Sarah Clever reviews the Lancaster London Hotel in central London. The review took place in February 2015.
If you’re looking for a central London hotel with breathtaking views over the city skyline then your first port of call should certainly be the Lancaster London, a 4-star establishment quietly located next to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Just a stones throw from Lancaster Gate Tube Station; the 416-room Lancaster London is just perfect for those of us that are interested in shopping, theatre and monuments, luckily my partner and I love all three, not necessarily in that order mind.
The hotel, which must be on its way to becoming five-star, is Thai owned, and its South East Asian influence is immediate. The reception area is marble-floored and is decorated with numerous Buddha statuettes. Another giveaway is the award-winning Nipa Thai restaurant, which showcases original Thai artefacts within a beautifully panelled teak interior complete with luxurious Thai furnishings.
Walking into our room on the hotel’s 18th floor (luckily I’m not scared of heights) was certainly one of life’s jaw-dropping ‘wow’ moments. Wall-to-wall windows boasting sweeping panoramic views over Hyde Park and the capital’s skyline greeted us in our executive room.
The spacious room, which had satellite TV, was bright and decorated in warm colours, which made us both feel very at ease. The marble bathroom was elegant and offered everything you would expect from a luxury four-star hotel, including a super soft bathrobe, it’s those little touches that impress me so much. The huge double bed, with crisp, white plumped up pillows made me want to just sink straight into it. I felt like a queen and did not want the experience to end. The executive room also had sofa seating, a separate dressing area, and generous luggage storage and wardrobe space.
As the sun set, bouncing its pink glow off the city’s skyscrapers and iconic landmarks, I was reminded how magical and beautiful the city of London really is. I have been fortunate enough to visit the likes of Paris, New York, Munich, Amsterdam, Madrid and Tokyo but for me London stands head and shoulders above all of these cities for its architecture and words simply can’t do it justice.
We headed into Oxford Street for a quick bite to eat, before making our way to Shaftsbury Avenue and a trip to the beautiful Apollo Theatre to watch the Lion King.
Having enjoyed one of the most restful night’s sleeps in months, the following morning was kick-started with breakfast in the hotel’s contemporary Island Grill, which serves a range of options, from traditional Thai to continental or a hearty full English. Predictably, we both opted for the full English. This comprised of two juicy sausages, two rashers of tender British back bacon, a perfectly cooked fried egg, field mushrooms, tomato, baked beans and a round of granary toast and full fat butter. Washed down with two cups of black coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice, we were ready for the day ahead and a visit to Oxford Street before heading back to Paddington station to catch my First Great Western Train back to sleepy Castle Cary.
Unfortunately, we were unable to sample The Lancaster’s Nipa Restaurant, which according to the brochure serves “authentic Thai cuisine prepared in elegant surroundings”. Nipa Thai is one of an elite selection of Thai restaurants in the UK to have received the “Thai Select” award from the Thai Government for restaurants proven to have achieved the highest standards of quality and cuisine. To perfectly complement this, Nipa Thai has also received 2 AA Rosettes for its “precise, authentic cooking with incredible attention to detail”. The menu offers all the traditional Thai treats you would expect such as crispy fried succulent prawn cakes served with plum sauce and a soy marinated sliced, grilled sirloin of beef served with chilli sauce.
I’ve heard some excellent stories about the cuisine on offer at the restaurant and the next time I’m in London will certainly book a table to see whether or not it lives up to all the hype. I’m sure it does.
In a nutshell:
Great central location, even better views of capital city, a comfortable bed and room, friendly staff and a delicious breakfast. What more could you want?
