Wilde was a dear friend of the property's late owner, Lillie Langtry, an actress, socialite, and one of Britain's first models. The hotel's most notable guest was none other than Oscar Wilde, who called what is now Suite 118 his London pied-a-terre. Situated at 75 Sloane Street, the Cadogan has played host to many fashion parties in the past, welcoming designers, supermodels, and London's It-crowd through its doors. The 54-room property, comprised of five townhouses dating back to 1887, oozes style-from its Chelsea location to the design of the spaces and suites-but it's the hotel's rich history of hosting fashionistas, socialites, aristocrats, tastemakers, artists, and the like that should excite any posh traveler.

It seems that the secret sauce to securing a spot on the list of top hotels in London is to simply revive what the city's most discerning have been missing-from true English flair to experiences that feel more subtle than showboat. Belmond (now newly owned by LVMH) re-opened the Cadogan Hotel last December, following a three-year, $48-million restoration. After a visit to the Belmond Cadogan Hotel, it appears that what's old is new again.

This city is packed to the brim with fine places to lay one's head, and it can be daunting for a hotel opening to make a splash.īut what about the new opening of an old hotel? One rich in history, unique in design, and determined to embrace true, authentic English culture rather than infusing a French or Italian flair into the experience. In London, the birthplace of proper hospitality, etiquette, and service, it's challenging to walk a few blocks-be it in Mayfair, Knightsbridge, or Chelsea-without coming across an iconic hotel, teeming with perfectly-trained staff and appointed with the best of the best.

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