MY STAY
Room & welcome
Claridge's felt formal in the best way: Art Deco rooms and a Mayfair address, but a welcome that let me settle in rather than worry about fitting the part. My suite had a proper sitting area and a balcony above the street. Those are room-specific pleasures, not something to assume comes with every booking.
The small gestures
The small gestures mattered more than ceremony. A card for an occasion could be lovely, while an awkward exchange at the door would stand out all the more against the hotel's otherwise easy manner. I cared most about staff noticing why I was there and helping naturally, not a particular gift appearing automatically.
Tea, breakfast & spa
Afternoon tea was worth booking, but there was more to enjoy than the public tea room. A breakfast croissant, a swim and a massage made the hours upstairs feel like part of the trip. One evening began with a cocktail in Dante; the team then showed me several of the other bars so I could choose where to have the next drink.
Would I return?
A comfortable room and time to explore the building properly would bring me back before another hurried London sightseeing day. Simply photographing the lobby and rushing out all day would have missed the best part. When the people are as good as the setting, the stay does not need much extra decoration.