The best hotels in Victoria

Despite all justified dubiousness surrounding TripAdvisor, the travel site’s number one hotel in London isn’t far from bona fide status. There’s definitely a no-holds-barred approach to service here, from the pre-stay details (exercise bike in your room? Humidifier? Yoga mat?) to the open pantry and four-champagne reception. Fantastic if you think you’re in line for a gratuitous pampering, but if you’re of the perpetual ‘do not disturb’ persuasion, perhaps this isn’t the place for you.

With its baroque architecture, abundant oil paintings, and decadent furnishings (bar some gaudy-looking carpets), The Grosvenor is every bit as luxurious as its neighbouring hotels. And yet, rooms can somehow be half the price. A private entrance to the station means you can be on the tube and about your day in no time, and, coupled with 24-hour concierge and day-and-night room service, travellers are certainly well catered for.

For all the luxury hotels embracing their pasts, you don’t often come across one geared up for the future. Well, technophiles can rejoice, because Eccleston makes available almost every home gadget you could wish for. We’re talking 3D TVs with well-stocked DVD libraries, smart-glass walls, touchpad controls, a free smartphone, massage beds, and steam-proof mirrors. Luckily, the tech-heaviness fits in with the feel of the hotel, and doesn’t come off as forced or gimmicky.

The Halkin’s on the site of a former car park, but don’t let that put you off – the architecture of the building has the nearby Belgravia mansions in mind. It’s a bijou hotel – with only 41 rooms – but also spacious, minimalist, and ornate, if for 25 years ago (when it was built). The restaurant holds a Michelin star, though there are others of a similar ilk a short tube ride away which offer a better dining experience.

Nice wallpaper, ample furnishings and the odd painting aren’t to be found at Victoria’s branch of The Z Hotel. But then, with rooms starting at £70, that’s not the aim of the game. Large ‘hand crafted’ double beds, Sky TV, and en suite shower rooms set Z apart from a lot of even the marginally cheaper hotels. And still while in the same postcode as The Goring.

Given its wealth of transport connections, there’s a lot of bustle around the Victoria area, which means a quiet hotel off the main drag has a lot of appeal. The Grange Wellington is exactly that. Easily mistaken for an Edwardian public schoolhouse, the hotel has plenty of charms, like its dining room with massive church-like windows, and leafy surrounds. The lobby’s rarely overloaded, too, which means check-ins are more fluid, and staff are always on hand.

The Nadler is perhaps not what you’d expect, given the area. To get within touching distance of Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews for £127 per night? Could be a lot worse. Then again, no food or drink is offered on site – the assumption is that you’ll wander on down to nearby Mayfair, or indeed further east, to find lunch and dinner. But by all means, this is an opportunity to be taken full advantage of.

Though it might require one or two upgrades in the decor department, The Rubens does a lot right. The food won’t be impressing any Michelin inspectors, but has earned good esteem in the industry for its sustainability. The breakfasts are hearty and the afternoon tea is a popular choice among visitors to the city, hotel guests or not. Better still, guests are invited to celebrations they’d normally see closer to home, like Thanksgiving.

Taj 51 is, historically, a temporary residence for local and visiting nobility (though more recently the latter). Judging by the liberal use of gold furnishings, roomy personal kitchens, and Michelin-starred dining, you probably would’ve guessed that anyway. Okay, the hotel’s still up with the times – some of the suites are a bit ‘out of the park’ for what you’d expect – but don’t come here if good old-fashioned unnecessary expense isn’t your thing.

There is the preconception, among some tourists, that 'Downton Abbey' embodies everything about the UK. The Goring – in all its Edwardian composure – doesn’t do much to dispel that myth. Croquet is played on the lawn in the summer, there’s a ‘fleet of footmen’ at your bidding, and the only thing missing from the lounge are mounted stag heads and a Broadwood grand piano. As close as the city’s main attractions are, make sure you stay in for dinner – the restaurant’s Michelin star is well earned.