Credit: Claridge's

London — with its myriad landmarks, storied history, oodles of character, vibrant culinary scene and top-notch shopping — is always a good idea. Already home to a plethora of exceptional five-star hotels and amazing suites, London has seen a number of highly hyped new openings over the last few years. From years-long renovations, fabulous new suites and billion-dollar designs, these are the most exciting new openings in The Big Smoke.

Credit: Claridge's

“Claridge’s, daaaahling”— the phrase just walks off the tongue, each syllable heavy with the weight of unabashed luxury. The Residence — a lavish two-bedroom, André Fu-designed duplex, centered by a marvelous circular lounge space, with floor-to-ceiling windows for gazing out on the city skyline. On the second floor, accessed by a grand spiral staircase, a rooftop terrace complete with a whirlpool beckons.

Credit: The BoTree Hotel

The BoTree Suite delights with vibrant interiors. Fun, carefree and modern: The BoTree belongs to a new brand of London hotels. Each of the hotel’s suites exudes the now-signature BoTree style (read: lots of delicious unashamedly pink hues and floral prints), but up on the seventh floor, the one-bedroom BoTree Suite takes things to the next level. Designed by Amsterdam-based studio Concrete, the room is a lesson in modern maximalism, with a clean, neutral base palette bolstered by a number of brilliant extra touches. What kind of brain conjures up a mohair-covered wall, a flower ceiling and a golden cocktail station? A smart one, for sure.

Credit: The BoTree Hotel

As part of the hotel’s fun-loving vibe, service is intentionally informal (but always very slick). In place of a standard check-in desk, guests are greeted by a smiling, iPad-wielding team and quickly coaxed into a glass of champagne while they get the boring bits out the way. The impeccable service extends to your room — each floor gets its own dedicated host, on hand to press garments or explain the high-tech in-room facilities all at the push of a button.

Credit: The BoTree Hotel

Bringing the team with you? The BoTree Suite has you covered! The suite enjoys all sorts of top-notch amenities, including a Dyson AirWrap, Jo Loves toiletries, irresistible eucalyptus tencel bedsheets, a swanky dressing room and a freestanding marble bathtub, not to mention the great city views. Make use of the option to interconnect nine adjoining rooms for a mammoth accommodation with space for the whole entourage. From $6,265.

Credit: Simon Brown

1 Hotel Mayfair has a style all its own. Named for the park it overlooks, the suite feels like an extension of the verdant park with its natural color palette, live tree stump bar, raw timber dining table and, of course, even more plants.

Credit: Simon Brown

The antithesis to the city’s old-school glamour. The Green Park Penthouse is the top key (which is made of wood, in keeping with the hotel’s green ethos) and spans a humongous 2,949 sq ft. The one-bedroom penthouse comes with a two-person sauna and has a stunning double-height living area with a two-sided fireplace and a spacious terrace.

Credit: Simon Brown

Decidedly cool and laid-back. Remarkably, the eco-conscious hotel has a number of living green walls as well as 1,300 plants, shrubs and trees — there are even plants in the ceiling of the elevator and rosemary growing on one of the suite’s terraces. The suite has filtered-water taps nestled among a live garden wall; guests receive their own branded water bottle to refill. From $18,815 per night.

Credit: Broadwick Soho

A joyous scream for the maximalists. From the several hundred vintage artworks that line the walls to the corner displays of knicknacks, Broadwick Soho feels more akin to staying in an extravagant, if eclectic, relative’s townhouse — if your grandma was, say, Patsy Stone.

Credit: Broadwick Soho

Bucketloads of the flair and flamboyance. The Penthouse remains far from boring. Here, wallpapers are daintier but still intricately detailed, and the color palette takes on a jewel-toned hue. Looking for the minibar? That can be found in the handmade brass elephant, of course. The TV? That’s in ornate gold framing. Soho may be the night owl’s domain, but The Penthouse makes staying in ever so tempting.

Credit: John Athimaritis

The cultural landmark, cutting an imposing silhouette in Whitehall, has been carefully restored over the span of six years and to the tune of a heavy $1.7bn. The grand staircase, crafted from Painswick stone and white-and-gray veined Piastraccia marble from northern Italy, is astonishing in its grandeur and only heightened by the plush red velvet carpet and glittering chandelier hovering above. (Stand at the top of the stairway, just like Winston Churchill did when he would address his officers below.) The staircase leads to some of the five Heritage Suites; each one is a former office held by a leading politician or military leader.

Credit: John Athimaritis

Does it live up to the hype? Absolutely yes. Expletive yes. Within the Edwardian Baroque building, there are 120 suites, 85 residences (including a $137m penthouse), a spa spanning 27,000 sq ft over four floors with a 65-ft pool, some 2.5 miles of corridor, a ballroom for up to 700 guests, and a number of bars and restaurants — including the invite-only Spy Bar, hidden in the depths.

Credit: The Connaught

Old-school luxury, with a focus on discretion, running deep in its veins. Dating to the late 19th century, the Mayfair hotel is a mainstay in any list of London’s best. Tucked away up in the eaves of the hotel’s fifth floor neighboring the existing Prince’s Lodge, the King’s Lodge is an enveloping space, rich with the singular crafts of some of the world’s most creatively abundant countries.

Credit: The Connaught

On the floors, handwoven carpets from Afghanistan; in the bathroom, a showstopping marble panel — so large the hotel’s elevator barely accommodated it — was created by carvers from Makrana, India, considered some of the finest stonemasons in the world.

Credit: The Connaught

Over 100 artisans employed to bring it all together. Its one bedroom is dominated by a one-of-a-kind, four-poster bed, crafted by hand in walnut by Syrian artisans. Dividing the sleeping quarters from the sumptuous living area are intricate wooden screens — examples of walnut jali fretwork, an Afghan craft that delicately connects pieces of wood.

Credit: Will Pryce

The Peninsula came to London to introduce the city to its way of doing things. What it lacks in storied walls, it makes up for in high-tech toilets, digital infotainment systems and an interior style that Peninsula loyalists will find instantly comforting. The hotel’s top suites have been designed with a similar look and feel so that VIP guests won’t feel out of sorts should their usual suite be occupied. Expect plush carpets, heavy drapes, high-quality handmade furnishings and a reliance on dark woods.

Credit: Will Pryce

The Peninsula Suite is one of the biggest in London at 5,059 sq ft. If you take the option to connect the six additional rooms, it becomes the biggest suite in town. It’s on a scale that the cramped legacy hotels of Mayfair cannot offer. Beyond the huge living area, you get a private gym, a dining room, an office, not one but two huge dressing rooms and a 13-seat cinema.

Credit: Mandarin Oriental London

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair's most extravagant abode is the Mayfair Suite, found on the fifth floor of the hotel. London-based Studio Indigo was brought in to put its stamp on the stylish interiors. A picture of refined elegance in shades of burgundy, cream and bronze, the one-bedroom suite features a lavish red marble kitchen, complete with a fully stocked bar and wine fridge. The spacious living/dining room is ideal for entertaining; a table for six sits beneath a glittering light installation bedecked with hundreds of porcelain leaves. Private chefs are on hand to prepare gourmet meals.

Credit: Mandarin Oriental London

No expense has been spared. The apartment features beautiful hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper inspired by the magnolia trees in Hanover Square. In a thoughtful touch, the Mayfair Suite is the only accommodation where some of the magnolia petals have been hand-embroidered with crimson-colored silk threads. Other highlights include the enormous walk-in wardrobe; striking marble bathroom complete with a soaking tub; and bespoke silk dressing gowns designed especially for the Mayfair Suite by coveted British brand New & Lingwood.

Credit: The Emory

A decidedly different property with a personality all its own from the pink staircase (a signature design by the late Sir Richard Rogers, the legendary architect) to the suites that have been designed by some of the biggest names in interiors, each with a unique character. The Emory is, in fact, a suite-only hotel. It has 60 suites over eight floors.

Credit: The Emory

A deliberate choice to bring a new style, a new flavor. One penthouse will cover the entire ninth floor and will have a huge terrace with a firepit and outdoor dining space. Above the penthouse floor, there’s set to be a rooftop bar and cigar area, which will be for the exclusive use of hotel guests. All the suites face either the courtyard or the park, and the entry-level suite is a huge 592 ft — the largest entry-level rooms in London.

Credit: The Emory

Head downstairs to Surrenne, the four-floor wellness space. The first level will house a 72-ft lap pool, and the other floors will have a steam room and sauna, pool cafe, gym, treatment rooms and a Tracy Anderson studio (the first in the UK; the woman herself will be doing treatments). There will also be a Longevity Suite — members of the wellness club will have access to a doctor for in-depth biological analysis and a curated treatment plan.