London Hilton on Park Lane {GBR}
Dec 22, 2019, 6:28 am
#691
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Phuket Thailand
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, IHG Gold, Oman Gold
Posts: 1,038
I got chatting to a guy in the Executive lounge at Hilton Bankside in March 2018, he claimed he was good friends with the head CEO of a cluster of Hilton’s in London and Hilton park lane will be wound down and removed from the chain within three years .
Apparently Bankside will become the new flagship Hilton in London .
At the time I didn’t take too much notice but looks like it could be true....... shame I actually like the park lane Hilton.
Apparently Bankside will become the new flagship Hilton in London .
At the time I didn’t take too much notice but looks like it could be true....... shame I actually like the park lane Hilton.
Would make sense to get rid of it. A massive old building like that must cost a fortune to run. A doubt bankside will become the flagship. More likely to be the new Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch. Hate to think how much the rates will be
Dec 22, 2019, 7:31 am
#692
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
The new Astoria should be nice and yes it will be crazy expensive, I will try it though just to tick the box and of course review it for you guys.
Dec 22, 2019, 8:33 am
#693
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,827
I stay at the Park Lane Hilton often. There are very nice high floor rooms facing Hyde Park and the Buckingham Palace gardens, available as an upgrade if you have status. The hotel has a good gym. People watching in the lobby can be fun. Executive Lounge is on the second floor, facing the street and Hyde Park. Yes, it's expensive, but the location is excellent.
+1. I have "commuted" to my suburban office to stay at the PL (bus to Paddington, rail to Hayes & Harlington, Uber, well under an hour door to door), and would do so again.
Aug 12, 2020, 9:39 am
#695
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
Doubletree Greenwich Was only £59....crazy cheap prices.
I was supposed to go to Nottingham last week although it never actually happened I noticed Hilton Nottingham was £42 a night!....... I’ve never seen prices like that for many years .
It was announced on tv this morning that the UK is now officially in recession.
Aug 24, 2020, 4:34 am
#696
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver (temp demotion), *A Silver, HH Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 490
We (parents plus two adult children) had a lovely stay this weekend at this hotel, which was (alarmingly) quiet. Very helpful staff - got room upgrades as a Gold (from a standard reward booking, which was a long saga from a cancelled stay earlier so it was a 'free night voucher'). Big bonus was it was to the Exec floor so high up with lovely views. The Exec lounge on floor 1 was closed so they used the main restaurant as the exec lounge.
Breakfast in covid times was fair - the cooked breakfast was excellent but unsurprisingly the continental was a little lack-lustre but the restaurant felt a little dingy/dark and I was surprised that in better times the place is a 2 AA rosette restaurant.
But what made it was how friendly everyone was, maybe purely because it was so quiet.
Breakfast in covid times was fair - the cooked breakfast was excellent but unsurprisingly the continental was a little lack-lustre but the restaurant felt a little dingy/dark and I was surprised that in better times the place is a 2 AA rosette restaurant.
But what made it was how friendly everyone was, maybe purely because it was so quiet.
Aug 24, 2020, 1:31 pm
#697
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 77
We (parents plus two adult children) had a lovely stay this weekend at this hotel, which was (alarmingly) quiet. Very helpful staff - got room upgrades as a Gold (from a standard reward booking, which was a long saga from a cancelled stay earlier so it was a 'free night voucher'). Big bonus was it was to the Exec floor so high up with lovely views. The Exec lounge on floor 1 was closed so they used the main restaurant as the exec lounge.
Breakfast in covid times was fair - the cooked breakfast was excellent but unsurprisingly the continental was a little lack-lustre but the restaurant felt a little dingy/dark and I was surprised that in better times the place is a 2 AA rosette restaurant.
But what made it was how friendly everyone was, maybe purely because it was so quiet.
Breakfast in covid times was fair - the cooked breakfast was excellent but unsurprisingly the continental was a little lack-lustre but the restaurant felt a little dingy/dark and I was surprised that in better times the place is a 2 AA rosette restaurant.
But what made it was how friendly everyone was, maybe purely because it was so quiet.
Aug 25, 2020, 1:36 am
#698
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver (temp demotion), *A Silver, HH Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 490
It was drinks and nibbles from IIRC 18.00 to 20.00. gin and tonic, whisky and coke, beer wine etc. Usual standards! The only downside is that the lounge area itself isn’t that great; clean for sure but think more cafe than lounge.
Obviously it depends on your other options, butI would choose it again. Great location and views.
Obviously it depends on your other options, butI would choose it again. Great location and views.
Aug 25, 2020, 5:16 am
#699
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,392
Also stayed here recently.
During my stay breakfast was served in the room (no extra charge) and choices had to be made the night before. I actually enjoyed eating my breakfast on the 20th floor with the amazing views over London and Hyde Park. However, they may have changed this now, and are back to serving breakfast in the ground floor restaurant. You can always have breakfast in the room if you pay extra, and they will bring a large round table (on wheels) to your room. Quality of breakfast food itself is nothing special.
The ground floor restaurant (where breakfast always used to be served in the pre virus era) is now the lounge after breakfast is over. It's open most of the day until 9pm or 10pm. (Can't remember exact closing time) and you can get coffee and soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks and "snacks" are served between 5:30pm and 8:30pm The "snacks" are nothing more than some cheese pieces, some salami, olives, popcorn and hard mini pretzels. If you have been to the 1st floor lounge in the pre virus era, you will be very disappointed. However, rates are very low are a the moment (around 135 GBP per night) so can't complain too much. For a hotel on Park Lane with these amazing views that is extremely low. The normal rates at this hotel are usually around 300 GBP per night, and the 4 seasons hotel just down the road is still charging 550GBP per night even with London totaly empty as it is right now
Other things to consider:
"Galvin at Windows" restaurant on the top floor of the hotel is open. (They had 1 Michelin star from 2007 to 2019, but lost the star in 2020). They are runing a 4 course meal for 45 GBP deal if you book via the opentable website for a meal before 7pm or after 8:45pm. Link here:
https://www.opentable.co.uk/galvin-at-windows
(Try to get a table near a window for great views)
"Trader Vics" Hawaiian/Tiki style bar and restaurant in the basement is closed.
You can check their website if they ever decide to re-open
https://tradervicslondon.com/
"Hyde Park corner" tube (metro) station near the hotel is fully closed in the evenings after 7pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Supposedly will return to being open every day from the 6th September 2020. Take this into consideration when planning your movements. More info here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/st...s-and-closures
Bottom line:
If you want really great views over London and a chance to stay at one of the most expensive streets in London, then go to the Hilton Park Lane.
If you want a more modern and stylish hotel and much better tasting food, (but awful views and a ho-hum location) go to Hilton Bankside.
During my stay breakfast was served in the room (no extra charge) and choices had to be made the night before. I actually enjoyed eating my breakfast on the 20th floor with the amazing views over London and Hyde Park. However, they may have changed this now, and are back to serving breakfast in the ground floor restaurant. You can always have breakfast in the room if you pay extra, and they will bring a large round table (on wheels) to your room. Quality of breakfast food itself is nothing special.
The ground floor restaurant (where breakfast always used to be served in the pre virus era) is now the lounge after breakfast is over. It's open most of the day until 9pm or 10pm. (Can't remember exact closing time) and you can get coffee and soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks and "snacks" are served between 5:30pm and 8:30pm The "snacks" are nothing more than some cheese pieces, some salami, olives, popcorn and hard mini pretzels. If you have been to the 1st floor lounge in the pre virus era, you will be very disappointed. However, rates are very low are a the moment (around 135 GBP per night) so can't complain too much. For a hotel on Park Lane with these amazing views that is extremely low. The normal rates at this hotel are usually around 300 GBP per night, and the 4 seasons hotel just down the road is still charging 550GBP per night even with London totaly empty as it is right now
Other things to consider:
"Galvin at Windows" restaurant on the top floor of the hotel is open. (They had 1 Michelin star from 2007 to 2019, but lost the star in 2020). They are runing a 4 course meal for 45 GBP deal if you book via the opentable website for a meal before 7pm or after 8:45pm. Link here:
https://www.opentable.co.uk/galvin-at-windows
(Try to get a table near a window for great views)
"Trader Vics" Hawaiian/Tiki style bar and restaurant in the basement is closed.
You can check their website if they ever decide to re-open
https://tradervicslondon.com/
"Hyde Park corner" tube (metro) station near the hotel is fully closed in the evenings after 7pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Supposedly will return to being open every day from the 6th September 2020. Take this into consideration when planning your movements. More info here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/st...s-and-closures
Bottom line:
If you want really great views over London and a chance to stay at one of the most expensive streets in London, then go to the Hilton Park Lane.
If you want a more modern and stylish hotel and much better tasting food, (but awful views and a ho-hum location) go to Hilton Bankside.
Last edited by est-gratuite; Aug 25, 2020 at 5:47 am
Aug 25, 2020, 7:25 am
#700
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,827
Aug 25, 2020, 10:28 am
#701
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: norwich, uk
Programs: hhonors diamond
Posts: 5,397
I think i prefer Hilton tower bridge to Bankside marginally ......the lounge terrace on a summer evening takes some beating.
Jun 23, 2021, 11:44 am
#702
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 400
Snagged a £177 rate tonight
Preupgraded to Exec room on 25th apparently if Mayfair Suites are available they try to upgrade Diamonds - unfortunately all sold out for a few days . Offered a £350 Park Lane Suite which with my rate (!)
Room has water, larger toiletries and good selection of teas
Exec Lounge is closed currently complimentary soft drinks coffees teas during the day in restaurant on ground floor
Evening canapés and drinks from 6-8pm very good selection of wines , beers and premium spirits
Six canapés on offer , two hot and rather good (I’m veggie ) Service is impressive and other nibbles offered
Breakfast is complimentary for Diamonds and hope it’s as good as the evening offerings !
Preupgraded to Exec room on 25th apparently if Mayfair Suites are available they try to upgrade Diamonds - unfortunately all sold out for a few days . Offered a £350 Park Lane Suite which with my rate (!)
Room has water, larger toiletries and good selection of teas
Exec Lounge is closed currently complimentary soft drinks coffees teas during the day in restaurant on ground floor
Evening canapés and drinks from 6-8pm very good selection of wines , beers and premium spirits
Six canapés on offer , two hot and rather good (I’m veggie ) Service is impressive and other nibbles offered
Breakfast is complimentary for Diamonds and hope it’s as good as the evening offerings !
Jun 24, 2021, 4:16 am
#704
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 400
Breakfast booked for 8am
Half of the restaurant used for service and this was about half full
Good choice of cooked items had the vegetarian breakfast which was plentiful, arrived quickly and good
Service was very efficient good coffee , orange juice served in small plastic bottle and plenty of toast (and the ‘posh’ butter the Conrad used to have ! )
Given some pastries to take away and spotted the strawberries on another table they looked delicious
A turn down service was provided and the bed extremely comfortable
Shower (rain and hand held ) very good plenty of large size toiletries and spotted biscuits on the hospitality tray
Overall impressive service from staff (just a blip at check in )
Some floors do require some investment reception looks dated (and dark ) Think they refurbished eating areas and still love the lifts (key in your floor number and takes you direct to your floor !
Will look out for good rates - Conrad Sunday to celebrate his birthday 🥳
Half of the restaurant used for service and this was about half full
Good choice of cooked items had the vegetarian breakfast which was plentiful, arrived quickly and good
Service was very efficient good coffee , orange juice served in small plastic bottle and plenty of toast (and the ‘posh’ butter the Conrad used to have ! )
Given some pastries to take away and spotted the strawberries on another table they looked delicious
A turn down service was provided and the bed extremely comfortable
Shower (rain and hand held ) very good plenty of large size toiletries and spotted biscuits on the hospitality tray
Overall impressive service from staff (just a blip at check in )
Some floors do require some investment reception looks dated (and dark ) Think they refurbished eating areas and still love the lifts (key in your floor number and takes you direct to your floor !
Will look out for good rates - Conrad Sunday to celebrate his birthday 🥳