The Ned Hotel

London

It’s simply impossible not to be impressed by the endless style revealed at every turn at The Ned. It was the most hotly anticipated hotel launch in the UK this year and lives up to billing. The scale is huge, which is a fine excuse to revisit, if you ask us. Columns of green verdite marble frame the lobby – home to seven restaurants and bars – where up to 1,000 people can be found milling through at any one time. It’s got all the hustle of New York’s Grand Central station, without any of the stress. Live jazz and French classics drift from the Nickel Bar, providing an easy backdrop to a people-watching afternoon where you’ll likely spot a famous face or two. Soho House and the Sydell Group have done a fine job converting the Grade-I Midland Bank HQ, which was designed by the eponymous Ned Lutyens in 1924. Attention to detail is outstanding: think Twenties deco- glam meets modern luxe with a number of Lutyen’s hallmark features. Grand bedrooms (252 in total) reveal plush velvet, a rich colour palette, vintage pieces, ornate textiles and palm-leaf chandeliers, as well as the biggest baths you’ll ever slump in. Elsewhere, don’t miss The Vault, a cool bar housed in the old safe deposit; the rootop pool area for its chilled vibe and cityscapes; and Cowshed spa with its dusky-pink hammam. A bone fide staycation and our new favourite crashpad – The Ned, we salute you. Doubles from £209.