The Peninsula London

BACKGROUND

The long-awaited Peninsula London opened in September 2023. The new-build hotel was designed by Hopkins Architects at a cost of £1 billion. The property features five storeys underground and eight above, comprising 190 rooms and suites, several restaurants and bars, a spa and wellness centre, meeting and event spaces, nine retail shops and 25 residences.

WHERE IS IT?

Centrally located in Grosvenor Place, overlooking Wellington Arch and Hyde Park Corner, with Knightsbridge, Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks on its doorstep.

WHAT’SITLIKE?

Part of The Peninsula’s charm is its fleet of premium cars, which can be booked for complimentary journeys within a two-mile radius. I was picked up in a custom-made hybrid Bentley Bentayga, with lavish interiors, wifi hotspot and a knowledgeable chauffeur. At the hotel, Peter Marino’s design is all about natural light, greenery and open-plan spaces. The style feels timeless, understated and appropriate. The Peninsula allows guests to check in and check out at any time, provided they inform the hotel beforehand – a great concept.

ROOMS

The Peninsula boasts 190 rooms (51-59 sqm) and suites. All rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows but differ on views. My Grand Premier Park room looked over Wellington Arch flanked by Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens. The one drawback with city-view rooms is the traffic on the busy six-lane roundabout below, though the windows are soundproofed.

Rates at The Peninsula are staggering, with rooms starting from £1,300 per night, though room sizes do equate to suites in other hotels. My room featured a mahoganysat panelled dressing room (which can double as an office) and a bathroom in honey onyx stoneware – complete with a sumptuous bathtub with headrest, shower and Timothy Han products. Guests can transform the bathroom into their very own spa thanks to a setting for mood lighting and music.

For business, there’s a dining table/desk with built-in USB and plug sockets, an all-in-one printer/scanner/photocopier/fax and a drawer with stationery. There are also wireless phones, with complimentary long-distance calls. Further tech features include a wireless charger in the bedroom, a TV with Chromecast and LED touchscreen wall panels for lights, temperature, curtains and ‘do not disturb’ options.

Minibars feature locally sourced treats as well as The Peninsula’s own Champagne. There’s also a Nespresso machine and tea-making facilities. Further luxuries include a nail-dryer, a valet box and a huge bed.

FOOD AND DRINK

There are a plethora of options, starting with breakfast, all-day dining and afternoon tea at The Lobby. For fine dining, there’s Brooklands restaurant offering modern British cuisine, with diners beneath a scale model of Concorde. We dined at the equally impressive Canton Blue, featuring low-lit spaces shimmering with silk and porcelain, where we enjoyed xiao long bao dumplings (£16), crispy prawn wontons (£12), and the restaurant’s signature dish: Silver Hill Peking Duck (£135). A grab-and-go option is The Peninsula Boutique & Café, which replaced the country’s highest-grossing Pret a Manger.

MEETINGS

The 696 sqm St George Ballroom can host up to 450 people for a banquet, with a pre-function area and two lifts large enough to fit cars. There’s also the Wellington Room for private meetings of up to 60 people, four conference rooms, a boardroom and a 15-seater private cinema.

The design is all about natural light, greenery and open-plan spaces

LEISURE

The serene Peninsula Spa and Wellness Centre features seven treatment rooms, a hair atelier, a small boutique and a 25-metre heated pool. There’s a large 24-hour fitness centre, while guests can also access workouts via the in-room TV.

The hotel’s ground-floor retail arcade features nine shops from the likes of Asprey London and Moussaieff Diamonds.

VERDICT

The Peninsula has made its mark on London with this impressive property. Rooms are well-equipped for business and leisure, while the fine dining restaurants are worth visiting even if you’re not staying the night. Hannah Brandler

BESTFOR

Splashing out in London – from the Bentley drive to a bubble bath

DON’TMISS

An indulgent meal at Canton Blue

PRICE

Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in April start from £1,900 per night for a Grand Premier Park room

CONTACT

1 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HJ; 020 3959 2888; peninsula.com