Childfree and celebrating our wedding anniversary I couldn’t wait to check-in at The Royal Lancaster Hotel. There has been a lot of talk about this hotel’s multi-million pound renovation (£85 million to be precise) and I was excited to experience it first hand. I arrived earlier than my husband, giving myself a chance to soak up this glorious renovation and also sneak in a checky soak in the bath. The hotel first opened in 1967 as the Royal Lancaster before being renamed the Lancaster London in 2009, then to celebrate its 50th birthday it became The Royal Lancaster London. Today, the hotel is nothing short of spectacular, with an interior that teams classic mid-century design with cutting edge, contemporary style.
The entrance is a grand glass-panelled crescent and the hotel’s 18 storey tower sits behind it. Inside the double-height lobby, twinkling geometric ceiling lights reflect off the glossy marble floors – it’s no wonder that this hotel has become known as one of London’s most Instagrammable places to stay.
Upon check-in, I was told that we had been upgraded to a suite located on the 14th floor, which was very exciting. I’d heard some great things about the suites and I wasn’t disappointed. The view from the room was spectacular, with windows from one side of the suite to the other. Overlooking Hyde Park’s Italian Gardens, the views stretched from Wembley Stadium to The Shard; I could have spent hours just watching London life go by. The room itself was more like a small apartment, consisting of a long lounge, bedroom and marble bathroom with double sinks and rain shower. I also felt very spoilt when I saw the full-size White Company toiletries – one of my favourite brands!
The room was well designed with great lighting, underfloor heating in the bathroom and electric day and night blinds on all windows. After running the bath and finding some music to relax too, I did exactly that for about the next hour and a half while I waited for my husband to finish work and join me in this amazing space.
That evening we enjoyed cocktails in the elegance of the Park Lounge Bar, with my favourite being the ‘Royal Park’ consisting of strawberry-infused Ketel One vodka, vanilla-infused Galliano liqueur, lemon juice, homemade rosemary syrup and cranberry juice – finished off with a gold leaf dusting. The modern fireplace and elegant marble gives his high-end hotel star quality.
Following drinks at the bar, we dined at the hotel’s Thai restaurant, Nipa Thai. With such a busy lifestyle and two children who like to keep me up most nights, I couldn’t wait to return to the room and get a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep. The London Skyline was so stunning from the room that it was a shame to put the blinds down, but there was no way I was allowing anything to disturb this night’s sleep. The bed was huge and extremely comfortable – well the next thing I knew it was morning, so it must have been!
That morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast overlooking the Italian Gardens and with the choice of buffet and a la carte, we were spoilt for choice. There was everything you could have asked for, from healthy bircher muesli to eggs royale.
Not only is this hotel a wonderful location to experience London or share a special occasion, but it is also one of the largest banqueting venues in Europe with a capacity of 3,000 guests across its 16 refurbished meetings and events spaces. These include the renowned Nine Kings and Westbourne Suites holding 2,400 guests collectively for a seated dinner.
We had a wonderful stay at The Royal Lancaster, leaving feeling gorgeously relaxed and truly looked after!
