Claridge's

Walking through the elegant art deco revolving door of Claridge's foyer feels like entering Heaven. Particularly on the tail end of a long and bumpy Trans-Atlantic flight, when all you want to do is get warm and have a bath the Claridge's welcome is particularly appreciated and the lobby itself with its sweeping grand staircase and view into the stunning tea room with a profusion of immaculately dressed floral arrangements is a sight for sore eyes. Whereas many hotels, facing a guest's arrival at 10am in the morning, would ask them to come back after 12 when their room may be ready, we were not only offered a choice of a room or a suite but having chosen one were then immediately ushered to our room to have tea and coffee brought to us on a silver tray and served with understated elegance as we collapsed on a very welcome sofa.

The suite we had the pleasure of staying in was decorated much like a stately home, complete with bookshelves and a selection of coffee table books and some antique looking memorabilia on the mantelpiece. You have a feeling of having wandered into an elegant country mansion rather than the cardboard copy cut outs of identical rooms you find in many hotels.

The bath was immense, the art deco radiators and black and white tiles stylish, the shower head mammoth and the towels all fluffy and white and beautifully laid out. The bed was huge as was the antique wardrobe. The service is quite simply in a league of its own - nothing is too tricky for the Concierge to organise and the restaurant and general hotel staff are only too happy to help with any request (and refreshingly, after New York, they don't even particularly seem to want or expect a tip). The service at Claridge's is immaculate regardless of financial inducements - although it must be said that when presented with the bill on departure, it did include an "optional" service charge.

The hotel's location is excellent as well - close to Oxford Street for great shopping, a walk down Bond Street to Mayfair and the Royal Academy and Wolseley's and a short few blocks to Hyde Park should the sun ever decide to shine (it didn't while we were there leaving me only too happy to stay in the hotel, meet friends in the stunning reading room or foyer and drink copious amounts of tea.)

Food selections include a Gordon Ramsay restaurant or light snacks in the delightfully hidden art deco Fumoir Bar, or something more substantial in either the Reading Room or the Foyer. There is also an excellent room service menu and it is worth eating in your room just to appreciate the circular table, warming oven bread, linen napkins and superb presentation. Dining à deux has rarely been so classy.

Then of course there is afternoon tea - for which you will have to read our full report in that section of the website. Suffice to say that (apart from the unpleasant weather outside) our stay in Claridge's was as close to perfection as a hotel has ever got. I wanted to dig my nails into the carpet and refuse to leave. Certainly I can't wait to go back!