Hotel of tHe week
the dilly, Piccadilly, london wHeRe aNd wHY
THIS fabulous five-star hotel certainly has all the sights when it comes to a break in London. Situated at the top of Piccadilly, it is right at the heart of the capital’s West End.
Shopping in Regent Street, drinking in Soho, theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue and the must-see Buckingham Palace are all just a few minutes’ walk from this grand old establishment which has been welcoming guests since 1908.
While the hustle and bustle of London is at your fingertips, once through the revolving doors you can unwind and leave the stresses of hectic big city life behind. The hotel is keen to play on traditional London themes – think red phone box in the lobby.
Our bright and spacious executive double featured one wall stylishly decorated with a version of an A to Z of the West End. That proved to be far more engrossing than I imagined. Once the curtains were drawn it was easy to forget we overlooked one of the busiest and liveliest roads in the country.
The room had a Nespresso coffee machine while the bathroom featured a huge walk-in shower. Breakfast – a buffet service and also food made to order – is served in the hotel’s restaurant, Terrace At The Dilly. This huge atrium features an outside balcony overlooking Piccadilly. Before or after dinner, the hotel bar, Downstairs At The Dilly, is well worth a visit. There’s a huge range of cocktails with a piano player providing a relaxed atmosphere.
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The stand-out feature of the hotel was the in-house restaurant, Madhu’s Of Mayfair. It is described as “Punjabi with a Kenyan twist”. I’ve eaten Indian food for 40 years but this is Asian cooking taken to a new level.
We started with the chilli and garlic prawns (£21) and chicken samosas (£14). Six huge prawns arrived with just the right amount of heat while the samosas were tender and tasty.
For the main course we chose the Kashmiri rogan josh (£29) and Madhu’s lamb shank (£34). The meat on the lamb shank fell off the bone and the sauce was so delicious I would have happily ordered a bowl of it on its own.
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The Dilly offers a huge range of leisure activities – everything from a gym, swimming pool and squash court to a golf simulator and dance classes. We took a dip in the pool which is shaped like a huge Roman bath, followed by some time melting in the steam room.
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An executive double starts at £319 a night for room-only. thedillylondon.com
CoNtINued fRoM PReVIouS PaGe
was already achieving. I hadn’t just wanted some winter sunshine (Marrakech unusually broke through 30 degrees in February during my trip), I wanted a break that delivered a chance to explore.
Morocco, pulsating with vibrant cultures and mesmerising landscapes, was an ideal choice. It had always seemed to me a dreamy gem waiting to be discovered.
I’d just not been before because when it comes to time off work I usually go for the easier option of collapsing on a beach break.
TUI Tours offers travellers the chance to tick off all the big-name sights and relax at the same time.
Nestled in the heart of this enchanting country lies Marrakech, a city that weaves together ancient traditions with modern luxuries. Just 15 minutes from the airport is the stylish four-star adults-only TUI Blue Medina Gardens hotel, with garden-lined pools and spa.
It’s a sanctuary of comfort, elegance and relative silence ideally located on the doorstep of everywhere you’d wish to get to on foot.
The hotel’s traditional Moroccan architecture, intricate mosaics and lush gardens immediately immersed me in the rich cultural tapestry of the city.
And the rooms, designed with a blend of modern amenities and traditional decor, provided a serene retreat after a day of exploration.
Staff greeted me with warm smiles and impeccable service