If you love classic cars, fine design, and the timeless thrill of the open road, there’s one luxury London hotel you’ll want to park yourself in this autumn: The Peninsula London. Perfectly positioned at Hyde Park Corner in the heart of Belgravia, this elegant new addition to the city’s skyline has already become a landmark for art, culture, and craftsmanship. But this season, it’s going full throttle with a celebration of automotive moments — from a Classic Car Afternoon Tea to exclusive stays during London Motor Week.
Classic Car Afternoon Tea
There’s something irresistibly British about pausing for Afternoon Tea — and The Peninsula London has reimagined this beloved ritual through an automotive lens. Available daily in The Lobby until November 18, the Classic Car Afternoon Tea celebrates the craftsmanship and creativity that define classic motoring and the hotel’s elegant legacy. A playful, polished experience, served within the grandeur of one of London’s most stylish hotel lobbies, expect a menu featuring refined savories and whimsical desserts — from Race Flag checkerboard sablés to a Vintage Car mandarin mousse.
Head upstairs to Brooklands Bar for a limited-edition cocktail menu spotlighting Glenfiddich’s craftsmanship with pours of the 16-Year-Old and 30-Year-Old, including Beyond The Track composed with the Glenfiddich Aston Martin Formula One Limited Edition.
The Peninsula Pit Stop
Over in the hotel’s Courtyard, caffeine and car culture collide in the most charming way. Meet The Peninsula Pit Stop — a restored 1936 Austin 7 taxi, painted in signature Peninsula Green and reimagined as a roving coffee cart. Once a Royal Mail delivery vehicle, the Austin 7 has been meticulously brought back to life, blending vintage craftsmanship with modern hospitality. Debuted at Goodwood Revival and ideal for guests seeking a taste of nostalgia, this mobile café now serves locally roasted coffee, fine teas, and light refreshments at the hotel and select London locations.
The BMW Art Car by David Hockney
With the art world descending on the British capital for Frieze London, The Peninsula London transforms into a gallery of rolling art with the BMW Art Car by David Hockney. On view until November 3, the 1995 BMW 850CSi is a vivid expression of Hockney’s playful yet profound approach to art. Part of the #ArtCarWorldTour and presented in partnership with BMW, painted with sweeping, expressive lines that reveal the driver and inner mechanics of the car, the piece offers an intimate glimpse into the beauty of movement itself. “Driving and design go hand in hand,” Hockney once reflected. “Traveling in a car means experiencing landscapes— which is one reason I chose green.”
Stay in Style for London Motor Week
London Motor Week is one of the capital’s most anticipated automotive events, and The Peninsula London offers front-row access to the capital’s most glamorous motoring week alongside an experience that puts guests right at the center of it all. Available from October 25 to November 3, the London Motor Week Package celebrates the city’s passion for motoring with a stay designed for classic car enthusiasts. Timed to coincide with the RM Sotheby’s classic car auction (October 30) and London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (November 2), it includes luxe accommodations, flexible “Peninsula Time” check-in and check-out, breakfast, and a chilled bottle of Peninsula Champagne or Sparkling Tea on arrival.
Year-Round Automotive Elegance
At The Peninsula London, automotive inspiration isn’t just a theme, it’s part of the hotel’s DNA. Beyond seasonal highlights, guests arrive in the hotel’s bespoke fleet of Brewster Green Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, enjoy secure parking and detailing through Topaz Detailing, and can admire a rotating display of classic cars from Brooklands Museum, the birthplace of British motorsport. Even the journey through the property feels steeped in heritage. Inspired by vintage hot-air balloon baskets, a wicker-lined lift leads to rooftop restaurant and bar Brooklands by Claude Bosi, where motorsport and aviation heritage influence every aspect of the design and cuisine.
Photos courtesy peninsula.com/London.
