JC Stays: The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, London

If luxury to you means cool, funky and stripped back, then don’t come to The Lanesborough. After its lavish 18-month, top-to-toe revamp, the hotel has shaken off its scaffolding to reclaim its crown as one of the capital’s most luxurious hotels — and if it makes no pretensions to being hip, it’s unquestionably special.

When it comes to plushness, The Lanesborough has stuck with the traditional. Carpets are deep, the marble is hand-cut, chandeliers are oversized and windows are covered with elaborate swags and tails. This is the opulent antithesis of modern luxury.

The overhaul of the landmark Regency building was overseen by the late designer Alberto Pinto, renowned for his lavish designs. After his death in 2012, his sister Linda Pinto took over the project rumoured to cost £80 million, employing a vast line-up of artisans and craftsmen to reflect the heritage of the building.

As a result, rooms are uber comfortable: think canopied beds, chinoiserie-print curtains and beautifully intricate plasterwork on the ceilings. The palette here is deep and rich, all claret, cream and gold. Walls are lined with oil paintings, and if you can’t find your TV, press the remote control — you might just find it cunningly hidden behind one of them.