The Langham, London

London was an early supersuite adopter, reflecting the jet stream of private wealth that’s been rushing through the city this century. After the first supersuite wave (The Berkeley, Hotel Café Royal, the Corinthia and the Rosewood) comes the hotel that first set a new bar for luxury when it opened in 1865: The Langham.

The hotel’s new Sterling Suite is 4,843 square feet of marble, antiques, Murano glass, acclaimed chinoiserie and important rugs. The second bedroom is bigger than most master bedrooms; and the master bedroom has its own sitting room – a suite within a suite, if you like. A couple and their kids could stay for days and not bump into each other.

But the point of the Sterling is also to socialise. We attended an intimate gathering of 20 people there, and it could comfortably have hosted twice that. The drawing room comes with a white piano which, together with art deco-ish side tables and mirrors, looks as if it’s just waiting for Noel Coward or Ivor Novello to wander in and tinkle the ivories.

London wasn’t always so welcoming to the super-luxe crowd. In 1980, The Langham’s landlord – the BBC – applied to turn it into offices. Thankfully it was saved and in 1995 passed into the hands of the current owners, Hong Kong’s Great Eagle Holdings. Sometimes it takes outsiders to appreciate what you have.