Why Scotland Yard wants you to be guest

Fancy living at Scotland Yard? You don't have to be a Bobby to do it with Scotland Yard all set for a landmark makeover as a luxury hotel by 2017. If the wait seems too long, the newly renovated Ritz Paris has started inviting reservations for next year with bookings available for dates starting March 14, 2016. The Holy Grail for Audiophiles rolls out with the third in the trilogy of its Rolls Royce's bespoke collection, Rolls Royce 'Inspired by Music'. Now that's rock and roll living.

Travel

Hotel openings

THE GREAT SCOTLAND YARD

If the Scotland Yard of your imagination or immortalised by Charles Dickens and Sherlock Holmes, harks back to grisly murders and Jack the Ripper, consider this a re-awakening.

The Great Scotland Yard heads for a historic makeover as a luxury hotel with the rack rates of each room rooms costing an astounding £10,000 a night. The building will undergo a major £50 million refurbishment to convert London's first police headquarters into an uber luxury property that will span seven storeys, including opulent suites, two bars, restaurants, a library, lobby and entertaining room. Developers promise to preserve the building's Edwardian Imperial red brick and stone facade as well as its name, The Great Scotland Yard, in order to build cash in on the landmark's storied history. The decor will, apparently, straddle "contemporary and stylish." The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2017.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL

All those who enjoy the subtle nuances of genteel hospitality can rejoice with the opening of another chapter of The Mandarin Oriental in Milan. The intimate and contemporary hotel is housed within four elegantly redeveloped 18th century buildings, with a distinctly residential feel.

Situated on the central Via Andegari, a few steps away from the fashionable Via Manzoni and Montenapoleone, the hotel provides perfect access to the city's most important commercial, fashion and cultural centres. While the hotel's fine-dine restaurant, Seta, serves contemporary dishes combining French, Asian and Tuscan influences with al fresco dining as well as indoor seating, the more casual Mandarin Bar, which also has courtyard seating, offers a 'bistro style' menu of Italian dishes and hotel classics.

To celebrate the opening, the property is offering guests a tantalising Experience Milan offer, which provides luxury accommodation and includes a dining or spa credit of up to EUR 300 per stay. Mandarin Oriental, Milan is also offering guests exclusive access to EXPO MILANO 2015, the Universal exhibition, with a Taste of Expo package that includes two nights luxurious accommodation with fast pass tickets, return transfers to the event and a complimentary "Aperitivo Gourmet" at the Mandarin Bar.Read more here. www.mandarinoriental.com

Timepieces

Breitling Superocean II 36

For women who enjoy experiencing adventures at great depths, Breitling offers an exclusive new version of its diving watch, Superocean model in a 36 mm diameter, featuring white-clad dial, bezel and strap, a case water-resistant to 200 m/660 ft and an officially chronometer-certified selfwinding movement.

A champion of the abyss, it promises to be a paragon of performance, reliability and functionality beneath the sea. The rubber-molded unidirectional fluted rotating bezel displays large clearly visible numerals, a countdown of the last fifteen minutes of dive time, and a triangle with a luminescent marker at 12 o'clock. The new rubber Ocean Racer strap reinforces the sporty vocation of this timepiece with a row of holes surrounded by an embossed circular motif. This model is also available in a version with black dial and strap.

Auto

ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH 'INSPIRED BY MUSIC'

The Rolls-Royce is clearly the ultimate symbol of success, especially rock royalty with many of the world's most celebrated artists choosing the marque as their ride. To celebrate this spirit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched the Wraith 'Inspired by Music'.Since the launch of Wraith in 2013, customers have been able to commission their Rolls-Royce Wraith with bespoke audio; one of the most exhaustively designed sound systems in automotive history.

Now, with Wraith 'Inspired by Music', these characteristics, and the precious materials used in the Bespoke Audio system, are brought to the fore, creating 'the most exclusive music venue' to deliver an unrivalled aural experience. The fastidious detail that went into the development of the car's sound-system is employed in every facet of the construction of the car. For instance, the chaplets on the clock have been designed and meticulously crafted with a combination of warming copper and silver, while the radial lines of the outer bezel playfully emulate the look and feel of vinyl records. The extraordinary clarity of sound and dynamic range is delivered via a 1300W, 18 channel system comprising two highly powerful bass speakers, seven tweeters and seven mid range speakers. Two 'exciter' speakers hand-fitted in the car's headlining play a crucial role in ensuring the output perfectly imitates the way music is experienced in a live setting. Microphones constantly monitor ambient and exterior noises and adjust volume and tone settings automatically to ensure no external agent detracts from the user's listening pleasure.

Wraith 'Inspired by Music' is the final chapter in the trilogy of striking and distinctive Bespoke Collections. The first, Wraith 'Inspired by Film' celebrates Rolls-Royce's long association with the silver screen, while Wraith 'Inspired by Fashion' allows customers to commission automotive haute couture inspired by the materials and motifs of cutting-edge high fashion.