Wealthy American visitors make annual pilgrimages here, their arrival greeted by the comforting, gravelly tones of their regular concierge, as English as roast beef, and the glass of sherry in the room. Yet amid the old-school luxury (butlers on 24-hour call) thrives inventive modernity (the resistance pool in the spa).
The rooms that overlook Kensington Gardens feature the inspired decor of South African owner Beatrice Tillman: the Safari suite contains tent-like draperies and leopard-print upholstery; while in the Regency Suite, an early 19th-century screen conceals a copper bath. Afternoon tea is served in the Park Lounge, a glorious melding of library and boudoir.