Maranton House

What to expect: Located in a leafy side street, stone steps lead up to the reception area with fresh flowers and deep red armchairs. Once a home for Catholic women, the high-ceilinged Georgian building offers businesspeople and couples a relaxed retreat away from the bustle of Earls Court. Amenity highlights: Renovations in the late 1990s restored the original cornices of this Georgian building, while bringing bedrooms and bathrooms up to modern standards. Guests can unwind with a drink in the breakfast room-cum-bar or opt for room service and plug their computers into the dial-up internet service in their rooms. Insider tip: The Albert Memorial, commissioned by Queen Victoria in the 19th century to commemorate her late husband, Prince Albert, is just a 10-minute walk away in Hyde Park. An elaborate structure with various friezes and pillars of red granite, it has recently been restored to its original splendor and recovered in gold leaf.