This is one of just a handful of hotels for which the word “iconic” ought to be reserved. The Ritz London, along with its sister in Paris, is as much a symbol as it is a physical establishment; for over a century it’s set the standard for luxury hospitality, a category that scarcely existed before it opened its doors. Aesthetically, it remains the very picture of Louis XVI opulence; its location, alongside Green Park, places it at the heart of historical London. There are certainly more modern luxury hotels in London, but there’s nothing else quite like the Ritz.