Top Quiet Luxury Destinations for Your Late Summer Escape

There are few beauty launches that cause the kind of frenzy we’ve seen around Heaven Skincare’s Prism Protection SPF 50+ . The luxury British brand, which has a Royal Warrant and is known for its cult ABEETOXIN Bee Venom formula, has a staggering 10,000-person waitlist for this product. Priced at £73 and three years in development, Prism Protection is marketed as more than just an SPF. With clinically tested SPF 53.1 coverage, it defends against UVA, UVB, blue light and pollution while delivering hydration and brightness thanks to ingredients like multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, cotton stem cells and vitamins E and B5. When my package arrived, it immediately felt like something special. A handwritten note marked 45/100 highlighted its small-batch exclusivity, while the packaging itself carried the polish and weight of a heritage brand with loyal celebrity clients including Victoria Beckham, Kylie Minogue and Cheryl. On first use, the cream applied beautifully: lightweight, moisturising and quick to absorb, without the heaviness or greasiness you often expect from high-factor SPFs. The finish is soft and matte, making it easy to layer under make-up without compromising texture. Heaven Skincare positions Prism Protection as both defence and treatment. Alongside broad-spectrum protection, it promises to soothe irritation, strengthen the skin barrier and reduce redness and uneven tone, while supporting hydration even in the drying conditions of air-conditioned offices or hot climates. Whether it lives up to all of those claims is something only time will tell, but the brand’s track record of innovation and its dedicated following suggests it may be worth the hype. Verdict: A luxurious SPF that feels more like skincare than sun care. With its combination of heritage, science and exclusivity, Prism Protection is a statement addition to any daily routine. About the brand Founded by Deborah Mitchell, Heaven Skincare rose to worldwide fame with its patented Bee Venom formula, ABEETOXIN , which quickly became a global beauty talking point. The brand’s reputation has been further cemented by a roster of famous fans ranging from Victoria Beckham to the Minogue sisters, as well as a coveted Royal Warrant from The Queen herself. Now celebrating 30 years of innovation, Heaven continues to carve out its place as a pioneer in luxury, science-led skincare with Prism Protection marking its next big chapter.

Dubai’s skyline is about to get a spectacular new addition. Come November 2025, Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG will officially open its doors, and with it, claim the title of the world’s tallest hotel . Soaring 377 metres over Dubai Marina, this 82-floor marvel is more than just an architectural feat—it’s a new benchmark for luxury hospitality. From the moment you arrive, Ciel promises an experience that blends jaw-dropping design, panoramic views, and world-class facilities . Designed by award-winning architects Norr, the hotel’s “eye of the needle” silhouette is as striking as it is elegant, offering 1,004 rooms and suites, all framed by floor-to-ceiling windows capturing uninterrupted views of Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf, and Dubai’s glittering skyline. For the culinary-minded, Ciel Dubai Marina is a playground of global flavours. West 13 celebrates the Mediterranean with fresh pasta, mezze, and artisanal breads, while East 14 takes you on an Asian odyssey with live Ramen and Pho stations, sushi, dim sum, and rich Indian curries. For more relaxed indulgence, Risen Café and Artisanal Bakery serves breakfast, all-day café-style dishes, and award-winning coffee, all sourced from local ingredients. The hotel’s pièce de résistance, however, is Tattu Dubai , the UK-born modern Asian concept reimagined across three levels. On level 74, diners enter a world where mythology meets contemporary Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Ascend to level 76 for the world’s highest infinity pool , where Japanese-fusion bites and sunset DJ sets create a day-to-night energy that’s hard to rival. Finally, level 81 unveils the Tattu Sky Lounge & Terrace , an opulent rooftop escape with 360° views, craft cocktails, and music that perfectly complements Dubai’s skyline. Wellness and leisure are equally spectacular. The 61st-floor spa blends advanced rituals with time-honoured traditions, while the 24/7 gym offers panoramic vistas for an energising workout. Guests can also enjoy exclusive access to Soluna Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah, a serene retreat just 15 minutes from the hotel. Families are not forgotten: a Splash Pad, Kids Club, child-friendly menus, and bespoke amenities ensure even the youngest visitors are pampered. Strategically located with direct access to Dubai Marina’s boardwalk, world-class shopping, beaches, and iconic landmarks such as Ain Dubai and Bluewaters, Ciel is more than a hotel—it’s a gateway to the city’s vibrant sophistication. For business travellers, the Executive Lounge Nest and stylish meeting spaces high above the city offer the perfect blend of privacy, comfort, and skyline inspiration. Ciel Dubai Marina is The First Group’s most ambitious project to date and a shining jewel in IHG’s Vignette Collection, which celebrates one-of-a-kind hotels offering authentic, memorable experiences. With its bold architecture, unmatched views, and multi-sensory dining and wellness offerings, Ciel is set to become Dubai’s ultimate luxury destination and a must-visit for travellers seeking sky-high indulgence.

When two names as storied as WOLF and Liberty meet, the result is more than a collaboration: it is an affirmation of heritage in an age of fleeting trends. WOLF, the family-owned house that has been creating jewellery cases and watch winders since 1834, and Liberty, the London institution celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, share a common philosophy: beauty and craft must endure. It’s the marriage of two heritage-rich British brands that have always been about more than just beautiful objects. They’re about storytelling, legacy, and the small rituals that turn everyday life into something exquisite. I met Simon Wolf, the fifth-generation CEO of his family’s business, just before the launch. There’s a steadiness about him, the kind you only find in people carrying nearly two centuries of tradition on their shoulders. “This collection is about more than looking after your jewellery,” he explained. “It’s about design that lasts, and design that means something.” That conviction is embedded in WOLF’s history: when Philipp Wolf I began his boxmaking business in 1834, it was with the belief that the way you present something is as important as the object itself. For Liberty, the timing could not be more significant. The store, with its Tudor revival façade and labyrinth of patterned interiors, has become London’s most eccentric temple of taste. This year’s 150th anniversary is marked by a calendar of exhibitions and collaborations, all honouring Arthur Lasenby Liberty’s mission not to follow fashion, but to define it. In that spirit, WOLF feels like a natural partner—another house rooted in the belief that design should endure across generations. The collection itself takes two of Liberty’s most celebrated prints and translates them for a contemporary audience. Ianthe , a swirling Art Nouveau motif, is embossed onto sustainable leather in navy and burgundy, while Julia , a 1930s floral, is reimagined in sage green. Jewellery boxes, watch rolls, travel cases and portfolios are finished with silver or gold hardware, each piece lined with Liberty’s unmistakable detailing. They are objects of daily use designed with longevity in mind, thanks to WOLF’s patented LusterLoc™ technology, which protects jewellery from tarnishing for up to 35 years. For Pere Bruach, Liberty’s Design Manager, the collaboration was about more than simply selecting prints. “I was inspired by the metalwork and jewellery of Archibald Knox, a key figure in Liberty’s design legacy,” he said. That influence can be felt in the engineering of the embossed leather, where Liberty’s decorative vocabulary meets WOLF’s functional precision. Together, the brands have created a collection that feels both archival and forward-looking. It’s not seasonal, not trend-led, but purposeful - a quiet kind of luxury that acknowledges the value of history while offering something entirely suited to modern life. The WOLF x Liberty collection is available now at wolf1834.com, Liberty, and select retailers worldwide, with prices ranging from £169 to £945.

There are country house hotels, and then there is Palé Hall. The Relais & Châteaux property, which sits on the edge of Snowdonia, has the sort of pedigree that travel writers love to remind you of: AA Five Red Stars, a Green Michelin Star for sustainability, and an 18-room mansion where every space has its own personality. But this autumn, Palé Hall is less interested in resting on accolades and more focused on giving guests a reason to book a return visit. The hotel has unveiled a collection of new experiences that feel both indulgent and quietly unexpected. The Hearth, once the 19th-century kitchen of the original house, has been transformed into a private dining room where Head Chef Ed Marsh will host intimate tasting menus. The room keeps its historic cast iron hearth but adds bespoke wallpaper from Liberty James Studio, a touch of theatricality that sets the stage for evenings of storytelling through food and wine. Downstairs, the Wine Cellar has been reimagined as a subterranean refuge for those who take their vintages seriously. It is the kind of space designed for lingering over rare bottles and local Welsh labels, paired with artisan cheeses and charcuterie. The atmosphere is deliberately cocooning, a place to disappear into conversation with a glass in hand. Not every guest will want to spend their time inside. Palé Hall now offers clay pigeon shooting in its grounds, an estate activity that nods to tradition while doubling as a spirited outdoor pursuit. For those who prefer quieter creativity, a new Pottery and Art Studio invites guests to try their hand at the wheel under the guidance of ceramicist Jo-Anna Duncalf. The studio looks onto the gardens and every session ends with a seasonal lunch prepared by the hotel’s chefs. September brings the launch of new wellness spaces, including a gym fitted with NOHRD equipment and treatment rooms for massages and therapies. October will see the opening of a Whisky and Cigar Lounge, complete with leather chairs, wood panelling, and a curated selection of bottles that balances the familiar with the rare. The effect of all this is simple. Palé Hall is making the case that a weekend in the Welsh countryside can be more than just a long walk and a good dinner. It can be an escape for the senses, one that folds together food, wine, wellness, craft, and tradition against a backdrop of autumn colour and mountain air.

This September, Londoners will have a rare chance to explore Japanese wine at its finest. From 9 to 30 September 2025, LUNA Omakase will partner with Château Mercian, Japan’s oldest vineyard, to present an exclusive wine pairing menu at the city’s highest omakase restaurant. Tucked away on the ninth floor of 100 Liverpool Street, LUNA Omakase is a 12-seat dining room with sweeping views of St Paul’s Cathedral. Led by Executive Chef Leonard Tanyag, the restaurant is known for its Sosaku-style Edomae cuisine, a modern interpretation of traditional sushi that follows the twelve phases of the moon. For this special collaboration, Thesleff Group’s Head of Wine and Sake, Michele Orbolato, has curated four Japanese wines that match the precision and artistry of Chef Tanyag’s twelve-course menu. The pairings include the Château Mercian Rivalis Left Bank Chardonnay, which balances rich acidity with tropical fruit, and the Iwade Koshu Ortum, a limited release of just 1,100 bottles with citrus notes and a cooling mineral finish. The Koshu Gris de Gris brings a textural complexity with hints of apricot and Darjeeling tea, while the Mariko Syrah offers depth with spice, dark fruit, and fine tannins. Each has been selected to complement dishes ranging from king crab nigiri to wagyu beef sando, creating a dining experience that is both rare and memorable. Founded in 1870, Château Mercian was the first Japanese winery to adopt French winemaking techniques. Today, it produces award-winning wines across Yamanashi, Nagano, and Fukushima, and continues to shape Japan’s reputation in the global wine industry. For LUNA Omakase, this collaboration marks the first time London diners will be able to experience such a refined collection of Japanese wines in a single sitting. With only twelve seats available per service, the September series is one of the most exclusive dining events in London this year. It combines theatre, intimacy, and a deep respect for Japanese craftsmanship, offering a new perspective on both omakase and wine pairing in the capital. LUNA Omakase x Château Mercian runs from 9–30 September 2025.

There are few places in London where you can slip behind the kitchen door of a private members’ club and be guided through a menu by a chef with two decades at The Dorchester. Yet that is exactly what The Lansdowne Club is offering in its ninetieth year, with a new calendar of intimate one-day masterclasses led by Executive Head Chef Henry Brosi. The Mayfair institution, set within a Georgian mansion with 1930s Art Deco interiors, has long been admired for its discretion and elegance. Now it is inviting both members and non-members to experience its culinary world in a way usually reserved for insiders. Each masterclass welcomes no more than four guests, beginning with breakfast and a Buck’s Fizz in the Club’s Dining Room before moving into the private kitchen for a hands-on tutorial. Under Brosi’s direction, participants prepare seasonal dishes that reflect his signature style, which marries classical finesse with a reverence for British and European produce. The experience concludes with a five-course lunch paired with wines, served in the Dining Room where the atmosphere feels both timeless and quietly indulgent. The programme spans both seasonal and year-round themes. Spring guests might work with asparagus or sea trout, while autumn brings the allure of white truffle. Pasta making, chocolate work, and British shellfish are among the options that appeal to cooks who want to refine their technique while enjoying the intimacy of learning directly from one of London’s most accomplished chefs. Prices begin at £350 per person, a detail that underscores the exclusivity of the offering. In a city where most cooking schools feel either too formal or too commercial, The Lansdowne Club has found an appealing middle ground. The series is intimate, expertly run, and rooted in the atmosphere of a private club that has always attracted those with an appreciation for life’s finer details. It is an anniversary programme that feels celebratory but also quietly confident, an invitation to step inside Mayfair and discover the pleasures of cooking at the side of a master.