London has always held a special place in my heart. As a child, I lived there while my father, a Qantas pilot, flew to exotic locations on the Kangaroo Route (the early flight path that linked Australia and the UK). I backpacked there in the 80s, was a young parent in the 90s, and have found the city’s mesmeric, chaotic brilliance impossible to ignore over the ensuing decades. Yet it wasn’t until I sojourned at The Lanesborough that I understood just how marvellous London is when you fully embrace its decadence.
Situated on the corner of Knightsbridge Road and overlooking Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens, The Lanesborough is perfectly located for exploring London’s glitzy centre, being only a short saunter from Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the fabulous people-watching of Sloane Square and Knightsbridge. Yet while the sartorially-savvy heart of London is literally on your doorstep, The Lanesborough is a haven of peace - a hotel to meet with friends, read in The Library Bar, chat over a Bridgerton-themed afternoon tea, or simply absorb the beauty of a time-gone-by. In fact, when you stay here, you'll be forgiven if you forget London’s wonders altogether.
The attention to detail is astounding, and guests are offered every luxury imaginable. When you enter the flower-filled foyer (inevitably spotting Lilibet, the hotel’s resident cat), you sense that this Regency-styled gem (once a Viscount’s house, a hospital for 150 years and a luxury hotel since 1991) has tales to tell. Today, it’s still creating stories, having emerged from an 18-month renovation to become one of London’s most lavish boltholes. Over 6,000 books of hand-painted gold leaf were used in the process, and the 54 crystal chandeliers, sumptuous textiles, and 5,500 restored stencils are the embodiment of design magnificence. But what's truly wonderful is the atmosphere that this vision and artistry has created.
Naturally, you never want to leave - so you’ll be pleased to know that rooms and suites are sumptuous. Marble and jewel-tones abound, and there’s a butler service to help fulfil every whim (and deliver tea and cake with your wake up call). Everything is designed to make you feel right at home, even if a 19th century mansion isn’t your usual abode.
When it comes to dining, The Lanesborough Grill is unmissable. Flooded with natural light by day, breakfast is a scrumptious multi-course affair (be sure to savour the pastries - absolute perfection), while the deliciousness served up at lunch and afternoon tea looks almost too beautiful to eat. By night, the rotating array of art on the restaurant’s pastel walls (most of which is for sale), become an elegant backdrop to Executive Chef Shay Cooper’s seasonal creations, which reflect the best of British produce.
My escape to The Lanesborough was certainly an exceptional experience, and I clearly wasn’t the only besotted guest basking in the hotel’s aura and choosing to only see London in bursts - one outing simply taking me to M&S for a swimming costume so I could spend the afternoon luxuriating by the spa’s hydro-pool. Of course, if a Hermès cossie is preferred, that’s just around the corner too! Wherever you choose to do your shopping, The Lanesborough is a hotel to admire and adore - even if you have to keep it for very, very special occasions.
To book a room, click here.
Words by Angela Terrell.
