Review: London Hilton On Park Lane – Not Just For Travellers In Transit

No doubt you’ve walked past the London Hilton on Park Lane. It’s hard to miss – it towers at a mammoth 378 feet, bordering Hyde Park. The five-star hotel opened in the 1960s and offers a nostalgic piece of architecture that is literally larger than life. But beyond simply dominating the skyline, the hotel offers a really personal feel, enjoying top notch old-fashioned hospitality, friendly staff and smart yet cosy rooms with spectacular window views. Whether you’re a staycation seeker or international traveller looking for a heady place to rest, this is a hotel that isn’t just for a stay in transit or business trips – and is well worth putting on your trip wish list. 

Review: London Hilton On Park Lane

Stay

The hotel houses a whopping 453 rooms, but plump for a suite. Why? All the rooms are smartly outfitted, clean and enjoy similar amenities, but the suites are a luxurious affair. 

The key difference, obviously, is size. All rooms have incredible views. But the suites enjoy a panoramic view, with big cushioned window sills that stare out into the busy centre of town. You’ll while hours away people-watching: whether on the streets, or observing the windows in your eyeline – it’s worth forewarning that you might see a bit of naughty behaviour as the building angles slightly in on itself, but it’s up to you whether you find this sort of exhibitionism offensive or exhilarating (we’re not here to judge). But this aside, much of the hotel looks out to uninterrupted views of Hyde Park, and the other half of the hotel onto the enchanting side roads that jut off Oxford Street. 

All the rooms are kitted out with the stuff you’d expect from any good hotel: kettle, coffee machine (in this instance, Nespresso), tea bags and little nibbles, hair dryer, toiletries (in a Suite Molton Brown), etc. And if the room doesn’t have it, you can call downstairs to the enthusiastic front desk to request it – think more your sewing kits, vanity bits and shoehorns. In short, you’re well provided for. Then there’s those TVs – big screens with smart features so there’s no missing out on Clarkson’s Farm or the latest Netflix swooner. 

The beds, too, take inspiration from the building – i.e. they’re enormous. Cocoon yourself in them, starfish, and enjoy prime London real estate under soft covers. And with solid soundproofing between rooms, you can expect a proper night’s sleep. 

Eat

Sadly, Galvin at Windows – the top floor fine dining offer at Park Lane Hilton has shuttered its doors after 18 years of business. Happily, the downstairs restaurant – Park Corner Brasserie – is brilliant. They recommend British wines before over continental peers, and the team has done the legwork of sorting teh wheat from the chaff for you. While the food menu, too, is all fairly straightforward – steaks, sandwiches and modern British comfort food – the kitchen has focused on nailing every bite so that it’s super flavour rich. The goat’s curd starter is well worth trying in particular, as it’s drizzled in honey and paired with hazelnuts and is spectacularly morish. The only warning for your meal: portions are big and you may end up overordering. It’s worth the bursting belly, though, because every plate is a serious-hitter.

There’s the bar, too. Revery Bar occupies a nook at the bottom of the hotel that’s all draped in red velvet (from curtains to booths). The bartender can run you through the menu in moments and the cocktails are nicely presented – The Regent, which is a blueberry cordial meets lime juice meets campari and gin maximalist mix, is presented nicely in a flute as an amber, foam-topped number. The bar has a playful feel, and also transforms from day to night. In the daytime, there’s an afternoon tea offer that matches cocktails to cake at £65 per person. 

Do

You’ve got a whole lot of London on your doorstep. Obviously, first stop off in the spa (their offer even includes a 24 karat Oud massage, which sounds a decadent treat for anyone needing to loosen their shoulders), and maybe make a pitstop to the gym. But from there, roll out into the city, before returning once more for a cosy night’s rest and a front row seat to the city’s skyline. 

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Final Word

This is a quintessential British hotel that will appeal to international travellers but UK staycationers will get a kick from it all too. Worth being a tourist in your own city for unrivalled views and a good food option downstairs. Double room inc. breakfast starts at £326.40, suite inc. breakfast from £640.00, hilton.com