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In 2009 mouth-watering Valentine’s Day specials abound and a clutch of boutique and design hotels in the capital are taking the lead to offer revellers the ultimate in romantic urban retreats.

If you are a romantic at heart, a movie buff and a lover of nostalgia, head to Charlotte Street Hotel to experience ‘Valentine Heaven’. This sublime establishment is situated in the heart of the media and theatre districts and is something of an institution in Noho, attracting celebrities and trendsetters by the dozen.

For dinner, breeze down to the designer bar and restaurant Oscar’s, on the ground floor and enjoy a 3-course meal in a place to see and be seen. Round off the evening by making your way to the 67-seater private cinema, complete with Italian leather chairs, for a special Valentine’s Night Screening of Miss Audrey Hepburn at her very best in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Vibrant Soho is frequented by local media folk and is awash with bars, restaurants and pubs; if the frenetic, urban buzz is your scene, check out (or into) what’s on offer for Valentine’s Day at the Soho Hotel. Currently offering up to 25% off all room rates, the sister to the Charlotte Street welcomes with its brightly lit porch, a 10ft Botero cat sculpture and oversized pot plants. The stylish facilities include 91 bedrooms, tree-lined terraces, a state-of-the-art Screening Room, the sophisticated Refuel Bar, a cosmopolitan restaurant serving modern, international cuisine and a fully-equipped gym.

To add to the sparkling vibe, on February 14th the in-house Film Club (with its zany red and ‘Dalmatian spotted’ black and white seats) will be featuring Sarah Jessica Parker in the fabulous Sex and the City. The setting is described as ‘central secrecy’ – so what could be a more ideal for the perfect Valentine’s escape? (Even the divine Jennifer Lopez has been spotted here!)

If wall-to-wall luxury is your thing, then look no further than the Mandeville Hotel - with a location that looks like the most expensive property on a Monopoly Board, in fashionable Marylebone Village, Mayfair. In 2009 its deVigne Bar is offering something completely different for Valentine’s Day: the Valentine’s Cocktail Consultation. Ever heard of bespoke beverages? Now you can really surprise the love of your life by creating an original drink for that special someone who has everything.

For £150 you get to spend a pre-date hour with an expert mixologist before greeting your heart’s desire with the newly concocted cocktail - shaken, stirred and complete with a certificate of authenticity and an elegantly engraved cocktail shaker. (Optional extras include stylish food platters and savoury finger bites.)

With 142 luxuriously appointed bedrooms, the Mandeville Hotel offers added dreamy attractions: there is the glamorous afternoon tea experience enhanced by exquisite Zandra Rhodes china from the Royal Doulton collection and complemented by chilled champagne; as well as a not-to-be-missed visit to the nearby Wallace Collection. Tucked away in the former home of the Marquises of Hertford - this is possibly the most romantic Art Gallery in London and a tête à tête in the delightful glass-covered restaurant is de rigueur. Their Valentine Art Exhibition for 2009 will present: ‘Cartoons and Coronets’ by Osbert Lancaster. Still searching for that perfect experience? Try the private dining room at the Hotel’s exclusive ‘de Ville Restaurant’.

Listed under ‘London’s Romantic Hotels’ - the Cranley Hotel in the heart of South Ken is currently unrolling its Valentine Package with special rates. This gracious Victorian Lady combines traditional and modern in a delightful blend that occasions love at first sight. Take your valentine by the hand and step into a by-gone age of timeless elegance where four poster beds, hand-embroidered valances, crystal chandeliers and antique furnishings create the mood for love. Discover the joys of complimentary afternoon cream teas and evening glasses of festive bubbly. Service and attention to detail are superb.

Take a short tube ride to lovely Richmond. Here, in a charming riverside setting, stands the trendy Bingham. This Georgian townhouse exudes warmth and comfort and will be pulling out all the stops for a romantic stay on Valentine’s Day. From £375 per couple, guests will be welcomed in their designer bedrooms with half a bottle of chilled champagne, flowers, strawberries, and handmade chocolates by William Curley. After sipping exotic aperitifs in the chic lounge/sitting-room, the wizard in the kitchen - Executive Chef, Shay Cooper - will titillate your taste buds with a six course menu and at bedtime a decadent, rose petal turndown will add a further touch of scented romance. A late breakfast the next morning is inclusive.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year so why not make a romantic weekend of it? Complement your revelry by indulging in some of the traditional and seasonal gifts that will be on offer at Harrods department store: lingerie, chocolates, flowers, diamonds, handmade greeting cards, spa treatments and champagne. Don’t forget to seal the deal and the day with a kiss!

Read more travel writing by Daphne Beames