Courchevel = Mayfair
If you love Mayfair, Courchevel is your natural alpine retreat. The jewel of Les 3 Vallées, the largest ski area in Europe, Courchevel offers not only world-class skiing but also a level of sophistication and luxury that mirrors London’s most prestigious district. Both destinations exude extravagance, boasting Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end designer boutiques, and some of the world’s most opulent hotels.
Just like Mayfair, Courchevel can feel more like a mountainous playground for the ultra-wealthy than a place with a real local heartbeat; nonetheless, if you seek an unparalleled alpine experience combining adventure with indulgence, this is the place to be.
Art Scene
Verbier = Notting Hill
Cool, trendy, and effortlessly stylish - Verbier is the Notting Hill of the Alps. It’s a hotspot for young professionals, creative types, and minor royals, all looking for a mix of high-end luxury and laid-back charm. Much like Notting Hill, Verbier has its fair share of artisan cafés (but swap the avocado toast for fondue), stylish chalets, and people who look like they rolled out of bed perfectly dressed for a day of more challenging skiing.
Verbier Village. Photo by Raphael Surmont
The slopes in Verbier are for more confident skiers. Photo by Lucia Harrison
Like Notting Hill, Verbier never sleeps. The energy from the slopes carries straight into the legendary après-ski scene, where sophisticated cocktail bars and wild nightclubs keep the party going well into the night, making it just as lively after dark as it is on the pistes.
Art Scene
St Moritz = Belgravia
For those who prefer timeless class over trendy hotspots, St Moritz is the Belgravia of ski resorts. It’s all about heritage, elegance, and not too much about the skiing. If Belgravia’s pastel townhouses and refined atmosphere appeal to you, then St Moritz’s old-school glamour and Hanselmann’s café (their answer to Peggy Porschen) will feel like home. This is where everything from the ski gear to the afternoon tea is executed with impeccable taste.
Art Scene
Design Gallery with a number of emerging and established galleries including: Hauser & Wirth, Galerie Andrea Caratsch, Galerie Karsten Greve and Vito Schanabel Gallery
Gstaad = Chelsea
If Chelsea is your London comfort zone, Gstaad is where you’ll feel right at home. It’s subtle, exclusive, and filled with those who don’t need to flash their wealth. Like Chelsea, Gstaad has an “if you know, you know” mentality, where the luxury is understated but ever-present.
Destination Gstaad. Photo by Melanie Uhkoetter
Gstaad Village. Photo by Melanie Uhkötter
St. Niklauskapelle in Gstaad. Photo by Melanie Uhkötter
Swap Beaverbrook Townhouse for The Alpina Gstaad and Sloane Square for a pristine Alpine village, and you’ve got Gstaad in a nutshell—effortlessly elegant, impeccably curated, and home to a crowd that appreciates refinement over showiness.
Art Scene
Horneggli ski area in Gstaad. Photo by Melanie Uhkoetter
From the polished luxury of Courchevel to Verbier’s effortlessly cool energy, St Moritz’s timeless elegance, and Gstaad’s understated exclusivity, each destination offers a unique blend of charm, sophistication, and adventure. So, if you’re weary of leaving the comforts of your home this winter or spring, just know there is a London equivalent in the Alps just waiting for you (and there is plenty of art there too)!
