Best Spas in Ascot

"Steps from Knightsbridge, one of the most affluent districts in London, the Mandarin Oriental is a top-tier grande dame. Winston Churchill was once a regular, and the Edwardian building has remained intact, despite undergoing a renovation worth millions in 2018. Rooms are contemporary and light, maintaining a classic English elegance with neutral decor and furniture adding pops of emerald, teal and dusky pink."

"Combining French gastronomy with American influences must have raised a few chef's eyebrows in Daniel Boulud's native France, but diners vote with their forks, relishing both moules à la cr è me or the 'Yankee'... Top ChoiceThai in Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields"

"Sitting grandiose in Knightsbridge on the edge of Hyde Park, a stiletto’s click away from Harrods and Harvey Nichols, The Berkley oozes elegance and Art Deco grandeur. Perhaps it’s because numerous designers have collaborated with the hotel, including Paul Smith, who designed a range of bespoke crockery for the catwalk-inspired afternoon Pret-a-portea. The hotel has 190 rooms, 55 of which are suites, many with terraces overlooking Hyde Park and some bigger than most London flats."

"This year, Knightsbridge favourite The Berkeley is saying sayonara to lockdown with an alfresco dining space inspired by the country's iconic foodie seafronts. Transporting you to the sandy shores of Whistable, the hotel menu includes oysters, lobster and retro cocktails. Don't miss the frothy Sailor Sour which blends Grey Goose Vodka with Nardini Mandorla, lemon and egg white."

"Part of the Maybourne Group, which also manages Claridge's and The Connaught, The Berkeley is a bit like both but not much like either. A child of the early 1970s, there are no heritage trappings; instead, the look is cool, low-key, non-specifically modern. Marcus Wareing supplies Michelin-starred gravitas."

"This hotel is located in central London, and one of its most infamous attractions is “The Lanesborough Suite” which can be all yours for a night at the price of £18000!. Other than exclusivity, the suite will also bring you access to a complementary concierge service and a Rolls Royce to drive around in. Its restaurant — Apsleys, a Heinz Beck Restaurant — is famous for having received a Michelin Star within five months of opening, thus establishing a world record."

"With its enviable location in the heart of London, situated on the borders of Knightsbridge and Belgravia and with panoramic views of Hyde Park, The Lanesborough has long been considered one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. Its elegant décor, exquisite cuisine, unsurpassed attention to detail and world-renowned service are second to none. The hotel’s restaurant, Céleste, is renowned for being among the best in the city and boasts a Michelin star."

"Minimalists, modernists, fanciers of all things sleek, shiny, geometrical and monochrome – this is not the place for you. The Lanesborough was always an unrepentant riot of Regency splendor. In 2015 it reopened more unrepentant, riotous and Regency-splendid than ever."

"There are few restaurants near Windsor Castle that display both the attention to detail and willingness to experiment shown at The Brasserie. Right in the heart of Windsor, The Brasserie’s wide open windows, naturally lit dining room and gorgeous views of the river are as close any of us will ever have to a royal experience. Yet the playful menu and casual ambience here are anything but stuffy."

"This romantic riverside hotel and spa boasts a 4-star rating thanks to its sleek 98 rooms and apartments. Tucked away on a historic cobbled street by Eton Bridge, it's the ideal spot for a bit of R&R thanks to the amenities including a gym, spa treatments, outdoor jacuzzi and sauna. Meanwhile the rooms are bright and spacious yet still cosy, for a homely feel."

"With beautiful views of the River Thames and spires of Eton College, this historic hotel – named after Sir Christopher Wren, architect of St Paul’s Cathedral – occupies an enviable spot. Expect ancient grandeur in the main house, and contemporary mod cons in the newly renovated wings."

"Located in a historical eighteenth-century building in central London (near to Covent Garden), AIRE Ancient Baths, joins seven other AIRE locations in cities such as New York, Barcelona and Seville and brings the classical tradition of bathing forward into the 21st Century. In addition to the traditional ancient treatments, AIRE Ancient Baths London will offer guests two specialist practices: The Himalayan Salt Experience and The Wine Ritual. The Himalayan Salt Experience is a unique, rejuvenating and stress-relieving three-hour treatment that offers clients a 60-minute massage with hot Himalayan pink salt stones in addition to the traditional Thermal Bath circuit."

"Located in a complex of historic railway arches off Deptford High Street, the Market Yard is a hip hub of indie shops, bars and on-trend street-food eateries. If you’re peckish, head to the Tapas Room for Spanish nibbles and fine wine or Mama’s Jerk for funky Caribbean classics. If you’re simply after some booze, set your sights on Taproom SE8 (a real ale and craft beer mecca with pizza) or Little Nan’s Bar, where the cocktails are served in teapots."

"Known as the place angsty teenagers, punks and creatives go to hang out, Camden Market is a must-visit in London if you want to experience an energetic and engaging counterculture. Made up of a number of adjoining markets, you’ll be able to find iconic band t-shirts, sterling silver jewellery, tattoo parlours and bespoke boutiques selling 1950s clothing and serious rock and roll attire. Camden Lock is the place to go for eating, with a huge range of street food stalls selling cuisine from all corners of the globe."

"Camden Town is home to a series of markets, encompassing an astonishingly eclectic array of goods to suit all tastes. Pick up some vintage clothes, handmade jewellery, music, or bric-a-brac. The market around Camden Lock features designers and artists, with a selection of international food vendors, too."

"However, today visitors can still see one remaining section of the palace complex, the Banqueting Hall (fee*) designed by famous architect Inigo Jones with a ceiling painted by Peter Paul Reubens. Today Whitehall is the center of the Government of the United Kingdom and you’ll pass a number of buildings home to various departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet Office. Along this street you’ll also find The Household Calvary Museum (fee*), located in the 18th century stables of the Horse Guards, which gives information on the history of the Household Cavalry and displays a small collection of uniforms and weapons."

"The University College London Art Museum houses a collection that goes back to 1847. The collection began when artist John Flaxman offered his sculpture models and drawing to the university. Now, there are more than 10,000 objects in the collection, to include etchings by Rembrandt."

"The Royal Academy of Arts is an independent, privately funded art organization led by artists and architects. The academy's mission is to foster creating, enjoying, and appreciating visual arts in London. The Royal Academy of Arts was originally founded in 1768 through an act of King George III, who set forth for the academy the same mission it has today."

"Head to the Royal Academy of Arts to see the evolution of contemporary art unfold before your very eyes. It’s no accident that this is known as the spot for finding London’s hottest talents. The academy is led by its Royal Academicians, a group of peer-elected artists, the works of whom are displayed in their defiant exhibits."

"The Royal Academy of Arts is the first art institution in England. It was established in 1768 and since 1868 it has been based in Burlington House on Piccadilly. In 1998 it expanded to the Burlington Gardens building."

"Our award winning chefs only blend the finest herbs & spices to produce delicate, authentic dishes. You can now relax at home and order your favourite dishes, freshly prepared and have them…"

"One of the most famous places for all-day dining, The Ivy Cafe is an iconic British brasserie. Whether you're after breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea or dinner, you'll find a variety of menus and decadent interiors to match."

"A family favourite for hordes of Richmond locals, this neighbourhood Italian (family-run, of course) has been doing its thing on Kew Road for more than a decade. It may be dressed up in fashionable contemporary garb, but this is a diehard trattoria at heart and the food presses all those familiar comfort buttons – arancini balls, homemade pasta, saltimbocca, calf’s liver, tiramisu. The decked forecourt gets rammed in summer."

"This genuinely friendly family-run Italian is popular with locals and visitors alike on account of its authentic food and charming service. Bacco may have all the visual trappings of a contemporary Italian restaurant, but at its heart is an old-fashioned trattoria so diners can expect classic pastas and simple antipasti as well as more expensive dishes come evening. It’s also handy for theatre-goers."

"05/06/2021: We visited one evening as a pre-booked table for 4. The menu was nice but disappointingly two out of the four staters we order had been taken off the menu as they had run out of ingredients. The food was good, but not exceptional and the service pleasant but hit and miss, slow and some of the drinks we ordered etc did not turn up until we chased them."