Best five-star hotels to book this summer

London might not be short of slick and fancy hotels but in Mayfair, with its Regency architecture, idyllic green squares and quaint cobbled streets, the hotel scene is buzzing more than ever. With world-class dining, designer decor and sumptuous spas, these are the best hotels in Mayfair worth checking into.

The Connaught

It’s hard not to fall for the Englishness of The Connaught, with its grand wooden staircase, Art Deco bar and heady scent of Cire Trudon’s Solis Rex, there are few hotels in Mayfair that make you want to run away from home and never return. Food is serious here, from the renowned three Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze restaurant to the less formal can-do-no-wrong Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the Connaught, with its magical Tadao Ando water sculpture outside, alongside the chic patisserie by Nicholas Rouzaud (try the indulgent signature chocolate hazelnut hound), you’ll never go hungry here. The rooms too are a joy and the one-bedroom Prince’s Lodge, inspired by Kabul’s Peacock Palace, with an Afghan hand-carved four-poster bed and its own steam room, is worth splashing out on.

The Beaumont

Tucked up near Brown Hart Gardens, a peaceful Mayfair square with a raised terrace garden and just a hop and skip from Selfridges’ and the throngs of bustling Bond Street, The Beaumont is an undeniably elegant residence to call home for those lucky enough to stay here. It’s an Art Deco fantasy with walnut-paneled walls, a Rat Pack-styled Magriette bar and clubby New York grill-themed restaurant (the fried chicken and corn ribs are a must-try). Alongside stylish rooms pegged to the 1920s with their dark lacquered furniture and creamy coffee walls washed down with a slew of treats, guests get use of a complimentary chauffeur-driven limousine that’ll take you within a mile of the hotel. There’s also a serene little spa downstairs offering treatments to soothe stressed-out souls.

The Twenty Two

There’s a playful feel to the hotel and members' club The Twenty Two. Beyond its grand Edwardian facade, cape-wearing doormen and staff in Charlie Casely-Hayford suits await in the marble-floored lobby, welcoming you inside this plush Parisian-style hangout. Its 31 rooms are unique too, from studios and suites furnished with velvet-draped four poster beds and twinkling chandeliers, to a self-contained mews house with its own entrance, they’re lavish and Insta-worthy, with vases of wildflowers, blue-trim robes and slippers. There’s a gorgeous all-day Restaurant at The Twenty Two, Overseen by Alan Christie, previously of Arbutus, which has pretty views overlooking leafy Grosvenor Square, serving up modern British fare that’s hard to fault. Do saunter over to the Living Room for a night club afterwards, the fun cocktails are unmissable.

The Biltmore Mayfair

First things first, if you’re staying at The Biltmore Mayfair you’ll want to request a room overlooking leafy Grosvenor Square, it’s knock-out view and one that has an air of Regency London about it. This handsome red-brick hotel isn’t in a time warp though - inside it’s a modern spectacle with a vast squeaky marble lobby, chic interiors with a touch of the Far East. Rooms are elegant and classic with suites named after some of the building’s notable residents - including Roosevelt and John Adams. Carnivores will adore Grill 88, the hotel’s theatrical steakhouse, while the more casual Cafe Biltmore has a secret outdoor terrace made for long languid lunches and alfresco dinners. Whiskey lovers should make a beeline for the Pine Bar - there’s over 100 varieties here.

1 Hotel Mayfair

It might be perched among a bustling corner of London, opposite The Ritz and a stone’s throw from The Woseley but 1 Hotel Mayfair feels like an unexpected sanctuary, one that happens to be trumping all things sustainability. There are giant suspended plant chandeliers, a reception desk created from the trunk of a giant Sussex oak tree and a wall of Yorkshire stone, wooden walls, natural linens and artwork from marine plastic artist Steve McPherson. Suites come with sweeping terraces, moss walls and earthy palettes while a reservation at the Bamford Wellness Spa is a no-brainer (there’s also a Techno-Gym if you’re after something more heart-racing). Nab a table in the courtyard at the hotel’s restaurant, Dovetale, and don’t miss the much talked-about Knickerbocker Glory trolley.

Claridge's

For all the fuss and frippery on the London hotel scene right now, we’ll always have Claridge’s. This is a timeless hotspot where high-heels click-clack across the chessboard marble floor, crystal chandeliers sparkle and top hat-bedecked doormen spin you around the famous revolving door - and it always feels like a decadent treat. It’s enduring and elegant but always on the beat. There’s afternoon tea from green and white-striped porcelain, sweeping suites with baby grand pianos and 24-hour butlers, plus the forever-sceney Jazz Age-style Fumoir bar. You’ll be mad to miss a bamboo-stick massage or Cryo Oxygen Shot facial in the dreamy peachy and limewood subterranean spa, not to mention dinner in the hotel’s chic restaurant, famous for its modern spin on British favourites.