A former 1880s hospital, this hip example of London’s design hotels is now home-away-from-home for a mélange of fashion mavens, film directors and A-listers (Liv Tyler once checked into the stunning loft apartment for three months). The hotel’s interior has been designed in the signature ‘contemporary English’ style of co-owner Kit Kemp. Next to the quietly bustling lobby (all polished wood floors and lavish floral curtains) is the low-key brasserie where theatre-goers and media darlings come in waves throughout the day. A sweeping stone staircase leads up to the sumptuous drawing room and library – pleasantly quiet places where guests can sit by the log fires and admire the vivid upholstery fabrics. Mix-and-match fabrics have also been used to wonderful effect in the 58 individually designed five-star bedrooms and suites. Frette sheets, padded headboards and ridiculously plump armchairs make for an intimate, cosy feel. Granite and mahogany bathrooms are similarly luxurious. These super-stylish yet super-comfortable rooms have ensured that the notoriously fickle cool crowd have stuck around for over a decade.