PHOTOGRAPHY BY NIALL CLUTTON
There are London hotels, and then there is The Dorchester. Opened in 1931, it has played host to a who’s who of celebrities and royalty (Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Taylor, a Kardashian or three) and is still one of the most opulent addresses in town, across the street from Hyde Park. Following a five-year renovation overseen by interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud, the hotel’s suites look better than ever. The Belgravia suites—the last to be completed—offer a lesson in understated glamour, with Carrara marble bathrooms, private-terrace views of the park, and fireplaces perfect for chilly February nights. The plush English townhouse style is updated with eastern accents, such as antique hand-painted chinoiserie cabinets and bedside tables. Though you might be tempted to stay in your room all day (butler service is included), you’d be remiss not to head downstairs for afternoon tea—with Champagne, of course.
THE DETAIL
The Theatre Desk at the Dorchester
Can’t decide between The Lion King and Les Misérables? Head to The Dorchester’s dedicated Theatre Desk, where Martin Burrell—who sees a show a week and last year served as an Olivier Awards judge—will figure out which of the 50-odd productions in the West End is best for you. Here, his latest recs.
Most British
“Witness for the Prosecution, a courtroom scene from Agatha Christie’s gripping drama, played out in the historic council chamber of London’s magnificent County Hall.”
Most Anticipated
“Home, I’m Darling, which fizzes with wit and is set in a 1950s household where the housewife is attempting to become a domestic goddess.”
Most Recommended
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is such a clever, original story, putting the audience in the extraordinary mind of a 15-year-old.”
Most Popular
“Through the whole of 2018, Tina was the musical everyone wanted to see—and rightly so, for [Adrienne Warren,] the powerhouse lead performer portraying Tina Turner.”
