"How did it strike you on arrival?This is not a shy sort of hotel. It’s a place of gold leaf and chandeliers. And this is certainly not the sort of outfit that does anything by halves—the four-floor spa is one of the city’s finest. In a suitably grand building that used to house the Ministry of Defense, the location is impressive, just minutes from the Thames, Trafalgar Square, the South Bank, and the Houses of Parliament. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Uncompromising lovers of luxury. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Rooms are in muted tones of grey, green, and dusky blue, and even the smallest have plenty of space with king-size beds and a table and chairs—the city views are more interesting, but the ones overlooking the courtyard have dinky Juliette balconies as a consolation. Things gradually get more and more extravagant until you reach the Royal Penthouse, which has its own spa, wine cellar, and terrace that eyeballs the London Eye. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.All the sleek marble bathrooms have underfloor heating, a bathtub with a TV, and a separate rain shower. Espa products have fresh bergamot notes. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Free. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.Choose between two fine dining restaurants—Italian at Massimo and local, seasonal British fare under a gold ceiling at Northall. You could easily lose a day in Espa’s flagship spa, which sprawls over four floors with a large pool and thermal suite including an ice fountain, sauna, steam room, and heated marble loungers, as well as 17 treatment rooms, nutritionists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, and massage therapists. Bottom line: worth it, and why?You’re paying for unbeatable service, lavish surrounds, and some of the best facilities in the city." - Laura Goulden
