London: globally significant for being a central hub of finance, culture, history – not to mention shopping. As such, there is no shortage of fabulous places to stay when hopping across the pond. However, we’ve fallen especially hard for one newly opened hotel, with a crush so intense we can only compare it to seeing Love Actually for the first time or slathering clotted cream across a scone. Welcome to The Beaumont Hotel.
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The lobby of the Beaumont Hotel in London
It’s no surprise that every last detail at The Beaumont is not just spot on, but rather, drenched in style. The brainchild of the London restaurateurs behind The Wolseley and the Delaunay, the hotel has the comfort and discretion of a private residence with the cool-factor of a member’s only club. The exterior features a cubist sculpture by artist Anthony Gormley and the driveway boasts a rotating collection of vintage Jaguars and Bentley’s. It’s classic, confidant and sophisticated whilst avoiding stuffy, lame and clichéd.
A premier room at The Beaumont
When it comes to choosing a hotel that lends itself to shopping, location is, of course, key. This is the property to make your home-base for fashionista’s coming to shop. The hotel is ideally located in Mayfair, conveniently close to Harrod’s, Liberty and Brown’s. In fact, it’s dangerously close to Selfridge’s (a 2-minute walk just down the block!) and we were able to be the first lucky souls inside during a big sale after fueling up with cappuccinos and homemade scones at the hotel’s Colony Grill.
The Colony Grill at The Beaumont in London
If big department stores don’t whet your style appetite, head over to Molton Street, just off of bustling (and often crushing) Oxford. This picturesque, pedestrian-only street offers specialty British boutiques special to London. Start with Browns. This petite fashion institution offers a smartly edited selection of high-end designer fashion featuring both the usual suspects (Stella McCartney, Givenchy, Philip Lim) as well as special pieces from smaller British designers (Simone Rocha, Christopher Kane). Our favorite discovery at Browns was shoe designer Laurence Dacade (now popping up everywhere from Net-A-Porter to Neiman’s). She’s the woman behind footwear for the House of Chanel, Dacade’s boots and shoes and the perfect mix of ladylike and street-wise.
Gotta check out Browns
On the accessories front, your one stop shop is Butler & Wilson, the ultimate crafters in the art of fabulous, statement-making, costume jewelry. Pat Field and Liberace would have a field day in this (literal) jewel box of a shop. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and you can snag up everything from necklaces and earrings to fabulous evening clutches and belts. A must.
Be sure to visit the over-the-top Butler & Wilson
Where to recharge after all that shopping? Enter the chicest restaurant in London: Bob Bob Ricard. Fashioned after a vintage luxury train car, the interior alone is enough to stir the appetite. Glossy marble floors and plush leather booths set the table (no pun intended) for sophisticated, but not too prissy, comfort food. The menu is littered with English favorites (cottage pies and spatchcocks) as well as signature Russian dishes and plenty of caviar. Each table also has a call button “Press For Champagne” that lights up at the bar immediately. Shopping and champagne? The perfect London getaway.
Reception Desk at Bob Bob Ricard
If ever there was a time to use the word posh…
The Beaumont Hotel
Brown Hart Gardens, Mayfair
Tel:+ 44 20 7499 1001
Rates starting at £356
Browns London
27 South Molton Street
London W1K
Tel:+44 20 7514 0016
Butler & Wilson
20 South Molton Street
London W1K
Tel:+44 20 7409 2955
Bob Bob Ricard
1 Upper James Street
London W1F
Tel:+44 20 3145 1000
Written by Guest Contributors Chloe Popescu & Iris Friedman for EuropeUpClose.com