London Hilton on Park Lane, London

...be - THE Hilton. The London Hilton on Park Lane has, always been "The Hilton" and this 28-storey icon is a London landmark that I have wanted to stay in for nigh on 30 years. This weekend, the dream came true. Nor was the bubble burst.

Booking

I booked on-line through the Hilton website and was offered a rate of just under UKP 128, plus taxes. The room-only room rate of UKP 150 (about $300) was something ...
...room

London hotels are noted, probably, for two things; high prices and small rooms. Here, I thought that the price was good for what we got. The room, also, was by no means cramped. In fact, at 22 square metres, it was actually quite spacious. the King-sized bed was huge and proved to be extraordinarily comfortable. The comfy chair was very comfortable. The television was large and had a good selection of channels. There was a personalised ... more

I have just returned, very happy, from the Hilton. I have often returned, happy, from a Hilton, but this has always been - and will always be - THE Hilton. The London Hilton on Park Lane has, always been "The Hilton" and this 28-storey icon is a London landmark that I have wanted to stay in for nigh on 30 years. This weekend, the dream came true. Nor was the bubble burst.

Booking

I booked on-line through the Hilton website and was offered a rate of just under UKP 128, plus taxes. The room-only room rate of UKP 150 (about $300) was something of a snip and it would have been rude not to accept it; it was about half of what you'd normally expect to fork out for a room in this hotel, which holds some quite extraordinary accolades, including "Best Business Hotel in Europe 2005" and "Daily Telegraph Best British Hotel 2002".

I had intended this to be a visit for myself and Amanda. Young Josh, now 4 1/2 years old was originally going to stay with his granny. She was out of town, so he came along too. I shouldn't have worried for, although one's agenda necessarily changes with a toddler in tow, this turned out to be a very child-friendly place to stay. A friendly place, full-stop, if I am honest.

Arrival

Despite holding a travel card entitling us to free unlimited travel by bus or underground, the only real way to arrive is by taxi, which we did. Barely had the taxi ground to a hault, than the door was opened by a smart - and extremely friendly - doorman resplendent in a black uniform and top hat. travelling light, we coped with our own luggage and made our way through the revolving doors into the vast and opulent lobby. A smile from the concierge on the left welcomed us as we walked past the "Park Brasserie" and a huge display of Easter Eggs and free mini-eggs for the children. There is a cocktail bar and expensive-looking jewellers on the right and, just around the corner, the reception.

Check-in

We checked in quickly. This was efficient and friendly, if a little disconcerting. "Did you book on-line through central reservations?" he asked. "Yes". Frantic key-tapping preceded an apology that they had not been able to allocate us to the Executive floors (There are seven, I think). Ah well, I'd be paying for my drinks, then! I requested a smoking room. As ever, the dilemma inevitably ensues. "We've allocated you a newly-refurbished deluxe room on the 11th floor, but it's non-smoking". Quick as a flash, my non-smoking wife announces that the Hhonors Gold VIP upgrade will be good for my health, and we take the room. More frantic key-tapping and a puzzled receptionist hands me a form to sign, adding "Are you sure this room rate is right". I agree that it matches the booking confirmation, before he tells me that he's never seen a rate like it. As I said, prevailing rates are usually probably double what I paid. A deal was a deal - the experience and gentle interrogation were just a little disconcerting.

But soft! We headed to the one of the four lifts and got Josh to drive. He hit the right button and, in next to no time, we found ourselves 11 floors up. Our room, 1113, was conveniently located a few steps away.

The room

London hotels are noted, probably, for two things; high prices and small rooms. Here, I thought that the price was good for what we got. The room, also, was by no means cramped. In fact, at 22 square metres, it was actually quite spacious. the King-sized bed was huge and proved to be extraordinarily comfortable. The comfy chair was very comfortable. The television was large and had a good selection of channels. There was a personalised welcome card from the manager with two bottles of mineral water and chocolates. The decor was beige in a Hilton kind of way, but the room was very clean and well-maintained. The marble bathroom was well-equipped and comfortable, although I couldn't help wondering why - if this had been refurbished - they had kept the bidet. Or bottom-washer, as Josh insisted on calling it. The Molton Brown toiletries were lovely.

Thankfully, the minibar was well-disguised; with a chunky Kit Kat starting the bidding at UKP 3.50, for instance, I wouldn't really have wanted Josh to mess about with its touch-sensitive shelves, or the increasingly expensive products upon them! There were two monogrammed fluffy bathrobes - I can never understand why some hotels provide only one in a double room. These were available to buy for UKP 50 (Yep, did it). A monogrammed umbrella was also provided. And it was available to buy. Couldn't resist it, either. Bill increased by UKP 15.

Yet, as I looked out through the window, commanding an excellent view over Hyde Park and extending as far as the unfinished Wembley football stadium, I was a very happy chappy. This was, indeed, luxury at a fair price. The hotel boasts the best views in London, and from every room, and I cannot imagine that this is a shallow promise in any way.

The hotel is well located on Park Lane, one of London's best addresses, and is convenient for Hyde Park Corner, and the park itself. We entertained ourselves in the park, took a row on the lake (The Serpentine), then headed East to Brick Lane for Josh's first "proper" curry, before heading back to the hotel for an early night.

Refreshments

The curry experience had been pre-planned, so we hadn't intended to eat at the hotel, although there are a wide variety of options. There's "Windows" on the 28th floor, currently being refurbished. It is due to re-open in may 2006 and it is promised to be spectacular, both in terms of food quality and the panoramic views, high above the city. On the ground floor, there's the Park Brasserie and bar, and in the basement, there's "Trader Vic's". Of that, more later. Alternatively, the room service menu is extensive. And expensive. In most Hiltons, room service is very predictable and, whilst you can still order the usual club sandwich, etc, here you have a far wider variety, including a wide range of arabic food and - if you really want to annoy the bank manager, Beluga caviar which, I suppose, at UKP 150 a portion is probably a steal. It just seemed a lot cheaper when I was in Russia... Perhaps it's inflation.

It would be wrong of me not to comment on the bars, and there are four of them. Mindful of the fact that I'd be reviewing this hotel, I made a valiant effort to consolidate my research in this respect with you, the reader, in mind.

My favourite is "Trader Vic's". I've been to this bar before, as a non-resident, but thought I should check out its current form. Josh was made to feel welcome, which surprised me, but he loved it. The theme is Polynesian and, although you are in the basement of a London hotel, you feel as if you're in a bamboo beach hut in Hawaii! The emphasis is on rum-based cocktails, and these were very enjoyable. Josh had an apple juice. UKP 4.50. Ouch! It's a friendly place, with lots to see, not least the lovely waitresses in full-length silk dresses, slit to the thigh. Not that I really noticed.

Amanda and Josh returned to the room, whilst I continued my research in earnest. The next bar is Zeta's, a trendy nightclub-style cocktail bar with a large menu of exciting looking cocktails. Not for the first time, I was surprised that my cocktail of choice (Harvey Wallbanger) was not listed. When I explained to the waitress how to make one, she quickly returned with a very good rendition of the drink. The barman, I could tell, knew exactly what it was. Concluding with a fantastic B52, I left just as the place was starting to liven up. Strangely enough, the doors from the hotel lobby are locked at 9pm, so you have to go out into the street, and back in through the main entrance. A little odd, but I did so, via a pub down the street; my wallet had started to complain, and I quite fancied a beer. I could have had one at the Park Brasserie if I had known.

And so to bed. The hotel offers a turn down service but, in order to respect your privacy, only do so if you call Housekeeping. Feeling just about competent to turn down our own bed, we hopped in and had an extremely comfortable sleep.

Breakfast would have been expensive and I don't really "do" breakfast, so I passed. After a lie-in (It was Easter Sunday), we wandered down to reception and checked out. Concierge looked after our luggage whilst we visited some more things in London and this was speedily brought to us on our return.

Final Thoughts

All in all, this was a superb stay in an iconic, if expensive, hotel that I have always wanted to visit. It is luxurious and surprisingly friendly; I didn't feel it was at all stuffy, and it affords great views over the capital. If it did fall down, it was an occasional lack of attention to detail. On checking in, I asked if our room would be big enough for a rollaway bed for Josh. It was, I was told, but no bed appeared until a subsequent direct request much later - and then they provided a baby's cot. The complimentary newspaper was not delivered, although they were available near the lifts. I was a little surprised, too, when the gentleman in front of me in the queue for the concierge had to wait whilst the concierge had to consult a guide book in order to "Recommend a nearby restaurant that serves modern British cuisine". I'd have thought that it would have been part of his armoury. At the end of the day, however, these are very minor criticisms indeed. Overall, we had a great time and I would not hesitate to return.

Recommended:
Yes
 

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