We like to keep our eyes on hotel openings across the globe and 2025 looks set to be a thrilling year for luxury abodes. In this list of the hotel openings we’re most excited about, you’ll find a historic church in Venice, a glamorous country club in Sweden, an art hotel in Lisbon, a palace in India and a luxury sleeper train that boasts the British countryside as its backdrop.

Top hotel openings of 2025

Six Senses at the Whiteley

London, UK

Six Senses brings its unique wellbeing concept to the former Whiteleys department store in Bayswater, describing it as “an emporium of the senses”. Draper and entrepreneur William Whiteley opened the store in 1911 as one of London’s iconic department stores, alongside Selfridges, Liberty and Harrods. The spa will “mirror the different energies of city life, from the sensory stimulation and movement of the street to the stillness and calm of a quiet café or park”. There’ll be a huge gym and swimming pool, a relaxation room with vaulted ceilings and the Alchemy Bar, where guests can explore a sensory selection of aromatic herbs, salts, fruits, and spices, and craft their treatment.

British Royale is our 10-day guided tour of England and Scotland’s national treasures.

Belmond’s Britannic Explorer

UK

Making our cut of the best hotel openings despite not strictly being a hotel, England and Wales’ first luxury sleeper train is causing a commotion. The Britannic explorer will whisk travelers out of London to their choice of three locations: Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District. But of course, it’s not about the destination. The private sleeper cabins are incredibly plush sanctuaries, inspired by the British countryside and coastline. And in the dining cars, guests will feast on menus designed by Michelin star chef Simon Rogan. There’ll be an onboard spa room, too.

 

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Hjortviken Country Club

Hindas, Sweden

Twenty minutes from Gothenburg, this coolly glamorous concept is described as a “down-to-earth city escape”. Hjortviken country club wants you to get outside and put your phone down – for some cross-country skiing in winter, lake sports in summer, or just to lounge beneath a fringed parasol beside a sparkling pool. The nightclub will be reminiscent of 1980s New York City and restaurants will include a Swedish brasserie and a Cali-style Spanish restaurant. For the in-between times, there’ll be padel, boules and croquet.

 

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Timeless Scandinavia is a 12-day guided tour of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Mandarin Oriental

Vienna, Austria

Joining new hotel openings for the luxury hotel brand in Beijing, Dubai and Mallorca, this is Mandarin Oriental’s first Austrian property. It will contain 151 rooms and 17 apartments and penthouses arranged around a courtyard in a listed art nouveau building. Designed by architect Alfred Keller in 1903, the imposing building sits on Riemergasse, and served as the city’s commercial court until 2003. Guests will be steps from St Stephen’s Cathedral, in the chic District One neighbourhood.

 

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Harmony of Central Europe is a 13-day guided tour of Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.

Capella

Kyoto, Japan

One of the most exciting luxury hotel brands of recent years is heading to Japan – and specifically to Kyoto’s Miyagawa-chō district, one of the hanamachi (“flower towns”) or geisha districts . The hotel promises to curate cultural experiences with the Miyagawa Maiko Performance School and to create enchanting interiors with the area’s rich heritage woven through them, with artworks and artefacts sitting alongside soothing hues and intricate textures. It will be a 92-room with a bamboo courtyard – a true celebration of Japanese design.

Experience the majesty and mystery of Japan on our 11-day Japan guided tour.

The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace

Madhya Pradesh, India

This 350-year-old painstakingly restored palace – once the home of actual royalty – is one of the hotel openings of the year. In true fairytale style, the sprawling, towering residence sits atop the Maniyagarh Hills with views over 60 acres of hillside and a rain-fed lake, close to the 1,500-year-old temples of Khajuraho. There’ll be 66 rooms across the palace and its sprawling gardens, plus an opulent spa, which guests will access by boat, and a restaurant with panoramic views of the nearby tiger reserve.

 

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There are two India journeys to choose from: Essence of India (9 days) and Imperial Rajasthan (13 days) – explore the itineraries.

The Cooper

Charleston, USA

On a curve of the Cooper River, this resort-style hotel is being billed as “downtown vibrance meets lowcountry charm”. It will combine lush landscapes and incredible sundowner terrace moments with tantalising proximity to Charleston’s best restaurants and shops – the famous Pineapple Fountain is right next door. An infinity pool will overlook the water and there’ll be a private marina complete with luxury vessels for guest use, a yacht for dinner cruises, and a water taxi for day trips to Daniel Island.

Few and Far Luvhondo

South Africa

Spanning 100,000 hectares in the wild and unexplored Soutpansberg mountains of Limpopo, surrounded by some of the biggest Baobab trees in Southern Africa, this luxury lodge is “reimagining the traditional safari” – they’re calling it a “wild, luxurious bush experience”. This is one of the planet’s most biologically diverse regions and Few and Far has designed every inch of it to be meaningful and purposeful. There will be just six impeccable ecolodges and a solar-powered cable car, providing guests with a 25-mile game-viewing perspective above the treetops.

 

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Spectacular South Africa is our 9-day guided tour featuring vineyards, mountains and safari.

MACAM Hotel

Lisbon, Portugal

The Museu de Arte Contemporanea Armando Martins will be Europe’s first combined museum and luxury hotel concept. In a beautiful 18th century palace tucked between the neighbourhoods of Belem and Alcantara, MACAM will display 600 pieces owned by the Portuguese entrepreneur of its name (Armando Martins). There’ll be 64 rooms blending an artistic aesthetic with opulent but restful spaces. The complex will also feature a restaurant and cafe showcasing local specialties, as well as an auditorium and museum shop.

 

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Embrace the passion and culture of Portugal on our 13-day journey: Spain and Portugal in Style.

Airelles Venezia

Venice, Italy

There are a few new addresses in Venice that are firmly on our radar, but none more strongly than the Airelles Venezia. As luxury hotel openings go, this one looks to be positively palatial – all dark blue velvet, rich mahogany, Murano glass, Rubelli fabrics and custom Fortuny chandeliers. Airelles is the opulent French luxury hotel brand and Venice is … well, it’s Venice. Airelles Venezia will occupy the three buildings of the former Bauer Palladio complex, as well as its 16th century church, Santa Maria della Presentazione, which will be available for weddings and events. There will be a terrace for sundowners, with panoramic views of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

Ultimate Italy is a 12-day behind-the-scenes look at Italy’s most amazing locations.

You may not think of England as a viticultural hotspot, but the first thing any self-respecting English winemaker will tell you is that England and wine go back – way back. The Domesday Book recorded 42 vineyards across England and Wales in the 11th century (below a line from Ely to Gloucestershire). The manuscript also referenced “Nitimbreha”, from which one of the best English wines – Nyetimber – takes its name (more on that later).

The best English wine tends to be made with chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes, but this is changing all the time. The modern English wine industry is really in its infancy, albeit growing rapidly. According to the “Rural Matters” report by Knight Frank in 2024, the area of the UK planted with vines has soared by 75% over the past five years to almost 10,000 acres. Today, there are over 950 vineyards across Great Britain, with more vines being planted every year.

To begin with, it was the sparkling wines that set the wine world alight – from the nineties onwards. In 2017, Pommery and Taittinger, two of France’s best-known champagne houses, planted vines in England. At the time, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger told the Daily Mail: “We have been very impressed by the quality of English sparkling wine being produced, and we believe the combination of chalk soils, climate and topography of our site in Kent are ideal for producing quality sparkling wine. These attributes are perfect for grape growing, and are very similar to the terroir in Champagne, for us it was a natural step to do this”.

In recent years, a warming planet means England is also having success with still wines, mostly made from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. Warmer summers and growing know-how means more complex and higher quality wines are emerging from England all the time. But who makes the very best English wine? Here are some names to know.

Read next: How to Taste Wine Like a Sommelier

1. Roebuck Estates

Across Sussex and Kent, named for the wild deer who roam the land, this is an award-winning producer of some of the best English sparkling wines. The winery in West Sussex runs various tours and tastings, plus Friday evening “sunset sippings”. Try the Rosé de Noirs 2018, a sparkling rosé with notes of cherries, strawberries, and toasted almonds.

 

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2. Gusbourne

In the short history of English sparkling wines, Gusbourne’s debut vintages – the Brut Reserve 2006 and the Blanc de Blancs 2006 – attracted international interest and acclaim when they were released in 2010. The producer now also makes a host of still wines, including the citrus-driven Chardonnay Guinevere (2022), one of their most awarded. There are tastings and tours at the estate near Rye in east Sussex, plus picnics in the vineyards from spring.

 

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3. Hambledon

In 1952, with a little help from renowned champagne house Pol Roger, Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones established Hambledon. The Classic Cuvée, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, once famously beat Pol Roger, Veuve Clicquot and Taittinger in a blind tasting. Tours, tastings and afternoon teas are available at the vineyard in Hampshire.

4. Nyetimber

In 1988, Nyetimber’s first vines were planted, but it wasn’t until 2006, when Eric Heerema took over, appointing Cherie Spriggs as head winemaker, that Nyetimber (she of the Domesday book) became a global name. The Classic Cuvee is not just one of the best English sparkling wines, but one of the best sparkling wines in the world. Also try the Cuvee Chérie – a celebrated Demi-Sec sparkling wine, the first of its kind in England. The estate is only open to the public on select open days, Willy Wonka-style.

 

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5. Chapel Down

This is one of England’s biggest and best wine producers. You can’t go wrong with any of their sparkling and still offerings, but Kit’s Coty Coeur de Cuvée 2016 has been a big award winner of the last few years. At the Kent winery, there are guided tours, tutored tastings and three-course dinners with wine flights at The Swan Wine Kitchen. Plus, the vineyard partners with Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse to offer overnight accommodation.

6. Tillingham

Tillingham Winery offers natural wine, seasonal food and stylish rooms near Rye in East Sussex. This is a good one to know if you want to extend your Luxury Gold journey to the UK and make a trip of it. Tillingham is not just a winery, it’s a mixed farm, dedicated to sustainability and restoring soils to the optimum level of organic matter.

 

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7. Ridgeview

This has been a family business since 1995, when it was started by Mike and Chris Roberts. Queen Elizabeth II served the Blanc de Blancs 2004 at her birthday banquet in 2006, and the Bloomsbury 2009 at her Diamond Jubilee. In 2018, Ridgeview (now under a new generation of Roberts) was awarded International Winemaker of the Year, a first for English wine. At the winery in east Sussex, there’s a restaurant, wine shop, tours and tastings.

 

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8. Vagabond Winery

It would be remiss not to mention that some of the best English wines are currently being made in ‘urban wineries’. In London, Vagabond is based on the River Thames next to Battersea Power Station. It describes itself as an “artisanal, hands-on winery due to the small space that forces us to work slowly and meticulously”. Vagabond’s Solena NV Ortega is a high achieving wine – a skin contact white. There are Vagabond wine bars in various London locations.

 

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Each year, Mercer, the consultancy focused on global economics, publishes its list of the most expensive cities in the world. The index lists 226 cities in the world in order, measuring how ‘expensive’ each one is by comparing the costs of more than 200 items in each location, including transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Mercer says “the comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable compass, providing guidance through the intricate landscape of living expenses in cities worldwide”. At the other end of the Mercer list, the cities that ranked the lowest for living costs last year are Islamabad, Lagos and Abuja.

Mercer’s list of the most expensive cities in the world is aimed at companies with employees who are assigned internationally and it includes four Swiss cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern). There are other similar lists, including one by The EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit), which publishes a worldwide cost of living survey naming its most expensive cities in the world each year. And there’s another, by Numbeo, which focuses on the prices of consumer goods such as food, restaurants, and transportation, but not housing. Below, we’ve combined our findings to make a list of the 10 most expensive cities in the world, which happen to make wonderful luxury travel destinations.

1. Singapore

Poised at the top of both lists, there is no denying this luxury paradise’s position as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Singapore has pizzazz in abundance – even its botanical garden is described by Lonely Planet as “a S$1 billion, 101-hectare fantasy land of space-age biodomes, high-tech Supertrees and whimsical sculptures”. The soothing Mandarin Oriental overlooks the Marina Bay Sands development – the crown jewel of the skyline, and the symbol of modern Singapore.

2. Hong Kong

This city wears its luxury credentials glamorously, via an iconic skyline, glittering harbour and spectacular restaurant scene. But there are lush green peaks all around, too, offering panoramic views, Hong Kong camellias and sightings of spoon-billed sandpipers. Stay at the Peninsula to absorb some old-world magic, right on the Kowloon waterfront, and dine at Wing, Vicky Cheng’s rule-free fine dining establishment, which celebrates the eight great Chinese cuisines to dazzling effect.

3. Zurich

Another long-term resident of the top 10 list, this Swiss city rides high as a result of expensive housing prices and high transportation costs. Our 10-day Majestic Switzerland journey begins and ends in Zurich, where we stay at the stunning art deco AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac on the shore of Lake Zurich, a short walk from the opera house.

4. Geneva

On the same captivating Switzerland journey, which sweeps round the country with a stint on the Glacier Express, we pause in Geneva for a stay at the uniquely grand but intimate Hotel d’Angleterre, on the shores of the lake. It’s a sumptuous address – lots of dark wood, soothing tones, rich fabrics and imposing drapery. The lake views from the restaurant are exquisite, making for a meal perfectly befitting one of the most expensive cities in the world.

5. Copenhagen

Number 8 on the EIU list, Denmark’s impossibly cool capital is well documented as an expensive destination to while away a weekend. It’s worth every penny. Our Timeless Scandinavia journey combines a divine mix of fjords, scenic railways, countryside abodes and dazzling cities, starting in Copenhagen. Our chosen city lodgings are the epitome of Scandi minimalism: 71 Nyhavn is made up of restored canalside warehouse buildings, originally built in the early 1800s. We dine at the Michelin-star Høst – on the best Nordic ingredients, meticulously assembled.

6. Paris

Naturalement, some of the world’s most fabulous vacations are taken in Paris. On our Ultimate France journey we luxuriate in Paris last of all, so you can also extend your trip and linger longer. We stay at the Hotel Napoleon, a romantic address in the city’s heart, a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe. At the very end, our guests reminisce over dinner on the Eiffel Tower, potentially the most alluring dining destination in the world.

7. New York City

We flock to the Big Apple to shop widely, dine opulently and sleep soundly in some of the world’s most exquisite boudoirs, amid the unmistakable buzz of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our current hotel pick for sheer grandiosity is the Fifth Avenue Hotel, once part of the estate of a 19th century socialite, sensationally restored with a jewel box palette, elaborate wallpapers, ornate paneling and oysters à la pomme at Café Carmellini.

8. London

Maintaining its position in the top 10 thanks to enormous demand for a tightly constrained supply of city-centre property, London is still Europe’s biggest financial centre, and the average house costs around 850,000 USD. On our journey through the regal glory of Great Britain, we begin in London – very centrally – across the road from Buckingham Palace. The Rubens at the Palace is a riot of lavish Englishness, with four poster beds, doormen in tailcoats and afternoon tea.

9. Nassau

The high cost of living in Nassau is due to its status as a tourist destination and financial hub, and because of high demand for limited housing from both locals and expatriates. Modern Nassau is all high-end fashion designers, extremely fine dining and superyachts – all with that turquoise backdrop. Soak it up at the Rosewood Baha Mar, a haven of exclusivity, with a golf course, French restaurant and soothing, richly decorated residences, opening on to the powder white sands of Cable Beach.

10. Los Angeles

LA has higher than average costs for housing, taxes, food, transport, health care, and utilities. The most expensive neighbourhood is Bel-Air. If you’re in town, only the rose-coloured Hotel Bel-Air will do, set within 18 acres of bougainvillea, ficus, orange blossom and fern. This classic Hollywood hideaway makes guests feel like A-listers, and is a peaceful antidote to the traffic.