Viewed by some as the greatest city on earth, London has no shortage of luxury hotels for you to enjoy when visiting England’s capital. With the cream of London’s staying places creating unique, lavish experiences in new suites, choosing where to lay your head for the night is becoming progressively challenging - but for all the right reasons.
To give you a helping hand, we've chosen some of the most lavish suites London’s 5-star establishments have to offer.
The Café Royal – Empire Suite
Originally conceived and created in 1865 by Nicholas Thévenon, the Café Royal was the place to be seen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with frequent patrons such as Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Winston Churchill. Closing in 2008, Café Royal has recently reopened as a luxury 5-star hotel deep in the heart of London and remains true to its original glamorous spirit.
Nestled between the iconic areas of Mayfair and Soho, Café Royal is perfectly situated for all of London’s finest hotspots and its new suites are the most opulent rooms the reinvented hotel has to offer. The largest - at 200sq metres - is the Empire Suite, boasting enough space for a lounge, dining area, walk-in wardrobe, large bathroom and study. Described by the hotel as ‘the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll suite’, golden walls and perfect views of Regent Street can be enjoyed, along with full use of the state-of-the-art Akasha Holistic Wellbeing centre, pool, gym, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.
“The Empire style is typical of the era after Napoleon’s reign and is understood to be a tribute to him by loyal followers following his demise" Donald Insall Architects
The Empire, along with five other suites, are available now from £4,000 a night.
InterContinental Park Lane – Royal Suite
Opened in 1975, the InterContinental Park Lane is situated on the land that was the Queen’s home from 1927 to 1936. As you can imagine, the royal connection has been utilised by the hotel as one of its main selling points and, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the establishment has bolstered this theme by splashing out nearly £1million to completely renovating its Royal Suite.
Describing itself as the ‘epitome of contemporary elegance’, the hotel is just metres away from Hyde park and in direct view of Buckingham Palace. With a thorough yet subtle regal theme, the Royal Suite is located on the 8th floor and is the jewel in the crown of a brand new ‘By Appointment’ collection of suites, one of the largest in the city. At the epicentre of the suite sits an awe-inspiring living and entertaining area which marries vintage glamour with modern-day opulence perfectly, and features a hand-blown glass chandelier, elegant dining area, grand black lacquer dining table and lush velvet cocoon.
Also featuring a study with bespoke accessories, master bedroom with a flora-lined satin canopy bed and a Calcutta marble ensuite, guests will have full access to the seventh floor Club Lounge, spa, gym and a first class restaurant. You can enjoy all of these features, plus many more, from £12,000 a night.
The Berkley – Opus Suite
Situated in the highly fashionable Knightsbridge, The Berkely describes itself as ‘a luxurious and welcoming 5-star hotel in the heart of London, ready to meet the needs of the most modern traveller.’ Boasting a winning combination of luxury, style, superb design and the very latest in hotel technology, The Berkley offers stunning views of Hyde Park and one of the largest luxury suites in London, the Opus Suite.
Designed by the iconic interior architect André Fu with the view to “create a space that feels luxurious, so the guest is relaxed, at home", the Opus Suite boasts 270 degree views, grand features and simple but striking embellishments. The suite offers a master bedroom with separate his and hers dressing areas, spacious bathrooms, marble bath and rain shower. With a bespoke 10-seater dining area and an onyx-topped kitchen, you can book The Berkley’s two Michelin-starred chefs, Marcus Wareing and Pierre Koffman, to cook dinner for you and your guests. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
You can book a stay in the Opus Suite from £9,000 a night, room only.
Shangri-La London - Shangri-La Suite
Due to open its doors on May 6th in the city’s iconic Shard building, the André Fu-designed Shangri-La London has been created with a sense of Oriental elegance and offers a luxurious home away from home. Championing the Shard’s unique design, each room is inimitable and features full-length windows with stunning city views.
Opening in September 2014, the Shangri-La Suite will utilise the majority of the skyscraper’s 39th floor. As with all other rooms, the suite features ceiling-to-wall windows for uninterrupted – and arguably the best - views of England’s capital - from Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London and everything in between.
Boasting accolades such as the tallest hotel in Western Europe and the first hotel in a London skyscraper, the hotel’s Shangri-La Suite offers a specially designed bed, marble bathroom with Jacuzzi bath, private study, living room, cocktail-making kit and a state-of-the-art device which will allow guests to sync their smartphones to take pictures from a telescope and play their own music through the latest Bose sound system.
Measuring 188sq metres, with the option of being increased to 232sq metres by connecting to the adjacent room, the Shangri-La Suite will cost from £14,000 per night.
(Written by Lewis Cook)