Brown’s Hotel • Mayfair, London

As London’s oldest hostelry, Brown’s was created in 1837 from eleven townhouses. This sophisticated hotel features an unmistakably British vibe. Over the centuries, it’s been the chosen hotel for royalty, presidents and a few literary greats.

Decorated by the noted interior designer Olga Polizzi, each of the rooms features beautiful antiques and original artworks. Beck at Brown’s restaurant offers a seasonal Italian menu. Edwardian oak paneling and working fireplaces grace the English Tea Room, which offers an award-winning afternoon tea, and it’s said Queen Victoria loved to take her afternoon tea here.

The Donovan Bar’s main feature is its 19th-century stained-glass window. The tranquil spa is a subterranean sanctuary offering beauty treatments and massages with the finest organic products.

Visit: 30 Albemarle St, Mayfair, W1S 4 BP, 020-7493 6020; browns-hotel