Written in collaboration with TwoStomachs.com
Where is it?
In Belgravia, one of the most affluent neighbourhood in Central London, in between posh Mayfair and glitzy Knightsbridge. A perfect spot to experience the lifestyle of the distinguishably rich in London with your dog or pet. It is less than 10 mins walk to Knightsbridge luxury shopping district, home to Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Sloane Street and King’s Road.
Hotel reception
It is also walking distance to major tourist attractions like Hyde Park (across the road), Buckingham Palace (15 min walk) and Natural History Museum (25 min walk). Hyde Park Corner Tube Station is right outside the main entrance.
What is it like?
Elegant opulence. The Lanesborough is a grand palatial space yet relaxed and intimate at the same time. The structural construct is predominantly Georgian with majestic high ceilings, Roman columns, large elongated rectangular windows and symmetrical layout giving it a bright luxurious feel.
The Withdrawing Room
The interior is a magnificent celebration of the classic Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian eras, all under one roof. The Withdrawing Room and Cèleste Restaurant are refreshed Georgian masterpieces with intricate plasterwork, pastel colours shades, imposing chandeliers and beautifully crafted wrought iron work – perfect for a special celebratory gathering.
Céleste 1-Michelin-star restaurant.
Intimate Edwardian wood panelling, bold Victorian prints and wooden framed furniture are used elegantly throughout the hotel to create a sense of warmth and intimacy among the grandeur, that is the Lanesborough.
What are the rooms like?
Rooms fitting for royalty and all the special moments. The bedrooms and suites are grand with high ceilings, intimate with and romantic with bold Victorian prints, princess-worthy beds and cosy Edwardian wood panelling.
Premier room 217
No expense is spared in creating these magical rooms. Each piece of furnishing and all of the fittings are exquisitely commissioned from some of the best craftsmen in the UK. Upholstered furniture from George Smith in Newcastle (georgesmith.com) and lighting from Besselink & Jones (besselink.com) and Vaughan Designs (vaughandesigns.com).
Premier room 217
All rooms and suites come with 24-hr butler service, available with a press of a button from the room. The butler service is so impeccable that we did not miss the lack of a kettle in the room. Who needs a kettle when you can request for a freshly brew Assam served in a beautiful classic teapot?
Freshly brewed tea and coffee delivered by your butler to your room on a tray
There are 93 uniquely decorated rooms and suites arranged over four floors. Four room tiers: Superior, Deluxe, Executive and Premier. Apart from the room sizes, key to point out that Executive and Premier Rooms have higher ceilings which allow for princesses-worthy silk lined canopied beds and large Georgian windows.
Premier Room 215 fitted with children friendly bedsheets
Suites range from Junior to Junior Executive to Asprey to Grosvenor to St James to Buckingham to Presidential and topped off with Royal. The Presidential Suite has 5 bedrooms and bathrooms, a living room as well as a private kitchen arranged over 3,900 sq ft. The Royal Suite has 7 bedrooms and bathrooms, two living rooms and a large dining room as well as a private kitchen arranged over 4,845 sq ft with a view of Buckingham Palace Gardens – allegedly the largest hotel suite in London.
Are there family-friendly rooms?
Superior and Premier rooms, Junior, Junior Executive, Asprey Suite, St James Suite, Buckingham Suite have connecting rooms available (with Asprey connecting to a Premier Room, while the St James and Buckingham Suite connecting to a Junior Suite).
Different sized comfy slippers for all the family. The Lanesborough, leave no stone unturned when it comes to making guests feel valued
The Presidential and Royal Suites can be booked as a one, two, three, five or seven bedroom suites.
Premier Rooms, Junior Suites and Junior Executive Suites can accommodate 2 adults and a small child. Apsley Suite and St James Suite can accommodate 2 adults and a child.
Welcome treats for room 217. A bowl of fresh seasonal fruit, luxury chocolate gateaux, butter cookies and a handwritten welcome note
We stayed at No.215 & 217, two connecting Premier Rooms on the 2nd floor. Both rooms were very similar with only one noticeable difference. Room 215 has a larger bathroom with double sink and bidet in the bathroom.
Bathroom with double sink in Premier room 215. Other luxury amenities also in the bathrooms include a television and heated mirrors
Additional child friendly toiletries provided by the hotel in rooms occupied by children.
How are the dining options?
You will be well looked after for Food and Beverages. The hotel has two main dining menus. There is the Michelin-star menu served on at Cèleste – a gorgeous Regency masterpiece. And there is the more relaxed menu which can be enjoyed at the Withdrawing Room, Library Bar as well as the Garden Room.
Céleste restaurant
The Withdrawing room
Cocktail time at the Library bar
The Library bar
In addition to this, there is also a healthy, simple, fresh food menu served only at The Lanesborough Club & Spa restaurant from 7am to 4pm. It offers protein shakes, healthy shots, healthy juices, smoothie as well as healthy breakfast like eggs, porridge, sandwiches and salads and light lunch options – perfect after a work out at the Fitness Centre or a pampering spa session. They also serve freshly brewed tea, coffee and cakes.
What is there to do in the hotel?
Relax & unwind
You should spend many hours pampering yourself in one of the most luxurious club & spa in London. Relax in the separate male and female steam room or sauna. Enjoy a moment in the hydro pool with massage jets and unwind on the deck chairs with a healthy smoothie in hand. When you are ready to rejoin the real world, style-up in their softly-lit changing rooms equipped with powerful hairdryer, hair straightener, combs and multitude of hair products from Schwarzkopf Professional Silhouette and American Crew.
Hydro pool and relaxation area
Vanity area in the female changing rooms. Toiletries and hair styling tools and products are all provided for
Rejuvenate with a facial and massage
Why stop there? After relaxing and unwinding, rejuvenate with an indulgent session of facial and massage. There are four individual spacious serene treatment rooms and one couple’s treatment room hidden away from the communal area within the Club & Spa. Thoroughly soundproofed, it is tranquil and serene with relaxing ambience music and soft dancing candlelight.
Choose from a wide selection of treatments including white caviar brightening and firming facial (£235), pure movement body massage (£140), pearl and jasmine crystal scrub (£130), amethyst wrap (£160), manicures and pedicures. If you are feeling it, spoil yourself with the celebrity-approved Tata Harper treatments. Lose yourself for 290 min with the Green Indulgence Spa Package (£595).
Nail bar
The Deeper Connections Full Body Massage for 90 min was the perfect therapy on our visit. The skilful masseur applied long relaxing strokes as well as deep hard pressure on targetted areas to ease tensions. The rhythmic massage with warm essential oil from the back to the shoulders and limbs made us feel refreshed and reinvigorated.
Work-out
There is no excuse to not keep on top of your training regime while at The Lanesborough. Within the Club & Spa is a spacious, well equipped gym as well as a training studio available for all hotel guests. Find out the schedule for the group fitness classes which ranges from pilates, yoga, etc while you are there and join them. If you don’t have a training regime, make an appointment with one of the in-house personal trainers for a complimentary consultation and training session.
Create unforgettable memories with the Little VIP Club
If you are travelling with children, your children (and you) are in for a treat. They will be greeted with a welcome gift in the room and could have access to an Xbox One in the room, a comprehensive selection of complimentary blockbuster movies as well as fresh popcorn and milkshake on demand from the friendly butlers. On arrival, young guests are issued with a card wallet containing the Little VIP card. Upon flashing the card to a member of the F&B staff (of course with parental permission) this allows them to obtain unlimited ice-cream for life (not just during their stay) .
Special welcome for the children. Chocolate bomb with smashing hammer, hand written welcome note and a treasure hunt (on request)
Pop corn maker laid out ready for when you fancy an in-room movie night
Unlimited ice cream with the Little VIP card
In addition to that, the staff can organise a dedicated Little Butler Bootcamp where they will learn to make and serve a proper English tea. There is also a Mocktail lesson to learn to shake-up a drink. The butler could also prepare a treasure hunt in your room or other fun activities that you or your children can come up with.
Enjoy a rare Cognac and cigar
There is a walk-in humidor in the Garden Room with a large selection of Cuban cigars. A team of cigar sommeliers are at hand to help pick the best for your enjoyment. Relax in the Garden Room, a small intimate outdoor space in the lower ground floor garden of the hotel, together with a Cognac or Whisky from their extensive collection. Shall it be a 25ml glass of Hennessy Paradis for £110 or Hennessy Timeless for £850?
Who are the patrons?
The moneyed, refined and cultured from around the globe. From royalty to celebrities looking to experience the highest level of British hospitality in an elegant opulent Georgian design masterpiece. Given its location, it is especially popular with Americans and tourists from the Middle East.
The hotel also gets a regular flow of affluent Londoners to their well-known food and beverage establishments like Cèleste Restaurant and The Library Bar.
Are they dog friendly?
110%. It is the most dog friendly hotel we have visited in the UK. The Lanesborough is truly dog friendly. Small to medium sized furry companions will be treated like royalty in this exceptional hotel.
L – Lillibet the resident cat and R – our little princess, getting acquainted
As soon as they step into the lobby with you, staff will be petting them and giving them as much attention as they would provide to you. This was consistent throughout our entire stay with many of the lovely staff members.
Further to that, the dedicated butler is a call away whenever you need help for a dog walk or look after them while you relax in the spa or sneak out for some retail therapy.
Walkie time
All their rooms are dog friendly. The only two places in the hotel where they are not allowed are at the Michelin-star Cèleste restaurant and the Club & Spa. Your dog will also be provided with a snuggly bed, a water bowl, a food bowl as well as food pouches.
For all that they provide, there don’t even charge a surcharge unlike other dog friendly hotels.
Arched hallway
Luxury in room toiletries
Spa reception
Men changing area in the spa
Pedicure seating at the Spa
