Rooms With A View at The Royal Lancaster
Looming large over the Hyde Park horizon, The Royal Lancaster is something of a tardis when it comes to London hotels.
Situated literally on top of Lancaster Gate tube station, and just five minutes walk from the hub of Paddington, the iconic, towering structure was born and built in the swinging 60s – originally designed as offices rather than a hotel – for the pioneering Rank entertainment group.
But a hotel it became, and what a hotel. From the outside a looming grey tower, and on the inside a chic and stylish destination where guests want for nothing.
An independent venue, the vision statement ‘We Always Care’ is reiterated time and again during our visit. It’s rare to see so many staff smiling in a London hotel, but here it is standard. Reception showed us to our room personally and explained all we needed to know about eating, drinking and relaxing during our stay.
With panoramic views of the capital, our room on the 17th floor couldn’t be faulted. This is not a hotel for the vertiginous.
With a white marble bathroom housing both a bath and shower, a super kingsize bed and separate sofa and lounge area, we enjoyed the London horizon from every viewpoint.
We could also gaze down to the Bee farm several floors below, residents of which work hard to produce the honey you will enjoy with your feast of a breakfast.
Social conscience and corporate responsibility feature highly in the ethic of RLL. From the bee hives on the roof to the energy efficient kitchens in the basement, managers are mindful of all that they can do to reduce energy consumption, conserve natural resources, increase recycling and reduce waste.
We dined at Island Grill, the in-house restaurant which offers lighter bites like burgers and gnocchi as well as traditional meals such as Fish & Chips, and is rarely anything but full. There’s a full vegan menu and staff are clued up on allergens and ingredients. They also pour a fantastic Aperol Spritz.
A floor above is the award-winning Nipa Thai restaurant. We didn’t have time to try it but heard great things, so there’s a reason to return in itself. You will also find the Park Restaurant and Park Lounge Bar for less formal drinking or dining experiences.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and even Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed at the hotel, and with an on-site gym and in-room spa treatments on offer, you really could stay a day or three without having to leave the building.
But with Hyde Park literally on the doorstep, and such fantastic links to all the hottest tourist spots, you’d be a fool not to use the Royal Lancaster as a base for some London sightseeing. We enjoyed a Great Fire of London walking tour, a trip to the Science Museum – just a half hour walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens – and a shopping trip along Oxford Street.
Having packed a week’s worth of excitement, food and fun into just 24 hours, it was with sadness we forced ourselves out of our suite and back down to reception. Finding ourselves on first name terms with several staff members we bid a fond farewell with promises of returning soon.
The cost of staying at The Royal Lancaster London is extremely reasonable given the facilities, service and location. Standard rooms start at around £299 per night and this includes a sumptuous breakfast with incredible views over Lancaster Gate and Hyde Park. Suites and packages to suit all requirements are available. Please see www.royallancaster.com for more information and to book.
