Located just a stone’s throw from one of London’s most iconic, and most naturally beautiful spaces, the Royal Lancaster London is a taste of luxury in a central setting. Within walking distance of Paddington station, Bayswater and Marble Arch, the hotel is right in the beautiful heart of the city.
With gorgeous art-deco inspired styling throughout, soft golden tones, and an emphasis on luxury in the small details, the Royal Lancaster Hotel is a favourite of many business guests, as well as those looking for a weekend city getaway.
Royal Lancaster London
I recently had the pleasure of staying while on business, and despite it’s external grandeur, the hotel provides a comfortable and cosy feel. There may be eight floors of rooms and suites, but each feels like an intimate apartment complex rather than the characterless style of the likes of an inner city travelodge of the same size.
If you pay attention to the finer details when you’re looking for a space to stay that’s much more than simply style over substance, then the Royal Lancaster London should definitely be on your list for regular trips to the capital. The hotel itself, now five star rated, is a classic institution, with the class and glamour you would expect from a luxury hotel in the heart of London.
About The Royal Lancaster London Hotel
Originally opened in the late sixties, the Royal Lancaster has a rich history and heritage as a place of understated style. With iconic mid-century architecture, and formerly designed to house the offices of a media conglomerate, the main building has been transformed, now home to a little over four hundred rooms and suites. The overall style of the hotel takes inspiration from its oriental counterpart, as well as playing homage to the sleek essence of style from over the decades.
Now part of the Landmark Hotel Group and featured in the Preferred Hotel listings, the Royal Lancaster London is just as beautiful as the sister hotels across the globe. On first arrival, you could be forgiven for thinking the hotel is a little unassuming, but once inside the lobby, you’ll be struck by the grandeur. In terms of style, the lobby of the hotel is finished with golden tones and contrasting white marble. opening out beautifully with a lounge and champagne bar on the ground floor.
Rooms and Suites at the Royal Lancaster London Hotel
As you make your way up to the rooms, you’ll notice the attention to detail throughout the hotel – with plush fabric touches, naturally muted colour schemes and design elegance from floor to ceiling. Not matter where you are in the hotel, there’s something there that’s a little more than ordinary. Following the recent refurbishment of the rooms and suites, the hotel went from a four, to a five star rated establishment, and it’s clear that the design and management team have had the expectations of the guests in mind during the redesign.
Every element in the rooms and suites are thoughtfully added to give guests the most comfortable and most memorable stay as they can provide. The rooms themselves are laid out in a uniform manner, with the floors of deluxe rooms often granting park side views and sunset silhouettes over the city. Rooms range in size from a generous 215 square feet in a classic room, up to 334 square feet in an executive room. All rooms come equipped with the essentials, king size beds, smart televisions, complimentary mineral water, irons and the most ergonomic hotel desk I’ve ever had the pleasure of actually working from.
Recently given a score of 8/10 by reviewers at The Telegraph – the hotel really does have a lot to offer it’s many guests. For those looking for a touch more glamour, the suites available start at 41 square meters, with the best views and features reserved for the royal suite which proudly serves as the perfect entertaining space for any staying guests. Almost double the size of the smaller suites, the scale of this premiere room is impressive to say the least, and with a range of chic gadgets complimenting the sumptuous styling – the Royal Suite at the Royal Lancaster London is city elegance exemplified.
Added features such as the complimentary in room “handy app”, which offers a handset with built in travel information, places of interest and free 4g and calls in addition to the personal service from every member of staff really help to make this hotel stand out from the rest.
Views and Facilities at the Royal Lancaster London
Overlooking Hyde Park, you are guaranteed phenomenal views from a number of the rooms and suites at the Royal Lancaster, with park side views in many of the suite bathrooms, you’re able to feel closer to nature and more at ease in the tranquil surroundings. Personally, I love being able to look out in the morning while I’m getting ready, and this view is something I did catch myself admiring for a little longer than I’d planned to over the course of my stay. Guests with views from this side of the hotel, the restaurant and the meeting rooms can admire the silver maple trees lining the edge of the park and the perfectly groomed italian gardens.
Contrasting marble and gold features in the bathroom make for a stylish and sophisticated feel and this theme is continued within the larger and more luxurious suites. Once again, the design of these parts of the Royal Lancaster London make this hotel as timeless as it is fashionable and chic.
If you’re looking for something a little more than the standard five star feeling, whether for business or pleasure, then the range of suites in the heart of the city make the Royal Lancaster Hotel a prime choice for executive travelers. Spread across eighteen floors with soft golden hues featuring prominently in the upper floors of the hotel, as well as in the bar area and foyer. On the city view side of the hotel, this is accentuated with velvet and perfectly polished glass. As with any other luxury metropolitan hotel, especially one associated with the standards of the Landmark Group – the Royal Lancaster in London is much more about style and substance in equal measures.
Food and Drink
Breakfast at the Royal Lancaster London is something to enjoy. It’s not a rushed part of the hotel experience, and again for me, I found myself savouring the experience of relaxing into the day while enjoying my surroundings. With a wide selection of freshly baked breads and pastries, as well as fresh fruit, cereals and other cooked items, the breakfast selection is considered, much like the other aspects of the hotel. The staff presence in the dining room is subtle, yet attentive and it comes as an extension of the hotel’s ability to be grand yet welcoming.
If you are looking for a little extra privacy, then opting for breakfast to be brought to your room is an absolute pleasure. Sometimes hotel breakfasts can lack a bit of the character of the rest of the luxury travelling experience, but here, the combinations of default options as well as season specialties, really help to make the breakfast something worth waking up for.
There are two other restaurants within the hotel itself, including the award winning – Nipa Thai restaurant, with it’s oriental menu and all female kitchen as well as the modern bijou – Island Grill. Both offer a great variety in their menu, and the experienced chefs in both really showcase the best of locally sourced produce, with high quality fish and seafood coming from billingsgate fish market and honey for the breakfast, glazes and cocktails sourced directly from the hotel’s own rooftop bee farm. Open to residents and dinner only guests, these restaurants offer choice and flavour for many varied tastes.
Taking everything into account, and following the £80m renovation, the Royal Lancaster London has been completely transformed – with dramatic re-modelling and acres of rich white marble. With such an illustrious history as a hotel, it’s difficult to discount the hotel as anything less that iconic, and as one of London’s most instagram friendly hotels, this status is likely to remain.
Royal Lancaster London Hotel Summary
Staff – Excellent – providing a level of personal service that exudes luxury – from arrival to departure, everything is meticulously taken care of. Attentive, knowledgeable and courteous throughout.
🍴 Food – Great variety and fantastic flavours, a taste of the traditional, as well as culinary excellence in the Nipa Thai restaurant. Breakfast options are made to order and offer a huge amount of choice – with honey from the hotel bees a personal highlight.
✨ Atmosphere – Personal, romantic and elegant. You’ll feel at home with all staff taking the time to get to know you, and be able to be comfortable in the effortlessly luxurious surroundings – soft golden tones and plush velvet add to the air of sophisticated comfort.
💰 Value – Great – with rooms from £189 per night, and so much included in the price. From the handy handsets, to complimentary mineral water throughout the hotel, as well as access to a small but perfectly equipped 24 hour gym. Bars can be a little expensive, but nothing unexpected as with any luxury hotel in london.
Star Rating – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This post is not sponsored by Royal Lancaster London or any related companies, including the Landmark Hotel Group and reflects the personal opinions of the writer only.
For information and bookings please visit the website: or to see more, make sure to check out the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Instagram or Facebook. You can see more photos of the hotel by visiting this stunning hotel gallery.