From the Mayfair Suite (Room 1918) of the London Hilton on Park Lane you stare directly into the eye of the needle – the 443-foot high London Eye, one of the British capital’s most iconic modern tourism attractions.
Adding to the pleasure of this impressive panoramic view, especially by night, hotel officials have kindly designed this particular room to have a comfy window-seat, upon which I perched fully-relaxed, glass of wine in hand, admiring the city lights twinkling far below.
Prime window views are not the only attraction of this 38-floor hotel fronting Hyde Park, a gentle 10-minute walk from Queen Elizabeth’s official residence at Buckingham Palace.
Entering its broad glass doors into a spacious lobby, you’ll be delighted at the colorful decorations, including vases of fresh flowers, gleaming tan and cream marble floors and glass sculptures atop pedestals.
A curved reception desk stands on the right near Moussaieff jewelry store while to the left are two dining options, Trader Vic’s, now celebrating a 55-year partnership with the hotel, and the Podium, where breakfast is also served with continental, full English breakfast or an a la carte options. The former offers a fusion of Chinese as well as contemporary continental cuisine in an exotic setting with Tiki carvings adorning the walls and signature tropical drinks while the latter offers classic meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as an impressive array of desserts.
The hotel also features a 28th-floor, Michelin-starred restaurant, ‘Galvin At Windows’ with seasonally inspired, modern French cuisine. For something different, you might want to try the ‘Confessions of a Chocoholic’ afternoon tea.
An oval-shaped carpet in the center of the lobby features an intricate design on it that reminds me of the sun’s slowly expanding rays. Soft seats scattered around it allow guests to relax among friends and family.
Lending a sense of nostalgia (the hotel is an icon of classic 1960s design) is an old-fashioned shoeshine corner with high leather chair.
An icon of British hospitality since 1963, the 453-room Park Lane was the first Hilton hotel to open in the UK and it faces three different directions – over the West End, Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace gardens, so upon booking, make sure to ask about views being offered.
Many meeting rooms and banqueting facilities cater to special corporate and personal occasions, and the hotel also has a 24-hour Fitness by Precor gym, a sauna, steam-room and a small ground-floor spa with its signature treatment being an hour-long 24-karat gold massage using a combination of gold leaves and gold-infused oil to rejuvenate the skin. The pampering menu also includes anti-jet lag, detox and slimming packages.
A comfortable first-floor executive lounge directly overlooks Hyde Park while for entertainment, live music – including salsa dancing – takes place at Trader Vic’s.
For guest convenience, a non-stop check-out option is available, simply drop your keys in a box and receive your receipt by email.
Location is a big plus for London Hilton on Park Lane, a place from which family guests can enjoy the diverse outdoor activities in Hyde Park, including boating on the lake, and adults can bask in the lively nightlife of fashionable Mayfair neighborhood.
