Whether you’re seeking somewhere to celebrate a big occasion in the capital, you’re visiting from out of town and you’d like somewhere special for your stay, or perhaps you just fancy a night away from the chaos of the city, you really don’t have to go very far to find such a haven.
Sitting on one of London’s most prestigious avenues, the InterContinental Park Lane is one such high-end hideaway that provides everything you need for a mini break that will leave you feeling like you’ve travelled much further than a few stops on the Piccadilly line.
Hotel
Quintessentially English but with a few elements that’ll leave you feeling transported, this five-star grand dame is brimming with history from its 50-year stint as a hotel. In addition to its proximity to Buckingham Palace, the hotel’s royal connections and history go way back as the intercontinental is built on the site of Queen Elizabeth’s childhood home, which was bombed during World War II. In its place, the hotel was built mid-70s and has gone from strength to strength, emerging as one of London’s finest establishments.
I visited for one day and packed so much into my 24 hours that I couldn’t possibly pick a single highlight – everything here is curated to offer you the best experiences, whether you’re treating yourself to afternoon tea at the Wellington Lounge, popping by for a leisurely lunch at the terrace, swinging by the spa for the ultimate indulgence or marking a celebration with some fine Italian cuisine at Theo Randall Cucina Italia.
Rooms and suites
Spend enough time in luxury hotels and you start to realise that it’s about more than just having a large comfortable bed and a nicely decorated space, it’s about feeling instant comfort the moment you walk into your room.
It’s the little touches that you didn’t think you needed but are hugely helpful; the way your senses are calmed with a subtle fragrance drifting through the air or some twinkling tunes on the TV. It’s the peaceful space that’s decorated with rich tones and super soft and delicate furnishings – a carefully placed mirror and lamp just where you need it. It’s in the details – the fresh flowers on the table, the handwritten note, a spare adaptor plug. A space that invites you to flow through it with ease, whether you’re staying for one brief night or indulging for a little longer.
Stepping into my Mayfair suite – one of the newly decorated sanctuaries at the intercontinental, I marvelled at the way everything had been designed for comfort and convenience with plenty of luxuries thrown in there too – cue the marble bathroom, the super soft furnishings, and additional WC by the door of the suite.
Champagne tones meet navy blue accents, brushed antique gold touches and rich dark woods to create a welcoming retreat, which I made good use of during my stay. There’s a bathtub for luxuriating in with a separate shower for convenience; a huge bed that, even when sharing, feels like you have it all to yourself; and a lounge and dining area with a fully stocked minibar if you don’t fancy heading up to the executive lounge during your stay.
Food and drink
That isn’t me, as the first thing I did was to head up to the seventh floor and indulge in an afternoon tea in the executive lounge and take in the views from the floor to ceiling windows of London’s iconic skyline with Wellington Arch just below. If access to the lounge isn’t included with your room, be sure to add it on and pop along for refreshments all day in a relaxing environment. Whether you’re making some time for work in an inviting setting, to partake in the aforementioned afternoon tea, grabbing breakfast here or enjoying Champagne and canapés before dinner at the hotel’s resident restaurant, it’s an extra perk that’ll definitely elevate your stay.
Mayfair may be full of many refined restaurants worth visiting, but you really don’t have to go far to enjoy good food as the hotel is home to Theo Randall Cucina Italia for – you guessed it – some elevated Italian cuisine.
It was a special birthday for my guest on this visit and we couldn’t have felt more welcomed and well-treated from the moment we sat down at our table for dinner (since we had checked in at reception earlier in the day, in fact). With a glass of sparkling wine in hand, we perused the evening set menu and tucked into some bruschetta and focaccia while we made our choices for the night.
A delicious and lighter way to start the meal, I opted for the insalata mista – a mixed leaf salad with goats’ cheese, Datterini tomatoes, cucumber, mint, basil and aged balsamic vinegar. It offered a great balance of flavour and texture thanks to a generous helping of crisp lettuce leaves and cucumber, deliciously fruity sweet succulent tomatoes – I’m not even a tomato fan but wow! – tart balsamic, a dusting of salt and, of course, the creamy flavourful cheese.
For the primi course, it had to be the pappardelle con ragu di manzo – fresh pasta with slow-cooked beef in Chianti and San Marzano tomatoes. The beef was so flavourful and rich in an almost lighter, fruity way with the tomatoes, and offered some beautiful, bold flavours along with a delicious texture and consistency. The pasta was cooked to perfection and was just the right portion size, with some Parmesan and a little salt and pepper on top, and our Italian wine pairing – Barbera d’Alba, Serralunga Alba, Massonlino – making this perfecto.
For dessert, it was the affogato – vanilla ice cream with (decaf) espresso poured on top – for me, and a slice of Amalfi lemon tart with a candle and ‘happy birthday’ written in chocolate for the man of the moment.
The open plan space, decorated in light woods, soft green tones, with low lighting and white-clothed tables with comfortable armchairs, is home to a very impressive breakfast spread, too. If you don’t fancy starting the day at the executive lounge, you can head here a for a larger selection of buffet items and hot dishes from the kitchen. The pastry section, in particular, was very impressive with a range of sweet and fruit-filled sweet pastries, cookies and cakes looking all-too tempting. I grabbed a few, along with some meat, cheeses and a little fruit for balance and enjoyed alongside a portion of Eggs Royale from the kitchen. It was a great start to the day.
Once I checked out and enjoyed some local sights, I returned that afternoon for, yes, my second afternoon tea in two days. This time we were in the Wellington Lounge on the ground floor for the seasonal selection of afternoon tea goodies.
With an array of carefully-crafted, delectable, sweet and savoury delights this was one of the best afternoon teas I’ve devoured. Savoury offerings like hot smoked salmon and dill rillette on white bread and Coronation chicken on turmeric bread, met with a chilled pea and mint velouté, followed by fluffy scones, and artfully made sweets such as an apricot and lavender hat and a salted macadamia and milk chocolate penny. For smaller appetites there’s a children’s menu or you can opt for a cream tea, and you can pair your afternoon treat with a choice of Champagnes, or teas from TWG.
Spa
With seven treatment rooms, a Rassoul chamber and an abundance of crystals and alternative therapies in addition to the traditional aromatherapy massages, Spa InterContinental may be tucked away, but it’s a real gem in the city.
There’s nothing quite like exploring all that the fine English capital has to offer, but often the city can be overwhelming to the senses, especially if you don’t live here. Having a haven you can escape to when you need to be ensconced in a sanctuary of twinkling tunes and soothing smells is paramount. And if you’re travelling with a partner, even better as I found out on my visit.
There are a number of couple’s treatments to partake in here and my partner and I were tucked away in our own treatment suite, which includes the Rassoul chamber and dressing area, and next door a couple’s treatment room with a separate lounge area as well.
We started our session with a 30-minute steam in the chamber, which was imbued with the scent of eucalyptus. After we had applied a sweet scrub to our bodies, the space provided the perfect place for us to sit back and let the steam do all the hard work for our skin and senses. My skin felt great and after a slightly sobering end – the lights come on and a split second later shower jets from above shoot water at you (we were warned about this) – we dried off and returned to the suite where we both enjoyed a wonderfully soothing massage to ease our aching muscles and further relax us.
It’s a great spot in the city, whether you’re looking for an hour’s escape, need to top up on some treatments or fancy taking part in one of the mindfulness nights the spa hosts.
To do
The location on Hyde Park Corner is one of the selling points of a visit here – to one side you have Hyde Park where you can enjoy some respite in the city or partake in sports or a seasonal event or two, to another you’ll find Green Park and it’s a short walk through the trees to Buckingham Palace. Piccadilly runs alongside, which leads you straight through Mayfair and St James to the West End and its array of fantastic shows, while the many top-level restaurants, shopping opportunities and attractions are practically on your doorstep, but far enough away so your multi-park location has you feeling like your much further away from the hustle and bustle of London life.
Unsure of what to do in the area? Just head to the concierge desk to uncover the local gems and get some inspiration for your day.
In a nutshell
In a city full of five-star hotels bursting with amenities to outdo the next, InterContinental Park Lane stands tall, with its fantastic location, friendly and accommodating staff, and top-quality dining and spa experiences providing a well-curated and high-class stay – not forgetting its IHG awards programme where you can enjoy exclusive offer and earn and redeem points across more than 7,000 properties. What’s not to love?
Factbox
Address: One Hamilton Place, Park Ln, London W1J 7QY
Tel: 020 7409 3131
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ihg.com
See snippets of my travels on Instagram @tashheard_food_travel
Imagery provided by InterContinental Park Lane
