Knightsbridge’s five-star hotels not only offer a stylish place to slumber, but are a gateway to some of London’s most exclusive experiences…
With a swathe of five-star hotels housed in grand mansions and attractive townhouses that rub shoulders with leafy Hyde Park and sit a stone’s throw from London’s most exclusive shopping district, it’s no wonder that the most discerning visitors choose Knightsbridge as their home-away-from-home. From Harrods on Brompton Road to Harvey Nichols and Sloane Street’s designer boutiques, Knightsbridge’s shopping opportunities are unrivalled. Plus, there’s world-class culture in easy reach courtesy of the V&A, the Natural History Museum, and contemporary art hub, the Saatchi Gallery. Only adding to the allure of this smart enclave are a wealth of top-notch suites and in-the-know experiences curated by Knightsbridge’s splendid hotels. Words: Ianthe ButtSuite dreams: Best Hotels in Knightsbridge
Going the extra mile when it comes to 360-degree luxury, elegant Oetker Collection property The Lanesborough not only offers personal butler service as standard across all room categories, but also has its own fleet of high-performance supercars, including a dashing baby-blue Lamborghini Huracan STO and a show-stopping Ferrari SF90. While all residents can pay for a driving session and take one of these eye-catching vehicles for a spin, those staying in the palatial Royal Suite – a straight-out-of-Bridgerton seven-room affair decked out in Regency-style decor – or The Presidential Suite, can play supercar pick’n’mix with complimentary use of a different vehicle each day. Taking over the Royal Suite in its entirety? A chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce Phantom remains at guests’ disposal for the entire stay.
At Art Deco-inspired The Wellesley, a complimentary chauffeured BMW service, covering a 1.5-mile radius from the property, is a boon for whisking those who find themselves weighed down with shopping bags on the Brompton Road back to the comfort of their suite. The Wellesley is also a top choice for cigar aficionados, thanks to its £1.5m collection – Europe’s largest – stored in a climate-controlled humidor. Each stick – from Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills to Hoyo de Monterrey San Juans – are hand-picked by expert Giuseppe Ruo. Sommelier-led vintage cognac and cigar pairing masterclasses can be arranged for those keen to sample the rarest limited editions – such as the Cohiba Behike 40th Anniversary, rolled by Fidel Castro’s last personal roller, Norma Fernandez – on the cigar terrace. Plus, the sprawling Wellesley Penthouse, spread across the entire sixth and seventh floors, has a 24/7 private butler, and its own private humidor and decanter bar.
The Berkeley on Wilton Place is as famed for its artful suites, including two glasshouse-inspired André Fu-designed masterpieces, as it is for its Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea, where the latest catwalk creations are realised in cake form. On request, for its most sophisticated visitors, The Berkeley can take things to the next level, with a bespoke Prêt-à-Portea collection, featuring pieces from guests’ own wardrobes – say a favourite pair of Jimmy Choos or go-to Burberry trench – recreated in biscuit, dessert or cake form by pastry chef Mourad Khiat and laid out in-suite as an on-arrival surprise. Or refined picnics in Hyde Park can be arranged, with proper seating underneath a sweet chestnut tree looking out to The Serpentine and a spread created by superstar Parisian chef Cedric Grolet, including one of his signature celebration cakes.
As well as swish suites with subtle nautical references and round-the-clock butler service, the glitzy Bulgari Hotel has one of London’s most well-connected concierge teams. They can, on request, arrange private helicopter tours for bird’s-eye views of iconic landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, as well as behind-the-scenes visits to the Royal Albert Hall, with privileged access to ordinarily off-limits areas, giving guests the chance to peek behind the curtain, exploring under-stage areas and dressing rooms.
With a serene, award-winning spa, the two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal on site, and Joyce Wang-designed rooms kitted out with gilded mirrors and botanical touches that riff on its park-side location, Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park has more reasons than most to visit. As well as a famously meticulous 24-hour butler service available to those residing in top suites, the insider experiences which the concierge can arrange are second-to-none. Think after-hours tours of the Tower of London, escorted by a Beefeater in full traditional garb, and going behind the Jewel House’s vault doors to see the monarch’s sceptre, complete with 530-carat diamond. Fittingly, the hotel’s three-bed Penthouse Suite features bespoke lighting inspired by the Crown Jewels – including pearl-shaped orbs crafted in opal.
The best of the rest includes the Lowndes Suite, at The Park Tower Knightsbridge, a penthouse with sweeping Belgravia views that can be enjoyed from the bed, or better yet, from the spacious double soaking tub. Top suite guests will be contacted ahead of a stay by their designated park Tower butler, who comes with a nothing’s-too-much-trouble attitude both during pre-trip planning and the stay itself.
Meanwhile, over in picturesque Beaufort Gardens, The Knightsbridge – known for its exuberant and colourful interiors created by design maestra Kit Kemp – offers a “Suite Experience” add-on package when booking The Knightsbridge Suite; perks include complimentary car parking, discreet in-suite check in, on-arrival clothes pressing, and a glorious bouquet of fresh flowers decorating the open-plan space.
There is no doubt that this is the place in London to stay for the finest collection of perks and five-star treatment: Knightsbridge truly is at your service.
