The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London

The Cadogan is something of a legend, having been a haunt of Oscar Wilde and a fixture on the London luxury-hotel scene for as long as there’s been such a thing. After a lengthy absence and a thorough renovation, it’s back, this time as the Belmond Cadogan Hotel, and by the look of it, the last time it looked so fresh might have been the day it opened in 1887.

Its setting is Chelsea, in the triangle between Sloane Square, Belgravia, and the Brompton Road, a neighborhood that’s only grown more upscale during the century-plus the Cadogan has been in business. And while the beautifully restored Belmond Cadogan takes its stylistic inspiration from its 19th-century beginnings, its designers have infused it with a contemporary atmosphere that’s timeless rather than timeworn. The rooms and suites are the equal of any high-end hotel in town, and Oscar Wilde’s old room is now a part of the Royal Suite.

The otherwise private Cadogan Place Gardens are open to guests of the Belmond Cadogan, a quiet slice of country life in the heart of London. And there’s plenty of desirable indoor space as well, from afternoon tea in the Cadogan’s lounge to classic cocktails at the marble-topped bar and upscale modern British cuisine at Adam Handling, Chelsea, the Belmond Cadogan’s flagship restaurant.

How to get there:
The Belmond Cadogan Hotel is a 7-minute walk from both the Knightsbridge and Sloane Square tube stations. If you’re arriving from Heathrow Airport, the most convenient transfer option to central London is the Heathrow Express train, which leaves Heathrow Airport every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes to arrive at Paddington Station. One-way fares are available from £25 and round-trip fares from £37. By black cab, the Cadogan is approximately a 45-minute ride from Heathrow Airport (depending on traffic) and can cost upwards of £50.