45 Park Lane London hotel review: spa, eat, sleep, repeat...
Forget the frantic city break, use your stay for some much needed R&R
When my friends WhatsApped me to ask what my hotel room was like at 45 Park Lane I only had one response. Did I tell them about the design and in-room tech, the bedroom and lounge space, or maybe the views overlooking Hyde Park? Nope, it was these five words: “There’s a menu for the bath.”
You know when a hotel has its guests’ wellbeing in mind when you can ask your host to prepare a bath in ways such as “silent tranquility”, “jet-lag remedy” or “refocus thoughts”. Including a pre-blended bath oil, relax candle and herbal tea, this five-star dip in the tub will set you up for what will be a five-star stay in the heart of the capital.
If you are in need of a little rest and relaxation, then you’ve come to the right place.
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The hotel: privacy and discretion
Located in London’s Mayfair at, you’ve guessed it, No. 45 Park Lane, this luxury hotel features just 45 rooms and suites which all overlook Hyde Park. If you really want panoramic views of the capital there’s also the spectacular Penthouse Suite - a 1,830 sq ft two-bed, two-bath Art Deco top-floor apartment with a wrap-around terrace.
Part of the Dorchester Collection portfolio, 45 Park Lane is literally across the street from the group’s flagship. One big difference though is that 45 Park Lane does not have an imposing façade like The Dorchester - if you walk past you may not even notice the discrete, yet arty, entrance.
This sets the tone for the hotel as a whole. Once checked in guests are left in private to enjoy their stay, but should you need anything, the hotel’s attentive staff will happily assist.
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In a previous life the hotel was formerly The Playboy Club, which was nicknamed “the hutch on the park” and a hangout for the rich and famous in London’s Swinging Sixties. Those days may be gone, but guests will still feel like a rock star thanks to the hotel’s top-notch facilities.
The suite: modern, but classical
With its distinctive Art Deco styling, Forbes Travel Guide calls 45 Park Lane “a breath of fresh air” and throughout the building it’s clear that art and design are a major theme. The same goes in the rooms and suites. My accommodation, on the fourth floor, was more akin to an apartment than a suite as it had a dining space, living area and bedroom. The decor style was comfortable and classical but the suite also had all the required mod-cons, including widescreen TVs (three of them) with Bang & Olufsen speaker systems.
Back to the theme of wellness, it’s not just the bath menu that caught my attention. While snooping around the room’s many areas, inside the wardrobe was a branded 45 Park Lane yoga mat. I’m not a yogi myself but for any guests looking to maintain their Yoga With Adriene schedule on YouTube then the mat is a nice touch.
The facilities: swim and gym
The yoga mat will also come in handy when you visit the hotel’s most impressive and newest feature - The Spa at 45 Park Lane - which only opened in May and could just be the most exclusive spa in London.
Available to use for hotel guests and residents of Mayfair Park Residences, facilities at the luxury spa include a 20m swimming pool, residents’ lounge, personal training room and a state-of-the-art gym. Spa treatments are not available at 45 Park Lane, but should guests want a massage or treatment they will need to book at The Dorchester Spa across the road.
Designed by Jouin Manku, The Spa features Roman style mosaics from Venetian artisans and selected works by American fine art photographer Jin-Woo Prensena and British sculptor Jill Berelowitz.
The food and drink: a CUT above
Just because wellness is on the menu at 45 Park Lane, it’s okay to forget the calorie counting for an evening, or two. Give yourself a night off and indulge in the F&B options at CUT at 45 Park Lane, the first restaurant in Europe for world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck.
Continuing the hotel’s arty vibe, this ground-floor restaurant has a sleek design with artworks throughout, including Damien Hirst’s Diamond Dust Psalms series. Another thing I liked about CUT was the music. There’s no panpipe instrumentals here, the atmosphere was definitely lifted by some rocking tunes.
It’s not just the decor that is a work of art at CUT, but also the food menu by new executive chef Jamie Shears. As suggested by its name, the restaurant’s steaks are the real crowd-puller. My guest and I enjoyed a taster of CUT’s menu, which included a selection of hors d’oeuvre, tuna tartare for starter, steak for main and a medley of desserts. The cherry and almond baked Alaska was sensational. And then there were the wines. Let’s just say that it was going to take a decent shift on the treadmill to burn that all off.
Cocktail lovers should head to BAR 45 which has its own Negroni trolley. Head bartender Francesco Orefici has added a number of twists on the classic recipe and created his own Golden Negroni.
The area: enjoy the park life
It’s all about location, location, location when you stay at 45 Park Lane. If you want to continue the wellness theme of your city break then the nearby Royal Parks - Hyde Park, Green Park, and St James’s Park - are perfect for a walk, run or bike ride. If hustle and bustle is what you yearn for then Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Westminster are just a short stroll away and offer a multitude of restaurants, night spots and shopping outlets. If you’ve never been to The Dorchester then dinner at The Grill, a cocktail at The Bar or an afternoon tea at The Promenade are worth trying.
The verdict
Although it’s an ideal London base for visitors on a city break, should you even bother leaving the hotel? There may be shopping, theatre and nightlife on the doorstep, but the fact is that the rooms, spa and restaurant at 45 Park Lane are so tempting that staying in is definitely the new going out. After this past year or so we all deserve a little pampering, don’t we? Where’s that bath menu…
45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN. Room prices start from £855; dorchestercollection.com
Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.