The Palm Court at The Park Lane Hotel

The grand Palm Court is one of London’s most striking & palatial spaces, but remains largely off the so-stylish crew’s radar. Their loss is your gain: the Queen Mumsy mix of velvet sofas, art deco & chinoiserie harks back to a more elegant era. Dress up in your best Rogers & Astaire finery for Champagne afternoon tea & stay on for sundowners prepped at a dinky bar. Order a lemon bomb (a minty vodka, lime & limoncello cooler) & Piccadilly 112 (a Midori gin & ginger mule), or revert to 1930s favourite, the grasshopper. There’s fizz from £13.50 (Bouche Père et Fils), plus a wide range of ales & Côtes du Rhone at a not-cheeky £26.50. Luxury sandwiches, salads & sinful puds are available all day. The divine loos are worth the visit alone, but why the paucity of palms?