London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [128]
Fodor’s Choice | The Connaught.
£££££ | Many of the classic Connaught touches (the grand oak staircase, for example, and the small, elegant bars) remain, but the hotel has a modern look since a thorough 2007 renovation. Guy Oliver–designed rooms are done in smooth taupes and creams, though some are still on the small side. Bathrooms are also small, but have the latest gadgets. Hélène Darroze at the Connaught brings the titular Michelin-starred Parisian chef to London for the first time. Afternoon tea (around £35) is a great splurge, and the walls of the newly redesigned hotel bar are, quite literally, platinum plated. Pros: legendary hotel; great for star-spotting. Cons: history comes at a price; bathrooms are tiny. TripAdvisor: “world class service,” “elegant hotel with elegant guests,” “rooms are hit or miss.” | Carlos Pl., Mayfair | W1K 2AL | 020/7499–7070 | www.the-connaught.co.uk | 92 rooms | In-room: a/c, safe, refrigerator, DVD, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: 2 restaurants, room service, bars, gym, spa, laundry service, Internet terminal, parking (paid) | AE, DC, MC, V | Bond St.
Fodor’s Choice | The Dorchester.
£££££ | The glamour level is off the scale here with 1,500 square yards of gold leaf and 1,100 square yards of marble; bedrooms (some not as spacious as you might expect) have Irish linen sheets on canopied beds, brocades, velvets, and Italian marble and etched-glass bathrooms with exclusive toiletries created by Floris. Furnishings throughout are English country-house style, with more than a hint of Art Deco, in keeping with the original 1930s building. Yet few hotels this opulent manage to be as personable as the Dorchester. The hotel has embraced modern technology, and employs “e-butlers” to help guests figure out the advanced Web TVs in the rooms. There are three elegant-to-the-point-of-fussy restaurants, including one helmed by Alain Ducasse, which is always making headlines. Pros: historic luxury; lovely views of Hyde Park; top-notch star-spotting. Cons: traditional look is not to all tastes; prices are high. TripAdvisor: “lovely furnishings and gorgeous food,” “bathrooms are huge,” “elegant but welcoming.” | Park Lane, Mayfair | W1K 1QA | 020/7629–8888 | www.thedorchester.com | 195 rooms, 55 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, DVD, Internet. In-hotel: 3 restaurants, bar, gym, spa, Wi-Fi, laundry service, parking (paid) | AE, DC, MC, V | Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner
Durrants Hotel.
£££ | A stone’s throw from Oxford Street and the smaller, posher shops of Marylebone High Street, Durrants sits on a quiet corner not far from the Wallace Collection. It’s a tasteful option, with old-English wood paneling, leather armchairs, and patterned carpet. Note: Bedrooms at the back of the hotel are smaller than those at the front, but also quieter and air-conditioned. The building has served as a hotel since the late 18th century. Pros: comfortable; relaxed base for exploring. Cons: not all rooms are air-conditioned; some rooms are quite small. TripAdvisor: “very quiet during the night,” “quintessentially English hotel,” “enjoyable stay and great location.” | 26–32 George St., Mayfair | W1H 5BJ | 020/7935–8131 | www.durrantshotel.co.uk | 87 rooms, 5 suites | In-room: no a/c (some), Internet. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, laundry service | AE, MC, V | Bond St.
InterContinental London Park Lane.
££££–£££££ | The InterContinental London Park Lane, overlooking busy Hyde Park Corner and the Queen’s back garden, offers luxurious rooms that appeal to the high-end business traveler. The bedrooms are comfortable and slightly masculine, incorporating dark woods, with rich curtains and bedspreads. There are also top-brand electronics. Several of the suites are “themed,” bearing clever titles like “The Cinema,” which has its own screening room, and “The London,” a self-contained minimalist loft. Pros: central location; business facilities;