Travel: Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, London

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 15:54

21 Lowndes Street, London (0207 235 1154, www.jumeirah.com)

HARVEY Nichols, Harrods, Prada, oh my gosh, Chanel and … now I'm hyperventilating … there on the corner is a store dedicated exclusively to Christian Louboutin. You might have already gathered we're in prime shopping territory in the heart of Knightsbridge and pretty much the most perfect place for anyone with aspirations (if not the bank balance) to live out their Sex and the City fantasies. You can shop till your credit card flops, then kick back with cocktails in the Mimosa bar (the chilli and lemongrass martini packs a real punch) before retiring to your Princess And The Pea bed to do it all again tomorrow.

How do I get there? If you're taking the train, you'll most likely end up at King's Cross. Then hop on the Piccadilly line straight along to Knightsbridge. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the Tube station. Alternatively, fly to Gatwick and take the Gatwick Express to Victoria – Knightsbridge is just two stops (and one change) away, though you might prefer to hop in a cab for the short journey.

What's the food like? Not really fancying a full three courses, we thought we'd throw the waiter by ordering all the starters instead. And cheese. Eternally unflappable, he did our bidding, and brought a succession of delicious nibbles, from crisp calamari rings and pan-fried scallops with chorizo to leek and sundried tomato ravioli and a fabulous modern take on the prawn cocktail. Plus a platter groaning with melting cheese, oatcakes, home-made chutney and grapes. The next day, breakfast was a fabulous spread of the sweetest, freshest fruit, yoghurts, cereals, cold meats and pastries, though we could have set ourselves up for the day with anything from eggs benedict to the full fry if we hadn't already planned our lunch for three hours' time.

Bed test The rooms are all decorated in the warm, neutral tones befitting such a luxurious boutique hotel, while the large windows let in the maximum amount of light. The beds are pure fairy tale, with their enormous mirror headboards and masses of plump pillows, guaranteeing a glorious night's sleep, and our room even had a terrace, from which we could spot the tip of the London Eye.

Out and about We've already mentioned the shopping. But don't, as we did, get up bright and early to hit Oxford Street on a Sunday. The shops don't open until midday. Instead, bring your swimming costume and relax in the Lowndes' sister hotel's health club and spa, just around the corner, with its glass-roofed pool, steam room, sauna and beauty treatments. If you prefer, Hyde Park is within walking distance, as are the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural Science Museum and Buckingham Palace.

Little extras All the bathroom goodies you'd expect were there in generous proportions, courtesy of Temple Spa, the bath water was piping hot and the bath robe provided meant we could relax afterwards on our lovely terrace.

Room for improvement The Nespresso coffee machine is a great idea – what a shame the end result was lukewarm.

The bottom line A Joy of Shopping package costs from 231 plus VAT per room per night and includes: an overnight stay with full English breakfast; a shopping kit (50 Harvey Nichols voucher, a bottle of water, Temple Spa Lip Care Treat and London Culture and Shopping Guide); The Joy of Shopping book; and a Pevonia footcare pack to revive tired feet. Offer is valid for stays until 30 June 2010 and is subject to availability.

• This article was first published in Scotland on Sunday on 22 November 2009.