Royal Lancaster London

This towering hotel looks a little stark from the outside, with an unrepentant hardness that's held over from its 1960s roots. Inside, the property couldn’t be more different, with fresh flowers, lots of light, and sweeping polished marble floors. There are subtle nods to the hotel’s history, with Art Deco mirrored walls and abstract art in the bedrooms and lobby. However, as of our early 2018 visit, the hotel had recently undergone a huge refurbishment, so public areas and guest rooms look chic and modern. The lobby is a hive of activity, with guests and locals chatting over drinks in the Hyde Lobby Bar or tapping away on laptops on one of the velvet blue sofas. As a result, there’s a good bit of buzz when you first enter the property. Business guests are numerous here, but the Royal Lancaster also attracts a fair few special-occasion guests and the odd celebrity who like to post pictures of the hotel’s breath-taking views from the Park Suite bathtub. The staff-to-guest ratio is high and check-in is a cool and calm affair.

For business guests and leisure tourists, this hotel’s location couldn’t get much better. It’s across the street from Hyde Park and essentially atop Lancaster Gate Tube station, with plenty to see and do all around. The park, of course, is prime territory for strolling, and Paddington Station is only a five-minute walk in the opposite direction for those heading out of town. Notting Hill, with its markets and trendy restaurants, is just 15 minutes away by train (or a 20-minute walk west). From there you can easily walk to the lovely Holland Park. There are a number of quaint, traditional pubs under a five-minute walk away, like The Swan and The Victoria. It takes just 10 minutes to get to Oxford Circus on the tube, which is a haven for shopping and dining out. The bus is another great way to see the city, and buses to Soho and Victoria frequently pass the hotel. The Heathrow Express is available from Paddington Station, taking guests straight to Heathrow in under 20 minutes. It will take around an hour to reach Gatwick Airport by a combination of tube and train.

Classy and restrained, but in no way dull, the 411 rooms are tricked out with both contemporary and vintage touches. Ranging from Classic Rooms to Signature Suites, all have the same upmarket-home appeal. Premium linens and soft gold accents keep things looking high-end, while fresh flowers and velvet seating feel add just the right touch up upmarket style. Even the smallest Classic Rooms have king-size beds (though twin beds are available in some units), plus 40-inch Smart TVs, desk and chair space, and ample storage. Air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and international plugs are standard. Deluxe Rooms and higher add Nespresso machines as well. Huge windows keep things light and spacious, and, from Classic View categories and up, all rooms have incredible London vistas. The marble bathrooms feel particularly posh, and include premium White Company bath products as well as showers. Full-length mirrors and make-up vanity kits are a huge bonus. Studio Rooms are particularly impressive and the decor changes slightly from the lower categories. There are mirrored walls behind the headboards, plush blue sofas, and honeycomb design carpets in homage to the hotel’s rooftop beehives. The two Signature Suites sit at either end of the hotel’s 18th floor, and -- unsurprisingly -- they have the best views. However, the Park Suite also has excellent views (including from its bathroom). Extras in suites include Champagne on arrival, separate living areas, yoga mats, and tables with chairs to seat six. 

The main features here are the popular restaurants and bar, which should appeal to travelers looking for a social atmosphere. Although guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating out in the area, the hotel’s own Nipa Thai restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem in this part of London. Named after the Thai owner’s wife, the restaurant is steadfastly authentic, with an all-female kitchen brigade. The menu is more traditional in the hotel’s modern British space, Island Grill restaurant. The Hyde Lobby Bar is no less popular, and on our visit was packed with guests and business people as a meeting space, cafe, and light lunch venue. The bar itself stays open late, which is a bonus for the post-theater crowd. Other notable features include the 24-hour gym with its Technogym treadmills, dedicated weights section, and cross trainers. There is no spa on-site, but discounted spa rates are offered at the hotel’s sister properties and in-room spa treatments can be arranged. In a novel move to cut down on food miles and become more environmentally friendly, the hotel has also installed beehives on their roof. The honey harvested from the bees is used in the hotel’s breakfasts and occasionally given out in goody bags. Finally, the hotel has plenty of event space, with sleek and state-of-the-art equipment, making it popular with corporate visitors. Parking is also available, though it costs extra. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.