London's top hotels criticised

The Ritz was described as "jaded"

Some of London's most famous hotels have been given a dressing down in a new guide.

The Dorchester, The Ritz and The Savoy are criticised for not always living up to their reputations in the latest issue of Harden's Hotel Guide.

But The Lanesborough at Hyde Park was described as "the best hotel in London" and The Milestone, in Kensington, west London, attracted such comments as "fabulous in every way possible".

The Dorchester, was described as "good rather than great", while The Ritz, where a room costs £305-a-night, was criticised as "jaded and relying on its reputation".

A spokeswoman for the Dorchester commented that the hotel has just completed a "major refurbishment".

The guide has more than 900 entries from across Britain and Ireland, along with New York and Paris.

While giant hotels fared badly, family-run establishments feature prominently in the book, which is due to be published on 11 September.

Those given the guide's Three Smiley Award for the very best hotels include The Fox Inn, in Lower Oddington, Gloucestershire; The Griffin Inn, at Fletching, East Sussex; and Inn at Whitewell, in Clitheroe, Lancashire.