THE HOTEL: This 350-room ‘super boutique’ hotel, by Edwardian Hotels, opened with much fanfare in September 2021. It’s 16 storeys high but only half of the floors are above ground level (due to height restrictions developers instead dug down). Created to the tune of £500m, it’s fast achieving its goal of reviving London’s Leicester Square.
THE CHECK-IN: The lobby-cum-bar, where live musicians play nightly, was buzzing with well-groomed millennials. The bold art, glamorous lighting and lofty ceilings are an instagrammer’s dream. It smells gorgeous too, thanks to Diptyque diffusers. The reception staff treated me like a celebrity (I’m sure they’ve already welcomed a few real ones!). A great start.
THE ROOM: Wow-factor touches include the orb-like doorknobs, Japanese Toto washlet toilets with heated seats, Dyson hairdryers, Steamery steamers, dressing-room lightbulbs around the bathroom mirror, a genius bedside digital concierge panel to control the lights, theatre binoculars, hand-picked art and the fabulous rooftop views. I absolutely loved the colour of the bathroom tiles (deep blue) and the stand-alone bath.
THE BUSINESS: The Londoner is quickly making its mark on the capital’s meetings and conference scene thanks to its 6,000sq ft, pillar-less ballroom (for up to 850 guests), Green Room (up to 150), and seven other meeting rooms set over three floors and connected by a magnificent staircase. There are also two private screening rooms.
THE FACILITIES: Hotel guests can hunker down at The Residence, split into three spaces: The Y Bar for cocktails, The Drawing Room for all-day complimentary antipasti, soft drinks, tea and coffee, and the intimate Whisky Room. The ‘Retreat’ spa has a classy pool and hydropool surrounded by super-sized cabanas, sauna and steam room, hair and nail salon and treatment rooms, the Refuel Bar for smoothies and juices and a sizeable gym. You would never believe from the hotel’s exterior that it’s home to such a spectacular spa.
On the F&B side there’s the fine dining Mediterranean-inspired Whitcomb’s (also for breakfast), the rooftop izakaya bar with a stunning terrace, the cosy Joshua’s Tavern, and The Stage, in the lobby, for live music, champagne, oysters and afternoon tea. There’s quirky, contemporary art everywhere, even in tiny peepholes in the lifts.
THE VERDICT: A veritable tardis, The Londoner lives up to its billing as an ‘urban resort’ and you will leave wanting to go back for more. It’s the perfect choice if you want to impress a client and worth braving the crowds of Leicester Square to get there. Excellent service too.
THE DETAILS: 38 Leicester Square, London, thelondoner.com, rooms from £400 a night.
Take a peak inside the hotel with our short video…
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Bev Fearis
