London’s 10 best hotels
1 The Ritz: London 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR (+44 (0)20 7493 8181, theritzlondon.com)
2 London Hilton on Park Lane: 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE (+44 (0)20 7208 4142, hilton.co.uk)
3 Claridge’s: Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR (+44 (0)20 7629 8860, claridges.co.uk)
4 The Dorchester: Park Lane, W1K 1QA (+44 (0)20 7629 8888, thedorchester.co.uk)
5 Sanderson Hotel: 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG (+44 (0)20 7300 1400, sandersonlondon.com)
6 Brown’s Hotel: Albemarle Street, W1S 4BP (+44 (0)20 7493 6020, brownshotel.com)
7 Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park: 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA (+44 (0)20 7201 3773, mandarinoriental.com)
8 St Martins Lane: 45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX (+44 (0)20 7300 5500, stmartinslane.com)
9 One Aldywch: 1 Aldwych, WC2B 4RH (+44 (0)20 7300 1000, onealdwych.com)
10 Four Seasons: Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1A 1AZ (+44 (0)20 7499 0888, fourseasons.com)
Where else but The Ritz would you purposefully turn up underdressed for the chance to be outfitted by the charming lady who looks after the cloakroom of spare jackets?
David Daly, London E1
St Martins Lane hotel is all about high quality and superb location, right among the buzz of Covent Garden.
Stav Theodorakopoulou, London KT1
The Dorchester is a London icon for me. It oozes with the social history of London and feels cosmopolitan and other-worldly due to its very varied clientele – just like London itself, really.
Susie Oke, Beckenham, Kent
One Aldwych is the perfect hotel. It is chic and understated with instantly relaxing rooms, a fabulous bar, sexy pool and le tout London on your doorstep.
Siobhan Machin, London W12
Claridge’s is elegant, timeless and spoiling - the only place to go for a real treat, whether it be a glass of champagne or simply a cup of tea.
Caroline Sampson, London SE22
London's 10 best restaurants
1 The Ivy 1-5 West Street, WC2H 9NQ (+44 (0)20 7836 4751, the-ivy.co.uk)
2 Gordon Ramsay 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP (+44 (0)20 7352 4441, gordonramsay.com)
3 Nobu 19 Old Park Lane, W1K 1LB (+44 (0)20 7447 4747, noburestaurants.com)
4 The Wolseley 160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB (+44 (0)20 7499 6996, thewolseley.com)
5 Rules 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7LB (+44 (0)20 7836 5314, rules.co.uk)
6 The Ritz London 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR (+44 (0)20 7493 8181, theritzlondon.com)
7 Wagamama Various locations throughout London (wagamama.com)
8 Hakkasan 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HF (+44 (0)20 7927 7000)
9 Oxo Tower Barge House Street, SE1 9PH (+44 (0)20 7803 3888, harveynichols.com)
10 Blue Elephant 3-6 Fulham Broadway, SW6 1AA (+44 (0)20 7385 6595, blueelephant.com)
At Tom Aikens [joint 11th] you can share the best côte de boeuf and wash it down with a bottle of Rioja upstairs in the bar next to the fire. If you have room, the chocolate pudding is divine.
Alexander Holt, London SW3
The sun hardly sets on the Gordon Ramsay empire.
David White, Ellicott City, Maryland, USA
I appreciate a bit of glamour. The Wolseley is grand without being stuffy. You could be in fin de siècle Paris or Vienna.
Emine Saner, London N4
Les Trois Garçons is a lavishly eccentric restaurant serving fabulous food. Based on an unassuming, gritty main road in east London, it sums up some of the great contradictions that make London so fabulous.
Vicki Harding, London E2 Les Trois Garçons: joint 13th
