Corus Hotel Hyde Park London

The upscale Corus Hotel Hyde Park London is situated at the top of Hyde Park in a Georgian mansion with an elegant white facade. The long lobby, which stretches the entire length of the hotel until it reaches the restaurant, embellished with marble floors and elegant Corinthian columns. The reception area extends to the carpeted seating nooks where high-backed armchairs and couches are clustered. This space often bustles in the evening, as guests gather here while live piano music plays in the background. The hotel's main restaurant and bar is particularly stylish, with a glass-encased, conservatory-style sitting area with an arched ceiling and chandelier lighting. The hotel is part of the Corus Hotels group, which runs 10 properties, most of them within the U.K., and the decor does lean toward a generic chain look. But the architecture stands out, the common areas are refined (rooms less so), and the location is exceptional, drawing both business guests and tourists.

This hotel is only a two-minute walk to the Lancaster Gate tube station, on an elegant street lined with beautiful Georgian architecture. Hyde Park is across the major Bayswater Road thoroughfare (the hotel's main restaurant overlooks the park), and Paddington Station is less than a 10-minute walk away; from there, an express train to Heathrow Airport takes about 25 minutes. There are several restaurants and pubs within a five-minute walk of the hotel, and all city attractions can be easily reached by public transportation. Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Big Ben can all be reached via tube in about 20 minutes. Guests can arrange parking in advance through the hotel, though it costs an extra fee.

Of the 389 rooms at the Corus Hyde Park London, Standard Rooms are decidedly underwhelming for a property of this caliber. Tiny and with little in the way of decor, they're generic, with neutral wall-to-wall carpeting, white walls, and colored accent walls behind the beds. The open wardrobes (essentially a clothing rod) seem less than high-end, and rooms can also be oddly shaped -- finding a comfortable spot to watch TV can be tough. Bathrooms are cramped with somewhat dated tile patterns. Upgraded rooms, however, offer more space and style, with chic wallpapered accent walls, executive-size desks, sunburst mirrors, and cinched wood headboards.

Rooms are air-conditioned and include flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The wardrobes have hanging space, safes, and irons and ironing boards. All rooms include tea and coffee making facilities, while upgraded rooms include espresso machines, chocolates, and mini-fridges or minibars. Bathrooms have hairdryers and individually wrapped toiletries, while upgraded rooms add bathrobes and slippers. Evening turndown service is also available in upgraded rooms.

The hotel is host to the Hyde Park Bar & Grill, a stylish conservatory-style restaurant that overlooks the park and serves British and Malaysian cuisine. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus afternoon tea and drinks are all served here. Guests particularly enjoy the extensive breakfast buffet, which includes a range of Eastern and Western specialties, but it's not included in the room rate. The hotel's lower ground space is franchised to an Italian restaurant, Bel Canto Opera, which has opera-singing waiters who perform  every 15 minutes. Room service is available 24 hours.

The property has three meeting rooms, free Wi-Fi, an ATM machine, a vending machine stocked with traveler essentials, and a computer for guests' use. There's also a fitness center, but it's tiny with only five cardio machines. There are no other wellness facilities, such as a sauna or steam room. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk and concierge service -- luggage storage, ticket assistance, and dry cleaning and laundry service can be arranged, along with airport transportation and parking.