best bed: The Milestone Hotel & Residence, London, UK

The Milestone’s goal is to make dreams come true. They succeed by being phenomenally considerate. I was wowed by the thoughtfulness, attention to detail and top notch service.  The Red Carnation group acquired the three 19^thcentury townhouses that make up the hotel in 1998. They gave the space a complete restoration reopening in September 1999. But they didn’t stop here. Every year a selection of rooms are re-renovated. 35% have been thoroughly redone in the last 18 months. The ‘new’ Milestone has all the conveniences a modern guest needs but retains an air of old fashioned romance and history. And what a history. Over the years a previous building on this site has been a private insane asylum, the spot where the rags to riches heiress Anne Marie Lucena was murdered  by her disturbed son-in-law and the home of the first Baron Redesdale, the grandfather of the famous Mitford sisters. Every room is unique. Some are filled with antiques. Several have a splash of leopard print. All come with wonderful personal touches. I was thrilled by the personalized business cards that had been prepared for me. The complementary shoe shine managed, somehow, to make my mud encrusted oxfords look like new!   The Milestone is justifiably renowned for their traditional, sometimes whimsical, High Teas. Themes have included a Mary Poppin’s tea, Gentleman’s tea with whisky and the Royal tea which comes with champagne, strawberries and cream. Warm scones are served after sandwiches so both are fresh when you enjoy them. Don’t plan on dinner afterwards, you will be too full from all the delicious treats. Specialty cakes, private tours of Kensington Palace, even a wedding for just two in the tiny licensed chapel (reputed to be the smallest in London) can be arranged. The Milestone  is the ultimate special occasion hotel even if you are not there to celebrate anything at all.

Number of Rooms: 62 (43 rooms, 13 Suites, 6 residences)

Sweet Suite:  The Hermes Suite is my kind of  glamour! First there is the four poster, second there are the framed vintage Hermes scarves, third there is the balcony, through floor to ceiling windows which overlooks Kensington Palace. I loved the juxtaposition of 20^thcentury design and classic 18^thcentury architecture. So elegant.

Favorite Thing:  You’re going to laugh… it was the special facecloth for makeup. Black instead of white; an example of just out how well thought out every detail is at the Milestone.  I always feel  a tad guilty when I leave streaks of mascara, eyeliner and blush. Here there was no hesitation to getting a truly clean face.

Near By: Kensington Palace and Gardens, great shopping, Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park

Amenities: the concierge’s shopping guide, pillow menu, resistance pool, conservatory, high tea, 24 hour room service, business centre, pet friendly, spa, sauna, gym, bar, restaurants, butler service, Penhaligon’s toiletries, bottled water, magazines in the room, etiquette classes (for adults or children), sabrage lessons

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https://www.milestonehotel.com