Introduction
London, a city renowned for its rich history, iconic landmarks, and unparalleled elegance, has welcomed a new jewel to its crown — the Peninsula Hotel London. Recently opened on September 12th, this billion-dollar establishment is poised to redefine luxury hospitality, setting new standards in sophistication, service, and attention to detail in one of the most iconic cities in the world. Recently, two members of the O Team, both Allie and myself, had the privilege of both seeing and staying here, and to say it left us in awe would be an understatement. We’ll tell you everything you need to know, including what you can’t find on Google, and we’ll also uncover how we can add complimentary upgrades to your stay.
Location & Arrival
The Peninsula is on the prestigious Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch, neighbored by Four Seasons, 45 Park Lane, and The Dorchester, to name a few. For three decades, the Peninsula diligently sought a prime location in London, culminating in the acquisition of its current site in 2013. Undertaking a complete reconstruction, the hotel meticulously razed the existing structure to construct a new edifice, a decade in the making before its opening. The hotel officially opened on September 12th of this year. It is currently going through a soft launch opening process and is excitedly preparing for a grand opening sometime in June.
Airport transfer is complementary to guests staying in the Signature Suites or higher. A member of the hotel will pick you up in one of the hotel’s 13 luxury cars. For top-of-the-line travel, a ride to or from Heathrow Airport in the Rolls Rolls Phantom VIII transfer costs £550. We flew into London Heathrow (LHR), which is about a 40-minute drive sans any traffic. You can also fly into London Stanstead Airport (STN) (1.5-hour drive), London City Airport (LCY) (40-minute drive), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) (1.5-hour drive), or London Luton Airport (LTN) (1.15-hour drive). Additionally, each guest can enjoy one complimentary ride to anywhere in Central London (within 20 minutes) on a first-come, first-serve basis 7 days a week, from 9 am-9 pm.
Part of our exclusive partnership with Peninsula Hotels allows us the opportunity to extend “Peninsula Time” to our clients, which means you can check in and check out at your leisure. This also means that you will never have to wait in line to check in and can enjoy being escorted straight up to your room.
A Billion-Dollar Masterpiece
The grand lobby hosts daily live entertainment, spotlighting a grand piano as its centerpiece. Since our visits were during the holidays, the massive floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree is the beautiful centerpiece of the lobby, with red decorations seamlessly matching the colors of the furniture.
The Chairman of The Peninsula Hotels has a not-so-secret passion and love for the aviation and automotive industries and therefore, every Peninsula hotel has an aviation and automotive theme intertwined into the hotel in subtle yet obvious ways. The Peninsula London has an exclusive partnership with Brooklands Museum, where vintage cars from the museum are frequently alternated and displayed to the left of the lobby on the pathway to the hot air balloon-themed elevator which takes guests up to the Brooklands rooftop bar and restaurant. That’s right, the elevator is designed to look exactly like the inside of a hot air balloon.
Dining with a View
Brooklands Bar welcomes guests for lunch and dinner daily and unveils a thoughtfully designed setting that tastefully echoes the interior of an automobile. Reimagined lounge chairs crafted from repurposed Rolls Royce vehicles and the prominent display of a Rolls Royce within the bar underscore the thoughtful automotive-themed ambiance. Concealed towards the bar’s rear, a private dining enclave caters to 22 guests, purportedly resembling the engine of the car in the lobby, although I regrettably couldn’t explore it firsthand as it was in use during my visit.
An intriguing fact: the bar’s panoramic view includes a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, making this the only hotel in London with such a prestigious view of London’s skyline. For this reason, to adhere to security laws, the bar balcony must remain closed and can only be admired through the glass windows.
Brooklands by Claude Bosi features a magnificent Concord plane—an iconic model now retired—as its centerpiece. The restaurant’s expansive outdoor patio, offering unobstructed 180-degree vistas encompassing London’s renowned landmarks like Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Shard, serves as a picturesque dining backdrop, especially during the warmer seasons when you sit outside.
Situated between the bar and restaurant is a cigar lounge, where visitors must purchase cigars on-site due to legal regulations. However, the hotel graciously provides a lower-level cigar vault service, enabling guests to retain their personal cigar box for subsequent visits, eliminating the need for repeated purchases.
Guests can enjoy an à la carte breakfast served daily in the main lobby area. As our client, one of the perks is free breakfast for two daily, which can be enjoyed at The Lobby. For a dining experience throughout the day, the Lobby restaurant caters to patrons with a diverse menu. Due to its popularity, reservations are strongly advised.
Renowned among regular guests, the Peninsula hotels boast a celebrated tradition of afternoon tea. Originating in Hong Kong and steeped in English heritage, this esteemed custom has become an iconic hallmark of the Peninsula experience. You can explore the afternoon tea menu here.
The most popular restaurant is Canton Blue, which offers innovative Cantonese cuisine in a collection of exquisitely decorated spaces. You do need reservations often months in advance to dine here, however, tables are set aside exclusively for hotel guests.
Last but not least, The Peninsula’s infamous grab-and-go cafe concept used to exclusively exist in Hong Kong and Tokyo, but now extends to the London property. The Peninsula Boutique & Cafe offers fine gifts, a seasonal menu, and artisanal chocolates made in-house.
Pristine Accommodations
From the outset, the Peninsula Hotel London captivates with its impeccable design and attention to detail, and the accommodations are no different. The property is split into two sections. One side is exclusive to hotel guests while the other is exclusively set aside for private residences, most of which have already sold. The 190 guest rooms and suites, masterfully curated by the esteemed Architect and Designer of Interiors, Peter Marino, reflect an exquisite fusion of elegance and functionality. Marino’s touch, reminiscent of his work with Chanel and Louis Vuitton, resonates throughout every space, ensuring an ambiance of refined luxury.
Premier Room
All rooms start at 560 square feet, much larger than the average hotel room in Europe (if you know, you know). The first of many special touches is that the bed is always tucked away in each room, so guests walk into a beautiful corridor. There is also always both a bath and shower, regardless of room category.
As a special welcome treat, the hotel crafts its own delectable chocolates, creatively displayed for you to savor upon arrival. You can also enjoy the smell and sight of fresh flowers, crafted at the flower shop on the ground floor.
Each room in the hotel features Dyson hair products, a nail dryer, a double vanity, a work desk, a bidet, and every drawer labeled for your convenience. Additionally, for a hassle-free experience, a valet box discreetly signals hotel staff when items need laundry or shoe services, without disrupting your stay.
For those tech-savvy moments, find printers, fax machines, and phones with complimentary international calls in every room. Seamlessly communicate with the hotel using the in-room phones or iPads, featuring PEN chat for your convenience. iPads placed beside each bed, available in multiple languages, offer easy control over room functions, which will be explained to you during check-in.
Despite being located in a vibrant area of London, all room categories provide an oasis of tranquility, offering a peaceful escape amidst the hotel’s lively ambiance.
Premier Suite
The rooms I toured were the Premier Room and Premier Suite. The Premier Room sleeps up to two people, while the Premier Suite sleeps up to three, offering one California King bed or two Double beds. The main difference between the two rooms is that the Premier Suite offers a bedroom separate from the living and dining areas. There is also a stunning bookshelf, which gives the illusion of a hidden closet.
Allie had the privilege of staying in the Deluxe Room King. The room sleeps up to two people, offering either a King bed or two Twin beds, depending on your preferences.
Pro tip: as a Peninsula Pen Club partner, our clients receive a guaranteed room upgrade from room to room or suite to suite at the time of booking.
Her favorite luxury touch was the technology that added an extra layer of convenience. In all 190 rooms, the bathroom floors are heated, the toilet seat opens and closes automatically, and our personal favorite is that if you click on the “spa” feature on your tablet whilst enjoying a bath, the bathroom lights automatically dim to a warm lowlight and the speakers play music reminiscent of what you listen to during a massage. And of course, it automatically puts your room on “do not disturb”. When Allie and I compared our visits, the mutual consensus was that we were blown away by the attention to detail. Team O is privileged to have visited a lot of luxury hotels over the years and knows that details matter, and it is obvious to us that the Peninsula has carefully thought through every single detail.
Amenities
When you’re not out exploring London, you can enjoy a dip in the 82-foot heated indoor swimming pool, with overhead light panels that change throughout the day to simulate natural sunlight. While I was able to see it for myself, I didn’t capture a photo out of respect for other guests. The fitness center is open 24 hours a day and features cardio and resistance-training stations. Upon entering the spa, prepare to be transported to Hyde Park for its grand entrance. The spa has seven treatment rooms and four thermal suites. Its menu features results-driven face and body treatments, massages, and rituals for rebalancing, while the resident practitioners zone in on specific needs and health challenges.
“Why Should I Book My Stay Through Ourisman Travel?”
Great question! As a Peninsula Pen Club partner, we can offer our clients exclusive benefits at all Peninsula hotels, including:
- Guaranteed room upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
- “Peninsula Time” flexible check-in and check-out between 6 am and 10 pm
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests
- Upgraded welcome amenity
- Complimentary long-distance calls via VOIP
- $100 food and beverage or spa treatment credit
You can use our complimentary booking tool to book your stay through our Hotel Only service to receive these amenities at no additional cost. For a fee, you have the added benefit of our assistance with any concierge services you may need through our Hotel Plus service, including arranging dining reservations, scheduling spa appointments, and taking care of transfers for your arrival and departure.
To view our top recommended luxury hotels in London, refer to our preferred hotels map.
We also wrote about the grand opening of Bulgari Hotel London, which you can read here.
Becoming a client is easy! If you would like to request more information about availability and rates for The Peninsula London or any luxury hotel in our portfolio, please fill out a Travel Request Form or contact us and we will get back to you within one business day. From there, we will have you fill out a client profile form, and then moving forward, any hotel stay booked through us unlocks exclusive and complimentary perks! We look forward to turning your trip into an ultraluxe experience.
