A London Splurge

The Kimpton Fitzroy is an amazing hotel. We absolutely loved our stay there in June 2024 when we were in London a few days before my birthday. It is around the corner from the Russell Square tube station (Piccadilly line) and walkable to the British Museum.

Happy 50th anniversary!!!

It's just outside your Mayfair/Belgravia areas, but I really enjoyed a splurge stay at the Ampersand Hotel in Kensington 4 years ago. Very easy access to the South Kensington tube station and several museums. We had been to the Ampersand for their science themed afternoon before and lucked out with snagging a post-covid deal the summer of 2022. Absolutely wonderful hotel. Happy 50th Anniversary!

On my last trip, I had hoped to visit Hoppers, which has four locations. Is that a chain? Not to me. It's Sri Lankan food. A friend recommended it. I'm intrigued by the Hoppers Experience, which is a multi-course menu of shared plates.
https://www.hopperslondon.com
If you will be there on a Sunday, I really enjoy the roast lunch. Here is a list of TimeOut's picks:
https://www.timeout.com/london/food-and-drink/londons-best-sunday-lunches#google_vignette
I can vouch for William IV in Hoxton, which my friend and I were able to get a table at last minute. Reservations are generally recommended.
Happy Anniversary!

I can't help with hotels, but for theatre- Gillian Anderson will be in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf which will be on in November. I just got tickets for that one myself and can't wait.

For hotels Claridges or The Goring

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/hotels/?msockid=0914a00663296e1204e4b6d962e66f80&sortOrder=desc&sortBy=rating

I vote for Mayfair, you can't beat the neighborhood or the proximity to all of London. It's the kind of area where people have so many cars in their garage already they park their Ferrari on the street!

A few years ago we stayed at the Chesterfield, it's a very nice hotel but our room was pretty small. Huge dining room/breakfast room for some reason, a cozy bar. There are numerous restaurants nearby, easy walk to Trafalgar, Leicester and Piccadilly.

I’ll let others suggest accommodations.

Food offerings:
Dragon Inn Richmond
River Cafe Hammersmith or River Cafe Putney. The latter for breakfast
Mari Deli and Dining Restaurant
Joy King Lau in Chinatown
Fotia in Marylebone

I’ve always thought Belgravia and Mayfair are bit dull, not that I have spent a lot of time hanging out with the rich people!

If I wanted to splurge staying in London I would look at the Langham, at the top end of Regent Street or the Landmark by Marylebone station. That said, they are both so nice they might be outside of your budget!

For a restaurant I have always loved Brasserie Zedel. It’s not partIcularly expensive but the room feels special.

Congratulations! I would have chosen London too, without a moment's hesitation.
My husband and I had a wonderful meal at Cora Pearl, not far from Covent Garden. Lovely service, tasty food, not noisy.

Enjoy!

Oh how wonderful! I haven’t stayed in Belgravia and have stayed in Mayfair, but prefer closer to Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. In that price range, I’d go for the Covent Garden Hotel (or another Firmdale hotel in a different location) or The Bloomsbury Hotel (in an upgraded room). However, you know London well enough to know which area suits you.

For restaurants, so many wonderful choices! We keep going back to Noble Rot and always have a lovely experience, especially for a long lunch.

For Indian food we love Gymhkana and Veeraswamy.

Friends who travel a pay grade above ours love The Stafford. It fits the Mayfair location.

For restaurants, a couple of suggestions. Bocca di Lupo - on Archer Street in Soho, nearish to Piccadilly Circus. Or Bancone, small chain - there are 3/4 in London. www.bancone.co.uk

So many wonderful suggestions! I'm looking forward to looking further into all of these. It seems you've all left me spoiled for choice. Thank you all for sharing your recommendations!

I stayed at the Stafford many years ago when I was earning a Middle Eastern-paid salary.
It was lovely , but might be a tad expensive now!
It’s certainly central.
A good memory.