Enjoy A Quintessentially British Stay At The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

One of the main reasons Americans visit London is to experience “British charm”. Hollywood has trained us that the suave accent, politeness, and self-deprecating sense of humor is particularly endearing. And after a festive season filled with binging movies like Love Actually and The Holiday, you might have a hankering to see what all the fuss is about firsthand. If you are looking for a quintessentially British experience head to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Located in one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the city—Hyde Park—the Mandarin Oriental in London is a fantastic place to have as a home base while explore this capital city. Just steps from Buckingham Palace and a stone’s throw from Kensington Palace, the Mandarin is a history lover’s dream. And after you have explored as much royal history as you can take, head down the street to the famous Harrods department store for some, just as crucial, high-end shopping until your heart is content.

Accommodations

The hotel recently underwent a top to bottom refurbishment. The guest rooms, spa and dining spaces were all refreshed to usher the hotel into a new era. In fact, Amanda Hyndman, General Manager and Area Vice President of Operations said, “Mandarin Oriental is enormously proud of the heritage of this historic hotel. The scope and intricate detail of this momentous renovation is designed to ensure this iconic London establishment is recognized as one of the finest hotels in the world. We look forward to welcoming our guests with kind and intuitive service that is truly British but reflective of our Oriental heritage.”

There are 181 guest rooms and suites, and they all have a stylish combination of curated art-deco pieces and custom furniture. But the suites really offer something special to the luxury traveler. There are 40 to choose form and they vary in size. The smallest is 47 square meters and the largest is 444 square meters. However, the one to explore if you are looking for a quintessentially British experience is the Hyde Park Suite. These offer guests park views, a master bedroom, a spacious living rooms complete with a library! The luxe fabrics, warm tones and abundance of space makes these suites truly feel like a lavish pied-a-terre rather than a hotel room.

Nothing is in these suites by accident. In every suite, the libraries have been curated by London bookseller, Heywood Hill, his and her bathroom amenities supplied by Miller Harris, hair products are by Jo Hansford and of course there are Nespresso machines and GHD hair straighteners as well.

Dining at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

The dining options go above and beyond even the dreams of the biggest anglophile you may know. DINNER by Heston is the property’s signature restaurant and with 2 Michelin Stars, it is certainly worth a visit. Inspired by historic gastronomy, Heston Blumenthal conceived the concept for DINNER by researching what was served to the Kings and Queens of England over the last millennium. On the menu you will find dishes with heritage from as far back as the Middle Ages. The theater of Tudor dining is given new life with dishes like the “Meat Fruit”, which is chicken liver pate disguised as a plum. A meal here is the perfect finale to any trip to London—especially one at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.