Bulgari, W, Shangri-La, Oh My! London’s Growing Luxury Hotel Scene

We're tickled pink that the legendary Savoy Hotel will be reopening soon (after a dramatic renovation that's guaranteed to recapture the Grande Dame's original splendor). We've also been anticipating the unveiling of the made-over Four Seasons on Park Lane after a two-year, £100 million renovation. But the luxury hotel scene isn't limited to just two "new" additions. A host of new hotels will be cropping up in London this year and next. An article in The Australian sums it up nicely:

Next year sees the opening of 45 Park Lane, a new hotel from the group that owns the nearby Dorchester, and the Corinthia, an international chain that is making its British debut. The chic W chain is also entering London next year, with a property on Leicester Square. Further out, Bulgari will open a luxury hotel amid the boutiques of Knightsbridge while Shangri-La, one of the biggest hotel brands in Asia, is opening its first London property in the new Shard skyscraper. Claridge's and the Berkeley both have expansion plans, while Waldorf Astoria is also making a splash in the capital, with the launch this November of a property in the grounds of Syon Park in west London. All have been emboldened by the strong performance of London's most exclusive hotels during the economic downturn.