Had Pretty Woman been set in London in 2018, I reckon Edward Lewis would’ve shacked up at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Here’s why:
– The views from the rooms on the upper floors are unbeatable, with the Windows restaurant offering a panoramic view of London that’s really unmatched by other city eateries. Edward clearly would’ve dubbed them ‘the best’, despite his awful vertigo.
– It’s a place that feels entirely suited to business folk, but also the kind of place you go when you want things to feel a bit special. When I say special, I don’t necessarily mean of the sexy variety (I went with my sister, and we had a lovely time pretending to be fancy tourists), but if you were after that, it’s got that ‘occasion’ vibe, particularly in the restaurant upstairs.
– It’s bang in the middle of London, so you’re after somewhere as a base for exploring or just for a weekend away from the kids in your own city, you could do a hell of a lot worse.
Here is a breakdown of it’s attributes, in my new hotel review format //
The Vibe / As mentioned, this is fancy. Fancy, with a side of slightly corporate. Don’t expect to find an arty crowd here – think instead cocktails overlooking the glittering lights of London with a pianist tinkering away.
The Rooms / I was in The Boutique Suite, which made the most of the views (floor to ceiling windows in the bathroom and huge window seats in the bedroom and sitting room), and also felt roomy, boasting an entire dressing room and entrance hall. The decor again called business people to mind as it’s inoffensive and sleek, with marble bathrooms and double sinks. There wasn’t a comfort I could think of that wasn’t catered for.
The Food / The upstairs Windows restaurant serves delicious British fare that isn’t trying too hard. I had parmesan gnocchi with girolles and broccoli, while my sister had baked hake. Both of us agreed that while the pear souffle with warm salted caramel fudge and cinnamon ice cream wasn’t exactly novel, it was the highlight of the meal and we’d go back for another serving in an instant. Breakfast was uninspired and came with a surcharge for it to be delivered to the room (I always balk at this – it says the opposite of ‘welcome to your home away from home’ and suddenly reminds you that every step taken by a member of staff is being paid for. I feel similarly annoyed when paying for wifi).
The Spa / I didn’t visit, more’s the pity, but were I heading there, I’d book the Chinese Tuina, which is a firm massage that stimulates pressure points and relieves back pain.
My Favourite Bit / The bath. Installed proudly in the middle of the bathroom, I ended up having two entirely unnecessary baths during my 24 hours in the hotel just to enjoy the incredible view just past the tips of my toes.
Nearby Stuff To Do & See / Well this is on Park Lane, so there’s everything to do and see. If you want places within strolling distance: Selfridges or Liberty London for shopping, Hyde Park for a walk, or Handle & Hendrix or The Wallace Collection for a bit of culture.
The Official Information / The London Hilton on Park Lane is this year celebrating its 55th anniversary since opening in 1963. The Mayfair hotel has rooms available from £350 per room per night, with suite rates starting from £559, including breakfast, based on two adults sharing, subject to availability. For more information or to book one of the hotel’s 453 guest rooms with spectacular views overlooking Hyde Park, please visit hilton.com/londonparklane or call +44 207 493 8000.