THE ARCH

Marble Arch may be best known for its, erm, stone arch – but step away from the mouth to Oxford Street’s insane shoppers, and you’ll find cute little enclaves filled with cobbled streets, artisanal shops and Georgian townhouses. It’s here that one of London’s newest hotels has set up its home with 82 beautifully appointed rooms overlooking quiet streets and mews (if you’re feeling flush, book the SULlivan 785 suite which has its own private courtyard), whilst the bar and restaurant area ‘HUNter 486’ (the strange names refer to old dialing codes for London telephone exchanges) encompasses a Martini Library (where you won’t be fined for late returns), a Salon de Champagne and a rustic eatery with open kitchen and wood fire oven. Burn off the excesses in the basement fitness room, which isn’t exactly excessively large, but big enough to hold a Power Plate.