HOTELS
Athenaeum (£££)
This elegant hotel overlooking Green Park remains one of the most popular and friendly in the area. Lovely bedrooms and a spa for the exclusive use of guests.
Piccadilly 
020 7499 3464; www.athenaeumhotel.com 
Green Park
B&B Belgravia (££)
The smartest new B&B to open in London in recent years, the B&B Belgravia is also affordable. It is popular with leisure travellers and businessmen and a healthy breakfast is included in the price.
64–66 Ebury Street 020 7259 8570; www.bb-belgravia.com 
Victoria
The Goring (£££)
Among London’s most famous family-run hotels, providing a wonderful example of old-fashioned hospitality and service.
Beeston Place, Grosvenor Gardens 020 7396 9000; www.thegoring.com Victoria
Le Meridien Piccadilly (£££)
For many, this well-established luxury hotel lies at the very hub of London life. Bedrooms are finished to a high standard.
21 Piccadilly 020 7734 8000; www.lemeridien.com Piccadilly Circus
Sanctuary House Hotel (££)
You can expect reasonably priced comfort within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Owned by Fuller’s brewery, you can taste their award-winning beers in the ground floor Ale & Pie House.
33 Tothill Street 020 7799 4044; www.fullershotels.com St James’s Park
The Stafford (£££)
Tucked away in exclusive St James’s, offering the height of luxury. Elegant, individually designed bedrooms and beautiful public areas.
16–18 St James’s Place 020 7493 0111; www.thestaffordhotel.co.uk Green Park
Trafalgar (££)
Just off Trafalgar Square, this was the first of Hilton’s leading-edge hip hotels. Think art and music, young and trendy, with a glorious rooftop terrace. Nothing like the usual Hilton.
2 Spring Gardens 020 7870 2900; www.thetrafalgar.com Charing Cross, Embankment.
The Washington Mayfair Hotel (£££)
A stylish but affordable favourite for the past 100 years, this is within easy reach of Mayfair’s attractions. Own restaurant, popular cocktail bar and gymnasium.
5 Curzon Street 020 7499 7000; www.washington-mayfair.co.uk Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park
The Westbury (£££)
Refurbishment has brought back the chic to a hotel steps away from the glamour of Bond Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly.
37 Conduit Street 020 7629 7755; www.westburymayfair.com Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park
RESTAURANTS
Al Duca (£–££)
The nearest to a neighbourhood restaurant in posh St James’s, the informal Al Duca features modern Italian dishes: imaginative pasta combinations, grilled meats and vegetables. Italian wine list.
4–5 Duke of York Street 020 7839 3090 
Mon-Sat lunch, dinner Piccadilly Circus
Le Caprice (££–£££)
It may be famous as the place where celebrities eat, but mere mortals also receive star treatment, and the food is excellent. Modern European cuisine in a setting of timeless classic décor.
Arlington House, Arlington Street 020 7629 2239 Daily lunch, dinner Green Park
Galileo’s (£)
With non-stop service, this is useful for pre- and post-theatre dining. Stop for tea, coffee and freshly prepared Tuscan dishes.
71 Haymarket 020 7839 3939 Daily noon-11pm, Fri, Sat noon-11:30pm, Sun 12–10:30pm Piccadilly Circus
Quaglino’s (££–£££)
The dining room here seats 267 and resembles an ocean liner but there’s nearly always a real buzz to this theatrical restaurant. Modern European cuisine in a very French bistro/brasserie atmosphere.
16 Bury Street 020 7930 6767 Mon-Sat lunch, dinner Green Park
Rasa W1 (£–££)
This restaurant’s simple dining rooms on two floors feature marble floor tiles and a spiral staircase between the two. The highly acclaimed vegetarian menu comes from Kerala in southern India, though meat-eaters are also accommodated.
6 Dering Street 020 7629 1346 Mon-Sat lunch, dinner daily Bond Street, Oxford Circus
Truc Vert (£)
A café, restaurant and deli all in one, this slice of rustic France provides breakfast lunch and dinner for all budgets close to Oxford Street shopping. But you can also order an English-style afternoon tea!
42 North Audley Street 020 7491 9988 Mon-Fri 7:30am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9–5 Marble Arch, Bond Street
The Wolseley (£–££)
The fashionable Wolseley is housed in an opulent art deco building. First-class Modern British café-style food is served throughout the day, perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. There is also a shop selling smart tableware, teas and coffees.
160 Piccadilly 020 7499 6996 Mon-Fri 7am-midnight, Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 8am-6:30pm Green Park
SHOPPING
BEAUTY AND COSMETICS
DR Harris
After 200 years, regulars still buy tried and trusted skin care products, such as almond hand wash, milk cucumber and roses lotion, as well as English lavender soaps and men’s shaving products.
29 St James’s Street 020 7930 3915 Green Park, Piccadilly Circus
Molton Brown
A seductive aroma greets you as you cross the threshold. Shampoos, bath oils and scented candles that are hard to resist.
58 South Molton Street 020 7499 6474 Bond Street
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Browns
One of London’s best designer boutiques, claiming to hold the biggest range of labels. For discount gear try their branch Browns Labels for Less, just a few steps away at 50 South Molton Street.
23–27 South Molton Street 020 7514 0000 Bond Street, Green Park
Burberry
The famous Burberry check is not just confined to trenchcoats and scarves. Choose from over 300 lines at this very British institution.
21–23 New Bond Street 020 7968 0000 Bond Street, Green Park
Fenwick
For decades this has been one of London’s most stylish stores, with its wide range of designers for women, though it also has menswear. Great accessories.
63 New Bond Street 020 7629 9161 Bond Street, Oxford Circus
Dover Street Market
One of London’s most exciting shopping spaces: six minimalist floors of sharp fashion, including the full range of Comme des Garçons designs.
17–18 Dover Street 020 7518 0680 Green Park
FOOD AND DRINK
Fortnum & Mason
Predating the supermarket, the Fortnum & Mason’s Food Hall has been supplying the nobility with hampers since the days of Queen Victoria and is the main attraction at this classy department store. It is particularly well known for its tea, coffee and chocolate selections.
181 Piccadilly 020 7734 8040 Piccadilly Circus, Green Park
MUSIC
Chappell of Bond Street
Relocated to a store in Soho, Chappell has the largest selection of classical and popular sheet music in Europe. Also keyboards, brass and woodwind instruments.
152–160 Wardour Street 020 7432 4400 Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road
ENTERTAINMENT
The West End is the largest theatre district in the world, with some 50 venues attracting 13 million customers every year. The Society of London Theatre, the official association for the London theatre industry (www.solt.co.uk), runs tkts, formerly the ‘Half Price Ticket Booth’, on the south side of Leicester Square. It offers half-price and discounted tickets, usually for about 30 shows each day. Stand in line for shows on the day or even as far as seven days ahead (www.tkts.co.uk; open Mon-Sat 10–7, Sun 12–3).
MUSIC
London Coliseum
Home of the English National Opera – which performs only in English. The English National Ballet performs here at Christmas.
St Martin’s Lane 020 7632 8300 Charing Cross, Leicester Square
Dover Street
London’s biggest live music restaurant, seating some 400 people, where the musical menu is jazz, blues, soul and R’n’B.
8–10 Dover Street 020 7629 9813 Green Park, Piccadilly Circus