The Best New Hotel to Book for a Trip to London

London's most exciting new hotel

has quirky details you might not expect

from a luxury city property,

including an in-house alchemist and shaman.

I'm Noo Saro-Wiwa, and I'm the features writer

at Conde Nast Traveler.

Every year, my colleagues across the globe, and I,

spend months curating a list

of the best new hotels in the world.

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

The hotels that impress us the most

make it onto our annual Hot List.

I'm going to give you an insider's look

into one of my favorite properties

that made the cut this year,

and it's in my own hometown of London:

[soft grandiose music]

The Six Senses, London at the Whiteley

is a restful retreat in one of the city's

most vibrant areas, near Hyde Park.

The space is dominated by the spiral staircase

and there are plants everywhere,

more than a thousand of them,

turning this into a green urban oasis.

The building itself dates back to 1863

and was once England's first department store,

known as Whiteley's.

I love the fact that this history

has been incorporated into the design.

If you look around, you'll see that they have the kind

of vitrines that you get in department stores,

but instead of displaying items such as handbags,

they've filled them with plants instead.

It's a creative way of mixing nostalgia and beauty.

I absolutely love this stool, this tortoise stool.

It's been put here by the hotel shaman

[gong clangs] and it's one of several

energy devices that have been placed here

to slow the flow of energy,

and it's definitely making me feel a lot calmer and happier.

I've checked into the Notting Hill Suite

and it's gorgeous.

It's not every day that you get to experience spaces

that are designed so beautifully and thoughtfully.

The colors are really earthy.

Lots of greens and autumnal oranges

and touches of blue here and there.

Those kind of visuals make me feel really happy,

and that's what makes you want to return

to a hotel over and over again.

You've got these large floor-to-ceiling windows

that flood the space with light,

and a glass wall that lets you see through to the bedroom,

the outdoor terrace and the city beyond.

The terrace here is even bigger than the room itself,

and the view isn't half bad either.

A hotel can influence how you perceive the city

and experience it.

I meet Charlotte Pulver, the Head Alchemist,

yes, the Six Senses has a head alchemist,

for a stroll through Hyde Park, right next to the hotel,

and she shows me a completely new side of this iconic park.

So what can you find around here,

at least at this time of year?

This time of year? Okay.

I mean, all along there is bay.

I mean, bay is so amazing.

For respiratory issues, good for hair growth.

Oh really? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

There is a crocus which does have saffron,

which you can use, like the purple variety.

Good for depression and boosting serotonin in the brain.

So this park, it's like a little pharmacy.

Yes.

There's so many beautiful blossoms this time of year.

They're all fruit trees.

This is a cherry blossom.

Just have a little pick

and taste the whole flower head in your mouth

and let me know what you think.

Oh my God. I know, hey?

That's delicious. It's so sweet.

Mm! Who knew?

In Hyde Park.

This being London, you are bound to have some rainy days,

but the hotel is so well equipped,

you don't have to look beyond its doors

for memorable experiences.

Wellness is now front and center in hospitality.

A hotel just isn't a hotel

if it doesn't have a spa these days.

Guests come not just to see a city

or a particular destination,

but to relax in a more holistic way.

Unsurprising for a Six Senses hotel,

the spa here is unlike any I've seen in London.

When you enter this subterranean haven,

there's a strong sense of space.

It feels like a universe unto itself.

Almost immediately, you forget that you are in

one of the busiest cities in the world.

[serene music] The spa menu is extensive,

and I've been especially curious

to try their quartz therapy

and float in the first ever magnesium pool in London.

Can you tell I feel completely relaxed?

And then there's a stunning Alchemy Bar,

A modern day apothecary rooted in European herbalism.

Every Six Senses hotel has an Alchemy Bar,

but in London, we're really taking it to the next level

'cause it's run by medical herbalists.

[Noo] Charlotte helps me create a bespoke blend of herbs

that are designed to instill a quiet calm in me

long after I leave.

[mellow music]

The restaurant is fabulous.

It looks like the type of kitchen

you'd see in someone's house,

which is very in keeping

with the overall vibe of this hotel.

The food itself is excellent.

Local, seasonal, and delicious.

We use British produce,

but of course we want to showcase a little bit of fun

with food and take inspiration from

different cultures as well.

We have a very diverse team

and we want to, you know,

celebrate this diversity through the food,

but of course, adding British produce as a centerpiece.

[mellow lo-fi music]

I love the fact that the chef

has sourced all these ingredients within the UK.

There's no need to fly them in from all over the world

when you can find good flavors

and healthy ingredients within a hundred mile radius.

You just need talented chefs to bring out the magic,

and this is magical.

[mellow lo-fi music]

A top hotel draws in the best of food, design

and comfort to become a destination all of its own.

Any hotel that you choose will guarantee a great vacation.

And for more on this year's Hot List winners,

head to cntraveler.com.

[screen wipe whooshing]