Jumeirah Carlton Tower

What the classifiers highlight

Rising over Knightsbridge since the 1960s, this tower started London's fashion for high-rise hotels, its 186 rooms climbing floors two to eighteen, with balcony rooms from the ninth up taking in a skyline from Big Ben to St Paul's. Forbes credits the Peak Club's naturally lit 20-metre pool and afternoon tea overseen by pastry chef Jessica Préalpato.