This has to be a shopaholic's heaven, in the middle of Knightsbridge and perfect for the sales.

Yes, and having Harrods as your corner shop is only the half of it. The hotel can fix you up with a personal shopper or, if you can't stand the crowds, bring a pile of goodies back to your room for your perusal. If you're planning on some serious shopping, you can have a limousine service to cart around all those purchases.

All that retail therapy makes me feel like a bit of pampering.

After pounding the pavements, soothe your muscles under the 30cm-wide shower roses and pad around barefoot in a marbled bathroom to die for. Then collapse on to the crispest white sheets on the enormous sleigh beds with the most comfy bedding you'll find in a hotel. If you so much as cough, the friendly staff will be there to help you.

What about food - the hotel hasn't got a restaurant or a gym?

If you can face the gym after all that shopping, the hotel has an arrangement with a nearby health club. As for food, there are loads of restaurants within a stone's throw and Parkes has arrangements with several for room-service. Spend the time waiting for it to arrive exploring the contents of the mini-bars, which include 19 types of whisky.

This isn't going to come cheap, is it?

Think of all the money you'll save at the sales or the expensive fashion mistakes you'll avoid by paying for professional advice and the £240 for a double seems like a snip. It's well worth paying the extra for a de-luxe double at £290 or a superior one-bedroom suite with kitchenette for £325. A special two-night break for two in a de-luxe double with champagne breakfast and lunch at Harvey Nichols costs £576 until 26 January. An hour with a personal shopper will set you back another £45, with £41 an hour for the limo.

· Parkes Hotel, 41 Beaufort Gardens, London SW3 (020 7581 9944).