The latest news from the London hotel scene, including openings, refurbishments and more.

New Openings

The new DoubleTree by Hilton London – Marble Arch hotel has opened just in time for anyone planning a Christmas shopping trip to London. Situated behind Marble Arch Tube station, the 121-bedroom hotel is just a few steps from the shops of Oxford Street. If the hotel looks familiar, that’s because it was formerly the Best Western Premier Mostyn Hotel and is also home to the famous Texture restaurant and champagne bar.

Hotel Xanadu opened this month, offering boutique accommodation from £150 a night in Bond Street – Bond Street Ealing, that is! The stylish hotel’s West London location makes it an easy journey to and from Heathrow Airport, and to attractions including Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Wembley Stadium. There’s also a restaurant, Koobla, offering Asian cuisine.

Drink, Dine, Play

The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill hotel is opening a new venue, The Churchill Bar and Terrace at the end of November. As the name suggests, the bar pays homage to Winston Churchill, including a life-sized bronze statue. The bar will serve classic cocktails, liquors, spirits and fine cigars, and has an outside heated terrace. Opens 29 November.

Get into the festive spirit at the Andaz Liverpool Street’s Andaz Lounge, which is installing a jukebox next month. Guests can choose a Christmas song for 50p, with proceeds going to London homeless charity Providence Row. Available from 1 to 28 December.

Film fans can indulge at 51 Buckingham Gate’s new Cinema Suite, a huge two-bedroom suite with décor inspired by iconic movie stars and an 85-inch plasma screen TV and 3D sound system. If you fancy a bit of A-list treatment, the suite is available from £5,100.

Extra, Extra

Free, unlimited Wi-Fi is now available at Guoman’s luxury hotels including The Tower, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards and The Charing Cross Hotel.

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

Chocolate Week starts today (hurray!) and we’d love to know how you’re planning to indulge over the next seven days.

Enjoy an afternoon sugar rush with special chocolate afternoon teas at The Botanist, The Royal Horseguard’s hotel or the Hilton on Park Lane. Or try a Fairtrade chocolate cocktail at K West.

Work your way through an entire chocolate dinner at the Bingham. Or maybe just pay a visit to your favourite chocolate shop?

Chocolate Week 11-18 Oct 2010