The Wellesley Knightsbridge, a Luxury Collection Hotel, London, UK [Master Thread]
Opened in 2012, the Wellesley is owned by City and Country Hotels, a subsidiary of Arab Investments. It was initially managed by Bespoke Hotels on a white label basis.
The Westbury htoel, owned by Cola Holdings, is currently being refurbished by Alex Kravetz Designs. It features the Michelin-starred Alyn Williams at the Westbury restaurant and the Tsukiji Sushi outlet, as well as Polo bar. The hotel will join the Luxury Collection on completion of the renovation next spring.
The two London hotels have been announced as new additions to the Luxury Collection alongside three other European hotels: Htel de Berri, Paris, France; Cristallo, Cortina, Italy; and the Alexander, Yerevan, Armenia.
I'm not a big fan of the Park Tower Knightsbridge, but its location is incomparable in London. The Wellesley offers a similar location in Knightsbridge with a much nicer, more luxurious boutique hotel.
If one is looking to be closer to the Kings Cross area, the Great Northern makes sense. Otherwise, the Knightsbridge area for Starwood calls for the Wellesley, the Park Tower, or even the closer Sheraton Grand Park Lane just south of Mayfair. With Marriott, there are even more options.
Last edited by bhrubin; Aug 8, 2017 at 2:48 pm
I have reservation at the Wellesley and the Westbury Mayfair for mid-September and trying to decide among these two. I am Platinum, so curious about amenities offered and upgrade willingness.
Anyone? Thanks
The Wellesley London
11 Knightsbridge London, GB SW1X 7LY
Posh boutique luxury in central London (6 Photos)
The Wellesley London
About time I reported on my late June one-night stay at the new star in SPG's extensive London presence, The Wellesley Knightsbridge hotel.
The Wellesley is an existing hotel that joined SPG's Luxuryt Collextion earlier this year. They market themselves as a "boutique-grand hotel" and is the highst categorized SPG option in London at a category 7 (paid rates often +400GBP).
Location
Very central in the Knightsbridge area, 50m from Hyde Park corner station (next door is former SPG hotel The Lanesborough. Park Tower hotel is two blocks away and Sheraton Park Lane 10 mins walk in the other direction).
Hotel front overlooks Hyde Park across the street.
Room
Was preupgrade from cheapest room to classy One Bedroom Suite, with seperate living room, bed room and bathroom (think my SPG100 Ambassador pulled some strings). High quality classic furnishing/decoration, huge King size bed and marble bathroom with Hermes toiletries.
Didn't see any other rooms, but was under the impression that room layouts differs a lot and furnishing/decoration is bespoke for each room.
Roomed contained tablet with hotel/area information and a smartphone that could be used as wifi-hotspot.
Times of London is delivered complimentary to room, other newspapers are charged (5GBP for Financial Times).
Check In
Friendly but still formal welcome. Chose Breakfast as Platinum welcome gift. Front desk employee escorted me to my room.
Dining
Had Platinujm breakfast in classy ground floor restaurants breakfast room. High quality continental with homemade youghurt, freshly cut fruit, bread, pastries, juice and coffee. Declined very expensive (30GBP) buy-up option to Full English hot breakfast.
There is also what seems like a very classy Cigar lounge/bar if you're so inclined.
Service
High Service level at all functions: front desk escort to room, knowledgeable concierge, front doors held by doorman, waiters, room service etc.
Nice cakes and note as welcome gift. Butler service is included for all rooms, but be aware that services like cofee and pressings are charged.
Special gimmick (but also very useful benefit) is the hotels Rolls Royce, that will take you anywhere within a 1.5 mile radius (first come first served, no reservations, no luggage).
One major short coming IMHO: The hotel has no gym (but do sell day access to a nearby health club).
Overall
Definitely the most classy SPG room, and highest service level in London (have stayed at LeMeridien, Sheraton, Park Tower, W, GreatNorthern, Aloft). Nice Platinum treatment with suite upgrade, breakfast and welcome gift.
Location is good for tourists, next to a Tube station with direct LHR link, and the Rolls Royce service makes most of central London easily accesible.
In comparision Platinum Breakfast is better at Great Northern, and if you prefer club lounge access Sheraton and LeMeridien is where it's at. If you need a well equipped Gym, the W has the best SPG gym in London.
A little heavy on the nickle'n'diaming for me, with heavy extra charges for alternative newspaper, simple butler services, health club and upgrade to Full English breakfast.
But fully recommended if willing to pay for a Posh London experience.
Equally though, calling the drug-infested den of inequity which is Kings Cross a clearly "better" location is perhaps pushing things slightly. I'd certainly always pick Kings Cross over Knightsbridge as a base for London though.
Equally though, calling the drug-infested den of inequity which is Kings Cross a clearly "better" location is perhaps pushing things slightly. I'd certainly always pick Kings Cross over Knightsbridge as a base for London though.
I'd suggest for many the centre of gravity is much closer to Kings X (just North of Mayfair, Soho, Covent Garden, close to Regents Park, etc.) than the properties further west which only really make sense if you want that vibe, are working further West (Kensington, Hammersmith) or intend to spend your time at Harrods.
A discussion of which London area we each prefer is by nature very circumstantial, and unlikely to reach agreement.
Nor will it add anything to the already stated fact that the Wellesley is very centrally located in the Knightsbridge area, and that most tourist attractions in London are well within reach.
Equally though, calling the drug-infested den of inequity which is Kings Cross a clearly "better" location is perhaps pushing things slightly. I'd certainly always pick Kings Cross over Knightsbridge as a base for London though.
Are either of these really that polarised ?
Nice review, thanks. ^