Review of The Lanesborough

The Lanesborough is located at Hyde Park Corner in Knightsbridge – one of the most affluent postcodes in London. Opposite the front doors to the hotel is the magnificent Hyde Park, to the west are many of London’s famous museums and stores - Harrods and Harvey Nichols - and to the east is the rest of city. The east wing of the hotel overlooks the Wellington Arch. Guests of the hotel have a superb view of the Household Cavalry as it rides through the Arch, then up Constitution Hill, ending up at Buckingham Palace. The hotel is an ideal base for sightseeing, shopping and business. 

The hotel is located 50 minutes from Heathrow Airport by car, just a short distance from the Heathrow Express service at Paddington Station, the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras Station and a stone’s throw from Victoria Station (direct rail link to & from Gatwick Airport).

The Lanesborough offers just 47 deluxe guest rooms and 46 suites set over 4 floors. Every guest room and every suite have a dedicated Butler – there to take care of your every need and whim. The hotel provides complimentary tea & coffee facilities and on-demand films. The Butler is on-hand to ensure you have a comfortable stay, arrange excursions & shopping trips, and will liaise with Housekeeping, Concierge, Reception, and in-room dining. You do not have to use your Butler and instead can use the in-room tablet to order food & drink and Spa treatments – for instance. 

Each of the 47 guest rooms have their own entrance foyer, writing desk and seating area. Guests have a choice of view – Hyde Park or inner-facing views for those who prefer total peace & tranquillity. Hyde Park Corner can get quite noisy at certain times the day. You can request a Queen, King or twin beds with an additional baby cot or roll-away bed for younger guests. The grand, lavish bathrooms boast underfloor heating with twin washbasins, bathtub, and shower.

The Suites are ideal for those with large families or those looking for a more intimate experience. Added extras - depending on the Suite - include walk-in showers & bidets, private kitchens & dining rooms, family living rooms and complimentary limousine services.  

Guest room sizes start at 27 sq. metres (290 sq. feet) and increase to an incredible 445 sq. metres (4790 sq. feet) for the Royal Suite.  

The unique in London butler service in every guest room and suite is a nod to how important service and guest satisfaction is to The Lanesborough. Valet parking is available through the Doormen. Both Reception and the Concierge Desk are open throughout the day & night.

The hotel’s latest refurbishment has enhanced the facilities on offer. The Lanesborough Health Club & Spa is a destination within itself. There is a delightful indoor heated (hydro) swimming pool, a fitness area with personal training and daily complimentary classes on offer, treatment rooms that offer every kind of massage, facial, peel and wrap imaginable – courtesy of the uber-luxury Tata Harper brand.  The Lanesborough offers guests the chance to train with some of the most famous sportspeople in the world. The hotel has teamed up with the Somerton Sporting Club that can arrange for you – for instance -  to cycle with Olympic & World Cycling Champion – Victoria Pendleton, play tennis with multi Grand Slam winner - Jonas Bjorkman and surf with the top female big-wave surfer in the world – Paige Alms. Name your sport and it can be arranged as locally as possible. This service needs to be booked in advance. 

The Lanesborough is fully wheelchair accessible. The hotel is pet friendly. A dog-walking service is available – arranged through your Butler. The Lanesborough has a resident cat named Lilibet. She is a favourite among the younger guests and of course, those not allergic to her!

After the death of the last Viscount Lanesborough in 1724, just five years after its completion, the House slowly deteriorated. In 1825, one of the most famous architects of the period was commissioned to redesign the inside & outside of the building. William Wilkins employed classical Greek revival styles – hallmarks of that Regency period. You can still see his indelible contribution to the building; at the foyer entrance, the main corridors, the sweeping staircases, and first-floor gallery. 

Every guest room and suite are individually designed. While they may vary in layout and colour, they all offer the same prestigious levels of comfort. Distinctive, thick carpets encompass every room with Regency style patterns that match the curtains, cushions, and canopies. The high-ceilings of every room combined with beautiful yellows, blues and greens are all trimmed with a clean, white, Baroque-style cornicing. Accented by rosewood and mahogany, the Victorian-style decor including 23-carat gold-leaf gilding, whimsical fabrics and engraved laurel wreaths give every room a timeless and truly authentic persona. 

The fresh flowers, original books and unique artworks around the hotel add a finishing touch of splendour.

The Lanesborough's main restaurant – Céleste – offers European-inspired dishes. Head Chef, Dárcio Henriques brings his Portuguese heritage to the cooking and one of his signature dishes - poached Chilean Sea Bass in fish consommé with oysters and cauliflower purée is testament to his inventiveness and flair. The Chef’s “perfect egg” is also must-taste dish. Chef Henriques also offers a purely vegan menu – haute-cuisine, of course. The dining room however is sumptuously decorated and unapologetically formal - somewhere fit for a celebration. Beautiful Wedgwood friezes run around the room between Corinthian columns, a domed glass roof lets the light flood in at lunchtime and three enormous chandeliers cast a romantic glow at night.

Afternoon tea and à la carte breakfast are also served in Céleste.

The Library Bar is a popular meeting place for the well-heeled of Knightsbridge. With fine wines, cocktails, and premium spirits on offer, one can see why. Drinks have been served here since the 18th century.

The Garden Room is an absolutely wonderful space. Here you can savour a pre-Castro Cuban cigar, paired with a fine cognac or freshly brewed double espresso. The Garden Room is one of London’s hidden gems. 

Finally, the Lanesborough Club & Spa offers smoothies, protein bars and healthy snacks throughout the day.

The Lanesborough has an impressive list of initiatives: The house cars – BMW 7-Series or top of the line Range Rovers – are hybrid.  The Michelin-starred restaurant Céleste offers a delicious vegan menu using local produce. Indeed, all the organic waste from the hotel kitchens is composted and used on flower beds and in vegetable gardens. In the Lanesborough Club & Spa, the treatments are all organic – courtesy of The Queen of Green Beauty, Tata Harper. Finally, you can book a “green stay” - and included in the rate, the hotel plants a tree in Hyde Park on your behalf – an incredible initiative.