THE Hotel Verta, which looks majestically over the Thames at Battersea, is for real high flyers – as we discovered on a theatre break to London to see the Wizard Of Oz.

One of its proud claims to fame is that it is situated immediately next to London’s heliport.

In fact, it’s Europe’s first hotel adjoined to a heliport in such a way.

Flights check in and out on a daily basis and you can watch, close-up from your window – though the building is triple-glazed and you won’t be disturbed by the whirling of propellers.

So I suppose the way to make a real entrance here is to arrive by chopper. But pigs will fly before I can afford that!

Nevertheless, you’re assured of a five-star welcome, even if you turn up in a humble taxi, which is the way most guests will surely arrive and depart.

You’ll probably need a taxi because, while this new hotel, on the south of the river opposite Chelsea Harbour Pier, is clearly top notch, it will arguably be a little off the beaten track for some visitors.

Clapham Junction rail station is a short distance away and offers easy access to several interconnecting underground lines, though my guess is that many visitors won’t want that faff.

But taxi fans be warned – a one-way taxi ride to Euston cost us £24 and while we were assured this was a competitive rate, if you plan to do a lot of to-ing and fro-ing from the hotel, the cost could rattle up.

So you may need to consider compromising a little convenience for quality.

Quality and luxury is certainly what you get, though.

On arrival at the hotel, which forms part of the £150 million Bridges Wharf development and regeneration of the Thames riverfront, you are immediatley enveloped in late-30s glamour while the rooms are sumptuous with all mod cons.