HOTEL HOPPING
After a year of change and endless downtime, London’s social scene is opening up again. Here’s why The Platinum Card® from American Express is your key to all the fun
After months of being stuck inside with little to occupy us except the latest Netflix offerings, it’s understandable that we’re all clamouring for a return to normality — and, indeed, the finer things in life.
Regular visitors to the capital will know what a plethora of exciting places London has to offer. So much so, in fact, that it can be difficult to know where to begin. May we suggest, then, that you adopt the Amex Platinum Card as your guide to good times?
Whether you’re dining out, booking a hotel stay or fleeing the city to travel somewhere further afield, The Platinum Card’s range of services and rewards will elevate your experience. Accessible through the Card is everything from airport-lounge access to worldwide travel insurance and free hotel-room upgrades, where available, at over 1,000 hotels across the UK — a must for anyone missing the luxury of high-end facilities.
Here are just some of the benefits you’ll be able to take advantage of when you sign up.
Take A Dip In The Rooftop Pool At The Mondrian Located in stylish Shoreditch, the Mondrian is a must-stay in the heart of London’s creative and cultural hub. It boasts two amazing dining areas. The first is courtesy of renowned Spanish chef Dani García, who heads up the hotel’s tapas restaurant, Bibo. The second, Christina’s, is an all-day cafe and cocktail bar, which only sources products from local suppliers and brands with social impact.
Top-notch culinary experiences aside, the hotel also plays host to one of London’s finest rooftop pools. Attended by plenty of wicker chairs and rattan furnishings, take time to relax poolside and you’ll soon forget you’re in the middle of one of London’s busiest post codes. The plunge pool is the perfect place to have breakfast or a post-lunch cocktail.
Under the stewardship of general manager David Lockhart, formerly of the Ned, and with interiors by award-winning design studio Goddard Littlefair, the Mondrian is London at its most chic. Use your Platinum Card to book one of the 13 beautiful suites on offer, and you’ll also get a noon check-in and room upgrade on arrival (both subject to availability). Who needs to go abroad for a luxury city break?
Grab A Drink In Scarfes Bar At The Rosewood Grand and gracious, the Rosewood in High Holborn is an urban sanctuary. When it comes to dining, afternoon tea and all-day dining are a staple of the magnificent Mirror Room, while the Holborn Dining Room offers traditional British fare with a contemporary twist (not to mention the famous adjoining Pie Room).
The Rosewood’s standout feature is undoubtedly Scarfes Bar — where drawing room conviviality meets creative mixology and some of the best live jazz in the city. And don’t worry if it’s a late one — your Platinum Card guarantees 4pm checkout the next day.
Travel In Style With Addison Lee
Dashing between London’s best venues can be exhausting. Luckily, if you book transportation with Addison Lee, you’ll receive a £10 statement credit for that month, meaning you’ll save more than just blisters.
Lunch At Berners Tavern At The London Edition Soho is one of London’s finest foodie destinations and getting a table is no problem with a Platinum Card, as it grants Cardmembers access to specially reserved tables at restaurants that are part of Amex’s Global Dining Collection. One such place is iconic eatery Berners Tavern at the London Edition Hotel, where chef Jason Atherton is in charge — and with four Michelin stars under his belt, you’re in for a treat.
Not only is it the perfect place to refuel, it’s also a stone’s throw from Soho’s array of shops, such as END Clothing on Broadwick Street, where you’ll get one Membership Rewards® point for every £1 you spend using your Platinum Card. Your points can then go towards paying off items on your Card statement, so the more you shop, the more points you accrue.
Unwind at Heathrow’s New Centurion® Lounge Airports can be stressful but your Platinum Card offers you the perfect way to take the edge off before a flight, as it gives you access to complimentary snacks, drinks and Wi-Fi at over 1,300 airport lounges in over 140 countries worldwide. The latest oasis of calm unveiled by American Express is Europe’s first Centurion® Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 3, where you can enjoy Michelin-starred food from chef Assaf Granit and entry to a private art gallery inspired by British design.
So sign up for your Platinum Card today and reap the rewards as you embrace your social life again.
For more information and to apply for The Platinum Card, search ‘Amex Platinum’. Annual fee: £575. Terms and Conditions apply. If you’d prefer a Card without any rewards, other features or a Cardmembership fee, an alternative is available — The Basic Card. Applicants must be 18 or over. Approval is subject to status and Terms and Conditions apply. For full Terms and Conditions, please visit www.americanexpress.co.uk/platinum