This month, we begin by wishing happy birthday to the London Hilton on Park Lane, the first Hilton hotel to open in the UK, which turns 50 this week.

New Hotels

As spring arrives, so does a bumper crop of new London hotels. Here are London’s hottest new hotels:

Great Northern Hotel – Relive the romantic age of train travel at the Great Northern Hotel, which re-opened this month. The hotel, which was London’s first railway hotel, has undergone a £40 million refurbishment and offers a quiet oasis in the hub of King’s Cross and St Pancras. The 91-bedroom hotel has been refurbished to exude “timeless elegance with a hint of modernity”. Room rates from £250

The Apartments by The Sloane Club – For stays of seven days or more, try a luxury serviced apartment in the exclusive neighbourhood of Sloane Gardens. Apartments are set in two beautiful late 19th century buildings and guests have access to a 24-hour concierge. Rates from £220 per night excluding VAT. Opens this week

One Leicester Street – A new boutique hotel comes to London on 1 May. One Leicester Street is the first hotel from the Unlisted Collection to open in the capital. Opening on the site of the former St John’s Hotel on the edge of Chinatown, the property will feature 15 bedrooms, a restaurant and bar. The restaurant will be headed by Michelin-starred chef Tom Harris. Opens 1 May

Nadler Soho – Boutique hotel brand base2stay is becoming Nadler Hotels, and opening a new property in London. The Nadler Soho promises “affordable luxury” with stylish rooms and Local Ambassadors on the front desk providing an introduction to the best bars and restaurants nearby. Opens late May

Xenia – Coming to South Kensington next month is Xenia hotel, situated in a restored Victorian building with contemporary interiors. The boutique hotel includes 99 bedrooms, an Italian restaurant, and a bar with a herb garden terrace. Opens in May, room rates from £160

Chelsea Flower Show

Even if you haven’t got tickets to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, you can still be there in spirit thanks to London’s hotels.

Belgraves – A Thompson Hotel in Knightsbridge will be transforming its terrace into an edible garden for the duration of the show (21-25 May), with edible flower cocktails, and food and flower pairing classes. Both the Landmark London and the Royal Garden Hotel are offering floral-themed afternoon teas during Chelsea Flower Show week – reservations recommended.

Extra, extra

• The Goring hotel has received the Tea Guild’s Top London Afternoon Tea Award 2013
• The Berkeley has launched new balcony rooms which include luxury wooden birdhouses on the terraces!
• In its 175th anniversary year, Brown’s Hotel is celebrating with a Victorian menu at HIX from 20 May and welcoming British nail brand Ciaté to its spa

London is getting ready for a huge Diamond Jubilee celebration this weekend, and what better way to get into the Jubilee spirit than with traditional British afternoon tea? Here’s a round-up of some of London’s best Jubilee teas.

The Berkeley

The Berkeley’s popular Pret-a-Portea has been given a royal twist with biscuits, fancies and choux buns in the shape of the Royal Family’s most memorable hats and handbags. Look out for praline profiteroles in the shape of the famous Philip Treacy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at the royal wedding.

Fortnum & Mason

Fortnum & Mason, supplier of tea to the Royal Family, has opened a brand-new tea room in honour of the occasion. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon offers more than 150 teas, all served with a timer that rings when your pot reaches its optimum brewing time. Choose the set afternoon tea menu, or combine a savoury dish with a sweet treat from the Diamond Jubilee Cake Carriage.

Kettner’s

Kettner’s is serving Tea Fit For A Queen over the Jubilee bank holiday, including traditional finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam, treacle tart, Chelsea buns, rhubarb jelly, old English trifle and chocolate digestive cake. The menu is priced at £18.67 – a reference to the year the Soho institution opened.

Brown’s Hotel

The English Tea Room at Brown’s Hotel is serving Jubilee afternoon tea with Crown Jewels macaroon, Battenberg cake, lemon pusset teacup, Lady Grey macaroon, pistachio cake, boozy trifle, scones and sandwiches. For a royal treat, add a glass of Ruinart Brut Champagne.

John Lewis Oxford Street

If you’re shopping in London’s West End over the Jubilee bank holiday, pop into John Lewis Oxford Street for The 5 O’Clock Tea Club. The tea is inspired by the gin with Dubonnet and lemon that Her Majesty is said to enjoy in the afternoon, represented on the menu by gin-infused jellies and chocolate muffins drenched in Dubonnet.

Royal Garden Hotel

Located just a stone’s throw from Kensington Palace, with views over Kensington Gardens, the Royal Garden Hotel is a perfect location for royal afternoon tea. Here the Jubilee tea includes Victoria sandwich sponge, English rose teacake, Earl Grey opera, champagne and strawberry tart, Elizabeth trifle and Windsor nut mousse.

EDF Energy London Eye

For something a bit different, try afternoon tea in a London Eye capsule with amazing views over London. The menu includes egg and cress rolls, mini éclairs, scones and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Alternatively, take to the river Thames with a 1952 Jubilee Tea on-board the London Eye Barracuda.

The Royal Horseguards

The five-star Royal Horseguards hotel is serving very British afternoon tea for just £20.12. Served on the hotel’s terrace with views of the river Thames and London Eye, the tea includes roast beef sandwiches, biscuits shaped as red London buses and Union flags, Crown Jewel cupcake and more.

Andaz

At design hotel Andaz, the Diamond Queen Afternoon Tea includes a commemorative cocktail made from Earl Grey tea stirred with Dubonnet, Bombay Sapphire gin and bitters. The menu also includes coronation chicken sandwiches, scones and jam, millionaire shortbread, trifle, a selection of pastries and a pot of Earl Grey tea.

The Langham

The Langham has teamed up with luxury brand Asprey to launch the Asprey Diamond Jubilee Tea, served in the hotel’s glamorous Palm Court. The menu is inspired by Asprey’s jewellery designs and iconic purple colour, and includes blueberry and bilberry Battenberg, purple jasmine with apricot, and blackcurrant and white chocolate mousse.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, 2-5 June 2012. More afternoon teas in London

One of the many wonderful things about The Berkeley hotel is its health club and spa which has a roof-top pool and terrace. 

For a real treat and touch of glamour, head to the hotel’s terrace in Knightsbridge which has been transformed into a winter wonderland. 

We felt truly pampered whilst spending an afternoon there.  After a swim, we settled down with a hot chocolate, swamped in warm blankets, surrounded by pine trees and heated lamps. We watched  The Snowman on the terrace’s big screen, which really got us in the mood for Christmas.

 The Berkeley’s Winter Wonderland is the perfect escape from the Christmas shopping and parties and we left the roof-top with a warm glow and festive feeling. 

On the way out, we treated ourselves to a delicious cocktail at the fabulous Blue Bar.

 The Winter Wonderland package until 31 Jan 2011. £50 per person including up to four hours access to the movie theatre, heated pool and health club, hot chocolate and home-made mince pies. Call +44 (0)20 7201 1699 or email healthspa@the-berkeley.co.uk to book.