The Insignia Guide to London

Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or just looking to escape the crowds, London can be a hotbed of fun – if you know where to go.

Where to stay in London 

The Savoy

The most iconic hotel in London that sits right on the bank of the River Thames. One side of the hotel boasts Edwardian interiors, the other Art Deco décor, meeting in the middle in a secret-garden style tea salon with an en suite pastry and chocolate shop, restaurant and two chic bar scenes. Facilities are as premium as one can imagine, from the wellness area with pool in a light-filled atrium, sauna and steam room, well-equipped gym and two treatment rooms to the availability of chauffeurs and a butler in the suites. Moreover, you can request a dedicated Book Butler, who can provide novels selected by the hotel’s grandly titled Literary Ambassador.

The Rosewood London

Housed in the 1914 Belle Epoque building, it planted itself high on the list of London’s most luxurious hotels. Combining English heritage with contemporary sophistication, the hotel has the feel of a styling London residence with 262 guest rooms and 44 suits. The hotel has two excellent restaurants, both of them featuring creative, well executed, and refined food.

Where to eat in London

London boasts one of the most eclectic dining scenes. The Insignia Team have chosen the capital’s finest restaurants.

Davies and Brook by Daniel Humm

Daniel Humm – the gastronomical mastermind behind Eleven Madison Park – has opened his first European restaurant, Davies & Brooke, within Claridge’s. The room is minimalism at its best with high ceilings and pale walls with white-framed photographs of British moors running through the middle.The signature dish is dry-aged duck, which is served with honey and lavender, and glazed with rhubarb and daikon. 

Hide Restaurant

Spanning three floors, Ollie Dabbous’ venture offers sweeping views across Green Park. Come during the day for a light lunch, or in the evening for sophisticated tasting menus and wine flights curated by Hedonism Wines. Hide’s menu changes often but the signature dish is the Nest Egg, an eggshell filled with a concoction of egg yolk, smoked butter, toasted mushrooms and cream – is an ingenious little dish and worthy of its reputation.

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

The Dorchester’s landmark restaurant has held three Michelin stars since 2010. It offers contemporary French cuisine with a professional bespoke and friendly service orchestrated by Restaurant Director Enrico Baronetto. The seasonal menu changes frequently, but diners can expect a mix of British ingredients and French technique. There is also a vegetarian menu (Jardin) in an ode to the changing habits of diners.

Where to visit in London

The Buckingham Palace, the Big Ben, the Royal Opera House and the National Gallery are London essentials, but there are other cultural contenders to take note of at the moment.

Secret Cinema

Secret Cinema, one of London’s most-sought after tickets, which invites audiences to participate in the worlds of some of their favourite films, . You will arrive at a secret location to discover actors taking on roles from the film and a setting that seems to extend out from beyond the screen. They even serve up the appropriate food and beverages from various outlets dotted around the set.

Museums

Experience the lesser known galleries and museums such as David Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth or Serpantine, contemporary art galleries that are generally quieter and more thoughtful when it comes to exhibitions. This focus means that visits here are far less frantic than at most museums. The space is calm and light-filled and the shows are first class. 

Salvatore’s Legacy

Head to Mr. Salvatore Calabrese’s bar at the Playboy Club to taste the world’s most expensive and oldest cocktail. The four ingredients used to make the cocktail are hundreds of years old: a 1778 Clos de Griffier vieux cognac, a 1770 Kummel liqueur, a circa 1860 Dubb orange Curacao and two dashes of Angostura bitters dating from around 1900.

Where to relax in London

Escape the chaos of the city and find some true relaxation with ultimate London spas.

ESPA Life at Corinthia

The spa is one of the largest one in London, housed across four floors of the hotel. The interior is featuring Italian marble, polished chrome and a Chanel-inspired colour palette of champagne and black. The wide-ranging list of treatments include Dr Barbara Sturm facials, ESPA massages, Daniel Galvin hair cuts, and myriad alternative therapies by naturopaths, traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturists, sound therapists and osteopaths. In addition, there is gym and full fitness programme at BodySPace, with 24-hour personal trainers and a mini medical diagnostic option.

Lanserhof at The Arts Club

This is the first medi-gym in the world with six floors dedicated to health and fitness in the glamorous, light-flooded building, with doctors and specialists supervise training and treatments. Its treatments begin with medical check-ups to ensure that you undertake the most effective therapy, so analysing your digestive system, nutritional diagnostics and muscle functioning.