00:00London's most exciting new hotel has quirky details you might not expect from a luxury
00:05city property, including an in-house alchemist and shaman. I'm Nars Saruwewa and I'm the
00:11features writer at Condé Nast Traveller. Every year, my colleagues across the globe
00:16and I spend months curating a list of the best new hotels in the world. It's a tough
00:21job, but someone's got to do it. The hotels that impress us the most make it onto our
00:26annual hotlist. I'm going to give you an insider's look into one of my favourite
00:30properties that made the cut this year, and it's in my own hometown of London.
00:38The Six Senses London at the Whiteley is a restful retreat in one of the city's most
00:43vibrant areas near Hyde Park. The space is dominated by the spiral staircase and there
00:48are plants everywhere, more than a thousand of them, turning this into a green urban oasis.
00:54The building itself dates back to 1863 and was once England's first department store,
01:00known as Whiteley's. I love the fact that this history has been incorporated into the design.
01:06If you look around, you'll see that they have the kind of vitrines that you get in department stores,
01:11but instead of displaying items such as handbags, they filled them with plants instead. It's a creative
01:18way of mixing nostalgia and beauty. I absolutely love this stool, this tortoise stool. It's been
01:25put here by the Hotel Charmin and it's one of several energy devices that have been placed here
01:32to slow the flow of energy and it's definitely making me feel a lot calmer and happier.
01:40I've checked into the Notting Hill Suite and it's gorgeous. It's not every day that you get to
01:46experience spaces that are designed so beautifully and thoughtfully. The colours are really earthy,
01:52lots of greens and autumnal oranges and touches of blue here and there. Those kind of visuals make
01:58me feel really happy and that's what makes you want to return to a hotel over and over again.
02:03You've got these large floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with light
02:07and a glass wall that lets you see through to the bedroom, the outdoor terrace and the city beyond.
02:14The terrace here is even bigger than the room itself. The view isn't half bad either.
02:20A hotel can influence how you perceive the city and experience it.
02:24I meet Charlotte Pulver, the head alchemist. Yes, The Six Senses has a head alchemist,
02:29for a stroll through Hyde Park right next to the hotel and she shows me a completely new side of
02:35this iconic park. So what can you find around here, at least at this time of year?
02:40This time of year, okay. I mean, all along there is Bay. I mean, Bay is so amazing.
02:46For respiratory issues, good for hair growth.
02:49Oh really?
02:49Yeah, yeah, yeah. There is a crocus which does have saffron which you can use,
02:54like the purple variety. Good for depression and boosting serotonin in the brain.
02:58So this park, it's like a little pharmacy.
03:01Yeah, there's so many beautiful blossoms this time of year. They're all fruit trees.
03:07This is a cherry blossom. Just have a little pick and taste the whole flower head
03:13in your mouth and let me know what you think.
03:17Oh my god. I know, hey?
03:19It's delicious.
03:20It's so sweet.
03:21Mmm, who knew? In Hyde Park.
03:26This being London, you're bound to have some rainy days, but the hotel is so well equipped,
03:31you don't have to look beyond its doors for memorable experiences.
03:35Wellness is now front and centre in hospitality. A hotel just isn't a hotel if it doesn't have a spa
03:41these days. Guests come not just to see a city or a particular destination, but to relax in a more
03:48holistic way. Unsurprising for a six senses hotel, the spa here is unlike any I've seen in London.
03:55When you enter this subterranean haven, there's a strong sense of space. It feels like a universe
04:01unto itself. Almost immediately, you forget that you're in one of the busiest cities in the world.
04:07The spa menu is extensive, and I'd been especially curious to try their quartz therapy
04:13and float in the first ever magnesium pool in London. Can you tell I feel completely relaxed?
04:22And then there's the stunning Alchemy Bar, a modern-day apothecary rooted in European herbalism.
04:30Every six senses hotel has an Alchemy Bar, but in London we're really taking it to the next level,
04:35because it's run by medical herbalists. Charlotte helps me create a bespoke blend of herbs that are
04:41designed to instill a quiet calm in me long after I leave.
04:50The restaurant is fabulous. It looks like the type of kitchen you'd see in someone's house,
04:55which is very in keeping with the overall vibe of this hotel. The food itself is excellent, local, seasonal, and
05:03delicious.
05:04We use British produce, but of course, we want to showcase a little bit of fun with food and
05:10take inspiration from different cultures as well. We have a very diverse team and we want to,
05:17you know, celebrate this diversity through the food, but of course, having British produce as a centerpiece.
05:28I love the fact that the chef has sourced all these ingredients within the UK. There's no need
05:34to fly them in from all over the world when you can find good flavors and healthy ingredients within a
05:39100-mile radius. You just need talented chefs to bring out the magic. And this is magical.
05:50A top hotel draws in the best of food, design, and comfort to become a destination all of its own.
05:56Any hotel that you choose will guarantee a great vacation. And for more on this year's Hot List winners,
06:02head to cntraveller.com
Comments