When you take a trip to London, the choice of hotels is endless. But if you're after a luxury experience right in the heart of the city, the Royal Lancaster London will tick every box - and you won't want to leave.
Where is Royal Lancaster London?
This 5-star hotel enjoys a converted location opposite the beautiful Hyde Park. Close to both Lancaster Gate and Paddington Underground Stations, it’s quick and easy to make the most of the capital.
A short walk West takes you to Notting Hill and Holland Park while South will find you in Kensington or Knightsbridge.
The hotel first opened in 1667 and has enjoyed royal and celebrity guests alike as well as being one of the filming locations for the 60s movie The Italian Job.
Paying tribute to the bee hives on the roof, the hotel's crest features a honey bee along with a crown and rose, synonymous with the name Lancaster since the War of the Roses.
Where will I sleep?
With 411 rooms and suites available, there’s a room for everyone at the Royal Lancaster London. Choices range from the 215 square feet Classic Room to the family-friendly Superior Deluxe Triple.
We stayed in one of the south-facing Park Suites which offered stunning views of Hyde Park and the Italian Gardens. The suite is split into a separate spacious living area complete with velvet sofas and a glass dining table (which made in-room dining very tempting!) and a bedroom with King Size bed, also with surrounding views. The luxury marble bathroom is Pinterest-worthy with twin sinks, an oversized rainfall shower and a bathtub.
Beautifully designed with stylish decor, it's hard to convince yourself to leave the Park Suite and it's easy to forget that you're staying in a hotel and not your very own chic apartment. We really appreciated the little touches in the suite such as the Nespresso machine, robes and slippers, bamboo toothbrushes and The White Company toiletries, all making the stay that bit more special and luxurious.
Although we left our own pooch at home, furry companions are welcome at the hotel and are charged an additional £20 per pet, per night. There’s even a ‘Paw-Cierge’ pet-sitting service available at £25 per hour.
Those with little guests are made to feel right at home too, with the option of amenities such as pushchairs, car seats, high chairs, baby monitors and much more, meaning you can travel a little lighter.
What is there to do?
With the Royal Lancaster London, you’re perfectly placed to explore the city, whether that's hitting the shops or making the most of the theatre. Lancaster Gate tube station is just around the corner, making hopping on and hitting popular hot spots such as Regents Street and Oxford Circus a doddle.
If you fancy taking in the sights by bike, the hotel offers a bicycle hire service which costs £4.50 for the hour and can be hired for as long as a day.
Spa facilities
While there isn’t a spa on-site, the hotel is home to Royal Nuad Thai which offers an extensive menu of massage and beauty treatments, ranging from the Thai Herbal Compress Massage to a head and scalp massage. A walk down the hallway toward the treatment rooms engulfs you in soothing scents. There’s also a gym available for those looking to exercise.
What is there to eat?
Without even needing to step out of the hotel, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining.
The contemporary Tony Page at Island Grill serves signature dishes along with a relaxed modern menu. If you’re after something lighter, stop by Hyde Cafe for artisan coffee, sandwiches, cakes and pastries. Alternatively, for a special treat, take afternoon tea featuring warm baked scones and deliciously sweet delicacies.
We enjoyed dinner at the Nipa Thai Restaurant which serves authentic Thai cuisine prepared in beautiful surroundings with Teak décor sourced from Thailand.
We started with Satay Kai and Por Pia Tod before moving on to Panang Nuea Rue Moo, red coconut curry with pork and Kaeng Ka Ree Kai, a mild yellow chicken curry alongside Sanguan's Phad Thai and steamed rice.
Portions were generous and presented beautifully and every single dish was delicious, with tender meat and rich, vibrant flavours. It was easily the best Thai food we have ever eaten.
As a Thai-owned hotel, it's no surprise the restaurant is so superb and they are rightfully proud of its traditional all-female, all-Thai kitchen, led by Head Chef Sanguan Parr, who has worked there for over 20 years. We must give a special mention to manager Kasem who wore a constant smile on his face and made our evening a real delight with his sunny nature.
Dubbed the most authentic Thai cuisine outside of Bangkok, Nipa Thai is truly a hidden gem and we've been raving about it since we got back.
For breakfast the next morning, we stopped by The Park Restaurant where breakfast was a serve-yourself affair with a wide variety of choices from full English options to pastries, cereals, continental meats and cheese. Hot drinks were served by diligent staff who were quick to keep on top of refills.
How much does it cost to visit?
If you fancy staying at Royal Lancaster, daily rates start at £409 for a classic room, £469 for a superior deluxe and £659 for a studio suite.
Final thoughts
The hotel's motto is ‘We Always Care’ and this was certainly the case throughout our stay. From start to finish we received impeccable service from every member of staff we encountered. The care and attention that has been given to everything from the design to the food to the rooms really shows and is what makes the hotel so worthy of its 5 stars. We already can't wait to go back and will be wholeheartedly encouraging everyone else to do the same for their next UK staycation.