, guests may stay at The Vean, a<br />

luxury country house retreat overlooking the castle grounds. The top suite, the<br />

‘Nancor’, offers glorious views down the Porthluney valley.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

4<br />

ASCOT STAdIum<br />

CARTIER INTERNATIONAL POLO<br />

ANNuALLy IN JuLy<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 1784 434212 (general) / +44 (0) 1784 437797 (tickets)<br />

Email: ticket.office@guardspoloclub.com<br />

Website: www.guardspoloclub.com<br />

Set in Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Cartier International Polo is<br />

a renowned spectator polo day and a highly anticipated event. Guests to this<br />

prestigious event can expect a champagne reception, sumptuous afternoon<br />

tea, fine dining and plenteous opportunities to party in marquees hosted by<br />

elite clubs such as Chinawhite. The day consists of the Golden Jubilee Trophy<br />

and, after lunch, the Coronation Cup, with a grand presentation ceremony<br />

after each. Famous faces in attendance at past matches have included<br />

Amber le Bon, actresses Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie, and royal princes<br />

William, Harry, HRH The Prince of Wales, and many other titled individuals.<br />

mId-SHOOT


CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

London’s top concierges share their personal suggestions for the perfect day<br />

Matt West<br />

Mandarin Oriental Hyde park, lOndOn<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 2000<br />

07:00 Get up nice and early and head to Hyde Park Stables to meet<br />

your four-legged partner for an early morning gallop along<br />

the famous Rotten Row in Hyde Park. An absolutely stunning<br />

way to energize yourself for the day ahead and catch a<br />

special glimpse of London before it’s wiped the sleep out of<br />

its eyes.<br />

09:00 Head to Borough Market (Thur-Sat), getting there no<br />

later than 09:30, if possible. If you’re early some of the<br />

stallholders are still setting up and you can really take in the<br />

atmosphere of a true London market. Take a good look at all<br />

the artisan breads, cheeses and charcuteries, tasting as you<br />

go! Then make your purchases and have a wonderful fresh<br />

breakfast before the hungry hordes descend. Pure magic.<br />

11:00 Work off that indulgent breakfast by taking a lazy stroll along<br />

the Southbank from London Bridge to Westminster, walking<br />

alongside the river and exploring the local area. Sights along<br />

the way include Southwark Cathedral, Tate Modern, Clink<br />

Prison Museum, the Golden Hinde, Shakespeare’s Globe,<br />

the London Aquarium and Gabriel’s Wharf. You’ll also<br />

encounter mime artists and street entertainers along the<br />

route by the Royal Festival Hall.<br />

13:00 On arrival at Westminster you are ready to board your private<br />

capsule on the London Eye. The champagne is chilled and<br />

ready and the views are all yours to share.<br />

14:00 Now it’s back to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for a late<br />

lunch at London’s latest restaurant sensation, our very own<br />

Bar Boulud.<br />

16:30 The Mandarin Spa awaits for your luxurious two-hour<br />

pampering ritual.<br />

21:00 Off to the Tower you go, for the Ceremony of the Keys, the<br />

traditional locking up of the Tower of London that has taken<br />

place every night, without fail, for at least 700 years. The<br />

importance of securing this fortress for the night is still very<br />

relevant because, although the monarch no longer resides<br />

at this royal palace, the Crown Jewels and many other<br />

valuables still do.<br />

22:30 Dinner at Hakkasan, my all-time favorite restaurant in<br />

the city. This Michelin-starred modern Chinese restaurant<br />

has long been appreciated by those in the know and just<br />

gets better and better with time. Secure a reservation to<br />

truly experience the buzz that sets this restaurant apart.<br />

Whenever I have guests in town I just love to see their<br />

reaction as they walk into this amazing dining room for the<br />

first time and feel the energy. The food is also amazing; the<br />

dim sum platter, soft-shell crab and honeyed Chilean sea<br />

bass are my top tips.<br />

00:30 For those still with energy, take a trip to Les Ambassadeurs,<br />

one of London’s most stylish and exclusive casinos which<br />

also boasts the private members club The Red Room.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

5<br />

sandrO Marcal<br />

tHe sOHO HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7581 4045<br />

Email: sohoconcierge@firmdale.com<br />

“Start the day with breakfast at Princi on Wardour Street followed by<br />

a visit to the Wallace Collection on Manchester Square. For the whole<br />

London shopping experience, walk from there to Marylebone Lane and<br />

on to St Christopher’s Place, cross Oxford Street and walk down South<br />

Molton Street, then Avery Row. Walk down Bond Street, then turn left<br />

along Vigo Street, and back into Soho. Have lunch sitting at the bar at<br />

Bocca di Lupo for great modern Italian food. Visit Milroy’s of Soho and<br />

purchase an indulgent bottle of whiskey for someone as a gift. Shop for<br />

designer clothes at Oxygen on East Castle Street. Relax with a coffee<br />

at Flat White on Brewer Street, Soho. Walk south through Chinatown<br />

and visit the National Gallery. Dinner at J Sheekey’s for fantastic fish<br />

and good people watching.”<br />

Best restaUrants<br />

Princi<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Address: 135 Wardour Street, W1F 0UT<br />

J Sheekey<br />

Cuisine: Seafood<br />

Address: 28-32 St. Martin’s Court, WC2N 4AL<br />

tHe Merlin entertainMents lOndOn eye


CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

darren MarlOW<br />

tHe May Fair HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 7777<br />

“Start off the day with full English breakfast<br />

at The Wolseley. Return to The May Fair to<br />

meet a personal shopping guide for a tour<br />

of Grays Antique Market, home to one of the<br />

world’s largest and most diverse collections<br />

of fine antiques, jewelry, and vintage fashion.<br />

Then on to Burlington Arcade, London’s first<br />

shopping arcade, which opened in 1819.<br />

It’s the longest covered shopping street in<br />

England and is renowned throughout the<br />

world for its individuality and craftsmanship.<br />

After shopping, relax for lunch at Gordon<br />

Ramsay’s one Michelin-starred Murano.<br />

Enjoy the arts and history in the afternoon<br />

with a visit to The Wallace Collection.<br />

Take a tour of one of London’s hidden<br />

gems, Apsley House, once home to the<br />

Duke of Wellington. It’s also known as<br />

Number One London, because it was the<br />

first house encountered when coming from<br />

the countryside through the toll gates at<br />

Knightsbridge. It boasts one of the finest<br />

art collections in London, with paintings by<br />

Velazquez and Rubens.<br />

Dine at two-star Michelin The Square for<br />

dinner. For a nightcap, stop by The May Fair<br />

Bar, a popular hotspot for celebrities.”<br />

tHe sqUare restaUrant<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

Best restaUrants<br />

Benares<br />

Cuisine: Modern Indian<br />

Address: 12 Berkeley Square House, Berkeley<br />

Square, Mayfair, W1J 6BS<br />

Scott’s<br />

Cuisine: Seafood<br />

Address: 20 Mount Street, W1K 2HE<br />

Dean Street Townhouse<br />

Cuisine: English<br />

Address: 69-71 Dean Street, W1D 3SE<br />

Kai Mayfair<br />

Cuisine: Chinese<br />

Address: 65 South Audley Street, W1K 2QU<br />

Bocca Di Lupo<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Address: 12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB<br />

La Petite Maison<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Address: 54 Brooks Mews, W1K 4EG<br />

Best sHOppinG<br />

Department stores Fortnum & Mason and<br />

Liberty, as well as:<br />

Hamleys toy store<br />

For: Huge range of toys, traditional and<br />

modern, for all age ranges.<br />

Address: 188-196 Regent Street, W1B 5BT<br />

Holland & Holland London<br />

For: Specialist shooting clothing, accessories,<br />

and bespoke guns.<br />

Address: 33 Bruton Street, W1J 6HH<br />

Best tO dO<br />

Go underground for a peek at the Churchill<br />

War Cabinet Museum.<br />

Take in a classic Shakespearian drama<br />

at the Globe Theatre in Blackfriars, or<br />

check out the stately Wallace Collection in<br />

Manchester Square.<br />

Don’t miss Portobello Road either, and if<br />

it’s sunny, hire out a bicycle with Fat Tyre<br />

and take a cycle tour of London in the<br />

fresh air.<br />

6<br />

andy davies<br />

tHe dOrcHester HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 8888<br />

andy davies<br />

08:00 Enjoy a healthy start to the day with<br />

an organic breakfast at The Grill at<br />

The Dorchester featuring the best<br />

of British produce.<br />

10:00 See London’s sights from the water<br />

on a river cruise from the Tower of<br />

London to Westminster.<br />

11:30 Explore Westminster Abbey with<br />

its stunning Gothic architecture<br />

and more than 700 years’ worth of<br />

history.<br />

13:00 Stroll past Downing Street towards<br />

The National Gallery, London’s<br />

premier art gallery displaying<br />

masters like Van Gogh, Rembrandt<br />

and Renoir.<br />

14:30 Wander up to Covent Garden for<br />

a light lunch of the finest seafood<br />

and a glass of champagne at<br />

J Sheekey Oyster Bar.<br />

16:00 Book an appointment with a<br />

personal shopper at Harrods for<br />

a luxurious and bespoke<br />

shopping experience.<br />

20:00 Dine at Zuma, a trendy<br />

Knightsbridge restaurant<br />

offering contemporary Japanese<br />

izakaya-style cuisine.<br />

22:00 Dance the night away to live music<br />

at the fashionable Dover Street<br />

Wine Bar.


CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

nicky Fell<br />

cOvent Garden HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7806 1000<br />

Email: conciergecovent@firmdale.com<br />

Best restaUrants<br />

J Sheekey<br />

Cuisine: Fish restaurant<br />

Address: 28-32 St Martin’s Court, WC2N 4AL<br />

The Ivy<br />

Cuisine: Modern European<br />

Address: 1-5 West Street, WC2H 9NQ<br />

Clos Maggiore<br />

Cuisine: Traditional French<br />

Address: 33 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JD<br />

Best sHOppinG<br />

Paul Smith<br />

For: Classic English fashion with a twist.<br />

Great for men’s shoes.<br />

Address: 40-44 Floral Street,<br />

Covent Garden, WC2E 9DG<br />

dale HerBert<br />

tHe cOnnaUGHt HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 7070<br />

Email: concierge@the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Take a stroll down Mount Street and visit some of London’s top<br />

designer boutiques from Balenciaga and Christian Louboutin to<br />

Marc Jacobs, then pop into Scott’s for a bite to eat.<br />

After this, you could move along to Bruton Street off Berkeley<br />

Square where you can find more boutiques, including Diane von<br />

Furstenberg, Matthew Williamson and Stella McCartney for the<br />

lady, with Brioni and Holland & Holland for the gentleman. This<br />

part of town also offers you the chance to drop into several art<br />

galleries.<br />

If you still need more retail therapy, you have Bond Street and<br />

Savile Row just around the corner.<br />

Best restaUrants<br />

Scott’s<br />

Cuisine: Fish<br />

Address: 20 Mount Street, W1K 2HE<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

cOvent Garden HOtel<br />

7<br />

sHiG MatsUda<br />

tHe HayMarket HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7470 4000<br />

Email: haymarketconcierge@firmdale.com<br />

Best restaUrants<br />

Hix<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Address: 66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP<br />

Lucy In Disguise<br />

For: Vintage fashion as chosen by the owner,<br />

English pop star Lily Allen.<br />

Address: 48 Lexington Street, Soho, W1F 0LR<br />

Coco de Mer<br />

For: Slinky nightwear and accessories.<br />

Address: 23 Monmouth Street,<br />

Covent Garden, WC2H 9DD<br />

Penhaligon’s<br />

For: Beauty and grooming products in<br />

wonderful traditional packaging.<br />

Address: 16-17 Burlington Arcade,<br />

Piccadilly, W1J 0PL<br />

Miller Harris<br />

For: Unusual scents, candles and beauty<br />

products by perfumer Lyn Harris.<br />

Address: 21 Bruton Street, Mayfair, W1J 6QD<br />

The Ledbury<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Address: 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, W11 2AQ<br />

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon<br />

Cuisine: Modern European<br />

Address: 13-15 West St, WC2H 9NE<br />

Best sHOppinG<br />

Selfridges<br />

For a complete shopping experience, visit this enormous department store in<br />

the heart of London. It offers designer brands galore, whatever you are after.<br />

Best tO dO<br />

A trip out to Kew Gardens (see ‘What to do during the day’) and lunch at<br />

Petersham Nurseries, Church Lane, off Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey.


CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

natalie GOldin<br />

tHe MetrOpOlitan HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7447 1000<br />

A perfect weekend:<br />

Saturday<br />

Breakfast at The Wolseley, and then walk<br />

through Jermyn Street and historic St<br />

James’ Square to Trafalgar Square.<br />

A private tour of the highlights of The<br />

National Gallery followed by lunch at<br />

Yauatcha, arguably the best Dim Sum<br />

in London.<br />

Shopping time: walk through buzzy<br />

Carnaby Street to Liberty, the iconic<br />

British store combining rich tradition with<br />

an eclectic mix of established and future<br />

design classics.<br />

Visit Bond Street, Bruton Street and Mount<br />

Street for old-school English retailers<br />

conveniently en route back to the hotel.<br />

Return to The Metropolitan Hotel to enjoy<br />

Afternoon Delight in the Lobby Lounge.<br />

Take in a West End show with a distinctly<br />

British feel, for example the award-winning<br />

siMOn tHOMas<br />

BrOWn’s HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7518 4036<br />

Email: concierge.browns@roccofortecollection.com<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

production War Horse, which has superb<br />

puppetry on a life-size scale in a moving<br />

and ultimately very human drama set in the<br />

throes of the First World War.<br />

Post-theater dinner at J Sheekey Oyster<br />

Bar, a short walk from the theater. Be<br />

dazzled by the amazing fish and oysters<br />

in one of London’s most celebrated<br />

nightspots. You never know who you might<br />

spy there!<br />

Sunday<br />

Leisurely in-room breakfast, taking<br />

in expansive park views from your<br />

Metropolitan Room.<br />

Enjoy a morning river journey down the<br />

Thames to the Tate Modern, seeing London<br />

from a different perspective. Arrive at<br />

the gallery early to enjoy the space and<br />

tranquility before the crowds build. Stroll<br />

along the Southbank to Westminster<br />

returning through St James’ Park and<br />

Green Park.<br />

Sunday lunch at Corrigan’s Mayfair: experience<br />

the very best of British cuisine, having worked up<br />

an appetite on the way. If you still have the energy,<br />

head through Hyde Park to the Victoria & Albert<br />

Museum and Natural History Museum.<br />

Best sHOppinG<br />

Dover Street Market, 17-18 Dover Street, W1S 4LT<br />

Unlike any other shop in London, each of the five floors of Dover Street Market is home to a unique<br />

collection of clothes, shoes and jewelry. The setting – an incredible warehouse-style space – is<br />

very avant-garde, offering a fascinating concept and surreal design, making it more like a museum<br />

than a store. But then what you would expect from the designers of Comme des Garçons? You<br />

will find here limited edition pieces from countless independent designers as well as classics by<br />

Lanvin, Alaia and John Galliano.<br />

Best tO dO<br />

London RIB trip<br />

Website: www.londonribvoyages.com<br />

If you are a real thrill seeker, then it must be the London RIB (rigid inflatable boat) experience.<br />

On this, you shoot along the Thames at full speed in one of their boats (similar to the ones the<br />

AS use), whilst enjoying the fastest ever sightseeing tour London has to offer.<br />

8<br />

Best restaUrants<br />

Nobu<br />

Cusine: Japanese<br />

Address: 19 Old Park Lane, W1K 1LB<br />

Hix<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Address: 66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP<br />

Scott’s<br />

Cuisine: Fish & Seafood<br />

Address: 20 Mount Street, W1K 2HE<br />

Corrigan’s<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Address: 28 Upper Grosvenor Street, W1K 7EH<br />

Best sHOppinG<br />

Liberty<br />

A well-loved emporium of the beautiful<br />

and the bizarre. Excellent place for buying<br />

unusual and luxurious gifts<br />

Ben Malpass<br />

tHe savOy HOtel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7836 4343<br />

My perfect london day<br />

• English breakfast at The Wolseley on Piccadilly.<br />

• A walk by the River Thames.<br />

• Take a private tour of some famous London<br />

landmarks including Big Ben, the Houses of<br />

Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and perhaps<br />

a tour of the British Museum, the Tower of<br />

London to take in the Crown Jewels, The<br />

National Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts.<br />

• Drive to Windsor for lunch on the Thames and a<br />

guided tour of Windsor Castle.<br />

• Afternoon shopping on Bond Street.<br />

• Afternoon tea in The Savoy’s Thames Foyer.<br />

• A drink in one of Covent Garden’s many<br />

historic pubs.<br />

• Dinner at The Savoy’s River Restaurant.<br />

• A cocktail in The Savoy’s American Bar.


CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

asHley HarMan<br />

intercOntinental lOndOn WestMinster<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3301 8080<br />

“From the moment you awake at<br />

InterContinental London Westminster, you<br />

are well placed to explore the capital’s most<br />

legendary icons, considering your bed is<br />

located just steps from Parliament Square,<br />

Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and<br />

Whitehall. Breakfast can either be taken in<br />

room or in the lounge, and then it’s down to<br />

my Concierge Lounge on the Ground Floor<br />

to plan your day in the royal and political<br />

heartland of Britain. I can assist you with<br />

plans for long lazy lunches or places to grab a<br />

bite on the hop, depending on your preference.<br />

My recommendation for first timers to London<br />

is to soak up all those classic sights – that’s a<br />

big reason for coming! Once you’ve completed<br />

those perfect photo opportunities, then I’d<br />

recommend a visit to the Churchill War Rooms,<br />

which brings to life exactly what London went<br />

through during World War II. A stroll through<br />

St. James’s Park, stopping off for more photos<br />

at the legendary Blue Bridge, is a glorious<br />

occasion whatever the season. Afternoon Tea<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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is readily available throughout London, but a<br />

good one is hard to find! We have an excellent<br />

tea at Emmeline’s in the hotel, or you could<br />

continue your walk up to Piccadilly and take<br />

tea at the legendary Fortnum and Mason.<br />

By the time you’ve come back and relaxed<br />

in the comfort of your room, I will have table<br />

reservations for a perfect dinner ready and<br />

waiting for you.”<br />

Best lOndOn restaUrants<br />

Aurelia<br />

Cuisine: Mediterranean<br />

13-14 Cork Street, Mayfair, W1S 3NS<br />

Le Caprice<br />

Cuisine: Modern European<br />

Address: Arlington Street, SW1A 1RJ<br />

Hix<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Address: 66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP<br />

Best sHOppinG<br />

Burberry flagship store<br />

For: Womenswear, menswear, accessories,<br />

shoes, fragrance<br />

Address: 121 Regent Street, W1B 4TB<br />

9<br />

Best tO dO<br />

“Taking in London from the river is simply<br />

stunning. This can be done on the Thames<br />

Clipper, which stretches from Waterloo/London<br />

Eye to Royal Greenwich and Royal Arsenal<br />

Woolwich. For something a little different, why<br />

not take a private tour around London in a<br />

classic Mini Cooper!”<br />

asHley HarMan<br />

T R A V E L E R<br />

DESTINATION GuIDE SERIES


Where to stay<br />

Experience the deepest sleep and most luxurious stay in any of these acclaimed London hotels<br />

DUKES <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

DUKES <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

VIP contact: Debrah Dhugga<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 4840<br />

Email: bookings@dukeshotel.com<br />

Address: St. James’s Place, London, SW1A 1NY<br />

Website: www.dukeshotel.com<br />

Set amid one of London’s most discerning districts, in a quiet courtyard in<br />

St. James’s, is DUKES <strong>LONDON</strong>, a hidden gem that has been welcoming<br />

distinguished guests for well over a century. From the moment you walk<br />

through the lobby, you get the feeling that you’re somewhere rather special.<br />

Revered by regular guests and locals alike, this iconic hotel is a delightful<br />

mix of quintessential English charm and exacting standards – nothing<br />

short of Mayfair living.<br />

Time has been taken to ensure your stay at DUKES <strong>LONDON</strong> is just so.<br />

The luxurious rooms and 12 opulent suites are unsurpassed when it<br />

comes to the finer details, such as delectable hand-made chocolates<br />

and fabulous organic toiletries. Not to be missed are the legendary<br />

Martinis in DUKES Bar, the decadent Perrier Jouët Lounge and<br />

THIRTY SIX restaurant, revered for its wholesome British cuisine<br />

prepared by Michelin-starred chef, Nigel Mendham.<br />

If you fancy spreading your wings, you’ll find shopping on Bond Street,<br />

fine restaurants and many of London’s most famous attractions on its<br />

doorstep. There’s also excellent links to the city and Canary Wharf for<br />

business guests.<br />

DUKES <strong>LONDON</strong> is just moments away from The Royal Academy, Green<br />

Park and Buckingham Palace, so if you want to make the most of its regal<br />

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THE DUKE OF CLARENCE SUITE<br />

surroundings – and of course, the great British weather – the hotel can book<br />

a Royal Package Tour or prepare a luxury picnic, including champagne.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

THE DUKE OF CLARENCE SUITE BY THOMAS GOODE<br />

� Square footage: 700 � Nightly rate: $3,150<br />

Why we love it: Featuring an emperor size bed, as well as a separate living<br />

room and dining room, this Penthouse Suite is decorated with the finest china<br />

and porcelain by the highly prestigious Thomas Goode of Mayfair. The black<br />

marble bathroom with its deep bathtub and a 24-hour butler, on request, make<br />

it a very special home from home. A separate living room and dining room are<br />

available, and the décor is soft and airy, with lots of natural light flooding in<br />

from the Suite’s huge windows. You also enjoy a private terrace with views over<br />

breathtaking Green Park and Hyde Park.


Where to stay<br />

HARLEqUIN SITTING ROOM HARLEqUIN MASTER BEDROOM<br />

THE DORCHESTER<br />

VIP contact: Roland Fasal, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 8888<br />

Email: info@thedorchester.com<br />

Address: Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1QA<br />

Website: www.thedorchester.com<br />

The Dorchester is an iconic part of British heritage and a world renowned<br />

landmark on London’s glamorous Park Lane. A 1930s art deco exterior houses<br />

250 rooms and suites designed with classic English interiors, plus three<br />

contemporary roof suites with wraparound outdoor terraces overlooking the<br />

London skyline. The award-winning restaurants and bars at The Dorchester are<br />

led by London’s most experienced and welcoming staff, and the hotel is famous<br />

for its huge number of celebrity guests including Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, the<br />

late Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Lady Gaga.<br />

T R A V E L E R<br />

destination guide series<br />

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DORCHESTER HOTEL<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

HARLEqUIN SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 1,645 � Nightly rate: $13,645<br />

Why we love it: Recently refurbished by New York-based designer<br />

Alexandra Champalimaud, the Harlequin Suite boasts elegant décor<br />

of silk and leather, a freestanding bath, fireplace and large outdoor<br />

terrace with stunning views over London. Discreetly reminiscent of the<br />

Hollywood glamour long associated with the hotel, the design of these<br />

suites emulates the style in which The Dorchester was originally built in<br />

the 1930s while remaining fresh, modern and luxurious. In fact, it was<br />

in this very room that Elizabeth Taylor first heard she would star in the<br />

movie Cleopatra, and the original pink marble bathroom installed for her<br />

use remains to this day.


Where to stay<br />

THE ROYAL SUITE<br />

CORINTHIA HOTEL <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

VIP Contact: Matthew Dixon, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7930 8181<br />

Email: london@corinthia.com<br />

Address: Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD<br />

Website: www.corinthia.com<br />

The brand new Corinthia Hotel London opened in April 2011, boasting the<br />

largest standard rooms and suites in the vibrant capital, along with the<br />

uncompromising attention to detail and exquisite service that the luxury<br />

Corinthia brand is known for. Perfectly positioned just off Trafalgar Square<br />

and the Thames, on a lovely residential street with no shops, you’ll be in<br />

walking proximity of the city’s great monuments and buildings of State, as<br />

well as an easy 15-minute taxi ride to the City. A grand hotel for the 21st<br />

century, Corinthia London has been masterfully, impressively designed and<br />

is packed with the best amenities, including a new concept spa from ESPA,<br />

a Daniel Galvin salon and the Italian seafood restaurant Massimo, run by<br />

one of Rome’s top chefs. In a city not lacking in luxury accommodations,<br />

Corinthia’s London debut is set to stand apart from the crowd.<br />

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TOP SUITE<br />

The Royal Suite<br />

� Square footage: 5,000 � Nightly rate: Available upon request<br />

Why we love it: The truly majestic, two-story Royal Suite, the largest in<br />

London, will embrace guests with rich comfort and timeless elegance.<br />

Enter through an oval rotunda that leads to a curved living room with<br />

breathtaking, panoramic vistas and a grand, 10-seater dining room,<br />

whose gold leaf ceiling befits the most regal of affairs. Upstairs (take<br />

the dramatic circular staircase or the private one-story elevator),<br />

luxuriate in a spectacular master bedroom—located in a turret along<br />

with a dressing room—featuring a heavenly bed, views of the Thames<br />

and London Eye and a terrace with fire-pit to keep you warm on cooler<br />

evenings. This sprawling suite comes complete with a private study,<br />

kitchen with walk-in wine cellar, a second guest bedroom with hidden<br />

den, versatile entertainment room, gym, private spa treatment room<br />

and a marble-lined bathroom with fireplace and free-standing carved<br />

stone bath. You’ll find that every detail has been seen to in this princely<br />

home away from home.


Where to stay<br />

CONSERvATORY SUITE LOUNGE CONSERvATORY SUITE BEDROOM<br />

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CONSERvATORY SUITE 41<br />

VIP contact: Malcolm Hendry, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7300 0041<br />

Email: mhendry@rchmail.com<br />

Address: 41 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W OPS<br />

Website: www.41hotel.com<br />

Unforgettable luxury and one-of-a-kind character go hand-in-hand at 41,<br />

directly opposite Buckingham Palace. This boutique hotel feels more like a<br />

traditional London club than a hotel: the atmosphere is warm and inviting,<br />

and the look is distinguished and quietly reassuring, making it ideal for both<br />

business and leisure visits. What’s more, at 41 the staff don’t just know your<br />

name; they can recall your favorite drink, newspaper, and your favorite room.<br />

All you have to do is walk into the grandiose, monochrome-tiled reception, and<br />

from there you’ll be whisked to the fifth floor to your own private world of roundthe-clock<br />

service. What’s not to love?<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

CONSERvATORY SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 430 � Nightly rate: $1,085<br />

Why we love it: With views over the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace,<br />

there’s nowhere else in London quite like the Conservatory Master<br />

Suite, where you can sleep in opulent luxury beneath the twinkling city<br />

stars. If you tire of the view, electric blinds turn the split-level suite into<br />

a private paradise complete with marbled bathroom and whirlpool bath.<br />

A combination of stunning views and penthouse seclusion make this an<br />

unforgettably romantic getaway.


Where to stay<br />

THE APARTMENT SITTING ROOM, THE CONNAUGHT<br />

THE BERKELEY<br />

VIP contact: Klaus Kabelitz, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 6000<br />

Email: info@the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Address: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL<br />

Website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Located in fashionable Knightsbridge, The Berkeley is a London institution.<br />

Elegant, airy and exclusive, it is one of the best places to experience your stay<br />

in complete luxury. Among The Berkeley’s many attractions are its famed ‘Blue<br />

Bar’, a cocktail paradise frequented by the likes of Madonna and Leonardo<br />

di Caprio, and its two-starred Michelin restaurant Marcus Wareing at The<br />

Berkeley. On the eighth floor is London’s only roof-top health club and spa,<br />

which boasts panoramic views of Hyde Park. On sunny days, the roof retracts<br />

with the push of a button creating the capital’s ultimate Roman-style outdoor<br />

swimming pool.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

PAvILLION SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 1,580 � Nightly rate: $7,220<br />

Why we love it: Featuring a king-size bedroom, en-suite bathroom, spacious<br />

sitting room, dining room, guest bathroom, and – best of all – private<br />

access to the hotel’s roof terrace, the Pavillion Suite is the height of luxury.<br />

Decorated in clean, modern tones of cream and caramel, the suite’s elegant<br />

lines melt seamlessly into the timeless grandeur of the hotel. Moreover<br />

each guest will receive, in addition to the usual extensive media and 24/7<br />

service amenities, their own personal iPad for exclusive use during their<br />

stay. This small but important touch brings The Berkeley firmly into the 21st<br />

century, and is the cherry on top of the cake.<br />

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THE CONNAUGHT<br />

VIP contact: Guillaume Marly, Hotel Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 7070<br />

Email: gmarly@the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Address: Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL<br />

Website: www.the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Brand spanking new after a multi-million pound restoration, The Connaught is<br />

back on the London scene. Situated on buzzing Mount Street, one of the city’s<br />

most avant-garde retail destinations, it has welcomed society’s elite since<br />

its opening in 1897, and continues to do so. Key attractions include Michelinstarred<br />

restaurant Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, the trendy ‘Coburg’ and<br />

‘Connaught’ Bars, and a couture dressing service delivering haute-couture<br />

gowns and accessories to guests’ rooms prior to their arrival.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

THE APARTMENT<br />

� Square footage: 3,070 � Nightly rate: $10,760<br />

Why we love it: Perched high above Carlos Place, this lofty penthouse suite<br />

is a welcome retreat for weary cosmopolitan travelers. The David Collinsdesigned<br />

space combines eclectic décor and hand-chosen artworks and<br />

books, making it feel like the private sanctuary of a cultural connoisseur. The<br />

Apartment encompasses a stately double height sitting-room, dining room,<br />

two terraces overlooking Mayfair, master bedroom, luxurious dressing room,<br />

ensuite guest bedroom, and a white and grey marble master bathroom with<br />

stand-alone bathtub and double shower.<br />

PAvILLION SUITE, THE BERKELEY


Where to stay<br />

THE EGERTON HOUSE HOTEL<br />

VIP contact: Sandra Anido, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7589 2412<br />

Email: sanido@rchmail.com<br />

Address: 17-19 Egerton Terrace, Knightsbridge, SW3 2BX<br />

Website: www.egertonhousehotel.com<br />

A stay at The Egerton House Hotel gives you style and exclusivity in equal<br />

measure. With Harrods just around the corner, and views over Egerton Gardens<br />

and the Victoria and Albert Museum, this select hotel enables its guests to<br />

experience the city from a luxurious yet homely base in the very center of<br />

London. All the suites are individually decorated in a palette of rich, welcoming<br />

colors, and can be prepared according to each guest’s specific needs, whether<br />

this be a pot of refreshing tea at the ready for arrival, a TV guide turned to the<br />

desired page, or the preparation of a hot, soothing bath after a long day out.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

vICTORIA AND ALBERT SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 375 � Nightly rate: $1,380<br />

Why we love it: Newly refurbished with fine fabrics and antique Italian<br />

furnishings, this suite conjures up the grandeur and exclusivity of the<br />

townhouse of which it was once a part. Featuring a spacious bedroom<br />

with a king-size bed and a comfortable sofa bed, plus separate lounge<br />

area, the suite also opens on to a private garden terrace where<br />

guests can enjoy a hearty breakfast or an afternoon tea surrounded<br />

by quietness and privacy, with views on to the quintessentially English<br />

Egerton Gardens.<br />

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vICTORIA & ALBERT SUITE,<br />

THE EGERTON HOUSE HOTEL<br />

T R A V E L E R<br />

destination guide series


Where to stay<br />

THE ARIA SUITE,<br />

FLEMINGS<br />

FLEMINGS<br />

VIP contact: Simon Scarborough, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 0000<br />

Email: simon.scarborough@flemings.co.uk<br />

Address: 7-12 Half Moon Street, Mayfair, W1J 7BH<br />

Website: www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk<br />

Situated in a peaceful residential street off Piccadilly, Flemings is only a few<br />

steps from Green Park in the heart of fashionable Mayfair. Opened in 1851, this<br />

historic property has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment,<br />

updating its interiors with an innovative mix of contemporary style and Georgian<br />

elegance, yet retaining a certain intimacy. Flemings is also a culinary destination<br />

for dining, cupcakes and champagne or couture cocktails with excellent service<br />

and a relaxed ambiance.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

ARIA SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 785 � Nightly rate: $1,540<br />

Why we love it: The new Aria Suite, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite<br />

designed by Michaela Auert, founder of the Italian Design Group, is a<br />

light, bright modern living space. Furnished with stylish Italian furniture<br />

and soft furnishings, with a clever use of mirrors, this luxury London<br />

pad has a fully-equipped kitchen, high specification audio visual system,<br />

soundproofing and all the services you would expect of a five-star hotel<br />

in central London.<br />

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THE RITZ<br />

VIP contact: Stephen Boxall, Managing Director<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 8181<br />

Email: sboxall@theritzlondon.com<br />

Address: 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR<br />

Website: www.theritzlondon.com<br />

Opened by renowned hotelier César Ritz in 1906, The Ritz still retains all<br />

the excitement and glamour synonymous with this legendary hotel. The<br />

136 guestrooms combine Louis XVI-style interiors with modern technology,<br />

while fine dining facilities include the magnificent Ritz Restaurant, the<br />

opulent Palm Court for afternoon tea, and the stylish Rivoli Bar. The Ritz is<br />

not only a paragon of luxury however; famous guests have included Charlie<br />

Chaplin, Sir Winston Churchill, the Queen, and author Evelyn Waugh,<br />

making it an important part of London history.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

THE PRINCE OF WALES SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 1,990 � Nightly rate: $9,930<br />

Why we love it: A beautiful apartment-style penthouse, this suite<br />

includes its own hallway and cloakroom, two bedrooms, a dining<br />

room, a drawing room, a butler’s kitchen and two marble<br />

bathrooms. The bedrooms feature delicate period woodwork and<br />

each of the two bathrooms has a bath-controlled TV. Truly, a suite<br />

fit for royalty.<br />

THE RITZ


Where to stay<br />

THE LANGHAM<br />

VIP contact: Katie Benson, Managing Director<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7636 1000<br />

Email: katie.benson@langhamhotels<br />

Address: 1c Portland Place, Regent Street, W1B 1JA<br />

Website: www.london.langhamhotels.co.uk<br />

The Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865, when<br />

Langham London opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For over 140 years,<br />

this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious<br />

hospitality, and from the outset it has occupied an unrivalled location in<br />

the heart of London. This remains the case today; with its position at the<br />

top of Regent Street and a short stroll to Bond Street, it is one of the most<br />

centrally-located luxury hotels in London.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

INFINITY SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 2,540 � Nightly rate: $13,000<br />

Why we love it: Overlooking All Souls Church and with wonderfully<br />

high ceilings, this large two bedroom suite features a master<br />

bedroom – complete with inviting four-poster bed and two dressing<br />

rooms – second bedroom with ensuite, separate lobby and cloakroom,<br />

kitchen, bespoke furniture and the newest Bose audio technology to<br />

enhance each guest’s experience. The suite is also noteworthy for a<br />

magnificent infinity bath which offers the sublime relaxation of a spa<br />

in your room. The infinity bath cleanses, revitalises and harnesses<br />

the powerful effects of colours on mood to provide the ultimate<br />

chromotherapy experience.<br />

INFINITY SUITE, THE LANGHAM ROYAL SUITE, THE LANESBOROUGH<br />

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THE LANESBOROUGH<br />

VIP contact: Geoffrey Gelardi, Managing Director<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7259 5599<br />

Email: info@lanesborough.com<br />

Address: Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA<br />

Website: www.lanesborough.com<br />

With its enviable location in the heart of London, situated on the borders of<br />

Knightsbridge and Belgravia and with panoramic views of Hyde Park, The<br />

Lanesborough has long been considered one of the world’s most luxurious<br />

hotels. Its elegant décor, exquisite cuisine, unsurpassed attention to detail and<br />

world-renowned service are second to none. The hotel’s recently launched<br />

restaurant, Apsleys, a Heinz Beck Restaurant, was awarded its first Michelin<br />

star in February 2010.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

ROYAL SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 2,900 � Nightly rate: $11,500<br />

Why we love it: As befits its name, this lavish suite is kitted out royally<br />

with three uniquely-designed bedrooms, a drawing room, dining area,<br />

study and kitchen. The drawing room and dining area, in regal gold<br />

and blue tones, can accommodate up to ten dining guests, whilst just<br />

around the corner the red-and-gold-colored study provides a private,<br />

cozy space for the handling of any personal affairs. VIP services include<br />

a 24hr personal butler, computer with email and internet facilities,<br />

music system and a digital TV with films on demand, two-line telephone<br />

(private and operator-assisted numbers), dedicated facsimile, mobile<br />

phone and voice mail.


Where to stay<br />

BROOK PENTHOUSE SITTING ROOM, CLARIDGE’S<br />

CLARIDGE’S<br />

VIP contact: Thomas Kochs, Hotel Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 8860/+44 (0) 20 7409 6300 (manager)<br />

Email: tkochs@claridges.co.uk<br />

Address: Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR<br />

Website: www.claridges.co.uk<br />

In the heart of Mayfair, Claridge’s hotel is perfectly placed for London’s<br />

shopping districts and leafy Hyde Park. With award-winning service and<br />

business facilities, Claridge’s is a sumptuous retreat for the business traveler<br />

– or a luxurious indulgence if you want to spoil yourself or a loved one. Stars,<br />

socialites and the crowned heads of Europe have enjoyed this five-star hotel for<br />

over 100 years, lounging in its elegant art deco interior and taking afternoon tea<br />

in The Foyer.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

BROOK PENTHOUSE<br />

� Square footage: 1,905 � Nightly rate: $9,680<br />

Why we love it: Designed by Veere Grenney, this elegant and luxury apartment<br />

is decorated in gentle lilac with light oak floors and original 1930s fittings.<br />

Relax in the large luxurious bedrooms, splendid marble bathrooms, and<br />

beautiful sitting room overlooking your private roof terrace. Or entertain<br />

friends in the elegant dining room with cloakroom and cocktail bar. Sweeping<br />

south, the terrace can host lavish cocktail parties and dinners.<br />

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THE SAvOY<br />

VIP contact: General Manager, Kiaran MacDonald<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7836 4343<br />

Email: savoy@fairmont.com<br />

Address: Strand, WC2R 0EU<br />

Website: www.the-savoy.com<br />

A British icon since 1889, The Savoy has once again taken its place on the<br />

world stage after a £100 million-plus restoration. The hotel seamlessly blends<br />

elements of the original and the new while the stunning Edwardian and art deco<br />

interiors sparkle with timeless elegance and glamour. The 268 guestrooms and<br />

suites are the last word in style, luxury and discreet technology with stunning<br />

views of London and the River Thames. Nine ‘signature suites’ have been styled<br />

after some of The Savoy’s most high profile guests.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

ROYAL SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 3,500 � Nightly rate: $16,000<br />

Why we love it: The Savoy’s Royal Suite is one of the capital’s finest and most<br />

well-appointed accommodations. Spread over the front of the entire fifth floor,<br />

the suite’s enfilade arrangement makes the most of the dramatic views over the<br />

River Thames. From each of the eight windows, guests can enjoy a magnificent<br />

London vista from Canary Wharf to the Houses of Parliament and beyond with<br />

seven of London’s bridges visible. Services to guests in this suite are extensive,<br />

and include – in addition to the customary five-star amenities – in-suite checkin<br />

and an unpacking and repacking service, ideal for those who wish for a quick,<br />

seamless voyage.<br />

ROYAL SUITE MASTER BATHROOM, THE SAvOY


Where to stay<br />

THE PENTHOUSE SUITE MASTER BEDROOM, 45 PARK LANE<br />

45 PARK LANE<br />

VIP contact: Marie-Laure Akdag, Hotel Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)207 493 4545<br />

Email: info@45parklane.com<br />

Address: 45 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1PN<br />

Website: www.45parklane.com<br />

Opened in 2011, this sister-hotel of the Dorchester has fast become one of<br />

the chicest hotels in London. The contemporary interior design is provided<br />

by world renowned architect Thierry Despont, who has created a décor that<br />

focuses on personal living—the idea is to create an atmosphere that feels<br />

like a private residence. The façade has become an instantly recognisable<br />

feature of Park Lane—the bold horizontal ‘fins’ are eco-friendly, resisting<br />

solar gain to the hotel, thereby reducing the power required to run the<br />

hotel’s air conditioning system. The environmental theme continues with<br />

the location of 45 Park Lane—opposite the sprawling Hyde Park, the<br />

hotel offers scintillating views from all of the suites. Wolfgang Puck has<br />

brought his celebrated CUT concept to London with a restaurant on the<br />

ground floor, which alongside the sleek Bar 54, brings a bit of Beverly Hills<br />

glamour to the London dining scene. Within walking distance of Regent<br />

Street and Piccadilly, this state-of-the-art hotel offers instant access to<br />

London shopping.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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THE PENTHOUSE SUITE LIvING ROOM,<br />

45 PARK LANE<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

THE PENTHOUSE SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 1,830 � Nightly rate: $10,204<br />

Why we love it: If having a fantastic view over one of the most iconic locations<br />

in London sounds like your idea of perfection then the Penthouse Suite may be<br />

for you. Situated on the ninth floor of the hotel and accessible only by a private<br />

elevator, the suite offers beautiful views over the park from the 360° wraparound<br />

terrace. The décor carries on the theme from the rest of the hotel—warm colors<br />

and light textures coming together to create a deeply personal living space.<br />

The master bedroom features a king-size bed, the living room is packed full of<br />

high-tech gadgetry and the dining area is great for entertaining guests.


Where to stay<br />

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, <strong>LONDON</strong> SYON PARK<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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PRESIDENTIAL SUITE BEDROOM, <strong>LONDON</strong> SYON PARK<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> SYON PARK<br />

VIP contact: Dale MacPhee, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)207 870 7777<br />

Email: syonpark.info@waldorfastoria.com<br />

Address: London Syon Park, Middlesex, TW8 8JF<br />

Website: www.londonsyonpark.com<br />

Set in the beautiful 200-acre Syon Park Estate—the ancestral home of the<br />

Duke of Northumberland—this newly built Waldorf Astoria hotel opened its<br />

doors in March 2011. Heathrow Airport is seven miles away, ideal for those<br />

flying in and out of London regularly, but want the greenery of a country<br />

retreat. Use the hotel’s helipad to dodge London traffic. Guests enjoy access<br />

to the Syon House grounds through a special gate, and can partake in<br />

rural pursuits like trout fishing, foraging, punting and shooting. For private<br />

functions, The Clubhouse is available for exclusive hire—occupying an entire<br />

wing of the hotel, this elegant space includes an informal restaurant and bar<br />

and an eclectic collection of bedrooms. For a haute couture spa service, the<br />

Kallima Spa eschews a spa menu in favor of a made-to-measure session<br />

based on individual consultation. Cosmetic surgeon to the stars, Alex<br />

Karidis, is available for non-surgical treatments.<br />

TOP SUITE<br />

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 531 � Nightly rate: $6,279<br />

Why we love it: Continuing the theme of Mother Nature meets sophisticated<br />

luxury, the Presidential Suite at the London Syon Park is one of the finest<br />

in the city. Featuring rich décor befitting a 400-year-old English manor, the<br />

suite combines aristocratic opulence with state-of-the-art-technology in way<br />

that never feels contrived. The windows of the spacious living room provide a<br />

beautiful view overlooking the courtyard garden with its 180-year old bonsai<br />

tree. The two bedrooms both feature en-suite bathrooms, and the dining<br />

room is perfect for entertaining guests.


Where to stay<br />

E WOW SUITE LOUNGE, W <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

W <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

VIP contact: Kevin Rockey, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)207 758 1000<br />

Email: wleicestersquare@reservestarwood.com<br />

Address: 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London, W1D 6QF<br />

Website: www.wlondon.co.uk<br />

W Hotels have a worldwide reputation for being trendy and chic venues,<br />

and W London is no exception. Located in the fashionable area of Leicester<br />

Square, the hotel is only a step away from movie premieres and celebrity<br />

events that take place all year round in the square. While some London<br />

hotels focus on traditional sophistication, the interior here is refreshingly<br />

sleek and innovative—this is a truly modern hotel, from the state-of-the-art<br />

facilities to the Whatever/Whenever® concierge service. The Wyld bar has<br />

become one of the hippest night spots in the area, while the Lounge attracts<br />

celebrities for afternoon tea or a taste of the delicious signature W cocktail.<br />

With a luxurious spa and appetizing South Asian themed restaurant, Spice<br />

Market, this hotel finds the perfect balance between contemporary cool and<br />

lavish facilities. For animal lovers, there’s even a Pets Are Welcome (P.A.W.)<br />

policy so that your pet can get the same five-star treatment that you do.<br />

E WOW SUITE BATHROOM,<br />

W <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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E WOW SUITE DINING ROOM,<br />

W <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

TOP SUITE<br />

E WOW SUITE<br />

� Square footage: 1,600 � Nightly rate: $8,000<br />

Why we love it: It’s no surprise that stars such as Kate Moss, Colin Firth<br />

and Helena Bonham Carter have all stayed in the E Wow Suite—after all,<br />

celebrities like to enjoy outstanding luxury, and that is exactly what the suite<br />

gives you. Continuing the theme of modernity prevalent in the hotel, there<br />

is a rotating sofa in the lounge, a 62-inch television in the bathroom and<br />

Jacuzzi to provide the perfect viewing platform. If you fancy keeping trim<br />

while on holiday then a personal trainer can take you through your daily<br />

exercises, while the 350-thread count sheets and W signature king-size bed<br />

ensure you rest well after sampling the delights of London’s West End. If you<br />

want more space, just have the friendly staff close off the corridor and add<br />

more rooms to the E Wow.


Where to Dine<br />

Sate your appetite and refuel with haute-cuisine from one of London’s vast array of award-winning restaurants<br />

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22<br />

DOWNTOWN MAYFAIR<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3056 1001<br />

Email: info@downtownmayfair.com<br />

Address: 15 New Burlington Place,<br />

London W1S 2HX<br />

Website: www.downtownmayfair.com<br />

Giuseppe Cipriani and his father, legendary restaurateur Arrigo Cipriani,<br />

have brought the second of their family’s restaurants in London to Mayfair’s<br />

New Burlington Place.<br />

Located between two of the most well known shopping streets in London,<br />

Savile Row—famous for its bespoke tailors—and the excitement of Regent<br />

Street, Downtown Mayfair delivers modern northern Italian cuisine in an<br />

elegant and timeless setting.<br />

The restaurant’s interior, created by Florentine designer Michele Bonan,<br />

is inspired by a London of the 40s and features engraved glass, warm<br />

materials like leather and walnut, antiqued bronze, Venetian chandeliers<br />

and Venetian mosaic marble floors.<br />

In the warmer months, diners can opt to dine al fresco and sip the signature<br />

original Bellini on the covered terrace in a relaxed and happy atmosphere.<br />

The cuisine includes classic Venetian dishes and specialties from different<br />

regions of Italy like burrata with grilled zucchini, baby squid with fresh<br />

tomatoes, pappa al pomodoro, risotti, Harry’s Bar in Venice world favorite<br />

baked tagliolini and a not-to-be-missed ‘Gelato al momento’.<br />

An elegant, private dining space with a fireplace, leather bergere and library<br />

can accommodate up to 40 guests for a sit down dinner.<br />

The restaurant is open seven days a week.


Where to Dine<br />

stylish<br />

Le GAVROChe<br />

Maitre d’: David Galetti<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 1826<br />

Email: bookings@le-gavroche.com<br />

Address: 43 Upper Brook Street, W1K 7QR<br />

Website: www.le-gavroche.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Classic French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Led by two generations<br />

of the culinarily-gifted Roux family, this<br />

traditional French restaurant sets the<br />

standards of cooking and service by which<br />

others are judged. It was the first UK<br />

restaurant to be awarded one, two and three<br />

Michelin stars, and has hosted among its<br />

diners Hollywood royalty Eva Gardner, Charlie<br />

Chaplin and Robert Redford. Guests at this<br />

restaurant can expect to taste French classics<br />

with a modern twist, in calm, comfortable,<br />

yet undeniably glamorous surroundings<br />

reminiscent of a French country manor.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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Le GAVROChe<br />

T R A V E L E R<br />

DestinAtion guiDe series<br />

23<br />

RIVeR CAFÉ<br />

FAMily FrienDly<br />

The RIVeR CAFÉ<br />

Head Chef: Ruth Rogers<br />

General Managers: Charles Pullen and Vashti Armit<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7386 4200<br />

Address: Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 9HA<br />

Website: www.rivercafe.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Style/Ambiance: Refurbished in October<br />

2008, this classic London gem returned with<br />

a vengeance, serving robust, seasonal dishes<br />

inspired by the owners’ passion for Italy and<br />

their experience living and cooking there.<br />

The interior is contemporary, airy and light,<br />

with the addition of an outdoor terrace<br />

overlooking the River Thames, making<br />

The River Café a buzzing hotspot particularly<br />

during the summer months. Significant new<br />

additions include a private dining room,<br />

kitchen table within the kitchen zone, and<br />

state-of-the-art cheese store. Come here<br />

for divine Italian specialities in a chilled out,<br />

no-frills environment.


Where to Dine<br />

lively<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

ALAIN DUCASSe<br />

L’ATeLIeR De JOËL ROBUChON<br />

Contact: Peggy Li<br />

Phone: + 44 (0)20 7010 8600<br />

Email: peggy.li@joelrobuchon.co.uk<br />

Address: 13-15 West Street, WC2H 9NE<br />

Website: www.joelrobuchon.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Contemporary French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Just one of the many restaurants in the continentspanning<br />

Joël Robuchon empire, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon offers its<br />

guests outstanding cuisine in a slick, modern environment. Dishes served<br />

here are based on simplicity, shunning complex combinations in favor of<br />

arrangements that, according to the six-star Michelin chef, ‘let the best<br />

ingredients shine.’ This culinary simplicity is complemented by the clean,<br />

contemporary design of the interiors, furnished with sleek rosewood<br />

surfaces, and leather upholstery to create a Zen-like environment.<br />

24<br />

top choice<br />

ALAIN DUCASSe AT The DORCheSTeR hOTeL<br />

General Manager:Nicolas Defremont<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 8866<br />

Email: alainducasse@thedorchester.com<br />

Address: Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1QA<br />

Website: www.thedorchester.com<br />

Cuisine: Contemporary French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Awarded three Michelin stars, Alain Ducasse at The<br />

Dorchester is the second restaurant in London to receive this prestigious<br />

accolade. The restaurant offers contemporary French cuisine in modern<br />

and elegant décor along with professional and friendly service, for a new<br />

approach to fine dining. Current seasonal dishes on the à la carte menu<br />

include delectable wild sea bass with citrus, Swiss chard and aubergine<br />

relish, and saddle of venison ‘Grand-Veneur’ or great hunter, which<br />

comes with pumpkin, quince and salsify. Private dining is also a must-try<br />

experience here, with the ‘Table Lumière’ experience offering guests the<br />

opportunity to dine off Hermès china in an alcove shimmering with light.<br />

L’ATeLIeR De JOËL ROBUChON LOCANDA LOCATeLLI<br />

lively<br />

LOCANDA LOCATeLLI<br />

General Manager: Roberto Veneruzzo<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7935 9088 (Alessandra Pino)<br />

Email: info@locandalocatelli.com<br />

Address: 8 Seymour Street, W1H 7JZ<br />

Website: www.locandalocatelli.com<br />

Cuisine: North Italian<br />

Style/Ambiance: Opened in February 2002 by Michelin-star chef Giorgio<br />

Locatelli, this delightful Italian eatery offers sublime cuisine in uncluttered,<br />

comfortable surroundings designed by David Collins. With typical dishes<br />

including chargrilled squid, pan-fried calf’s kidneys with lentils and mashed<br />

potato, and blackberry confit, Locanda is perfectly positioned to appease<br />

those wishing for dining experiences bursting with flavor and life. Adorning<br />

its walls are artworks by Paul Simonon of The Clash, and Damien Hirst,<br />

putting this restaurant firmly in the cool category.


Where to Dine<br />

hÉLèNe DARROze PIeD-Â-TeRRe<br />

top choice<br />

hÉLèNe DARROze AT The CONNAUGhT hOTeL<br />

Contact: Hélène Darroze, Head Chef<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3147 7200<br />

Email: dining@the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Address: The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL<br />

Website: www.the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Traditional French with a local twist<br />

Style/Ambiance: Opened in 2008, this Michelin-starred restaurant<br />

showcases the talents of renowned French chef Hélène Darroze. The<br />

menu reflects her signature style of cuisine, combining traditional<br />

produce from south west France with some of the finest ingredients<br />

from the British Isles. Signature dishes include oyster tartare with caviar<br />

d’Aquitaine jelly alongside more British-themed offerings such as ‘le<br />

sole de Douvres’ (Dover sole). For something different, try the six-course<br />

seasonal truffle menus, aimed at introducing people to the wonderful<br />

flavor of black and white truffles.<br />

stylish stylish<br />

stylish<br />

ReSTAURANT GORDON RAMSAY<br />

Maitre d’: Jean-Claude Breton<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7592 1611<br />

Email: carolinecrofts@gordonramsay.com<br />

Address: 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP<br />

Website: www.gordonramsay.com<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Combining contemporary<br />

elegance, an intimate ambiance and unparalleled<br />

service, three-star Michelin Restaurant Gordon<br />

Ramsay is a must for the culinary connoisseur.<br />

Since its opening, it has continually wowed diners<br />

with its consistent devotion to quality. Head Chef<br />

Clare Smyth’s menu prides itself on superb<br />

ingredients and sublime flavor combinations,<br />

whilst the size of the restaurant – only 14 tables<br />

– ensures every diner receives an exceptional<br />

degree of attention.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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25<br />

stylish<br />

SKeTCh LeCTURe ROOM & LIBRARY<br />

General Manager: Julien Marinozzi<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7659 4500<br />

Address: 9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, W1S 2XG<br />

Website: www.sketch.uk.com<br />

Cuisine: Modern European<br />

Style/Ambiance: Occupying what used to be the<br />

headquarters of Christian Dior, Sketch is chic,<br />

glamorous and trendy. The Michelin-starred<br />

Lecture Room & Library, at the top of the Grade<br />

II listed building, offers haute-cuisine by chef<br />

Pierre Gagnaire in a plush setting of studded<br />

ivory leather walls, ornate plasterwork ceilings,<br />

and rich furnishings in purple and crimson.<br />

An added bonus is the clientele; come here<br />

to observe high-flyers of every ilk sip their<br />

champagne and chow down on langoustines,<br />

venison, and a huge selection of desserts.<br />

PIeD-Â-TeRRe<br />

General Manager: Leonora Popaj<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7419 9789<br />

Email: info@pied-a-terre.co.uk<br />

Address: 34 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NH<br />

Website: www.pied-a-terre.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Style/Ambiance: An intimate, elegant space in the heart of London<br />

characterized by a relaxed ambiance and welcoming service. Head chef<br />

Shane Osborn composes his menu according to seasonal availability to<br />

ensure unsurpassable, unforgettable flavors in dishes such as lemon sole<br />

wrapped in courgette and scallop mousse, accompanied by fried baby squid,<br />

pink grapefruit and a basil emulsion. Head for the main dining room on the<br />

first floor for a convivial dining experience, or hire out the private dining<br />

room – dark, decadent, dramatic and oozing with luxury – on the third floor<br />

for a VIP dinner or event.<br />

The SQUARe<br />

General Manager: Ben Crofton<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7495 7100<br />

Address: 6-10 Bruton Street, Mayfair, W1J 6PU<br />

Website: www.squarerestaurant.org<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Serving two-star Michelin<br />

cuisine for over ten years, The Square has<br />

achieved noteworthy status in the London<br />

restaurant scene. Visitors to this acclaimed<br />

establishment, which is conveniently near Bond<br />

Street, Hyde Park and other central landmarks,<br />

can feast on dishes such as ballotine of partridge<br />

and foie gras, lasagna of crab with champagne<br />

foam, and pear millefeuille with caramel mousse,<br />

all in a cool setting of modern art and parquet<br />

floors. Accompany with a bottle of award-winning<br />

Burgundy, The Square’s signature wine.


Where to Dine<br />

MoDern<br />

TOM AIKeNS<br />

General Manager: Lucille Vandelden<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7584 2003<br />

Email: info@tomaikens.co.uk<br />

Address: 43 Elystan Street, Chelsea, SW3 3NT<br />

Website: www.tomaikens.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Modern European<br />

Style/Ambiance: Just off Chelsea Green, a stylish mini-village in south west<br />

London, this classic restaurant is reputed to be one of London’s best.<br />

Diners can choose between ‘Tom’s classics’ – hearty, simple dishes –<br />

and more inventive options such as red mullet with a pistachio risotto,<br />

courgette purée and black olive crumb. Private dining is available for<br />

lunch and dinner for parties of up to ten guests, and is the perfect way<br />

to relax and unwind in the calm of Chelsea.<br />

stylish stylish<br />

stylish<br />

hIBISCUS<br />

General Manager: Claire Bosi<br />

Phone: +44(0)20 7629 2999<br />

Email: info@hibiscusrestaurant.co.uk<br />

Address: 29 Maddox Street, W1S 2PA<br />

Website: www.hibiscusrestaurant.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Modern British/European<br />

Style/Ambiance: Relocated from Shropshire,<br />

two-Michelin-star Hibiscus is renowned for<br />

its fresh, locally-sourced produce. Dishes<br />

range from traditional English – cured Cornish<br />

mackerel and wood pigeon – to French-inspired<br />

cuisine – crushed Provence figs for<br />

dessert, or blueberry madeleines. A private<br />

dining room is also available for a more<br />

discreet, personalised meal.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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MARCUS WAReING<br />

26<br />

top choice<br />

MoDern<br />

The IVY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7836 4751/<br />

+44 (0)20 7307 5784 (private dining)<br />

Email: theprivateroom@the-ivy.co.uk<br />

Address: 1-5 West Street, WC2H 9NQ<br />

Website: www.the-ivy.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Style/Ambiance: Conveniently close to the West<br />

End, The Ivy is an excellent option for pre- and<br />

post-theatre dining for <strong>Elite</strong> travelers visiting the<br />

Royal Opera House and other nearby venues. In<br />

its cosy, plush interior, frequented by a vast array<br />

of celebrities, diners can choose from a menu of<br />

British classics such as shepherd’s pie and venison.<br />

Book the private room upstairs for a celebration; it<br />

can be arranged for between 25-200 people.<br />

MARCUS WAReING AT The BeRKeLeY hOTeL<br />

Contact: Marcus Wareing, Head Chef<br />

Phone: + 44 (0)20 7235 1200<br />

Email: marcuswareing@the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Address: The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL<br />

Website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Modern French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Helmed by star chef Marcus Wareing, this Michelin-starred<br />

restaurant displays technical brilliance in its execution of French cuisine. The<br />

menu offers modern, light dishes evolved from Wareing’s classical French<br />

background, and uses the best seasonal produce available. The restaurant’s<br />

interior, designed by David Collins, abounds with rich jewel tones, creating an<br />

opulent, warm ambiance. Reserve the Pomerol room for a private lunch or<br />

dinner, or arrange a meal at the exclusive Chef’s table, strategically positioned<br />

to oversee the workings of the kitchen. Guests at this table are greeted with<br />

champagne and canapés, and can consult with the chef to make sure the menu<br />

is perfectly suited to their tastes.<br />

NOBU<br />

General Manager: Stephan Guicheteau<br />

Private Dining Manager: Amir Jati<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7447 4747<br />

Address: 1st floor, The Metropolitan, 19 Old Park Lane,W1K 1LB<br />

Website: www.noburestaurants.com<br />

Cuisine: Modern Japanese<br />

Style/Ambiance: Opened in 1997, and awarded its Michelin star just one year<br />

later, Nobu London remains one of the city’s top dining hot spots. With its own<br />

street entrance on Old Park Lane, the restaurant occupies the first floor of<br />

the trendy Metropolitan Hotel. The menu is made up of ‘new style’ Japanese<br />

cuisine, where traditional Japanese techniques meet South American flavors.<br />

Signature dishes include Yellowtail Sashimi and the famous Black Cod in Miso.<br />

Private dining is available at Nobu, or guests may hire out the entire venue.<br />

The LeDBURY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7792 9090<br />

Email: info@theledbury.com<br />

Address: 127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ<br />

Website: www.theledbury.com<br />

Cuisine: Modern French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Headed by Australian chef<br />

Brett Graham, The Ledbury – sister to The<br />

Square restaurant – offers superb cuisine in<br />

a relaxed west London setting. Diners can<br />

order à la carte from a spectacular array of<br />

expertly prepared dishes or, if they are feeling<br />

bold, experiment with an eight-course tasting<br />

menu, particularly fun in larger groups.<br />

This menu is also available in a completely<br />

vegetarian version.


Where to Dine<br />

The GAMeS ROOM, GAUThIeR SOhO<br />

trAttoriA<br />

BOCCA DI LUPO<br />

Head Chef: Jacob Kenedy<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 2223<br />

Email: info@boccadilupo.com<br />

Address: 12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB<br />

Website: www.boccadilupo.com<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Style/Ambiance: Striking a nice balance between Italian trattoria and<br />

urbane Soho chic, this small, buzzy restaurant is perfect for lunch or<br />

pre-theater supper. Chef Kenedy takes traditional dishes from across<br />

Italy and offers each in a large or small portion, letting you eat as<br />

heartily or as lightly as you desire—no-one’s waiting to correct you.<br />

Expect some lesser known flavors like trofie with cuttlefish and its ink,<br />

veal tongue with peara (bread and bone marrow polenta), and Luganega<br />

deluxe—a pork and foie gras sausage with nutmeg, cinnamon and clove.<br />

The private dining suite seats up to 34, and the generous all-Italian wine<br />

list completes the picture admirably.<br />

MoDern<br />

COTIDIe<br />

Head Chef: Bruno Barbieri<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7258 9878<br />

Email: reservations@cotidierestaurant.com<br />

Address: 50 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5HN<br />

Website: www.cotidierestaurant.com<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Style/Ambiance: As a judge on Italian MasterChef and winner of seven<br />

Michelin stars, Bruno Barbieri was bound to cause a stir with his first<br />

UK venture. Authentic, well-presented dishes include roast supreme of<br />

Livornese baby rooster and guanciale pork crackling with potatoes and<br />

caramelized ‘saba’ grape must. For dessert, expect classics like tiramisu<br />

alongside milky baked rum ‘zabaione’ with berries and syrup.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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27<br />

Fine Dining<br />

GAUThIeR SOhO<br />

Head Chef: Alexis Gauthier<br />

VIP contact: Alice Taylor<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7494 3111<br />

Email: info@gauthiersoho.co.uk<br />

Address: 21 Romilly Street, W1D 5AF<br />

Website: www.gauthiersoho.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: French<br />

Style/Ambiance: A refined oasis amid the razzle dazzle of Soho, this regency<br />

townhouse evokes a bygone era of French fine dining. Cream and white at every<br />

turn, the subdued interior lets the food do the talking, with rich offerings like<br />

black moscato truffle risotto with brown butter and jus de roti, pink roasted squab<br />

pigeon with meyer lemon and caramelized walnuts, and devilish desserts like<br />

Golden Louis XV with dark chocolate and praline. Gauthier’s ‘vegecentric’ menu<br />

has earned him three AA rosettes and a Michelin star, and waistline watchers will<br />

appreciate (or not) the calorie count beside each dish. A warren of dining rooms<br />

can host private parties for four to forty guests—book the cozy Chef’s Room for a<br />

romantic meal, or the marble adorned Grand Salon for something more lavish.<br />

BOCCA DI LUPO


Where to Dine<br />

stylish<br />

RIDING hOUSe CAFÉ<br />

Head Chef: Paul Daniel<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7927 0840<br />

Email: info@ridinghousecafe.co.uk<br />

Address: 43-51 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PQ<br />

Website: www.ridinghousecafe.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Style/Ambiance: A short stroll from Oxford Street, this all-day brasserie excels at traditional cooking in<br />

a very trendy setting. A selection of small plates lets you mix and match, with highlights including goat’s<br />

curd with figs and honey, and smoked eel with pickled carrots and horseradish. For mains, expect such<br />

classics as smoked haddock kedgeree, middlewhite rack of pork and excellent Aberdeen Angus steak.<br />

The interior is a scavenger’s delight, with oh-so-modish reclaimed fittings and faux flea market furniture,<br />

and groups of up to 14 can book the private dining room—a playful reconstruction of a real English stable.<br />

ARBUTUS<br />

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28<br />

gAstro-bistro<br />

ARBUTUS<br />

Head Chef: Anthony Demetre<br />

VIP contact: Will Smith<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 4545<br />

Email: info@arbutusrestaurant.co.uk<br />

Address: 63-64 Frith Street, W1D 3JW<br />

Website: www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: European<br />

Style/Ambiance: Since opening in 2006, Arbutus has won a Michelin star<br />

and made waves far beyond the media crowds of Soho. The brainchild of<br />

longtime cohorts Anthony Demetre and Will Smith, this chic gastro-bistro<br />

offers an elegant but unstuffy space to enjoy phenomenal rustic fare.<br />

Expect simple, delicious meat and fish dishes—the grilled Scottish beef<br />

is superb—alongside ‘nose-to-tail’ delights like warm crisp pig’s head<br />

and Marseille-style pieds et paquets (lamb’s tripe parcels and trotters).<br />

Service is friendly and informal, and the extensive wine list offers all<br />

wines in 250ml carafes—perfect for tasting.<br />

elegAnt<br />

MURANO<br />

Head Chef: Angela Hartnett<br />

VIP contact: Odessa Mostacci<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7495 1127<br />

Email: enquiries@muranolondon.com<br />

Address: 20-22 Queen Street, W1J 5PP<br />

Website: www.muranolondon.com<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Style/Ambiance: Angela Hartnett is near enough a national treasure in<br />

the UK. When she and Gordon Ramsay opened Menu Restaurant at the<br />

Connaught Hotel in 2002, she became the first woman to run the kitchen<br />

there, and her service to the hospitality industry has since been recognized<br />

with an MBE. Hartnett and Ramsay teamed up again to open Murano in<br />

2008, winning a Michelin star five months later. Highlights include Anjou<br />

pigeon with date and apple purée, white port jelly and marinated mouli,<br />

and monkfish with handpicked crab, avocado, asparagus and bitter orange.<br />

For a unique view of the kitchen’s magic, groups of between seven and 12<br />

can enjoy a bespoke menu at the Chef’s Table.


Where to Dine<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> CALLING COCKAIL AND TUNA TARTAR SANDWICheS,<br />

CUT AT 45 PARK LANe.<br />

glAMorous<br />

CUT AT 45 PARK LANe<br />

Executive chef: David McIntyre<br />

VIP contact: Loyd Loudy<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 4545<br />

Email: reservations.45L@dorchestercollection.com<br />

Address: 45 Park Lane, W1K 1PN<br />

Website: www.45parklane.com<br />

Cuisine: American steakhouse<br />

Style/Ambiance: Echoing the original CUT in Beverly Hills, Wolfgang Puck’s<br />

first European venture is every bit as indulgent as its LA counterpart. Part of<br />

the Dorchester Collection’s new hotel at 45 Park Lane, CUT doesn’t do things<br />

by halves, with hearty prime dry and wet aged beef—including Australian<br />

Wagyu—pan-roasted lobster and whole fish sautéed and roasted. The service<br />

is friendly and efficient, and the interior competes with the menu for pure<br />

showbiz extravagance.<br />

TeXTURe<br />

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29<br />

stylish<br />

TheO RANDALL<br />

Head Chef: Theo Randall<br />

VIP contact: Maria Wrazen<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7318 8747<br />

Email: reservations@theorandall.com<br />

Address: The InterContinental, 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1J 7QY<br />

Website: www.theorandall.com<br />

Cuisine: Italian<br />

Style/Ambiance: British chef Theo Randall developed a love for Italian food<br />

during childhood holidays in Italy, and tasting his food today you’d think he was<br />

as Italian as Verdi. Having won a Michelin star during his ten-year residence<br />

at west London’s River Café, Randall opened his eponymous restaurant at the<br />

InterContinental in 2007 and remains faithful to his simple, rustic style. Expect<br />

fresh, familiar ingredients combined without fuss and to beautiful effect.<br />

experiMentAl<br />

TheO RANDALL<br />

TeXTURe<br />

Head Chef: Agnar Sverrisson<br />

VIP contact: Adeyla Sokolova<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7224 0028<br />

Email: info@texture-restaurant.co.uk<br />

Address: 34 Portman Street, W1H 7BY<br />

Website: www.texture-restaurant.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Modern European<br />

Style/Ambiance: Set in a handsome Georgian townhouse off Oxford Street,<br />

Texture has helped fuel the current craze for Scandinavia among Europe’s<br />

foodies. Chef Agnar Sverrisson and sommelier Xavier Rousset worked together<br />

at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons before opening Texture in<br />

2007, and their defection from Blanc has earned them a Michelin star, a host<br />

of awards and plenty of zeitgeist kudos. Eschewing the butter and cream of<br />

French cuisine, Sverrisson instead favors light, pure flavors—many drawn from<br />

his native Iceland. Highlights include an amuse-bouche of pea and mint snow,<br />

Anjou quail with sweetcorn, shallot, bacon popcorn and red wine essence, and a<br />

dessert of passion fruit soup with basil ice cream, mango and ginger. The wine<br />

list is well balanced between Old and New Worlds, and the Champagne Bar<br />

boasts over a hundred champagnes—one of the biggest collections in London.


Where to Dine<br />

QUILON<br />

scottish<br />

BOISDALe<br />

Head Chef: Neil Churchill<br />

VIP contact: Elisabeth Rutt<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7283 1763<br />

Email: info@boisdale-city.co.uk<br />

Address: Swedeland Court, 202 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4NR<br />

Website: www.boisdale.co.uk/bishopsgate<br />

Cuisine: Scottish<br />

Style/Ambiance: Boisdale owner Ranald Macdonald [sic] claims to love<br />

four things in life: Scotland, whiskey, jazz and cigars. All of these are well<br />

represented in this cozy homage to Scotland in the heart of London’s<br />

financial district. With sister restaurants in Belgravia and Canary Wharf, this<br />

basement branch is tucked away at the end of a Dickensian alley and down a<br />

flight of Tartan-clad stairs. The menu includes Scottish classics like haggis,<br />

neeps and tatties, and the list of single malt whiskeys must be the longest<br />

in London. The main dining room can host private parties of up to 72 guests,<br />

and the separate McGonagall Room can be booked for 42 guests.<br />

greAt steAk<br />

hAWKSMOOR SeVeN DIALS<br />

Head Chef: Richard Turner<br />

VIP contact: Mirjam Saar<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7420 9390<br />

Email: sevendials@thehawksmoor.com<br />

Address: 11 Langley Street, WC2H 9JG<br />

Website: www.thehawksmoor.com<br />

Cuisine: British steakhouse<br />

Style/Ambiance: A bastion of good British beef, Hawksmoor has made many a<br />

headline since opening its West End branch in 2010—and rightly so. The meat<br />

is some of the best you’ll find in the UK, sourced from grass-fed Longhorn<br />

cattle, dry-aged at least 35 days and cooked on a charcoal grill without fuss or<br />

frills. Add to that an extensive wine and cocktail list and handy Covent Garden<br />

location, and you’ll find Hawksmoor hard to fault. Come with an appetite—<br />

your table will creak under the weight of the prime rib, Porterhouse and<br />

Chateaubriand cuts. For extra privacy, ask for the 14-cover private dining room.<br />

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Authentic inDiAn<br />

QUILON<br />

Head Chef: Sriram Aylur<br />

VIP contact: Santanu Mazumdar<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7821 1899<br />

Email: info@quilonrestaurant.co.uk<br />

Address: 41 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6AF<br />

Website: www.quilon.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Indian<br />

Style/Ambiance: Celebrating traditional dishes from India’s southwest<br />

coast, this Michelin-starred gem offers outstanding ‘home-style’ cooking<br />

in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Highlights include the skillet-grilled<br />

crab cakes, stuffed quail legs and char-grilled scallops with mango chili<br />

relish. For dessert, don’t miss the bibinca and dodhol, a Goan speciality of<br />

sweet pancake layers and a palm jaggery pudding. The private dining room<br />

accommodates 16 sitting or 35 standing.<br />

trADitionAl spAnish<br />

PIzARRO<br />

Executive Chef: José Pizarro<br />

VIP contact: Herve Durochat<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7378 9455<br />

Email: herve@josepizarro.com<br />

Address: 194 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ<br />

Website: www.josepizarro.com<br />

Cuisine: Spanish<br />

Style/Ambiance: A stone’s throw from Borough Market, this irresistible eatery<br />

is the second London venture for chef José Pizarro, thanks to the success of<br />

his nearby tapas bar, José. While the mood is more formal here, the method is<br />

the same—simple, seasonal cooking using the freshest possible ingredients.<br />

Traditional meat and game—lamb’s tongue, partridge escabeche, quail—<br />

impress without eclipsing some exquisite vegetarian dishes—the roasted<br />

winter vegetables will linger long in the memory. The all-Spanish wine list is<br />

a joy, with a range of cavas and honey-like sherries that could be a dessert in<br />

their own right. A private dining room is available for groups of up to 12.<br />

hAWKSMOOR<br />

SeVeN DIALS


Where to Dine<br />

BUeN AYRe<br />

stylish<br />

SPICe MARKeT<br />

Executive Chef: Peter Lloyd<br />

VIP contact: Semira Hodzic<br />

Phone: +44 (0)207 758 1088<br />

Email: info@spicemarketlondon.co.uk<br />

Address: W London Leicester Square, 10 Wardour Street, W1D 6QF<br />

Website: www.spicemarketlondon.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Southeast Asian<br />

Style/Ambiance: The sleek foyer of W London Hotel lures you from the hurly-burly of Leicester Square<br />

to Spice Market, a dark, seductive place of superb Southeast Asian fare. An entire wall flaunts the<br />

kaleidoscope of spices used in the open kitchen, while 600 upturned woks—reconceived as lights—emit a<br />

warm glow from above. Created by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, this sister restaurant<br />

of the iconic Spice Market in New York borrows the best street food from Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia,<br />

and reinvents it for the jet set. Expect bold flavors like char grilled chicken with kumquat and lemongrass<br />

dressing, and black pepper shrimp with sun-dried pineapple, as well as heavenly textures like salmon<br />

sashimi with warm crunchy rice, chipotle emulsion and spring onion. Each dish is brought to the table as<br />

soon as it’s ready—a great excuse to share. Make sure you leave room for dessert.<br />

MoDern inDiAn<br />

BeNAReS<br />

Head Chef: Atul Kochhar<br />

VIP contact: Anshu Baluja<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 8886<br />

Email: events@benaresrestaurant.co.uk<br />

Address: 12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1J 6BS<br />

Website: www.benaresrestaurant.com<br />

Cuisine: Indian<br />

Style/Ambiance: This elegant Mayfair venue made Atul Kochhar the first<br />

Indian chef to win a Michelin star. Ingredients are sourced from across India<br />

to create subtle, authentic flavors with a contemporary twist. Highlights<br />

include apricot stuffed paneer, mint cheddar chicken tikka with red onion<br />

salad, and chili garlic tandoori trout with kumquat chutney. As well as some<br />

of the best Indian food you’ll find in London, expect stunning cocktails like<br />

the passion fruit chutney martini.<br />

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JOhN RATTAGAN<br />

greAt steAk<br />

BUeN AYRe<br />

Head Chef: John Rattagan<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7275 9900<br />

Email: info@buenayre.co.uk<br />

Address: 50 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ<br />

Website: www.buenayre.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Argentine grill<br />

Style/Ambiance: Argentina-raised John Rattagan<br />

was the family grill master from an early age,<br />

in a country where the asado (barbecue) enjoys<br />

near sacred status. Luckily for London, he left<br />

his homeland as a young man and set up Buen<br />

Ayre in the heart of trendy Hackney. The headline<br />

act is the steaks, served in a range of cuts with<br />

a simple garnish. Expect warm service, fine<br />

Argentine wines and the best steak you’ll taste in<br />

the capital.<br />

BeNAReS


Where to Dine<br />

british<br />

The CAPABILITY<br />

Executive Chef: Neil Thrift<br />

VIP contact: Dale MacPhee<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7870 7777<br />

Email: syonpark.info@waldorfastoria.com<br />

Address: London Syon Park, TW8 8JF<br />

Website: www.londonsyonpark.com<br />

Cuisine: Modern British<br />

Style/Ambiance: Part of the new five-star Waldorf Astoria hotel in Grade I-listed<br />

Syon Park, The Capability offers rustic, seasonal fare close to Heathrow Airport.<br />

Chef Thrift takes pride in UK produce, and grows his own fruit, vegetables and<br />

herbs in the park grounds. Expect treats like Dorset snails with black pudding,<br />

wild boar bacon and garlic butter, Pan Haggarty with woodland mushrooms<br />

and traditional game like buck rabbit and Scotch woodcock. Sommelier Romain<br />

Columbi keeps a fine cellar of Old and New World wines, with tastings available<br />

at the Chef's Table in the hotel greenhouse.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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‘MeAT FRUIT’ – MANDARIN, ChICKeN LIVeR<br />

PARFAIT AND GRILLeD BReAD,<br />

DINNeR BY heSTON BLUMeNThAL<br />

© AShLeY PALMeR WATTS<br />

The CAPABILITY<br />

32<br />

Authentic inDiAn<br />

experiMentAl<br />

DINNeR BY heSTON BLUMeNThAL<br />

Head Chef: Heston Blumenthal<br />

Executive Chef: Ashley Palmer-Watts<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7201 3833<br />

Address: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park,<br />

66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA<br />

Website: www.dinnerbyheston.com<br />

Cuisine: Modern British<br />

Style/Ambiance: The first London venture of UK<br />

culinary master Heston Blumenthal, Dinner was<br />

hotly anticipated. Paying homage to historical<br />

British cooking, the menu reclaims traditional<br />

dishes dating back to the 16th century, reinventing<br />

them for the modern day. The menu lists dishes<br />

with the year they were first cooked, and Heston’s<br />

trademark wit is on top form with clever hints of<br />

antiquity and lights that resemble classic jellymoulds.<br />

Fans of Heston’s molecular gastronomy<br />

will enjoy the signature ‘Meat Fruit’ and delights<br />

from the nitro ice cream trolley.<br />

MOTI MAhAL<br />

Head Chef: Anirudh Arora<br />

VIP contact: Michael Cheung, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7240 9329<br />

Email: reservations@motimahal-uk.com<br />

Address: 45 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5AA<br />

Website: www.motimahal-uk.com<br />

Cuisine: Indian<br />

Style/Ambiance: First established in Delhi in 1959, Moti Mahal’s English<br />

incarnation enjoys a plum spot in London’s West End and makes a fine<br />

ambassador for the original. The tasting menu takes inspiration from the<br />

Grand Trunk Road—the ancient route linking present day India, Pakistan and<br />

Afghanistan—with wine pairings giving a well-judged nod westward. Highlights<br />

include tender tandoor-roasted jumbo prawns marinated in tamarind, chili and<br />

curry leaf, and crisp fried lotus stem with peanut and coriander. In this city of<br />

Indian ‘interpretations’, this is a welcome taste of authenticity.<br />

MOTI MAhAL


Where to Dine<br />

stylish OYSTeR AND CRUDO,<br />

MASSIMO<br />

zUMA<br />

Chef/Owner: Rainer Becker<br />

Head Chef: Li Soon<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7584 1010<br />

Email: info@zuma.com<br />

Address: 5 Raphael Street, Knightsbridge, SW7 1DL<br />

Website: www.zumarestaurant.com<br />

Cuisine: Japanese Izakaya<br />

Style/Ambiance: One of the top hang-outs in London’s glossy Knightsbridge<br />

area, Zuma often attracts a celebrity clientele and is a firm favorite of elite chefs<br />

like Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal. Inspired by his travels in Japan,<br />

Rainer Becker combines the casual and shared dining of the Japanese ‘Izakaya’<br />

with the sophistication of modern fine cuisine. Designed by renowned Japanese<br />

architectural company Super Potato, the polished granite counters and sleek<br />

blond wood lattices provide a traditional setting with a chic edge. The menu<br />

focuses on simple yet high quality dishes, each prepared with a careful touch<br />

and a delicate balance of flavors.<br />

zUMA<br />

british<br />

ST. JOhN<br />

Head Chef: Chris Gillard<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3301 8069<br />

Email: reservations@stjohnhotellondon.com<br />

Address: 26 St John Street, EC1M 4AY<br />

Website: www.stjohnrestaurant.com<br />

Cuisine: British<br />

Style/Ambiance: Critics and culinary devotees travel across the world to sample<br />

the outstanding, impeccably British menu at St. Johns. Situated in a former<br />

smokehouse with simple, whitewashed walls, owner Fergus Henderson’s<br />

no-nonsense vision of ‘nose-to-tail’ eating has resulted in imaginative and<br />

daring dishes that hark back to the rich, rustic history of the country. Guests<br />

can indulge in such carnivorous delights as calf liver or pigskin, which are<br />

complemented by the excellent wine list.<br />

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seAFooD<br />

MASSIMO<br />

Head Chef: Massimo Riccioli<br />

VIP contact: Jean-Claude Breton<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7998 0555<br />

Email: tables@massimo-restaurant.co.uk<br />

Address: Corinthia Hotel London, 10 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5AE<br />

Website: www.massimo-restaurant.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Mediterranean seafood and Oyster Bar<br />

Style/Ambiance: Chocolate brown leather sofas, bold marble Corinthian<br />

columns and orbs of lights encased in glass—the decoration of this renovated<br />

Victorian hotel gives Massimo an air of old-world grandeur laced with the<br />

chef’s Italian influences. Created by distinguished interior designer David<br />

Collins, it provides an elegant and relaxed space, away from the bustling<br />

London streets outside. The menu favors the fruits of the sea with a heavy<br />

focus on more sustainable and locally sourced fish and crustaceans.<br />

ST. JOhN,<br />

© PATRICIA NIVeN


Where to Dine<br />

hAKKASAN MAYFAIR<br />

glAMorous<br />

hAKKASAN MAYFAIR<br />

Head Chef: Tong Chee Hwee<br />

Phone: +44 (0)207 907 1888<br />

Email: mayfairreservation@hakkasan<br />

Address: 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, W1J 6QB<br />

Website: www.hakkasan.com<br />

Cuisine: Modern Chinese<br />

Style/Ambiance: In the heart of London’s elite Mayfair, surrounded by designer<br />

boutiques, this restaurant is the epitome of glamorous dining in the capital.<br />

Following the success of the original Hakkasan, which helped transform<br />

London into the gastronomic wonderland it is today, Hakkasan Mayfair offers<br />

an ultra-luxe version with sultry lighting, ebony lattices and waitresses in<br />

seductive red Diane von Furstenberg dresses (her boutique is across the<br />

road). Luxury prevails in the menu too with ingredients such as foie gras,<br />

black truffle, lobster and wagyu beef appearing regularly.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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hAKKASAN MAYFAIR<br />

34<br />

lively<br />

BAR BOULUD<br />

Chef/Owner: Daniel Boulud<br />

Head Chef: Dean Yasharian<br />

VIP contact: Sabrina Klewer<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7201 3899<br />

Email: barboulud@mohg.com<br />

Address: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1 X7LA<br />

Website: www.barboulud.com<br />

Cuisine: French/American<br />

Style/Ambiance: Among the designer shops and boutiques of<br />

fashionable Knightsbridge, star chef Daniel Boulud has created a<br />

gourmet hotspot in the form of Bar Boulud. Set in the renowned<br />

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Boulud blends classic French bistro dishes<br />

and contemporary flavors with style and energy. With an impressive<br />

wine list and vibrant atmosphere, Bar Boulud has rapidly become a firm<br />

favorite among London’s cognoscenti.<br />

Authentic inDiAn<br />

AMAYA<br />

AMAYA<br />

Head Chef: Karunesh Khanna<br />

VIP contact: Kanwal Singh<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 1166<br />

Email: amaya@realindianfood.com<br />

Address: Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JT<br />

Website: www.amaya.biz<br />

Cuisine: Indian grill<br />

Style/Ambiance: Reinventing the perception of Indian food in Britain,<br />

Amaya presents a sophisticated Indian dining experience with their<br />

glamorous setting and excellent kebabs. Refined yet casual, the tasting<br />

menu provides a convivial meal to be shared and enjoyed. With unusual<br />

curries and complex marinades, the authenticity of the dishes set Amaya<br />

apart, mixing royal recipes from Maharaja Palaces with favorites from the<br />

humble Indian street stall.


Where to Dine<br />

Further AFielD<br />

The FAT DUCK<br />

Chef/Owner: Heston Blumenthal<br />

Head Chef: Jonny Lake<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1628 589 333<br />

Address: High Street, Bray, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2AQ<br />

Website: www.thefatduck.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Modern British<br />

Style/Ambiance: Tucked away inside a 450-year-old pub in the village of<br />

Bray, The Fat Duck shines out among the top restaurants of the world.<br />

Pushing the boundaries of British gastronomy, Heston Blumenthal’s<br />

pioneering techniques and scientific approach provide a dining experience<br />

like no other. Described as a culinary alchemist, his menu plays on all your<br />

senses, transforming British classics into innovative dishes which will<br />

surprise and delight.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

GReeN TeA, The FAT DUCK<br />

© DOMINIC DAVIeS<br />

35<br />

Further AFielD<br />

The WATeRSIDe INN<br />

Chef/Patron: Alain Roux<br />

Head Chef: Fabrice Uhryn<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1628 620691<br />

Email: reservations@waterside-inn.co.uk<br />

Address: Ferry Road, Bray, SL6 2AT<br />

Website: www.waterside-inn.co.uk<br />

Cuisine: Classic and Modern French<br />

Style/Ambiance: Under the leadership of Alain Roux, of the legendary Roux<br />

family, the hallowed kitchens of The Waterside Inn attract gourmands from<br />

every corner of the globe. In a charming setting on the banks of the River<br />

Thames, a small army of chefs prepare exquisite French fare. Notoriously<br />

obsessive attention to detail ensures immaculate service within a relaxed<br />

atmosphere. For an exclusive experience, hire the lush private cottage or, in<br />

the summer, enjoy an aperitif on the river in the restaurant’s own boat.<br />

The WATeRSIDe INN<br />

© IN-PReSS PhOTOGRAPhY


Where to be pampered<br />

Take some time off during your stay to relax and unwind in these top spas and health clubs<br />

roofTop pool aT The Berkeley<br />

The Berkeley Spa<br />

Spa Director: Katherine Verniere<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7201 1699 (reservations)<br />

Address: The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL<br />

Website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Treatments and facilities: With its unique location on the 7th and 8th floor of<br />

The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, the Berkeley Spa lays claim to the city’s only<br />

rooftop swimming pool with panoramic views of the skyline. Commonly<br />

referred to as a boutique spa, this spa focuses on four exclusive luxury brands<br />

of treatment products for different areas of the body. The spa has developed<br />

a reputation for pioneering some of the most alternative beauty and health<br />

therapies, from LaStone massage to Balinese treatments from the legendary<br />

Begawan Giri retreat.<br />

Signature treatment: ‘Berkeley Elegance’ – anti-ageing facial designed to lift,<br />

re-plump and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.<br />

The riTz Salon<br />

Spa Director: Emma Barton<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 8181, extension 3435<br />

Email: enquire@theritzlondon.com<br />

Address: 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR<br />

Website: www.theritzlondon.com<br />

Treatments and facilities: : On the seventh floor of<br />

the hotel, The Ritz Salon is home to the ultimate<br />

in relaxation. The Salon is as popular as ever for<br />

hairdressing and styling for external guests as well<br />

as those staying with the hotel. All products used<br />

for treatments are made from 100% organic plant<br />

oils, which are matched according to your needs and<br />

adapted to suit your mood.<br />

Signature treatment: ‘The Complete Programme’, a<br />

full day of pampering, styling and spoiling including<br />

a full body massage, facial, lunch in The Ritz<br />

Restaurant, hair cut and style and a manicure or<br />

pedicure. Finished off with a cocktail of your choice in<br />

The Rivoli Bar.<br />

The Spa STudio aT The laneSBorough<br />

Spa Director: Rachel Lowe-Mukherji<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7333 7700<br />

Email: info@lanesborough.com<br />

Address: Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA<br />

Website: www.lanesborough.com<br />

Treatments and facilities: A richly appointed and<br />

intimately exclusive sanctuary, The Spa Studio<br />

at The Lanesborough offers the quintessence of<br />

health and beauty treatments. Headed by Rachel<br />

Lowe-Mukherji, who uses two of the most highly<br />

respected brands in the industry, La Prairie and<br />

Ytsara, The Spa Studio presents guests with a<br />

wealth of options for relaxation and rejuvenation.<br />

Signature treatment: La Prairie Swiss Bliss,<br />

a combined face and body treatment using La<br />

Prairie caviar products. The session includes full<br />

body exfoliation, full body massage and facial<br />

skin toning using exclusive drainage techniques<br />

from Switzerland.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com 36<br />

aMan Spa pool aT The ConnaughT<br />

aMan Spa aT The ConnaughT<br />

Spa Director: René Van Eyssen<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3147 7305<br />

Email: amanspa@theconnaught.co.uk<br />

Address: The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL<br />

Website: www.the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Treatments and facilities: Reflecting both the hotel’s inimitable style and<br />

Amanresorts’ Asian-inspired aesthetic, every detail of the Aman Spa is finely<br />

tuned to offer guests optimal relaxation and comfort. The spa’s menu is based<br />

on key treatments reflecting the renewing traditions of China, Thailand, India and<br />

the Americas. Guests simply book the amount of time they wish to be pampered<br />

for, and after a consultation and foot bath their treatment is formulated to achieve<br />

their personal wellness goals.<br />

Signature treatment: The Holistic Signature Facial combines soothing movements<br />

with plant essence synergies hand-picked to deeply cleanse and revitalize.<br />

The MileSTone healTh CluB and Spa<br />

Spa Director: Fiona Keane<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7917 1000<br />

Email: bookms@rchmail.com<br />

Address: 1 Kensington Court, W8 5DL<br />

Website: www.milestonehotel.com/wellness<br />

Treatments and facilities: A bijou but fullyequipped<br />

spa located at the basement level of<br />

The Milestone Hotel, it offers facilities such as<br />

a fully air-conditioned workout room complete<br />

with rowing machines, treadmills, and weights,<br />

a resistance swimming pool, a sauna and a spa<br />

treatment room.<br />

Signature treatment: ‘The Weary Traveller, Anti-<br />

Jet Lag, Anti-Stress, Anti-Hangover Treament’<br />

- a comprehensive treatment to rescue you from<br />

any or all of the above. Treatment includes a body<br />

massage to release toxins and invigorate tired<br />

legs, a foot treatment for relaxation and a facial<br />

to deep clean and soothe tension in face muscles.


Where to be pampered<br />

harrodS urBan reTreaT<br />

The dorCheSTer Spa<br />

Spa Director: Sally Pedder<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7319 7109<br />

Email: spa@thedorchester.com<br />

Address: The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1QA<br />

Website: www.thedorchester.com<br />

Treatments and facilities: Reopened in May 2009 after a £3.2million<br />

refurbishment, The Dorchester Spa has quickly established itself as<br />

an indulgent and glamorous destination spa offering facials by<br />

Vaishaly and Carol Joy London alongside treatments by Kerstin Florian<br />

and Aromatherapy Associates. Other aspects include a relaxation room<br />

and ‘Spatisserie’, a peaceful, elegant space for light lunches, nibbles<br />

and cocktails pre- or post-spa.<br />

Signature treatment: Vaishaly Signature Facial. Every step of<br />

this expert facial, which incorporates deep-cleansing, extraction,<br />

microdermabrasion and a treatment mask, is tailored towards<br />

achieving a clearer, smoother, softer and naturally radiant<br />

complexion.<br />

eleMiS day Spa<br />

Spa Director: Angela Kwakwa<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 4995<br />

Email: elemisdayspa@elemis.com<br />

Address: 2-3 Lancashire Court, Mayfair, W1S 1EX<br />

Website: www.elemis.com<br />

Treatments and facilities: Situated in the heart of Mayfair, the Elemis Day Spa is<br />

a place to escape from the stress and pressures of everyday life. The spa menu,<br />

made up of treatments from exotic cultures from around the world, including<br />

Bali, Tibet, Polynesia, Japan, Morocco and Thailand, has been designed to<br />

subconsciously stimulate all your senses.<br />

Signature treatment: ‘Jasmine Lulur’ Treatment, a therapy that has been<br />

practised since the 17th century to smooth and nourish the skin of royal<br />

princesses. The ritual also includes a Well-Being Massage followed by a halfhour<br />

refresher facial.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com 37<br />

harrodS urBan reTreaT<br />

Spa contact: Alicia Thakrar, VIP bookings coordinator<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7893 8333<br />

Email: alicia.thakrar@urpr.co.uk<br />

Address: Harrods Fifth Floor, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7XL<br />

Website: www.urbanretreat.co.uk<br />

Treatments and facilities: High above the crowds on the fifth floor<br />

of shopping Mecca Harrods, Urban Retreat – acknowledged by many<br />

as the ultimate hair and beauty destination in London – is a 22,000ft 2<br />

beauty paradise offering a vast range of lavish treatments, grooming<br />

services and premium retail products. Also to be found here is the<br />

Roja Dove Haute Perfumerie, a luxurious shrine dedicated to the<br />

divine scents created by master perfumer Roja Dove. After your spa<br />

appointment, why not book a consultation with the master, who will<br />

help you to find your true signature perfume.<br />

Signature treatment: Try the Crème de la Mer facial, or for ultimate<br />

pampering choose a La Prairie Caviar Body Treatment, a firming,<br />

toning, total body massage that leaves skin soft, supple and<br />

shimmering with renewed vitality.<br />

The dorCheSTer Spa, relaxaTion rooM<br />

Claridge’S BeauTy & fiTneSS<br />

Spa Director: Kelly Ashdown<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 6565<br />

Address: Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR<br />

Website: www.claridges.co.uk<br />

Treatments and facilities: For pure relaxation and energizing workouts,<br />

visit this secret spa and health club tucked away on the sixth floor, far above<br />

the London bustle. The airy gym and luxurious treatment rooms are<br />

a hidden treasure, a place to clear your mind and revitalize your body<br />

without distraction.<br />

Signature treatment: Claridge’s offers not merely one, but three signature<br />

treatments: ‘Timeless Glamour’ for those searching for a taste of celebrity<br />

pampering, ‘The Greta Garbo’, for those who want a quiet, restorative ritual,<br />

and ‘The Clark Gable’, for male guests who frankly, my dear, do give a damn<br />

and wish to rejuvenate with a masculine yet refined wellness program.


What to do ➤ during the day<br />

London is famous for its diversity,<br />

whether it be the diversity of its<br />

culture, inhabitants, architecture or<br />

cuisine. Given the incredible range<br />

of places to visit and things to see<br />

FaMiLy/CeLeBration<br />

adVenture<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

in this bustling metropolis, it can be<br />

difficult to choose what to do. Should<br />

you be dedicating your days to parks<br />

and gardens, or to museums and<br />

galleries, and if so which ones?<br />

THE MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS <strong>LONDON</strong> EYE<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> EYE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)871 781 3000 (booking line)/ +44 (0)871 222 4002 (events team)<br />

Address: The London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge<br />

Road, SE1 7PB<br />

Website: www.londoneye.com<br />

The world’s tallest observation wheel, the London Eye offers guests unrivalled<br />

360 degree vistas of the capital. Its prime location on London’s South Bank<br />

makes it the ideal spot for viewing classic London monuments such as Big Ben,<br />

the Houses of Parliament, and – a little further off – the impressive City skyline,<br />

punctuated by the magnificent dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and the gilded<br />

spires of the Tower of London. The London Eye is also the perfect venue for a<br />

celebration; private capsules offer visitors the opportunity to commemorate that<br />

special occasion in style, high above the crowds, and can accommodate anything<br />

from a romantic champagne flight à deux to a private party for up to 25 people.<br />

HYDE PARK STABLES<br />

Contact: Catherine Brown<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7723 2813<br />

Email: info@hydeparkstables.com<br />

Address: Hyde Park Stables, 63 Bathurst Mews, London W2 2SB<br />

Website: www.hydeparkstables.com<br />

For something a little different, why not visit Hyde Park Stables and<br />

go for an invigorating ride in the fresh air and wide open spaces of<br />

the park? Situated right in the center of London, these stables offer a<br />

wide range of riding experiences. Join a group for a slow, stately ride,<br />

book an individual lesson for a more structured ride, or try a tour for<br />

two. VIP experiences can be made by arrangement, and are tailored to<br />

suit individual needs whilst also ensuring that visitors make the most of<br />

the park’s picturesque vistas.<br />

38<br />

THE SMOKINg ROOM, DENNIS SEVERS’ HOUSE<br />

SoMething diFFerent<br />

CuLturaL/FaMiLy<br />

<strong>Elite</strong> <strong>Traveler</strong> has the answer, and has<br />

selected the attractions that are best<br />

equipped to amuse, entertain, and<br />

enlighten you. These are a few of our<br />

favorite things….<br />

DENNIS SEVERS’ HOUSE<br />

Contact: Mick Pedroli, House Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7247 4013<br />

Email: info@dennissevershouse.co.uk, c/o Mick Pedroli<br />

Address: 18 Folgate Street, E1 6BX<br />

Website: www.dennissevershouse.co.uk<br />

Located in a not particularly picturesque part of London, Dennis Severs’ House is<br />

easy to miss. And what a shame if you did, as it has got to be one of the capital’s<br />

most unusual experiences. Brainchild of eccentric American Dennis Severs, the<br />

house is a faithful recreation of the way an English home changed between the<br />

early 1700s and the dawn of the Victorian era. This bizarre space invites visitors<br />

to experience history in as authentic a way as possible; not only through sight but<br />

also through sound and smell. Strictly for grown-ups, visits through the multi-era<br />

house are conducted in silence and in tiny groups.<br />

TOWER OF <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Contact: Events Team<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3166 6226<br />

Email: toweroflondonevents@hrp.org.uk<br />

Address: EC3N 4AB<br />

Website: www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon<br />

For over 900 years the Tower of London has dominated the City of London and is<br />

still one of the capital’s most prominent landmarks. Throughout its long history,<br />

it has served as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, an<br />

arsenal, royal mint, menagerie and jewel house. Today, the Tower is home to<br />

some of the most potent symbols of British history: the Yeoman Warders, ravens<br />

and Crown Jewels. Experience this historical gem with a VIP viewing of the Crown<br />

Jewels, or dine in the Martin Tower and overlook the time-honoured ‘Ceremony of<br />

the Keys’, the official locking of the Tower that has continued for over 700 years.


What to do ➤ during the day<br />

© TATE BRITAIN<br />

CuLturaL CuLturaL<br />

TATE BRITAIN<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7887 8888<br />

Email: visiting.britain@tate.org.uk<br />

Address: Millbank, SW1P 4RG<br />

Website: www.tate.org.uk<br />

Elder sibling of the Tate Modern, Tate Britain is the national gallery of purely<br />

British art. Featuring works from the Tudor era to the present day, the displays<br />

there present an unparalleled picture of the development of art throughout British<br />

history. Highlights include works by Turner and Constable, as well as the dreamy<br />

paintings of pre-Raphaelite artists Millais and Rossetti. Enjoy these national<br />

treasures during a private Tate tour for two during the day or evening.<br />

CuLturaL SoMething diFFerent CuLturaL<br />

BUCKINgHAM PALACE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7766 7300<br />

Address: Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1A 1AA, UK<br />

Website: www.royalcollection.org.uk<br />

Serving as both the office and London residence<br />

of Her Majesty the Queen, Buckingham Palace is<br />

one of the few working royal palaces in the world<br />

today. Its 19 state rooms are lavishly furnished<br />

with some of the greatest treasures from the<br />

Royal Collection – paintings by Rembrandt,<br />

Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto, sculpture<br />

by Canova, and exquisite examples of Sèvres<br />

porcelain. All of this can be viewed during an<br />

exclusive evening tour in the company of an<br />

expert guide, featuring guidebook, champagne,<br />

and the luxury of knowing there will be no crowds<br />

to distract you.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

THE OLD OPERATINg THEATRE<br />

Contact: Karen Howell (Curator)<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7188 2679<br />

Email: curator@thegarret.org.uk<br />

Address: 9a St. Thomas St, SE1 9RY<br />

Website: www.thegarret.org.uk<br />

Hidden in the roof of a baroque church, this<br />

intriguing museum showcases The Operating<br />

Theatre, a tiny but perfectly preserved operating<br />

space in use between 1821 and 1862 in the<br />

days before anesthetic and antiseptic surgery.<br />

The museum also includes a 300-year-old herb<br />

garret containing an extensive collection of the<br />

herbs, infusions, and extracts used before the<br />

birth of advanced science, as well as an unusual<br />

array of archaic medical utensils. Contact the<br />

curator for a private guided tour.<br />

39<br />

V&A MUSEUM<br />

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7942 2000<br />

Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, SW7 2RL<br />

Website: www.vam.ac.uk<br />

The Victoria and Albert Museum, known locally as the V&A, was named<br />

after Queen Victoria and her husband in 1899. Hosting extensive<br />

collections of artifacts from many of the world’s richest cultures, it is<br />

a must-see for any discerning visitor. The collections, which comprise<br />

paintings, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, furniture, textiles, jewelry,<br />

and metalwork, span over 2,000 years of human creativity, in virtually<br />

every medium and from all over the globe.<br />

THE WALLACE COLLECTION<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7563 9500<br />

Email: visiting@wallacecollection.org<br />

Address: Hertford House, Manchester Square,<br />

London W1U 3BN<br />

Website: www.wallacecollection.org<br />

Preserved in a town house in Mayfair, the Wallace<br />

Collection is 25 galleries’ worth of French 18th<br />

century painting, furniture and porcelain, including<br />

superb Old Master paintings and a world-class<br />

armory. The museum stages temporary exhibitions<br />

as well as events, lectures and art classes for<br />

all ages. Benefit from a tour with the museum’s<br />

specialist guides, then relax in the Wallace<br />

Collection’s courtyard, the glamorous location for<br />

Oliver Peyton’s café and brasserie de luxe, which<br />

serves the very best in seasonal French dishes.


What to do ➤ during the day<br />

FaMiLy CuLturaL<br />

KEW gARDENS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8332 5655<br />

Email: info@kew.org<br />

Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB<br />

Website: www.kew.org<br />

Located in the leafy London suburb of Richmond, the Royal Botanic Gardens at<br />

Kew are a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Spanning 300<br />

acres, these rambling gardens are home to the largest collection of living and<br />

preserved plants and flowers in the world, and are a major player in the drive to<br />

conserve and continue the planet’s natural heritage. Wander through the garden’s<br />

elegant landscapes, get a bird’s eye view of the gardens from the awe-inspiring<br />

Xstrata treetop walkway, or admire the exotic flora in the iconic Palm House, the<br />

most important surviving Victorian iron and glass structure in the world.<br />

CuLturaL CuLturaL CuLturaL<br />

SIR JOHN SOANE MUSEUM<br />

VIP contact: Mike Nicholson, Development Director<br />

Email: mnicholson@soane.org.uk<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7405 2107<br />

Address: 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP<br />

Website: www.soane.org<br />

One of London’s best kept secrets, the Sir<br />

John Soane Museum and library showcases<br />

the collected possessions of Sir John Soane,<br />

Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy<br />

in the 1800s, and includes Hogarth’s Rake’s<br />

Progress paintings and various wonderful<br />

antiquarian pieces, not least the sarcophagus<br />

of King Seti I. For a bespoke tour of this quirky,<br />

labyrinthine house, contact the museum’s<br />

Development Director, Mike Nicholson.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

© ROYAL BOTANIC gARDENS, KEW<br />

SAATCHI gALLERY<br />

VIP contact: Natasha Hoare<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7811 3070<br />

Address: Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4SQ<br />

Website: www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk<br />

Opened in well-heeled Chelsea in October<br />

2008, the Saatchi Gallery takes an innovative<br />

approach to contemporary art, presenting<br />

work by largely unseen young artists or by<br />

international artists whose work has rarely<br />

or never been exhibited in the UK. Take in the<br />

museum on a private tour with a curator, and<br />

then chill out on the King’s Road with a visit<br />

to Conran-designed café-restaurant Bluebird<br />

or a wander around traditional English food<br />

purveyors Partridges.<br />

40<br />

NATIONAL PORTRAIT gALLERY © ANDREW PUTLER<br />

NATIONAL PORTRAIT gALLERY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7306 0055/+44 (0)20 7312 2463<br />

Address: St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE<br />

Website: www.npg.org.uk<br />

With over 1,000 portraits on display, from Elizabeth I to David Beckham,<br />

the National Portrait Gallery houses the world’s largest collection of<br />

personalities and faces. Artists featured range from Holbein to Hockney,<br />

and the collection includes work across all media, from painting and<br />

sculpture to photography and video. <strong>Elite</strong> travelers wishing for an extraspecial<br />

experience can benefit from the gallery’s patronage scheme, which<br />

offers patrons the opportunity to participate in private drinks receptions,<br />

exhibition previews, private breakfasts, behind-the-scenes tours, and visits<br />

to artists’ studios.<br />

TATE MODERN<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7887 8888<br />

Email: visiting.modern@tate.org.uk<br />

Address: Bankside, E1 9TG<br />

Website: www.tate.org.uk<br />

Created from a disused power station in the heart<br />

of London, the imposing Tate Modern houses the<br />

national collection of international modern art.<br />

The permanent collection, representing all the<br />

major modern art movements from 1900 onwards,<br />

includes important masterpieces by Picasso,<br />

Matisse, Pollock, Rothko, and Giacometti, as well as<br />

famous works by Pop art heavyweights Lichtenstein<br />

and Warhol. As with the Tate Britain, guided tours<br />

are available to ensure you get maximum enjoyment<br />

out of your experience.


What to do ➤ during the night<br />

Royal opeRa House © JoHan peRsson<br />

CLaSSiCaL MuSiC/danCe<br />

Royal opeRa & Royal ballet<br />

VIP contact: Katherine Cox<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7212 9264<br />

Email: Katherine.cox@roh.org.uk<br />

Address: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD<br />

Website: www.roh.org.uk<br />

Right in the theatrical and musical heart of London, the Royal Opera House has<br />

played host to the crème de la crème of the classical music and dance world<br />

since its inception. This phenomenal destination – with its grand classical<br />

portico, soaring glass ceiling and ornate golden auditorium – has seen the likes<br />

of Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Luciano Pavarotti, and Maria Callas on its<br />

stage, and continues to put on lavish, world-renowned productions during four<br />

annual ‘seasons’. Hire out the Royal Box for a premium experience, or make<br />

up your own bespoke experience with the aid of Katherine Cox.<br />

MuSiC<br />

Ronnie sCott’s<br />

VIP contact : Geoff Todd, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7432 6908<br />

Email: geoff@ronniescotts.co.uk<br />

Address: 47 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4HT<br />

Website: www.ronniescotts.co.uk<br />

Tucked away in a small street in buzzing Soho, this live jazz club is the stuff of<br />

London legend. Set up in the 1950s by jazz aficionado Ronnie Scott, its plush,<br />

intimate, low-lit interior has welcomed some true musical greats, with stars<br />

such as Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan<br />

and Stan Getz even recording albums there. Indeed it was the location for Jimi<br />

Hendrix’s last live performance. Visit this cozy musical cocoon when it’s cold<br />

outside, and sink down into the seats with cocktail in hand and ears at the ready.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

www.elitetraveler.com<br />

41<br />

Royal albeRt Hall © CHRis CHRistodoulou 2004<br />

entertainMent<br />

Royal albeRt Hall<br />

VIP contact: Kirsty Mallinson, Hospitality Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7959 0507<br />

Email: entertain@royalalberthall.com<br />

Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP<br />

Website: www.royalalberthall.com<br />

A formidable edifice positioned face-to-face with the sumptuous Albert<br />

Monument, the Royal Albert Hall is a magnificent place to get your fix of theater,<br />

classical music, circus, rock and pop concerts, and dance performances. Its<br />

unique circular auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest<br />

artists, such as Muse, Elton John, and Jay-Z. Fine dining and elite hospitality<br />

packages are available for the majority of shows in the calendar, and a backstage<br />

visit is also an option, with forthcoming opportunities for a behind the scenes visit<br />

coming after performances of Cirque du Soleil and Madam Butterfly.<br />

MuSiC<br />

T R A V E L E R<br />

deStination guide SerieS<br />

GlyndebouRne<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1273 813813<br />

Email: info@glyndebourne.com<br />

Address: Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5UU<br />

Website: www.glyndebourne.com<br />

Set in the beautiful, rolling Sussex Downs, Glyndebourne is a cultural<br />

destination offering the quality and glamour of classic internationallyacclaimed<br />

opera in a wonderfully un-crowded location. The opera house,<br />

a modern, airy affair designed to enhance the audio of its performances<br />

to the max, seats 1,200 and mounts performances of operas from all<br />

over the world, from favorites such as Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and<br />

Wagner’s Ring Cycle, to more modern offerings such as Britten’s Billy<br />

Budd and works by Stravinsky.


What to do ➤ during the night<br />

aRtesian<br />

bar<br />

Milk & Honey<br />

VIP contact: Zoe Gleeson, Marketing Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7065 6840<br />

Email: events@mlkhny.com<br />

Address: 61 Poland Street, W1F 7NU<br />

Website: www.mlkhny.com<br />

The exclusive Milk & Honey opened in Soho in April 2002 and remains<br />

dedicated to bringing unrivalled drinks and service to a discerning crowd of<br />

grown-ups. With bars on three floors offering a range of intimate booths,<br />

counter and lounge drinking and eating options, this atmospheric candle-lit<br />

location is the epitome of what a prohibition bar would have looked and felt<br />

like, with better cocktails. Choose from a range of inventively-named drinks<br />

such as Penicillin, a Scotch-based sour with lemon, honey and ginger, and<br />

Boston Cobbler, a potent concoction of port, calvados, and lemon, orange and<br />

pineapple juices. If cocktails aren’t your thing, go for the Salon Vintage 1997<br />

champagne, one of the most delicious – and expensive – champagnes around.<br />

le FuMoiR<br />

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42<br />

bar<br />

aRtesian, tHe lanGHaM Hotel<br />

VIP contact: Francesco Orefici, Bar Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7636 1000 (reception)<br />

Address: 1c Portland Place, Regent Street, W1B 1JA<br />

Website: www.london.langhamhotels.co.uk<br />

Designed by David Collins of Blue Bar fame, Artesian is a welcome recent<br />

addition to the Langham. The décor, an unusual mix of Chinese-inspired<br />

sweeping lines, ornate geometrical chandeliers, and modern scallop-edged<br />

purple leather sofas, gives the bar a misty, slightly fairytale quality, enhanced<br />

by the incredibly high ceilings and bowls of artistically-arranged flowers<br />

dotted about. The bar itself looks like an Emperor’s treasure chest; rows of<br />

gleaming bottles are topped by elegant pagoda ‘roofs’, giving guests plenty<br />

to gaze at as they order their beverages. Rum is the house specialty, the<br />

bar’s ‘Rum Ambassador’ having sourced over 50 varieties from far-flung<br />

destinations such as Guyana and Panama. Drink it neat or mixed in a delicious<br />

cocktail such as the Artesian Punch.<br />

Milk & Honey<br />

bar<br />

le FuMoiR, ClaRidGe’s Hotel<br />

VIP contact: Denis Broci, Bar Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 8860<br />

Address: Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR<br />

Website: www.claridges.co.uk<br />

Guests to this bar are guaranteed not only an excellent drink but also<br />

a time-warp experience upon entry. Behind a door adorned with an<br />

antique Lalique panel lies a sumptuous, 1930s-style lounge, steeped<br />

in history. Furnished in deep, rich aubergine tones with leather seating<br />

and low crystal lighting, this small, exclusive bar is ideal for an<br />

intimate drink in the lap of luxury. It has a seating capacity of only 12<br />

people, ensuring that each privileged visitor has the undivided attention<br />

of the bar’s staff, and also the opportunity to truly relax in the company<br />

of their stylish fellow-drinkers. Pull up a chair at the marble horseshoe<br />

bar and order from a carefully chosen menu of unique drinks inspired<br />

by the era and served in Lalique glasses.


What to do ➤ during the night<br />

lounGeloveR<br />

bar<br />

lounGeloveR<br />

VIP contact: Arno Maasdorp, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7012 1234<br />

Address: 1 Whitby Street, E2 7DP<br />

Website: www.loungelover.co.uk<br />

Owned by the proprietors of world-famous restaurant Les Trois Garçons,<br />

Loungelover has a reputation as one of the capital’s most intriguing and<br />

entertaining cocktail lounges. Formerly a meat-packing factory, this<br />

exclusive address has been reincarnated as a kooky, glamorous, and très<br />

fabuleux watering hole, offering guests imaginatively-named drinks – ‘Love<br />

Letter’ and ‘Black Diamond sour’ – and delectable Japanese-style canapés.<br />

Sit back and relax in the flamboyant rococo lounge area, or book the private<br />

room, an elegant gated area furnished with Swedish and French furniture<br />

from the 18th and 19th centuries.<br />

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43<br />

boundaRy RooFtop<br />

bar<br />

boundaRy RooFtop<br />

VIP contact: Nick Filmer<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7729 1051<br />

Email: info@theboundary.com<br />

Address: 2-4 Boundary Street, E2 7DD (entrance in Redchurch Street)<br />

Website: www.theboundary.co.uk<br />

Located in Shoreditch, East London, Boundary Rooftop is the jewel in the<br />

crown of Boundary, a hotel/bar/restaurant destination built in 2009 that has<br />

since rocketed to dizzy heights as a place to see and be seen. Featuring a<br />

large bar with seating arranged around an open fireplace, a 48-seat grill<br />

restaurant and a garden designed by Nicola Lesbirel, the rooftop is accessible<br />

by a direct lift and is served by its own kitchen. There are 360-degree views<br />

from Canary Wharf to the City’s Gherkin, and from Barbican to the rooftops<br />

and spires of East London. The space is replete with a large sail-like canopy,<br />

heating, festoon lighting and Welsh blankets to ward off that evening chill.<br />

Boundary Rooftop is also available for a limited number of private events.<br />

bar<br />

blue baR, tHe beRkeley Hotel<br />

VIP contact: Adam Jannese, Bar Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 6000<br />

Email: info@the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Address: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL<br />

Website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk<br />

Famed for its stunning, vibrant interior, the Blue Bar at The Berkeley<br />

is a popular hangout for London’s glitterati. This modern and luxurious<br />

space combines the old-fashioned elegance of original wall and ceiling<br />

moldings with a striking ‘Lutyens Blue’ color scheme, named after the<br />

designer who first created this lavish lounge. Mosey over to the white<br />

onyx bar on a floor of outrageously sumptuous black croc-print leather,<br />

and expect cocktails made from the finest ingredients and a generous<br />

helping of passion and flair.


What to do ➤ during the night<br />

bunGaloW 8<br />

CLub<br />

bunGaloW 8<br />

VIP contact: Christopher Jepson, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7300 5500<br />

Email: info@bungalow8london.com<br />

Address: St Martin’s Lane Hotel, 45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX<br />

Website: www.bungalow8london.com<br />

An elegant members-only nightclub in London’s ultra chic St Martin’s Lane Hotel,<br />

Bungalow 8 has been established as not only a luxurious lounge, but also as a creative<br />

concept for nightlife and entertainment. With its luxe décor and stunning light and<br />

color displays, it offers warm sophistication in a cool environment, attracting celebrity<br />

guests such as Stella McCartney, Kevin Spacey and Emma Watson.<br />

bouJis<br />

CLub<br />

bouJis<br />

VIP contact: Jake Parkinson-Smith, General Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7591 5441<br />

Email: events@ignite-group.com<br />

Address: 43 Thurloe Street, SW7 2LQ<br />

Website: www.boujis.com<br />

Regular stomping ground of the West London elite, this private member’s lounge<br />

has become the centerpoint of South Kensington’s night life. Boujis attracts a<br />

stylish crowd; royal princes William and Harry frequently haunt its dance floor,<br />

whilst the low-key yet glamorous leather interior furnishings are almost always<br />

adorned by socialites of all nationalities, plus celebrities. Book a private table for<br />

the ultimate Boujis experience.<br />

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44<br />

tHe ConnauGHt baR<br />

bar<br />

tHe ConnauGHt baR, tHe ConnauGHt Hotel<br />

VIP contact: Santino Cicciari, Bar Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 7070<br />

Address: Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 4AL<br />

Website: www.the-connaught.co.uk<br />

Inspired by English Cubist and Irish 1920s art, The Connaught Bar is, to put it<br />

quite simply, an incredibly classy affair. Rich, creamy walls shimmering with<br />

silver leaf; comfortable leather sofas clustered around low tables; warm yet<br />

gently uplifting lighting; shining black marble floor….what else is there to say?<br />

Enjoy a drink from the bar’s innovative cocktail menu, which fuses traditional<br />

vintages with limited edition new spirits and liqueurs.<br />

CLub<br />

MaHiki<br />

VIP contact: Jane, Events and bookings manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 9529<br />

Email: jane@mahiki.com<br />

Address: 1 Dover Street Mayfair, W1S 4LD<br />

Website: www.mahiki.com<br />

Just moments away from The Ritz and London’s clubland, Mahiki is<br />

another firm favorite of London’s jet-set crowd. Set over two floors,<br />

this Polynesian paradise mixes kitsch-cool retro Hawaiian/pirate décor<br />

with thirst-quenching tropical cocktails such as the well-known ‘Mahiki<br />

Treasure Chest’. Ask for your own bar(rel) tender to keep your drinks<br />

topped up all night, or book out the bar for a special event.<br />

bar<br />

tHe donovan baR, bRoWn’s Hotel<br />

VIP contact: Giovanni Cassino, Bar Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 6020<br />

Address: Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4BP<br />

Website: www.brownshotel.com<br />

Created in homage to celebrated British photographer Terence Donovan, this<br />

bar’s stylish interior – embellished with his iconic black and white prints and<br />

presided over by the original St George’s Hotel stained glass window – is an<br />

ideal place for a civilized drink. Guests to this fashionable bar can enjoy live jazz<br />

Monday to Saturday from 9pm til midnight whilst enjoying drinks from a long list<br />

of cocktails, wines and champagnes, including the Donovan’s signature cocktail<br />

the ‘Box Brownie’.


What to do ➤ featured events<br />

wiMBLEdOn<br />

wiMBLEdOn<br />

JunE/JuLY, AnnuALLY<br />

VIP contact: Johnny Perkins, Press Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8971 2529/2443<br />

Email: johnny@johnnyperkinsassociates.com<br />

Website: www.wimbledon.org<br />

From its humble beginnings in 1875 – the first tennis match here was<br />

watched by only 200 people – Wimbledon has gone on to become a<br />

globally-renowned sports event, drawing tens of thousands of spectators<br />

each year. This premier-class tournament is watched by every echelon<br />

of British society, including Her Majesty the Queen. Not even the rain can<br />

stop it now – the retractable roof over Centre Court means fans can watch<br />

the likes of Nadal, Federer, Murray and the Williams sisters in comfort and<br />

style, whatever the weather. To make the most of this experience, contact<br />

Johnny Perkins, who can advise you on how to organize a VIP visit.<br />

F1 BRiTisH GRAnd PRiX<br />

AnnuALLY in JuLY<br />

VIP contact: Daniel Whittemore, Sales Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)844 3728 248<br />

Website: www.silverstone.co.uk<br />

Few occasions match the intensity, glamour and drama of the British Grand<br />

Prix. In addition to the thrilling on-track racing, spectators are treated to a<br />

host of entertainment including air displays, entertainment zones, the F1<br />

trade mall and the ever popular post-race party. Silverstone offers many<br />

hospitality packages to suit the elite guest, featuring gourmet cuisine, fine<br />

champagnes and, of course, amazing views. From rubbing shoulders with<br />

motorsport legends in the Drivers’ Lounge, to entertaining guests in a private<br />

suite, every visitor can be assured of an experience they’ll never forget.<br />

BRiTisH GRAnd PRiX<br />

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45<br />

cHELsEA FLOwER sHOw<br />

cHELsEA FLOwER sHOw<br />

AnnuALLY in MAY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)845 260 5000/ +44 (0)121 767 4063 (for overseas visitors)<br />

Address: Royal Hospital, Royal Hospital Rd, SW3 4SR<br />

Website: www.rhs.org.uk<br />

Held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, the Chelsea<br />

Flower Show is a riot of color, scent and spectacular aesthetics. A showcase<br />

of individually-planted and tended gardens by horticulturalists both amateur<br />

and professional, this super-civilized event draws big names as well as<br />

garden enthusiasts. Among those seen wandering the walkways between the<br />

beautifully-crafted garden plots are cookery writer Nigella Lawson, actress<br />

Helen Mirren, Beatle Ringo Starr and designer Vivienne Westwood.<br />

ROYAL ALBERT HALL<br />

© MARcus Ginns<br />

BBc PROMs<br />

JuLY – sEPTEMBER, AnnuALLY<br />

VIP contact: Kirsty Mallinson, Hospitality Manager<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7959 0507<br />

Email: entertain@royalalberthall.com<br />

Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP<br />

Website: www.royalalberthall.com<br />

Founded in 1895, the Proms is a series of classical music concerts running<br />

through the summer months at various magnificent locations in London:<br />

the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Academy of Music, and Cadogan Hall in<br />

Chelsea. Most famous of all these concerts is ‘The Last Night of the Proms’,<br />

a quintessentially English occasion where guests can hear traditional<br />

patriotic songs and music played and sung by world-renowned artists, all<br />

to the superb backdrop of the Royal Albert Hall. For special arrangements,<br />

contact Kirsty Mallinson.


What to do ➤ featured events<br />

ATP wORLd TOuR FinALs<br />

ATP wORLd TOuR FinALs<br />

AnnuALLY in nOVEMBER<br />

VIP contact: Mike Foster, IMG<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 20 8233 5829<br />

Email: Mike.Foster@imgworld.com<br />

Website: www.imgworld.com<br />

The year-end climax to the men’s professional tennis season, the Barclays ATP<br />

World Tour Finals features only the world’s best eight qualified singles and<br />

doubles players, as the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray<br />

battle it out for the last title of the season. Players compete for a chance to win<br />

the $1.6 million prize money. Contact Mike Foster at IMG for a range VIP and<br />

corporate hospitality packages to enhance your attendance of this event.<br />

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GLYndEBOuRnE © MikE HOBAn<br />

GLYndEBOuRnE FEsTiVAL<br />

MAY – AuGusT, AnnuALLY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1273 813813<br />

Email: info@glyndebourne.com<br />

Address: Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5UU<br />

Website: www.glyndebourne.com<br />

Set at Glyndebourne, opera destination par excellence, this world-class festival<br />

puts on annual performances of six major operas, and attracts not only die-hard<br />

opera fans but also substantial numbers of pleasure-seekers. The dress code<br />

is black tie, and performances begin in the afternoon, allowing for a ‘Long<br />

Interval’ in which audience members retire to the lush green lawns of the<br />

Glyndebourne grounds to feast on strawberries, champagne, and all manner of<br />

picnic delicacies.<br />

46<br />

HEnLEY ROYAL REGATTA<br />

HEnLEY ROYAL REGATTA<br />

JunE/JuLY, AnnuALLY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1491 572 153<br />

Henley website: www.hrr.co.uk<br />

Keith Prowse website: www.keithprowse.co.uk<br />

First held in 1839, Henley Royal Regatta occurs every summer in June, with<br />

vast numbers of native and international rowers traveling to rural Oxfordshire<br />

to compete in this classic boat race. The standards are incredibly high, with<br />

some participants going on to events such as the Olympics. Watch the boats go<br />

head to head from the enclosure, where Pimms flows freely and strawberries<br />

and cream are a must. Keith Prowse, event organizer, offers a range of Henley<br />

hospitality packages to give the whole experience that little something extra.<br />

AEGOn MAsTERs TEnnis<br />

AEGOn MAsTERs TEnnis<br />

AnnuALLY in dEcEMBER<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8233 5854<br />

Email: aegonmasters@imgworld.com<br />

Website: www.aegonmasterstennis.com<br />

The hugely popular AEGON Masters Tennis tournament, now in its 14th<br />

year, is staged at one of the UK’s most iconic venues, the Royal Albert Hall in<br />

London. Taking place from late November to early December 2011, a host of<br />

former world No.1s and Grand Slam Champions have previously played at the<br />

event and this year’s line-up includes Pat Rafter, Mark Philippoussis, Goran<br />

Ivanisevic and even Tim Henman who is making his return to competitive<br />

tennis. AEGON offers outstanding hospitality experiences, including premium<br />

boxes, VIP admission, and champagne receptions.


HERVE LEGER<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> BOUTIQUE<br />

29 LOWNDES STREET<br />

• KNIGHTSBRIDGE • SW1X 9HX<br />

+44 20 7201 2590 • store@herveleger.co.uk


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

Full as it may be of cultural attractions<br />

and events, London is also renowned<br />

for its shopping, and rightly so, for it is<br />

absolutely brimming with department<br />

SHOPPING DISTRICTS<br />

Many of London’s best shops and shopping<br />

experiences are grouped together into small<br />

‘districts’, each with its own distinct style.<br />

For timeless elegance, Bond Street and<br />

the roads surrounding it cannot be beaten.<br />

Knightsbridge – the home of rival department<br />

HARRODS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 1234 (general)/ +44 (0)20 7893<br />

8000 (By Appointment)<br />

Email: byappointment@harrods.com<br />

Address: 87–135 Brompton Road,<br />

Knightsbridge, SW1X 7XL<br />

Website: www.harrods.com<br />

HARRODS<br />

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stores, designer shops, dinky<br />

independent boutiques, antiques halls<br />

and markets. Featured here are the<br />

most well-known shopping destinations<br />

stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols – is higheroctane,<br />

offering glitz, glamour and edge to<br />

the jet set. In Mayfair, Fortnum & Mason and<br />

numerous gentlemen’s outfitters continue to<br />

offer classic English items such as boating<br />

blazers, club ties and pipes. Oxford Street,<br />

dominated by Selfridges, is officially London’s<br />

Slap bang in the middle of Knightsbridge, Harrods<br />

dominates its surroundings. Instantly recognizable<br />

from its green and gold awnings, this immense<br />

building houses seven floors of luxury items, and<br />

is the go-to place for exclusive beauty products,<br />

accessories, homeware and designer clothes. Book<br />

a session with the in-house personal shopping<br />

service ‘By Appointment’ for a tailor-made<br />

experience. Also not to be missed are the Shoe<br />

Boudoir on the first floor, a shrine to the glamorous<br />

red-soled footwear of Christian Louboutin, and the<br />

food halls, a series of cavernous rooms packed to<br />

the rafters with delicious gourmet treats.<br />

HARVEY NICHOLS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 5000<br />

Address: 109 - 125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ<br />

Website: www.harveynichols.com<br />

Only a few steps away from Harrods on the corner<br />

of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street, Harvey Nichols’<br />

flagship store opened in the 1880s, and has been a<br />

popular purveyor of luxury goods ever since. There<br />

are a total of eight floors of fashion, beauty, and home<br />

collections, with the fifth floor dedicated to several<br />

restaurants and a small but perfectly formed food<br />

hall. Visit the beauty hall for a huge range of beauty<br />

products, check out the eye-catching display of multicolored<br />

Alice bands and hairclips at the Cherry Chau<br />

counter, and take your time to admire the incredible<br />

clothes on display in the designer section.<br />

T R A V E L E R<br />

DESTINATION GUIDE SERIES<br />

48<br />

in the city, although visitors should<br />

always keep their eyes peeled; there<br />

could be an unusual and impressive new<br />

boutique just around the corner!<br />

busiest shopping area, offering all the large<br />

high street brands. Further west, Portobello<br />

Road is famed for its vintage fashion, antique<br />

furnishings, and relaxed atmosphere. The<br />

latest addition to the luxury brands shopping<br />

area is The Village at Westfield shopping<br />

center in the west of London.<br />

SELFRIDGES<br />

Phone: +44 (0)800 123 400 (general)/ +44 (0)20 7318<br />

3536 (personal shopping)<br />

Address: 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB<br />

Website: www.selfridges.com<br />

This enormous multi-level store must be the largest<br />

department store in London. With high ceilings<br />

and vast halls in a clean, modern style, it offers<br />

a shopping experience uncluttered by old-style<br />

interiors and furnishings. Stocking an enormous<br />

range of brands, Selfridges is a one-stop shop for<br />

travelers on a tight schedule, or travelers who wish to<br />

get all their shopping done under one roof. Highlights<br />

of this department store include the excellent<br />

personal shopping service and recently opened Shoe<br />

Galleries, an entire gallery dedicated to shoes by<br />

Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Gina, Prada and others.<br />

FENWICK<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 9161<br />

Email: bondstreet.enquiries@fenwick.co.uk<br />

Address: 63 New Bond Street, W1A 3BS<br />

Website: www.fenwick.co.uk<br />

Situated on Bond Street, among many of London’s<br />

chicest shops, Fenwick is five floors-worth of stylish<br />

clothes, accessories, homeware and beauty products.<br />

Browse through the millinery section, full of hats and<br />

luxury hair accessories, wander through the intimate<br />

lingerie lounge, or travel up to the third floor for a<br />

beauty treatment at John Gustafson’s beauty studio.


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

HARRODS<br />

New restaurant Bond & Brook offers light meals<br />

for the hungry shopper, whilst The Affogato Bar,<br />

also new, serves affogatos – ice cream with a shot<br />

of intense espresso poured over the top – and other<br />

sweet treats to pick up flagging energy levels.<br />

LIBERTY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 1234<br />

Email: londonstorecustomerservices@liberty.co.uk<br />

Address: Great Marlborough Street, W1B 5AH<br />

Website: www.liberty.co.uk<br />

Housed in a magnificent mock-Tudor building made<br />

of the timber from two old ships – HMS Hindustan<br />

and HMS Impregnable – Liberty is renowned<br />

for its focus on eclectic fashion and design. A<br />

popular haunt of the pre-Raphaelites in their day,<br />

it continues to stock a combination of classic and<br />

unusual items by a huge list of designers, including<br />

Erdem, Marc Jacobs, Meadham Kirchoff, Etro,<br />

Missoni, Moncler, and Antonio Berardi. Visit the<br />

haberdashery in this marvelous shop for a dazzling<br />

array of ribbons, fabrics, feathers and Liberty prints,<br />

and make sure to stop off at the adjacent rugs<br />

and carpets room, an Aladdin’s cave of wonderful<br />

textures, fabrics and patterns.<br />

BROWNS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7514 0016<br />

Email: southmoltonstreet@brownsfashion.com<br />

Address: 23 - 27 South Molton Street, W1K 5RD<br />

Website: www.brownsfashion.com<br />

One of London’s most valued fashion landmarks,<br />

Browns – comprising Browns, Browns Focus,<br />

Browns Men, and Browns Bridal – is the brainchild<br />

of Joan Burstein, who created it with her husband<br />

Sidney in 1970. Offering pieces handpicked by the<br />

world’s top designers, it is dedicated to quality<br />

and individuality. Burstein has been credited with<br />

discovering some of today’s biggest names, including<br />

John Galliano, the late Alexander McQueen, Hussein<br />

Chalayan and Comme des Garçons, all of which<br />

shows in the main shop, which displays only the best.<br />

Just across the road is Browns Focus, targeted at a<br />

sophisticated, slightly more cutting-edge market, and<br />

offering the newest, most in-demand items.<br />

MATCHES<br />

Phone: +44 (0)845 602 5612<br />

Address: Unit 15a,Welmar Mews,154<br />

Clapham Park Road, SW4 7DD<br />

Website: www.matchesfashion.com<br />

FORTNUM & MASON<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 8040<br />

Email: corporate@fortnumandmason.co.uk<br />

Address: 181 Piccadilly, W1A 1ER<br />

Website: www.fortnumandmason.com<br />

Since 1707, Fortnum & Mason has been the<br />

quintessential English store, situated in the heart<br />

of London’s Piccadilly. Famous for its top-notch<br />

groceries (it is the Queen’s official supplier), it sells a<br />

wide range of classic English pantry items, including<br />

unparalleled loose leaf teas, coffee, traditional<br />

confectionery, artisan biscuits, chutneys, jams,<br />

and preserves; in short, everything you need for<br />

the perfect afternoon tea. Many of these delicious<br />

things can be found in the iconic F&M hampers,<br />

traditional straw-lidded baskets in every size<br />

used for picnicking, that favorite English pastime.<br />

Alternatively, ask the staff for an empty hamper and<br />

pile up a selection of your own personal favorites for<br />

a bespoke option. If food is not what you are after,<br />

Fortnum’s – as it is known to native Londoners – also<br />

sells a substantial variety of gifts unrelated to food,<br />

including jewelry, luxury stationery, beauty products<br />

for men and women, and homeware.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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FASHION & AccESSORIES<br />

ALBERTA FERRETTI<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 2349<br />

Address: 205-206 Sloane Street, SW1 9QX<br />

Website: www.albertaferretti.com<br />

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7355 0088<br />

Address: 4-5 Old Bond Street, W1S 4PD<br />

Website: www.alexandermcqueen.co.uk<br />

ALFRED DUNHILL<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)845 458 0779<br />

Address: Bourdon House, 2 Davies Street,<br />

Mayfair, W1K 3 DJ<br />

Website: www.dunhill.com<br />

AMANDA WAKELEY<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7590 9105<br />

Address: 175-177 Fulham Road, SW3 6JW<br />

Website: www.amandawakeley.com<br />

ANNA SUI<br />

AT FENWICK<br />

ANYA HINDMARCH<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7838 9177<br />

Address: 15-17 Pont Street, SW1X 9EH<br />

Website: www.anyahindmarch.co.uk


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

BALENCIAGA<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7317 4400<br />

Address: 12 Mount Street, W1K 2RD<br />

Website: www.balenciaga.com<br />

BALLANTYNE<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8749 4995<br />

Address: Unit 1040A, The Village, Westfield<br />

Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, W12 7GQ<br />

VINTAGE STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7243 9277<br />

Address: 303 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RW<br />

Website: www.ballantyne.it<br />

BOUCHERON<br />

NEW BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7514 9170<br />

Address: 164 New Bond Street, W1S 2UH<br />

Website: www.boucheron.com<br />

BURBERRY<br />

NEW BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3402 1500<br />

Address: 21-23 New Bond Street, W1S 2RE<br />

Website: www.burberry.com<br />

CAROLINA HERRERA<br />

AT HARRODS<br />

Website: www.carolinaherrera.com<br />

CELINE<br />

AT HARVEY NICHOLS, SELFRIDGES, HARRODS<br />

Website: www.celine.com<br />

CHANEL<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 5040<br />

Address: 26 Old Bond Street, W1S 4QD<br />

Website: www.chanel.com<br />

CHLOE<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 5348<br />

Address: 152-153 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BX<br />

Website: www.chloe.com<br />

CHRISTIAN LACROIX<br />

AT HARRODS<br />

Website: www.christian-lacroix.fr<br />

CHURCH’S FOOTWEAR<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 1474<br />

Address: 133 New Bond Street, W1S 2TE<br />

Website: www.church-footwear.com<br />

COMME DES GARÇONS<br />

DOVER STREET MARKET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7518 0680<br />

Address: 17-18 Dover Street, W1S 4LT<br />

Website: www.doverstreetmarket.com<br />

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG<br />

NOTTING HILL STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7221 1120<br />

Address: 83 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, W11 2AG<br />

Website: www.dvf.com<br />

DOLCE & GABBANA<br />

OLD BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7659 9000<br />

Address: 6-8 Old Bond Street, W1S 4PJ<br />

Website: www.dolcegabbana.com<br />

DONNA KARAN<br />

CONDUIT STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7479 7900<br />

Address: 46 Conduit Street, W1S 2YW<br />

Website: www.donnakaran.com<br />

DRIES VAN NOTEN<br />

AT SELFRIDGES, HARVEY NICHOLS, BROWNS<br />

Website: www.driesvannoten.be<br />

EMILIO PUCCI<br />

SLOANE STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7201 8171<br />

Address: 170 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QF<br />

Website: www.emiliopucci.com<br />

EMMA HOPE<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7313 7490<br />

Address: 207 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SE<br />

Website: www.emmahope.com<br />

FENDI<br />

SLOANE STREET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7838 6288<br />

Address: 20-22 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NE<br />

Website: www.fendi.com<br />

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GIANFRANCO FERRÉ<br />

SLOANE STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7838 9576<br />

Address: 29 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NE<br />

Website: www.gianfrancoferre.com<br />

GIORGIO ARMANI<br />

ARMANI COLLEZIONI <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 8321<br />

Address: 115 New Bond Street, W1Y 9HB<br />

EMPORIO ARMANI <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 8080<br />

Address: 51/52 New Bond Street, W1 1RD<br />

ARMANI/CASA <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7079 1930<br />

Address: 113 New Bond Street, W1S 1DP<br />

BOUTIQUE GIORGIO ARMANI <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 6232<br />

Address: 37 Sloane Street, SW1X 9LP<br />

Website: www.armanistores.com<br />

GIVENCHY<br />

DOVER STREET MARKET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7518 0680<br />

Address: 17-18 Dover Street, W1S 4LT<br />

Website: www.givenchy.fr<br />

GUCCI<br />

SLOANE STREET FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 6707<br />

Address: 18 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NE<br />

BOND STREET FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 2716<br />

Address: 34 Old Bond Street, W1S 4QL<br />

WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8740 4404<br />

Address: Ariel Way, W12 7GF<br />

Website: www.gucci.com<br />

HELMUT LANG<br />

AT SELFRIDGES, LIBERTY, MATCHES<br />

Website: www.helmutlang.com<br />

HERMÈS<br />

BOND STREET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 8856<br />

Address: 155 New Bond Street, W1S 2UA<br />

SLOANE STREET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 1014<br />

Address: 179 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QP<br />

Website: www.hermes.com


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

HERVE LEGER<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7201 2590<br />

Address: 29 Lowndes Street, Knightsbridge,<br />

SW1X 9HX<br />

Website: www.herveleger.com<br />

HUGO BOSS<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 5605<br />

Address: 122 New Bond Street, W1V 1DT<br />

Website: www.hugoboss.com<br />

ISSEY MIYAKE<br />

ISSEY MIYAKE (MENSWEAR, WOMENSWEAR)<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7851 4620<br />

Address: 52 Conduit St, W1S 2YX<br />

THE CHANGING ROOM<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7408 1596<br />

Address: 10a Gees Court, W1V 1JL<br />

Website: www.isseymiyake.com<br />

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7584 4648<br />

Address: 171-175 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AJ<br />

Website: www.jeanpaul-gaultier.com<br />

JIL SANDER<br />

JIL SANDER<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7495 0076<br />

Address: 72 New Bond Street, W1S 1RR<br />

Website: www.jilsander.com<br />

JIMMY CHOO<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 1051<br />

Address: 32 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NR<br />

Website: www.jimmychoo.com<br />

JOHN GALLIANO<br />

AT HARVEY NICHOLS, HARRODS, SELFRIDGES<br />

Website: www.johngalliano.com<br />

KENZO<br />

KENZO MAN & WOMAN<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 8469<br />

Address: 31 Bruton Street, W1J 6HH<br />

Website: www.kenzo.com<br />

LANVIN<br />

LANVIN BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 1839<br />

Address: 128 Mount Street, W1K 3NU<br />

LANVIN BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7434 3384<br />

Address: 30-32 Savile Row, W1S 3PT<br />

Website: www.lanvin.com<br />

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LOEWE<br />

DOVER STREET MARKET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7518 0680<br />

Address: 17-18 Dover Street, W1S 4LT<br />

Website: www.loewe.com<br />

LOUIS VUITTON<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3214 9200<br />

Address: 17-20 New Bond Street, W1S 2RB<br />

SLOANE STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7201 4190<br />

Address: 190-192 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QX<br />

Website: www.louisvuitton.com<br />

LULU GUINNESS<br />

ELLIS STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 4828<br />

Address: 3 Ellis Street, SW1X 9AL<br />

ROYAL EXCHANGE STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7626 5391<br />

Address: 23 Royal Exchange, Threadneedle<br />

Street, EC3V 3LR<br />

Website: www.luluguinness.com<br />

HARRODS<br />

MANOLO BLAHNIK<br />

CHELSEA STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7352 8622<br />

Address: 49-51 Old Church Street, SW3 5BS<br />

Website: www.manoloblahnik.com


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

MARC JACOBS<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7399 1690<br />

Address: 24-25 Mount Street, W1K 2RR<br />

SOUTH AUDLEY STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7408 7050<br />

Address: 56 South Audley Street, W1K 2RR<br />

Website: www.marcjacobs.com<br />

MARCHESA<br />

AT HARRODS, LIBERTY<br />

Website: www.marchesa.com<br />

MARNI<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7245 9520<br />

Address: 26 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NE<br />

Website: www.marni-international.com<br />

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 6200<br />

Address: 28 Bruton Street, W1J 6QH<br />

Website: www.matthewwilliamson.com<br />

MICHAEL KORS<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 0844<br />

Address: 153 New Bond Street, W1S 2TZ<br />

Website: www.michaelkors.com<br />

MISSONI<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 1910<br />

Address: 193 Sloane Street, SW1 X 9QX<br />

Website: www.missoni.com<br />

MIU MIU<br />

BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 0900<br />

Address: 150 New Bond Street, W1S 1EJ<br />

SLOANE STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)207 235 6965<br />

Address: 185 Sloane Street, SW1X 9NW<br />

Website: www.miumiu.com<br />

MOSCHINO<br />

MOSCHINO BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7318 0555<br />

Address: 28-29 Conduit Street, W1S 2XZ<br />

Website: www.moschino.com<br />

MULBERRY<br />

BROMPTON ROAD STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7838 1411<br />

Address: 171-175 Brompton Road, SW3 1NF<br />

NEW BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 3900<br />

Address: 50 New Bond Street, W1S 1BJ<br />

Website: www.mulberry.com<br />

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ<br />

AT SELFRIDGES<br />

Website: www.narcisorodriguez.com<br />

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NICOLE FARHI<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Address: 158 New Bond Street, W1S 2UB<br />

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7499 8368<br />

Website: www.nicolefarhi.com<br />

HARRODS<br />

NINA RICCI<br />

AT HARVEY NICHOLS, HARRODS, MATCHES<br />

Website: www.ninaricci.com<br />

OSCAR DE LA RENTA<br />

AT BROWNS, HARRODS<br />

Website: www.oscardelarenta.com<br />

OZWALD BOATENG<br />

SAVILE ROW STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7437 0620<br />

Address: 30 Savile Row, W1S 3PT<br />

Website: www.ozwaldboateng.co.uk<br />

PHILIP TREACY<br />

CHELSEA BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 3992<br />

Address: 69 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PJ<br />

Website: www.philiptreacy.co.uk<br />

PHILLIP LIM 3.1<br />

AT HARVEY NICHOLS, SELFRIDGES<br />

Website: www.31philliplim.com


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

POLO RALPH LAUREN<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7535 4600<br />

Address: No 1 New Bond Street, W1S 3RL<br />

RALPH LAUREN CHILDREN’S STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7535 4600<br />

Address: 143 New Bond Street, W1S 2TP<br />

Website: www.ralphlauren.com<br />

PRADA<br />

BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7647 5000<br />

Address: 16-18 Old Bond Street, W1S 4PS<br />

Website: www.prada.com<br />

PURDEY<br />

JAMES PURDEY & SONS LTD<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 1801<br />

Address: Audley House, 57-58 South Audley<br />

Street, W1K 2ED<br />

Website: www.purdey.com<br />

RICHARD JAMES<br />

RICHARD JAMES BESPOKE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7287 9645<br />

Address: 19 Clifford Street, W1S 3RH<br />

RICHARD JAMES<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7434 0605<br />

Address: 29 Savile Row, W1S 2EY<br />

Website: www.richardjames.co.uk<br />

ROBERTO CAVALLI<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 1879<br />

Address: 181-182 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QP<br />

Website: www.robertocavalli.com<br />

SONIA RYKIEL<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 5255<br />

Address: 27-29 Brook Street, W1K 4HG<br />

Website: www.soniarykiel.com<br />

STELLA MCCARTNEY<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7518 3100<br />

Address: 30 Bruton Street, W1J 6QR<br />

Website: www.stellamccartney.com<br />

TEMPERLEY<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44(0)20 7229 7957<br />

Address: 2-10 Colville Mews,<br />

Lonsdale Road, W11 2DA<br />

Website: www.temperleylondon.com<br />

TOD’S <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 1321<br />

Address: 35-36 Sloane Street, SW1X 9LP<br />

Website: www.tods.com<br />

VALENTINO<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 5855<br />

Address: 174 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QG<br />

Website: www.valentino.com<br />

VERSACE<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7259 5700<br />

Address: 183-184 Sloane Street, SW1<br />

Website: www.versace.com<br />

VIKTOR & ROLF<br />

AT BROWNS, LIBERTY, SELFRIDGES<br />

Website: www.viktor-rolf.com<br />

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7287 7108<br />

Address: 44 Conduit Street, W1S 2YL<br />

WORLD’S END STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7352 6551<br />

Address: 430 Kings Road, SW10 0LJ<br />

BRIDAL STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7629 3757<br />

Address: 6 Davies Street, W1K 3DN<br />

Website: www.viviennewestwood.com<br />

YOHJI YAMAMOTO<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 4129<br />

Address: 14-15 Conduit Street, W1S 2XJ<br />

Website: www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp<br />

YVES SAINT LAURENT<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 1800<br />

Address: 33 Old Bond Street, W1X 4HH<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 6706<br />

Address: 171-172 Sloane Street, SW1 X9NR<br />

Website: www.ysl.com<br />

ZAC POSEN<br />

AT HARVEY NICHOLS, JOSEPH<br />

Website: www.zacposen.com<br />

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JEWELRy & WATcHES<br />

AUDEMARS PIGUET<br />

AUDEMARS PIGUET UK LTD<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7659 7300<br />

Address: 3 Hanover Square, W1S 1HD<br />

Website: www.audemarspiguet.com<br />

BAUME & MERCIER<br />

AT SELFRIDGES, HARRODS<br />

Website: www.baume-et-mercier.com<br />

BLANCPAIN<br />

AT SELFRIDGES, HARRODS<br />

Website: www.blancpain.com<br />

BREGUET<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7355 1735<br />

Address: 10A New Bond Street, W1S 3SP<br />

Website: www.breguet.com<br />

BULGARI<br />

NEW BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7872 9969<br />

Address: 168-169 New Bond Street, W1S 4RB<br />

SLOANE STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7838 9411<br />

Address: 177-178 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QL<br />

Website: www.bulgari.com<br />

CARTIER<br />

SLOANE STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7312 6930<br />

Address: 143-144 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AY<br />

Website: www.cartier.com<br />

CHANEL<br />

CHANEL BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 5040<br />

Address: 26 Old Bond Street, W1S 4QD<br />

CHAUMET<br />

NEW BOND STREET STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7495 6303<br />

Address: 174 New Bond Street, W1S 4RG<br />

Website: www.chaumet.com<br />

CHOPARD<br />

CHOPARD BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 3140<br />

Address: 12 New Bond Street, W1S 3SS<br />

Website: www.chopard.com


WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING<br />

DE BEERS<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7758 9700<br />

Address: 50 Old Bond Street, W1S 4QT<br />

Website: www.debeers.com<br />

GLASHUTTE ORIGINAL<br />

AT HARRODS, WEMPE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 2299<br />

Address: 43-44 New Bond Street, W1S 2SA<br />

Website: www.glashuette-original.com<br />

HUBLOT<br />

AT HARRODS, SELFRIDGES, MARCUS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7290 6500<br />

Address: 170 New Bond Street, W1Y 9PB<br />

Website: www.hublot.com<br />

JAEGER-LECOULTRE<br />

AT HARRODS, SELFRIDGES, DAVID M<br />

ROBINSON<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7538 2332<br />

Address: 4 Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5NY<br />

Website: www.jaeger-lecoultre.com<br />

JAQUET DROZ<br />

KRONOMETRY 1999<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 1434<br />

Address: 106 New Bond Street, W1S 1DN<br />

Website: www.jaquet-droz.com<br />

OMEGA<br />

OMEGA BOUTIQUE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 8113<br />

Address: 12 Old Bond Street, W1S 4PW<br />

OMEGA VINTAGE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 6526<br />

Address: Somlo Antiques, 35-36 Burlington<br />

Arcade, W1J 0QB<br />

Website: www.omegawatches.com<br />

PATEK PHILIPPE<br />

PATEK PHILIPPE SALONS <strong>LONDON</strong><br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 8866<br />

Address: 15 New Bond Street, W1S 3ST<br />

Website: www.patek.com<br />

PIAGET<br />

AT WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND LTD<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 5916<br />

Address: 16 New Bond Street, W1S 3SU<br />

Website: www.piaget.com<br />

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ROGER DUBUIS<br />

AT HARRODS, ASPREY<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7493 6767<br />

Address: 165-167 New Bond Street, W1S 4AY<br />

Website: www.rogerdubuis.com<br />

ROLEX<br />

AT HARRODS<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 1234<br />

Address: 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL<br />

Website: www.rolex.com<br />

TAG HEUER<br />

FLAGSHIP STORE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8735 4070<br />

Address: Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way,<br />

W12 7GB<br />

Website: www.tagheuer.com<br />

TIFFANY<br />

SLOANE STREET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 2790<br />

Address: 145 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AY<br />

BOND STREET<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 2790<br />

Address: 25 Old Bond Street, W1S 4QB<br />

Website: www.tiffany.com<br />

TAG HEUER


Need to kNow mariNas<br />

With the majestic river Thames<br />

running through it, London is an<br />

excellent place to arrive at by water.<br />

<strong>Traveler</strong>s voyaging here by boat will<br />

ST KATHARINE DOCKS<br />

ST KATHARINE DOCKS<br />

Harbour Master: Charlie Telfer<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7264 5312<br />

Email: haven.reception@skdocks.co.uk<br />

Address: St Katharine’s Marina Ltd, 50 St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LA<br />

Website: www.skdocks.co.uk<br />

Located on the River Thames next to two of London’s most impressive<br />

landmarks – The Tower of London and Tower Bridge – St Katharine Docks is<br />

a popular parking spot for visiting pleasure craft. Only a stone’s throw away<br />

from the business core of London, it offers 158 berths for craft of maximum<br />

44m/145ft length, 12m/40ft width, and 3.35m/11ft draft, not to mention a variety<br />

of services, including on-site laundry, bathroom facilities, Wi-Fi, electricity 3<br />

phase, 64amp and 16/32amp and fresh water. St Katharine Docks is also home<br />

to a plethora of independent boutiques and restaurants, as well as a gourmet<br />

food market every Friday, ensuring that guests at the marina can access all the<br />

comforts they require, and then some.<br />

pass from the wide Thames estuary into<br />

a gradually narrower, smaller waterway,<br />

passing iconic sights such as the Queen<br />

Elizabeth II Bridge, Christopher Wren’s<br />

ST KATHARINE DOCKS<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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baroque masterpiece The Royal Naval<br />

College, and opposite that the towering<br />

heights of Canary Wharf, with its<br />

famous rooftop light.<br />

SUPERYACHT BERTH, SOUTHAMPTON<br />

Contact: Tim Wainwright, Superyacht Agency Services<br />

Phone: + 44 (0)23 8022 3671<br />

Email: t.wainwright@wainwrightgroup.com<br />

Port address: ABP Southampton, Ocean Gate, Atlantic Way,<br />

Southampton, SO14 3QN<br />

Website: www.superyachtagency.com<br />

The superyacht berth at Southampton port, on the southern coast of England, is<br />

dedicated to yachts of exceptional size. This berth welcomes boats of maximum<br />

LOA 120m/394ft, and offers an enormous range of facilities, including inward/<br />

outward customs clearance, bunkering, provisioning, repairs, luxury ground<br />

transport, banking services, charts and books, a 24/7 contact person and all<br />

other husbandry requirements. The berth has easy access to the center of<br />

Southampton, and is situated approximately one hour from major London<br />

airports. It is also conveniently located near Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, making<br />

it ideal for visitors participating in Cowes Week.<br />

SOUTHAMPTON SUPERYACHT BERTH


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Need to kNow private jet termiNals<br />

HEATHROW VIP LOUNGE GATWICK VIP LOUNGE<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> HEATHROW – SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT<br />

General Manager: Roger A. E. Luft<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8283 2500<br />

Email: lhr@signatureflight.co.uk<br />

Airport address: Heathrow Airport, Middlesex, TW6 2GW<br />

Website: www.signatureflight.com<br />

Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport, and is regarded as the hub<br />

of the aviation world. This multi-terminal, world-renowned airport is situated 15<br />

miles (24km) west of London. Signature Heathrow services include full ground<br />

handling for all types of aircraft, from helicopters to B747 and VIP lounges for<br />

royalty or head of states. Passengers arriving by private jet can take advantage<br />

of flight planning and computerized weather reports, courtesy cars to and from<br />

aircraft and VIP lounges, a meet and greet facility, pilot lounge, 24-hour customs<br />

and immigration services and a VIP conference room for up to 12 people.<br />

Engineering facilities are available on request.<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> BIGGIN HILL – BIGGIN HILL EXECUTIVE HANDLING<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1959 578 552<br />

Email: handling@bigginhillairport.com<br />

Airport address: Westerham, Kent TN16 3BW<br />

Website: www.bigginhillairport.com<br />

Biggin Hill Airport has been operating its own FBO handling service for<br />

more than 20 years. Only 15 miles (24km) from central London, it has<br />

the benefit of being housed in the main terminal and boasts excellent<br />

facilities for both passengers and crew. The executive handling team<br />

takes care of ground transport, accommodation, in-flight catering<br />

and laundry. Passengers also have access to two lounges – The<br />

Ambassador’s Lounge and The Club Lounge, seating up to 20 and 40<br />

passengers, respectively.<br />

Charter services: Biggin Hill recommends a helicopter charter service<br />

– Starspeed Ltd – for speedy and efficient travel to London, arriving<br />

at Battersea heliport. Biggin Hill Airport is also served by FBO Jet<br />

Aviation, which can arrange ad hoc or block charters using a wide<br />

range of aircraft.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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<strong>LONDON</strong> GATWICK – SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT<br />

General Manager: Evie Freeman<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1293 569000<br />

Email: lgw@signatureflight.co.uk<br />

Airport address: Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, RH6 0NP<br />

Website: www.signatureflight.com<br />

Gatwick is situated just 25 miles (40km) south of London and 30 miles<br />

(48km) north of the beautiful south coast. Signature Gatwick services<br />

include full ground handling for all types of aircraft from helicopters to<br />

B747. Facilities include a 24-hour camera surveillance system<br />

and security program, comfortable, well-equipped VIP passenger and<br />

crew lounges, 24-hour customs and immigration clearance for<br />

a smooth transition, pet travel scheme, aircraft passenger transfer,<br />

de-icing, fueling with Air BP, interior and exterior cleaning, and<br />

medical hi-lift.<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> STANSTED – HARRODS AVIATION<br />

General Manager: Peter Prescott<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1279 665312<br />

Email: stnops@harrodsaviation.com<br />

Airport address: First Avenue, London Stansted Airport, Stansted, Essex<br />

CM24 1QQ<br />

Website: www.harrodsaviation.com<br />

Served by Harrods Aviation, London Stansted is only 15 minutes from London by<br />

helicopter, making it yet another useful option for passengers arriving by private<br />

jet. Crews and passengers alike can expect lavish treatment from the team at<br />

Harrods Aviation, whose services range from luxuriously appointed lounges<br />

with Wi-Fi, to pre-clearance and cabotage procedures, luxury ground transport,<br />

catering, and hotel accommodation. Harrods Aviation also offers interior/exterior<br />

jet cleaning, repairs, general maintenance work and hangarage.<br />

Charter services: Harrods Aviation is expert at sourcing aircraft for charter,<br />

whether these be helicopters or fixed-wing. Quotations are made using a network<br />

of contacts, and can be arranged with the Harrods team, which sources the<br />

perfect aircraft from a range of reputable companies.


Need to kNow exclusive traNsport<br />

HELIAVIATION LTD.<br />

Phone: +44 (0)1635 46868/ +44 (0)7887 504506 (operations)<br />

Email: sales@heliaviation<br />

Address: Terminal Building, Blackbushe Airport, Camberley,<br />

Surrey, GU179LQ<br />

Website: www.heliaviation.com<br />

Operating from Blackbushe Airport in Surrey, HeliAviation Ltd. provides<br />

premium travel services, with its specialties being helicopter charter,<br />

customized helicopter tours, transportation and hospitality to sporting<br />

events, helicopter golf and aerial photography.<br />

AVIS PRESTIGE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 7591 0444<br />

Address: 18 Petersham Mews, South Kensington, SW7 5NR<br />

Website: www.avisprestige.com<br />

Conveniently located in South Kensington, just south of Hyde Park, Avis<br />

Prestige offers top of the range cars for hire, including brands such as Maserati,<br />

Lamborghini, Porsche, Mini, Bentley, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Range Rover.<br />

Each car is kept absolutely pristine, as if it were your very own, and service is<br />

impeccable, with multiple main location pick-ups and drop-offs available, as<br />

well as the option of delivery to your personal address.<br />

<strong>LONDON</strong> AIR CHARTER<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8460 7755<br />

Email: info@london-aircharter.com<br />

Address: Carlton Chambers, Station Road, Shortlands, Bromley, BR2 0EY<br />

Website:www.london-aircharter.com<br />

London Air Charter prides itself on providing a complete bespoke aircraft charter<br />

service. Whether you are a corporate client or a private individual, it is available<br />

24/7 to fly you from wherever you are to wherever you need to be, quickly,<br />

discreetly and in luxury. Services include tailor-made security programs, five-star<br />

catering, VIP ground transport, 24/7 attendance and total confidentiality.<br />

ICHAUFFEUR<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 8400 4829<br />

Email: info@ichauffeur.co.uk<br />

Address: 4b Osterley Mansions, Thornbury Road, Isleworth,<br />

Middlesex, TW7 4LJ<br />

Website: www.ichauffeur.co.uk<br />

Whether you need a private chauffeur to take you to your destination in style, or<br />

a chauffeur-driven minivan for a corporate event, iChauffeur has it all. Punctual,<br />

reliable, discreet and helpful, all iChauffeur drivers know that service is just as<br />

important as the car you are in. Cars available include the devastatingly cool<br />

Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Flying Spur, BMW 7 series and many others.<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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58<br />

RObINSON CHAUFFEUR SERVICE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)20 3551 7127<br />

Cell phone: +44 (0)7831 626527<br />

Email: enquiries@chauffeurservicelondon.com<br />

Address: 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0RG<br />

Website: www.chauffeurservicelondon.com<br />

Services: Robinson Chauffeur Service was created to provide a<br />

discreet and reliable service for business and VIP travelers, acting<br />

as an extension to your business and reflecting your lifestyle. With<br />

showroom condition cars and impeccably dressed chauffeurs, the<br />

company understands the need for a first-class, personal business<br />

travel service that creates the right impression to your clients.<br />

Should you consider handmade shoes, bespoke couture or fine<br />

vintage wine as the essential ingredients to your varied life then<br />

traveling with Robinson Chauffeur Service will complement your<br />

attitude to life.<br />

QUINTESSENTIALLY DRIVEN<br />

Phone: +44 (0)845 474 7145<br />

Email: driven@quintessentiallydriven.com<br />

Website: www.quintessentiallydriven.com<br />

Part of the world-famous Quintessentially Concierge service,<br />

Quintessentially Driven offers a variety of driving solutions for the elite,<br />

ranging from private chauffeur-driven cars to self-drive options in the<br />

most lavish cars available. Whichever option you choose, enjoy the ride<br />

in smooth, sumptuous, technologically-advanced vehicles, such as the<br />

Bentley Flying Spur, Jaguar XJ and Ferrari F430.<br />

DREAM CAR HIRE<br />

Phone: +44 (0)844 800 0195 or +44 (0)1235 524856<br />

Email: enquiries@dreamcarhire.com<br />

Address: Dream Car Hire Ltd, 30 Nuffield Way, Nuffield Centrum,<br />

Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1RL<br />

Website: www.dreamcarhire.com<br />

Whether it is for a day or long weekend, for a special occasion or simply the way<br />

you like to travel, Dream Car Hire offers exciting, prestigious self-drive cars. Its<br />

fleet is regularly updated with the latest models and is meticulously maintained<br />

by the in-house team at its Oxfordshire base. Cars in the fleet include the Audi<br />

R8 V10 Spyder, Ferrari California and Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster.


Need to kNow useful iNformatioN<br />

WHEN bEST TO GO<br />

The relatively mild southern English climate means<br />

that London can be visited almost any time of year.<br />

Late spring and summer are the best times to go,<br />

although autumn is also lovely and often not too<br />

cold. Important to remember is that English weather<br />

is notoriously difficult to predict, so it is best to<br />

always come prepared. Umbrellas and a few items<br />

of warm clothing can be useful even during the<br />

warmer months, while extra warm accessories and<br />

even thermals are of use during the winter. Luckily,<br />

London has a wealth of things to do both indoors<br />

and out, so whatever time of year you visit, there will<br />

always be plenty to enjoy.<br />

LANGUAGE<br />

British English<br />

CURRENCY<br />

Great British Pound (GBP)<br />

COUNTRY DIALLING CODE<br />

+44<br />

24-HOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT<br />

Ambulance: 999<br />

Fire: 999<br />

Police: 999<br />

Coastguard: 020 831 27380<br />

Helicopter: 999<br />

EMbASSY CONTACT<br />

US: +44 (0)20 7499 9000<br />

TIME ZONE<br />

GMT<br />

POPULATION<br />

7.5 million<br />

RELIGIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC<br />

The majority of Londoners identify themselves<br />

as Christian (58.2%) or atheist (15.8%). However<br />

many other religions are well-represented here:<br />

Islam (8.5%), Hinduism (4.1%), Judaism (2.1%),<br />

Sikhism (1.5%), Buddhism (0.8%), Paganism/<br />

Wicca (0.3%) and other (0.2%).<br />

PUbLIC HOLIDAYS<br />

Public holidays include New Year’s Day,<br />

Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Easter, and three<br />

bank holidays, two in May, one in August,<br />

during which some shops and attractions<br />

are closed.<br />

DRESS AND CUSTOMS<br />

The dress code in London – and England in<br />

general – is generally liberal and very eclectic;<br />

there is room here for all kinds of personal<br />

styles, as visitors to the capital will see. Certain<br />

occasions, however, demand stricter dress codes;<br />

bars, nightclubs and many fine dining restaurants<br />

require a smart-casual or smart dress code, and<br />

many have been known to refuse entry to those<br />

not deemed smart enough. Similarly, there are<br />

stringent dress requirements for events such as<br />

Royal Ascot, Henley Regatta and Glyndebourne<br />

Festival, all of which should be checked prior to<br />

the event.<br />

Month<br />

elite destination guide | london<br />

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Mean temperature (°C)<br />

Daily<br />

minimum<br />

LOCAL TIME / bUSINESS HOURS<br />

London time is GMT, with a daylight-saving<br />

hour implemented in late October. The<br />

weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with most<br />

shops and attractions open on both. On<br />

Sundays, however, many places have reduced<br />

opening times, usually from 10am-5pm.<br />

Business hours are generally 9am to 5-6pm<br />

Monday to Friday, with an hour taken at lunch.<br />

Daily<br />

maximum<br />

Total rainfall<br />

(mm)<br />

Rain days<br />

per month<br />

January 2.4 7.9 51.9 10.9<br />

February 2.2 8.2 34.0 8.1<br />

March 3.8 10.9 42.0 9.8<br />

April 5.2 13.3 45.2 9.3<br />

May 8.0 17.2 47.2 8.5<br />

June 11.1 20.2 53.0 8.4<br />

July 13.6 22.8 38.3 7.0<br />

August 13.3 22.6 47.3 7.2<br />

September 10.9 19.3 56.9 8.7<br />

October 8.0 15.2 61.5 9.3<br />

November 4.8 10.9 52.3 9.3<br />

December 3.3 8.8 54.0 10.1<br />

THE MILLENNIUM DOME

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