Hyde Park has a history that spans thousands of years and runs parallel to the development of London in general. It plots a story through the Dissolution of the Monasteries, became a private hunting ground for Henry VIII and was eventually released for public use by King Charles in 1637. Following the seismic events of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, many of the city’s residents were driven to begin new lives in the west and Hyde Park began another transformation.
It was around the park that wealthy merchants and the aristocracy built the boroughs of Kensington and Mayfair, with elegant architecture and new communities created for an emerging elite that wanted those to support their lifestyles. Much has changed since then, of course, but with the gradual additions of Park Lane, Knightsbridge and Bayswater over the last three hundred years, an air of sophistication and luxury firmly remains.
The hotels around Hyde Park are therefore some of the absolute finest that the capital has to offer. Let’s take a look at the very best with our guide to the greatest hotels near Hyde Park.
The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough was originally built in 1719 as a private residence for James Lane, the 2nd Viscount Lanesborough, before spending 250 years as St George’s Hospital. As a Grade II listed building, this place bears such a fascinating history, with its awesome façade made from Portland stone, imperious high sash windows and Doric porticos that are the result of developments informed by 19th-century Rationalism.
Perfectly placed at Hyde Park Corner, The Lanesborough occupies a position surveying Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Belgravia, sat beside Wellington Arch and directly facing into the park itself. The hotel operates with 93 rooms and 43 suites that are designed with a Regency aesthetic of striped wallpaper, silk drapes, fine art and antique furnishings. It is the minutiae of service and attention to detail that makes The Lanesborough stand out amongst an ever-growing crown of stellar hotels in the area. The addition of a 24-hour butler for all guests to wait on one’s every requirement is testament to this philosophy. With The Lanesborough Grill on hand to serve exquisite British cuisine under the incredible glass dome of the restaurant, this is five-star luxury in first-class surroundings.
The Dorchester
Everything about The Dorchester was created with the purpose of being the pinnacle of luxury and modernity for hotels in London in the mid-20th century. Conceived during the interwar period and built between 1929 and 1931, this place was developed on the site of the former 19th-century mansion, Dorchester House, by Sir Robert McAlpine. It was a pioneer for many of the features that we take for granted today, through soundproofed rooms, central heating and en-suite bathrooms way before they were an expected standard. A thrilling combination of Art Deco aesthetics, classical symmetry and post-Edwardian grandeur eventually led to a Grade II listing status in 1981.
Directly opposite Hyde Park with Mayfair and Green Park as its neighbours, there is a 360-degree abundance of greenery and serenity to The Dorchester that makes the 250 rooms and suites feel like an oasis in the city. The highest standards of testimonials are also available here with Queen Elizabeth II, Noel Coward and Marlene Dietrich all suitably enamoured as guests here. Meals and fine dining are provided by a collection of options, with Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester being the standout as it holds the very rare status of three Michelin stars. Quite simply, The Dorchester is a global hotel icon.
The Berkeley
The Berkeley occupies one of the most sought-after postcodes in London, and perhaps even the world, at Wilton Place in Knightsbridge. Just behind St Paul’s church and overlooking its gardens, this is where Hyde Park, Belgravia and Mayfair meet. The Wellington Arch and the south eastern gates of the park are a two-minute stroll away and the boutiques of Sloane Street are just as close. That means that everything is covered here, whether you are looking for a base for leafy tranquillity or the opportunity for some world-class shopping. This Wilton Place entrance means The Berkeley is offered a more secluded and residential feel than other hotels in the area, which definitely adds to the allure for guests.
The harmony between undoubted heritage and contemporary flair at The Berkeley is evident through the facilities it offers. Understandably, there is a focus on the rooftop pool lined with opulent dark stone and the impeccable patisserie delights of the Cedric Grolet counter, but each of the 88 suites and 102 rooms here carries the same meticulous style and class throughout. It was often rumoured that Roger Federer made this place his base during the Wimbledon Championships, and it is easy to see how such a beautiful home away from home presented an advantage for the numerous titles he gathered.
The Royal Lancaster
The Royal Lancaster on Bayswater Road is an 18-storey masterpiece of hotel excellence. In 2017, an 80 million pound renovation retained the unmistakable glass façade while introducing a sweeping lobby with a scene-stealing white marble staircase that sets the tone for over 400 rooms and suites of elegance and majesty. As you would expect, the Royal Suite and Deluxe Park Suites make the most of this prestigious location with an enviable vista of the Serpentine Lake within Hyde Park and the world-famous London skyline beyond it.
Dining options here are a pleasing mix of the classic and the contemporary. Their café offers the award-winning Blooming British Afternoon Tea service and global cuisine is provided by the 2 AA Rosette status of Nipa Thai restaurant, which employs a traditional all-female and all-Thai kitchen.
The building itself was a product of the design optimism and minimalism of the 1960s, when the world looked to the city for cultural influence. The whole area of Lancaster Gate, with The Royal Lancaster Gate as its epicentre, became a beacon for new ideas and modernity in hospitality. If proof was ever needed, the story goes that The Beatles rented out the entire hotel as the afterparty destination for the premiere of their Yellow Submarine film. With a rumoured upcoming investment in wellness and spa facilities, this place looks set to once again be looking forward with innovation and style.
The hotels in this guide represent a high bar that has been achieved through centuries of hospitality knowledge, experience and dedication. A stay in any one is guaranteed to provide an elegant retreat with all the facilities one could require in the modern world, with added elements of the more sophisticated and detail-orientated days gone by.
