Review of Ritz Hotel, by Isabel Clift

To many The Ritz remains London's most iconic place to stay. It ticks all the right boxes with its palatial decor and historic West End location, plus has all the luxury add-ons imaginable (including a jewellery store and a private members' club with casino). Boasting London's highest staff-to-guest ratio, the hotel performs impossible feats on a daily basis to keep its loyal clientele of royals, business big cheeses and A-listers satisfied.

Gourmands need for nothing here. Tea at the Ritz is a complete institution - just make sure you book well in advance. You can't go wrong with the traditional, but for the sweet of tooth, try the Chocolate Afternoon Tea. Or head to the surprisingly funky Bar Rivoli for the fabulous signature cocktail, the Ritz 100. The Ritz Restaurant is a satisfying slice of old-school glamour - a seasonal British menu served in a cream-and-gold frescoed dining room.

Upstairs, there's a high-tech fitness centre for gym bunnies - personal trainers are available on request. For slower-paced rejuvenation, a compact beauty treatment centre offers aromatherapy massages that'll send you floating back to your room.

The 133 rooms are lavish, with brocade curtains, antique furniture and Frette-decked beds. Original Georgian fireplaces, rococo-style mirrors and chandeliers up the glam factor, while white marble bathrooms with gold fixtures and Floris toiletries are reliably refined. Rooms are timelessly luxurious: techy treats come in the form of LCD TVs, DVD players and iPod docks.

For the ultimate Ritz experience, book into a suite: think stuccoed walls painted in 23 carat gold leaf, original chandeliers, lustrous fabric wallpaper and marble fireplaces. The Royal Suite and the Prince of Wales Suite are the largest, with corresponding masculine and feminine designs.

Situated in the William Kent House, the Royal Suite's oval-shaped bedroom is accessed by a secret spiral staircase and was the former Lady of the house's boudoir; it has a pretty floral theme, with rose prints on the curtains, bedcovers and carpets, plus pink blossoms manifesting from the chandelier. The Prince of Wales suite is the largest of all, with two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room and a kitchen for a full-time butler.