There is definitely no lack of premium properties over here in London. The IC over here sits in a premium estate. It is located in one of the most prominent spots in central London. You are right on the edge of Hyde Park, London, making it awesome for both leisure and business travellers. I am glad to have the opportunity to check them out over the festive period. I have heard plenty of great things about this property. The club lounge was especially highly raved about. This is one of the two ICs over here in London. The hotel comes with its history in the iconic Park Lane area. It is well connected with two tube stations and is also within walking distance of multiple sights. The direct Piccadilly line takes you straight to Heathrow. Let’s check out this iconic property and hotel.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I will be staying here for 2 nights. I was booked into their Mayfair Premium Room. A couple of days out from my stay, I got a pre-arrival email from the Club InterContinental team to get my preferences and all. They also shared the inclusion and the timings for the lounge. Do note that Club InterContinental access is only offered to top-tier members with a lounge pass or only with a certain rate that includes access. Some of the speciality suite also comes with access. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of InterContinental London Park Lane, Mayfair. The InterContinental London Park Lane Mayfair features 449 guest rooms and suites across 19 categories. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Club InterContinental Access | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosy | No | Yes | 21 Sqm | 74 |
| Classic | No | Yes | 23 Sqm | 63 |
| Premium | No | Yes | 28 Sqm | 42 |
| Junior Suite | No | Yes | 41 Sqm | 13 |
| One Bedroom Suite | No | Yes | 46 Sqm | 14 |
| Hyde Park Suite | No | Yes | 62 Sqm | 3 |
| Mayfair Cosy | No | No | 20 Sqm | 42 |
| Mayfair Classic | No | No | 23 Sqm | 31 |
| Mayfair Premium | No | No | 29 Sqm | 36 |
| Mayfair Junior Suite | No | Maybe | 39 Sqm | 5 |
| Mayfair One Bedroom Suite | No | Maybe | 45 Sqm | 9 |
| Mayfair Hyde Park Suite | No | Maybe | 62 Sqm | 4 |
| Mayfair Prestige Suite | Yes | Maybe | 67 Sqm | 6 |
| Prestige Suite | Yes | Yes | 77 Sqm | 5 |
| London Suite | Yes | Yes | 81 Sqm | 1 |
| Aspley Suite | Yes | Yes | 125 Sqm | 1 |
| Capital Suite | Yes | Yes | 93 Sqm | 2 |
| Presidential Suite | Yes | Yes | 137 Sqm | 1 |
| Royal Suite | Yes | Yes | 161 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
I got into Heathrow at around 6.30am. We were out of the airport in no time and hopped on the tube, taking the Piccadilly Line, which took us straight to the hotel. That is easy enough and super affordable. It was about 8.30am when we reached the hotel. It is still so quiet in the morning over here. The bellboy wasn’t there at first, but came over after seeing us make our way through the entrance. He immediately came over to help us with our bags and gave us a very warm welcome.
We were helped by a friendly associate who reconfirmed everything and explained the facilities information to us. My room was already ready despite the early hour. Soon, we had the keys, and the staff ushered us over to the elevators. Super polished. We freshen up before having breakfast at the Club Lounge. We could have also checked in at the lounge, but that was not needed since the front desk was empty.
Mayfair Premium Room
This is one of the more premium room types over here. The rooms on the Mayfair floors have been recently refurbished. We got a room all the way at the end of the floor, and it is quite a walk. They do have quite a high footprint per floor. This room measures a lovely 29 Sqm. It comes with an L-shaped entrance. I was pleasantly surprised by the look and decor of the place. I love the modern, luxurious, warm wood tones and lighting. By the entranceway, you have a side table that allows you to place some loose and small items. This is very handy. I would love for them to have some hooks by the wall here for your outerwear, too. This will be good for London all year round.
Heading on in, you can find the minibar area and the wardrobe. It comes with both a kettle and a proper Nespresso coffee machine. Sachets of TWG teas are provided as well. Bottled filtered drinking water is also provided, and these are replenished during daily housekeeping and turndown service. You can find a fully stocked mini bar consisting of snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, below in the mini fridge.
Next to it is the wardrobe with everything that you might require for your stay inside, including a safe, laundry bags, bathrobe, bath slippers and plenty of hangers.
The room is in an elongated rectangular layout and nicely categorised into the working space and the bedroom. It boosts lovely views that stretch throughout the room.
The working desk is of a good size to get some work done. It comes alongside an armchair and the lovely view. Power outlets are located within reach, and the wifi connections work well here.
In the middle of the room, you can find the bathroom, which is on the smaller side but well designed. It comes with a standing shower with both a handheld shower head and a rainshower. I love that the control is on the other side of the wall, which allows you to adjust the temperature before getting under the water. Temperature control and water pressure are excellent. The half-glass setup might get water all over the place.
There is only a single sink, but plenty of counter space. All sorts of amenities are provided, and they are generous with them. I love the Jo Love toiletries, which smell so good and lather well. This is off the norm for IC, and I love this. The pomelo scent is something that I fancy.
Back over to the bedroom area. By the window over here, you can find another coffee table and a single seater couch. It is the perfect spot for having tea and soaking in this amazing view. The arch and Buckingham Palace grounds make such an idyllic view. Blinds and sheers are manually controlled over here. I do love that the windows can be opened to let in some of the fresh air, which is amazing during this time of the year.
The television is mounted on their wall. It is of a good size and comes with plenty of both local and international cable TV channels, making it perfect for a movie night. Under the TV, there is an ottoman that allows for more storage space in the room.
The centrepiece of the room is definitely the plush king-size bed. It is super comfortable. I love that the mattress is on the firmer size as well as the high-quality beddings, which are so smooth. We managed to get some contour memory foam pillows and slept superbly well. Flanking both sides of the bed are nightstands with controls for the lighting and power outlets. There is also an alarm clock on one side of the bed.
Turndown services are automatically offered in the evening with the room refreshed and prepped for resting.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is open 24 hours and located on the first floor. It is a huge space and generous with various equipment, such as bikes and treadmills. There are multiple sets. Everything is well-maintained and clean. The facility also comes with water and towels. Do note that the spot doesn’t come with any view, but it gets the job done. Great facility.
Club InterContinental
I spent quite a fair bit of time in the Club InterContinental during my stay. It is one of the best executive lounges that I have been to. IC always boosts quality lounges. The access is much stricter than other chains. Access is only offered to top-tier IHG members with a lounge pass or to guests in a handful of speciality suites over here. Access is also available at a charge of 185 Pounds per room for 2 guests. The Club is located on the 7th floor and open from 6.30am to 10.30pm daily. They offer breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails.
It is a gorgeous space with sweeping views of the surrounding area. It can be really awesome when the weather is great. The staff are polished and take the initiative. Jesper is a gem over here. Here are some pictures of the lounge. During the day, you can always pop by for coffee, tea, soft drinks and water.
I also appreciate that the lounger comes with showering facilities; this is handy for guests with early arrivals and late departures without access to the room.
Afternoon tea is offered from 1.30pm to 3.30pm daily. You will be able to enjoy classic British afternoon views with awesome views over the surroundings. I checked it out once after a visit to Harrods. The selection changes daily, and it was presented on a tiered stand by the staff. You can accompany it with a selection of teas. I am a huge fan of white tea. How classy is this? It is traditional with a trio of sandwiches, freshly baked scones and some sweets. I love them. The mushroom sandwich and the lobster one were especially memorable. I am unsure if it is limited to one portion. This might just be the best afternoon tea I ever had at a hotel lounge. I appreciate the high-quality items rather than an unlimited buffet.
Evening cocktails service is from 5pm to 7pm. It comes with Champagne service. The club staff are very polished and engaging. I had a nice chat with Jasper during my time here. During the service, the staff constantly go around to offer refills and to take drink orders. They offer Moët here, which is a standard and very drinkable champagne. It is not common to find champagne in a club lounge anymore. Besides this, you can also find two pours of red wines, white wines and rosé. There are also spirits and two types of beers. Simple mixers and the usual soft drinks, tea and coffee are available too.
For canapés, they had some fruits, cakes, veg drips, pita, cold cuts, cheese and crackers. I especially love the deviled crab cone and smoked duck. They have two hot dishes as well. These are changed daily. Here are some pictures of the selections.
It might not make a dinner replacement, but I do enjoy popping by for some drinks and snacks prior to heading out for dinner. I have nothing but good stuff to speak about the team over here. They are awesome with local information and recommendations.
Breakfast at Club InterContinental
This is another highlight of my stay at the club. I wasn’t expecting this to be honest. The Club InterContinental breakfast was stellar and, in fact, better than the restaurant’s. I wasn’t expecting blown. I had breakfast on the day of my arrival. It was packed. Breakfast ended up being the most crowded service of the lounge. This is always a good sign. They boost a small buffet selection with an à la carte menu. This is paired with the awesome view of the surrounding area.
Here are some of the selections over the course of my stay. You can find some pictures of the buffet here, with slight changes from day to day.
We tried a couple of items during our stay. Each of them was excellent and as good as any fancy cafes out there in the city. Each dish was prepped upon order, and they were great with customisation. They were thoughtful enough to seek our preference for soft or crispy bacon. I requested some sliced avocados instead, and they were prepped daily after.
If you have access to the club, it is the venue to go to for breakfast. Perhaps they could pour some Moët at breakfast, too. That will really make it a perfect 100.
Breakfast at Theo Randall
I also briefly checked out the breakfast at the restaurant during my stay. It was served at the Theo Randall restaurant, which is located just by the reception area. Breakfast is served from 6.30am till 10.30am on weekdays, and this is extended till 11am on weekends and bank holidays. I was warmly welcomed in and shown to a table. Breakfast is served buffet style, with drinks orders taken by the staff. You can also order eggs cooked to your liking from the staff. I will just let the pictures do the rest of the speaking.
Conclusion
I have a very enjoyable stay over here. The property location is impeccable for checking out London! It is right in the middle of everything. You have easy access to Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and tons of transportation options. You can also take a nice stroll down to Piccadilly Circus and the Convent Gardens for shopping! I love the Mayfair collection, which is so classy and nice. The rooms are also recently renovated! I have nothing but great things to speak about the Club Team and the Bell Team. They are so polished over here! The lounge also offers a spectacular breakfast and champagne for the evening. Having club access will elevate your experience here! Special mentions also go to the Jo Loves amenities that they provide, which smell so good! This is a solid property for IHG elite members, and I will have no qualms choosing this property for my stay in London next time.
This was a hosted media stay; all views expressed are my own.
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