luxury hotels in london...

While still on the topic of luxury hotels (I've been having a great few weeks looking at some of the most fantastic hotels on offer...), I've been pottering around London with Rachel. We've been hiding away in the Hempel, a minimalist haven for celebrities - it looks just like a row of terraced Georgian houses from the outside but inside......it's just so minimalist you can barely find the doors, each room has its own unique style with some fantastic features such as sunken baths, and there's a great bar which I managed to persuade to have just one weeny cocktail in (she didn't want to; it was only lunchtime and she was ever so professsional dragging me on to the next appointment we had) but I argued that it was important for us to experience the hotel as our customers would so that we can report back the full experience. (you'd like it, trust me).

After the Hempel and an M&S sandwich stop, we headed off to St Martins Lane. So... what I hadn't realised was this hotel is just above Bungalow 8 that I often read of in Hello magazine (not that I read it but some of my colleagues often leave it in the kitchen in the office and it just sits there waiting to be read and I feel sorry for it). Immediately I felt on-edge, waiting for a prince or two to just pop up round every corner but unfortunately they weren't around (I think it was a bit early for them). As Philippe Starck says of this hotel that he created, "When someone arrives here and goes through the door, it's an experience." and yes, I agree with him. As soon as you enter through the luminous yellow revolving doors, you feel you've come somewhere a bit special. The rooms have crisp white linen, the largest looking beds and with floor-to-ceiling windows you get great views of the city buzzing below.

I was a little in awe at this stage and Rachel had to politely take my hand and lead me out of the doors or I don't think I would have ever left.

Our final destination for the day was the Westbury in Mayfair. Now this hotel is actually on Bond Street so if I know my friends who like shopping, they'd be in heaven here. They even give a 10% discount on a selection of shops nearby!! With elegant decor, this was the first American hotel in London - opening in 1955. It was founded by the polo playing Phipps family and still retains a little of its polo theme with the Polo Bar and takes part in several Polo events such as the Cartier 25th International Day.

At this point I was so stunned by the loveliness of these hotels that I felt I had to go home and have a lie down. I waved goodbye to Rachel and went back to reality and my little north London flat. However sometimes it's good to enter this world of wonderful hotels and feel like a King for a day. I can't wait to see some more!