This Art Deco gem in the heart of Mayfair is still as fashionable as ever, and remains the hotel of choice for everyone from models to media moguls. The original 140 rooms and 63 suites are decorated with Art Deco or Victorian touches, and were supplemented in June 2010 by four rooms and suites designed [...]

Set in 130 acres on the edge of the New Forest, this country-house hotel has 58 rooms and suites furnished with a mix of antiques and contemporary furnishings; most have a private garden, terrace or balcony. Head chef Andrew Du Bourg makes good use of Hampshire produce such as New Forest game and Lymington seafood [...]

This fabulous, 15th-century former monastery, part of the Orient-Express group, occupies a hilltop setting on the outskirts of Florence with mesmerising views of the city. It has 46 Italianate rooms (including 25 suites) divided between the main building and a former lemon-tree store in the landscaped grounds. Traditional Tuscan cuisine is served in the elegant [...]

A grand palace hotel built in 1928 close to the Champs-Elysées, the George V has gone from strength to strength under the management of Four Seasons. There are 244 rooms (more than a quarter of which are suites), and many have private terraces. Public areas are impressive, with high ceilings, serious antiques, tapestries and lavish [...]

This historic hotel is in a great location, close to both the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. In business for just over 100 years, it burned down in 1945, was rebuilt in 1997 and renovated in 2007. Some of the 304 rooms and 78 suites have spectacular views of the Brandenburg Gate or the [...]

This exclusive luxury resort in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney cost around A$125 million to build, and it shows. The 36 Heritage Suites have wonderful views of the Wolgan Valley Reserve and come with locally crafted wooden furniture, Federation-era decor and private pools. There are also three family-sized Wollemi Suites and the 410-square-metre Wolgan Suite. [...]

Set on the Motu Piti Aau coral island in the Pacific Ocean, this stylish beach resort – decorated in a bright colour palette with Sixties-inspired design touches – is a refreshing alternative to its more traditional neighbours in the region. The 80 over-water bungalows have floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious terraces and private pontoons for offshore sunbathing. [...]

This popular Sydney hotel has 531 very plush, contemporary rooms; those facing the front have views over the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, the harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Make sure you’re in situ at sunset. Kable’s, the main restaurant, serves modern Australian cuisine with a seafood bias. There’s also a spa specialising in [...]

In the heart of Singapore’s Marina Bay, with unobstructed views of both the Singapore skyline and the busy waterfront, this 32-floor, 608-room property was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kevin Roche. Its newly renovated guest rooms are the largest of any hotel in the city-state. Facilities include a spa, a fitness centre with hot and [...]

A unique new sculpture was unveiled in London that not only looks good — it sounds good as well. The arch is made of 310 polished steel tubes channeling both light and the breeze to create an ever-changing experience for its audience standing below.
The sculpture is actually a giant Aeolian harp — an instrument played [...]