Ham Yard Hotel — London, UK

It’s no mean feat to arrive with a bang in a city as saturated with new openings as London, but Ham Yard, the eighth property from Firmdale Hotels, has pulled it off. On three acres of prime Soho real estate, encompassing 91 guest rooms and 24 residential apartments, Ham Yard begs the question: how has such a large expanse laid empty since the Second World War? Perhaps it was waiting for someone like co-owner Kit Kemp, whose signature interiors feature a clash of colours, patterns and world-sourced art. Kemp has furnished the rooms with pieces picked up in India and Africa and accented with bespoke wallpaper and a new range of Firmdale-produced toiletries. A rooftop garden, complete with herb patch and fruit trees, is available for private events; but for those who can’t wangle an invite, the ground-floor Ham Yard Bar & Restaurant isn’t a bad compromise. To be clear that the property is more than just a spot to lounge, Firmdale has added a Soholistic Spa with thermal areas, a 188-seat cinema, 13 retail units and a vintage bowling alley shipped in from Texas.