The Langham, London

One of the more notable historical hotels in London, the Langham Hotel has been around since 1865, when it opened as the city's first purpose-built luxury hotel. Since then it has played host to everyone from Sherlocks Holmes' characters to World War II soldiers, BBC comedy acts, and modern celebrities like Lady Gaga. The hotel's stately Victorian facade gives way to a opulent entryway with high ceilings, marble columns and floors, rich bouquets of fresh flowers, and a cascading chandelier. The elegant Palm Court, with its grand piano and tufted couches, is another historic landmark, said to be the birthplace of the traditional afternoon tea, which it still serves. Immaculate, elegant, and amenity packed, this hotel accommodates the high-end clients who can afford it, including corporate guests, leisure travelers, celebrities, and especially couples.

Oxford Circus tube station and Oxford Street are generally jam-packed with tourists, but walk just a few blocks away and the crowds diminish dramatically. This means that while the Langham is in close proximity to prime shopping areas, its immediate vicinity is significantly quieter. In addition to high-end shopping, popular nightclubs, bars, music venues, theaters, and restaurants are also an easy walk from the hotel. For sights farther out, the Oxford Circus tube station is just a five-minute walk, and many major tourist attractions are reachable in less than 20 minutes.

• Five-minute walk to Oxford Street and Oxford Circus tube station
• Seven-minute walk to Regent’s Park
• 12-minute walk to Selfridges
• 12-minute walk to Soho neighborhood
• 10 minutes to Trafalgar Square via public transit
• 15 minutes to Buckingham Palace via public transit
• 22 minutes to Westminster Abbey via public transit
• 28 minutes to The Tower of London via public transit
• 38 minutes to Heathrow Airport via public transit

In contrast to the stately high ceilings and intricate Victorian flourishes of the lobby and lounge areas, the rooms are dressed in a more conventional, classic style. Details vary from room to room, and while they're all comfortable and immaculately clean, compared to the opulent common areas, decor can feel vaguely average. Typical decorative touches include wall-to-wall carpeting, rich wood furniture, and button-tufted chairs. Bathrooms may feature beige tiling, wood accents, and marble sinks. 

Rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with laptop connections, minibars, and coffee/tea service (electric kettles) in addition to Wi-Fi (free for basic browsing and checking emails, though higher data usage may require an extra fee). Bathrooms include free toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers. 

The hotel offers a vast array of room sizes, including apartments with kitchens and opulent suites, but even the smallest entry-level rooms come in at just over 300 square feet -- big for London. Upgraded rooms add extras, from state-of-the-art in-room technology to bars, dining areas, or 24-hour butlers. Guests in Executive Rooms and some Suites are offered access to the exclusive Langham Club Lounge, which includes extras like a free breakfast and other treats. 

This hotel offers everything guests expect from a luxury property, and has extensive fine-dining and drinking options. The Artesian had been voted the top cocktail bar in London numerous times, but also serves as an all-day gourmet dining lounge. Roux at Landau offers seasonal French dishes and British favorites in an elegant modern Victorian setting. The Palm Court specializes in afternoon tea, but also offers all-day dining, live jazz nights, and a nice Champagne menu. Except for guests with Club Lounge access, breakfast doesn't come standard with the room rate. Room service is available 24 hours. 

Another highlight of the hotel is the ample wellness facilities. During our early 2017 review, the spa and pool were closed for renovations, set to open again mid-2017. The previous incarnation of the Chau Spa offered an elegant blend of traditional Victorian features and modern Chinese decor, a steam room and sauna, and treatments centered around ancient tenets of traditional Chinese medicine. The 16-meter (52-foot) indoor pool is situated in what was once a large bank vault. A 24-hour fitness center features wood floors and a nice assortment of modern cardio and weight-lifting equipment, including plenty of free weights and treadmills and ellipticals with individual screens. 

The hotel also has a roomy business center with several computers for guest use and lounge seating, plus a range of meeting and event rooms, including a Grand Ballroom. The exclusive Club Lounge, open to guests staying in Executive Rooms and some Suites, features a special butler and concierge service, free food and drink, and luxurious lounge spaces, among other privileges.