Imperial Hotel

In a city of glamourous, glorious old-world hotels, The Imperial somehow manages to top them all. Built in the 1930s by an associate of Sir Edward Lutyens, the man responsible for much of Delhi’s colonial architecture, it’s wonderfully grand and incredibly luxurious, evident from the moment you’re chauffeured down the palm-lined driveway. Despite the central location (just down the road from Connaught Place and mere minutes from Old Delhi), it’s also a lovely reprieve from the hooting tuk-tuks thanks to seven-acres of beautiful gardens, a shady swimming pool and gorgeous spa. Add a marble-clad foyer and plenty of imperial furniture and it really does feel like you’ve entered a different era.