3 of the best LONDON HOTELS
Following a multi-million pound transformation this much-loved hotel, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, boasts sophisticated contemporary interiors with a palette of rich gold, warm neutrals and soft greys. With its fantastic location opposite Hyde Park, it oozes luxe glamour and is an ambient haven of refined calm — the perfect retreat after a day’s sightseeing. Particularly impressive is the Park Room bar. Must-tries include the exclusive Yellow Rose tea and Serpentine Gin, both concocted using plants found in the park. All rooms have pillowtop bedding, complimentary wifi, marble bathrooms and plush robes, but the Executive Rooms have the added bonus of access to the lounge, which serves complimentary food and drinks throughout the day.
COOL FACT: The Great Room is where young Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, learned to ice skate.
Rooms from £379 a night, londongrosvenorhouse.com.
THE ATHANEUM HOTEL &
RESIDENCES
Piccadilly
Moments from Buckingham Palace, this superbly appointed hotel feels quintessentially English. The building dates back to 1849 but was redeveloped in the 1930s as an Art Deco apartment block, and today it’s both a hotel and apartments. One highlight is the Living Wall, a vertical garden created to echo Green Park opposite the hotel. Suites are stylish and spacious.
COOL FACT: Once owned by the Rank Organisation, the hotel welcomed Liza Minnelli and Marlon Brando as guests.
Rooms from £330 a night, athenaeumhotel.com.
ST ERMIN’S HOTEL
St Jamer’s Park
With an intriguing past, eclectic styling, and spacious rooms, this four-star hotel is as unique as it is intriguing, and has been transformed after a £30 million renovation. The result is an individual, modern and welcoming offering — and with room rates starting at just £209 is accessible to all. The welcome has even extended to bees with the opening of London’s only ‘bee & bee’ hotel as well as the hotel’s Buckfast bee hives on the third floor wildflower terrace.
COOL FACT: St Ermin’s Caxton Bar was used by SIS, MI5 and Naval Intelligence Division officers to meet their agents.
