You know what hits you first at 45 Park Lane? It’s not the marble or the crystal chandeliers – though there’s plenty of both – it’s actually how they’ve managed to make this massive Dorchester Collection property feel intimate. I mean, you’re literally staring at Hyde Park Corner through floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the chaos of London traffic below, but somehow you feel completely removed from it all.
The location is honestly ridiculous in the best way possible. You’re a two-minute walk from Apsley House (Wellington’s old place, if you’re into that sort of thing), and Green Park tube station is right there when you need to escape to other parts of the city. But here’s the thing – you probably won’t want to leave much. The rooms are these sleek, modern sanctuaries with Art Deco touches that somehow don’t feel overdone. Mine had this incredible view stretching across Hyde Park, and I actually found myself just sitting there with coffee in the morning watching the joggers and dog walkers start their day. The beds are the kind where you sink in just enough without feeling like you’re being swallowed whole, and the rainfall showers… well, let’s just say I took longer showers than necessary.
What really sets this place apart though is the staff – they have this uncanny ability to anticipate what you need without being intrusive about it. The concierge team actually knows London beyond the typical tourist spots (ask them about the best curry houses in Brick Lane if you want to test this theory). Cut at 45, their restaurant, serves up some seriously good modern European cuisine, though honestly, with Mayfair on your doorstep, you’ve got some of the world’s best restaurants within walking distance. The bar scene here is worth mentioning too – sophisticated without being stuffy, and they make a mean martini if that’s your thing. Parking is valet only, which runs about £50 a night, but considering you’re in central London, that’s pretty standard for this level of hotel. One tiny critique – the elevators can get a bit crowded during peak check-in times, but that’s a minor inconvenience when everything else runs like clockwork. This is the kind of place where business travelers feel at home but couples on anniversary trips don’t feel out of place either.