Clients who have their hearts set on a London honeymoon now have several new, opulent suites from which to choose, as well as some refreshed favorites. There’s also a suite deal inspired by the upcoming royal wedding.
The Dorchester: This winter, The Dorchester completed its renovations of its Belgravia Suites; this comes as the final portion of a five-year refurbishment plan. The updates include new marble fireplaces, walnut flooring and a gray, blue and gold color palette. Guests who book the suites can also enjoy the “Essence of Belgravia” experience, which is conducted by the head butler, Paul. The package includes amenities such as fresh flower bouquets and a pot of the hotel’s signature tea blend.
In addition to the Belgravia Suites, the three rooftop suites — Harlequin, Terrace and Audley — were completely refurbished; similar to the Belgravia Suites, these were designed by interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud. The four-room Ballroom Suite was restored to its classic, 1930s Art Deco style. All Belgravia suites overlook Hyde Park.
The Rubens at the Palace: With excellent views of Buckingham Palace, The Rubens at the Palace sits at the heart of London’s emerging neighborhood, Victoria, thanks to the completion of Nova, a multibillion-dollar mixed-use development that includes 17 of the trendiest restaurants, coffee shops and bars — from Nordic bakeries to poke bowls to a new Italian restaurant by Michelin-starred Chef Jason Atherton — right at the hotel’s doorstep. The Rubens at the Palace, a member of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, has kept pace with the area, spending millions on its own major overhaul, renovating all its guestrooms and suites, and also developing two new restaurants — The English Grill, a brasserie-style restaurant with traditional English dishes and table-side roasts, as well as The Curry Room, an Indian concept.
Special attention has been paid to the suites, with a timelessly elegant design that harkens back to the Edwardian era. The Master Suite (Room #205), measuring 600 square feet, has views of the Royal Mews and gardens at the rear of Buckingham Palace. The bedroom comprises a four-poster bed, an en-suite bathroom and a living room with a Murphy bed.
For second honeymooners with kids in tow, the new Family Suites (#118, #305 and #405) come with a king-size bed as well as a seating area, which can also be made up as a daybed for a third guest and sofa bed for a fourth.
The Berkeley: This classic hotel has undergone a complete makeover. Within the last year, The Berkeley has unveiled a dramatic renovation of the guestrooms as well as the Blue Bar, and the Collins Room restaurant. The final pieces, a series of suites on the first floor, have been redesigned and streamlined by British architect John Heah, who is celebrated for his work on several Aman resorts and the Four Seasons Bali.
The nearly 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom Apartment (Room #101) occupies the quiet southeast corner of the hotel. An open-plan living / dining room leads through to the master bedroom plus there is a kitchen, walk-in dressing room, study area and his-and-her bathrooms. The suite can connect to two other rooms through a private hallway for even grander space: the Grand Terrace Suite (Room #109), which has a terrace with a dining table and views of St. Paul’s Church.
The Beaumont: On a quiet garden square, moments from Selfridges and a short walk from Hyde Park, The Beaumont is the work of Corbin & King (well-known London restaurateurs behind The Wolseley, The Delaunay and other hot spots).The Roosevelt Suite (#505) — a 1,820-square-foot space whose décor evokes the great cruise ships of the 1920s, has a grand living room and a separate dining room with an even grander terrace overlooking the Brown Hart Gardens square and offering views all the way to the city. For bridal parties and other entourages, the entire fifth floor can be combined with a terrace running the length of the building. Rooms #501, #503 and #504 can be connected via a private hallway.
The 1,820-square-foot Roosevelt Suite at The Beaumont has a large, bright sitting room with a working fireplace.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park: This hotel is undergoing a massive renovation. The first phase was completed in September with the unveiling of its newly restored Knightsbridge facing rooms and suites, complete with curated artwork and custom furniture. Work is now under way on the Hyde Park side of the hotel, which is slated to be completed this summer. This next phase will see the addition of two new luxury penthouses with private terraces.
Langham Hotel, London: In September, The Langham unveiled its refurbished Infinity Suite, wherein guests are greeted with champagne and welcome snacks, such as fresh fruit. The hotel welcomes agents’ suggestions to customize such amenities for their clients.
Royal Engagement Package
A two-night suite stay is part of The Milestone Hotel’s “Royal Engagement Package” to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It includes afternoon tea for two, a toast with pink champagne on one night, chauffeured Bentley to a Hatton Gardens jewelry store, horse-drawn carriage around London and private tour of Kensington Palace with a photo session in front of the royal edifice.
The package is priced at approximately $3,682 in a Junior Suite (a supplement for a Master Suite and Grand Master Suite is available) and is valid for stays through December 31, 2018.
‘Royal’ Updates From Scotland
A certain engagement and the popular Netflix series “The Crown” have inspired a new wave of royal fever. So it’s only fitting that The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Edinburgh has unveiled a special “Royal Experience” allowing guests to walk in the footsteps of royalty, discovering the Royal Family’s favorite hangouts (and many spots where the “The Crown’s” critical plot twists take place).
Celebrating The Queen’s links to Scotland, this over-the-top package includes insider access and helicopter transfers to The Queen’s summer getaway, the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire; Her Majesty’s Edinburgh residence, The Palace of Holyroodhouse; and The Queen’s Royal Yacht Britannia. This floating royal residence belonged to the Royal Family for 44 years. (Guests booking the package will get a private evening tour of the yacht, followed by canapés and a glass of champagne in the State Drawing Room.) Priced at £14,500 (just over $2,000), The Royal Experience is available to guests reserving a three-plus-night stay in the Scone & Crombie Suite.
You don’t have to be obsessed over the royal engagement to appreciate this exciting new hotel project in Scotland. In summer 2018, a luxury floating hotel will be unveiled by The Royal Yacht Britannia’s trading company, Royal Yacht Enterprises. The MV Fingal is a former Northern Lighthouse Board tender that was the last ship to be built by the Blythswood Shipbuilding Company in Glasgow; it’s now being converted into a hotel with 23 guestrooms named after the famous lighthouses built by the Scottish engineer Robert Stevenson.
Interiors combine Art Deco touches with maritime heritage (and the color palette is said to take its inspiration from “the Fingal’s journey — from land and sea to the stunning landscapes of Scotland.” Top Digs: the Skerryvore Suite, encompassing 575 square feet. There are also two luxury duplex cabins.
Measuring 237 feet long, the Fingal will be docked permanently in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith, next to the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Fingal will also offer prime city event space, with a dazzling ballroom accommodating 80 guests.
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