London is home to some of the world’s most stunning hotels and one of our favourites is The Landmark London. This grande dame of the hotel scene has seen quite a few comings and goings since first opening as the Great Central Hotel in 1899. Today, it’s a member of Leading Hotels of the World and as popular as ever. It’s a great place to enjoy a luxurious London staycation and they also do a fantastic Shop Till You Drop experience with Bicester Village which is easily reached by train from Marylebone station.
First Impressions of The Landmark London
Conveniently located next to Marylebone station, it has an imposing entrance.
Step into The Landmark London and you’re transported into a world of fresh floral displays, smiling reception staff and the incredible Winter Garden. It was created between 1902 and 1910, and has enthralled visitors ever since. I’ve been here before for the Landmark Hotel afternoon tea and it was a real treat.
A Luxurious London Staycation
After a quick and easy check in, we made our way up to the Great Central Suite on the top floor. One of the most spacious suites that we’ve stayed in, it had a large hallway with cupboards, bedroom, lounge, bathroom and separate guest WC.
In some ways it felt like staying in someone’s luxurious apartment. The homely vibe was enhanced by funky lamps, vintage suitcases and a Nespresso coffee machine. It would be handy for business travellers as well as leisure guests, since there was a full size work desk.
Our suite was equipped with all mod cons including a flat-screen TV in both the lounge and the bedroom, iHome music systems, air-conditioning, Sky TV together with complimentary WiFi. Included in the price of the suite is complimentary full English breakfast, drinks from the drink trolley, a mini bar with snacks, a newspaper, access to the spa and health club, shoe shine and use of the business centre. The views from the lounge were fantastic!
The decor is quite traditional but there are some funky accents like this retro-style phone that I loved. I have an original Bakelite phone at home.
The bedroom was cosy and the bed was so comfortable, we had a perfect, uninterrupted night’s sleep on our London staycation.
The marble bathroom is actually a series of interconnecting rooms, starting with the double washbasin and bath, then to the Monsoon shower and on to WC. There were Molton Brown toiletries and fluffy bathrobes and slippers as well as kimono style robes.
Extra Touches at The Landmark London
Have you seen a cuter welcome touch than this chocolate train? The Landmark London started off as a grand hotel for upmarket train travellers on the Great Central Railway and this is a great homage to its heritage.
We were also impressed by the fresh fruit and there was even port in a crystal decanter on a drinks trolly.
Yet perhaps the most impressive touch was the flowers, because they were personalized! Before our stay, the hotel concierge had been in touch to ask me a few questions, including what my favourite flowers were. Lo and behold, a beautiful bunch of peonies! Tearing ourselves away from our suite, we headed down to dinner…
Where to Eat at The Landmark London
For our London staycation, we chose to eat at twotwentytwo Restaurant (no capitals), the more casual cousin to the Winter Garden. The decor is stunning, with wood-panelled walls, comfy leather armchairs, flattering low-light and my favourite feature – an open fire!
The staff were really attentive. Our waitress overheard me saying that I could do with glasses for the menu and brought me some nifty illuminating ones! We started our meal in style with a yellow fin tuna tartare for me…so fresh and nicely seasoned with chilli and lime.
And for Paul, one of his favourite dishes – prawn cocktail, with succulent baby prawns, crisp lettuce and a Marie Rose sauce.
Our mains were superb – Paul chose the Prime ribeye steak with chunky chips and a flavourful béarnaise sauce. This Scottish beef had been aged for 28 days. I had a little try of it and the meat was so juicy and tender. It’s one of the best steaks that we’ve had in London.
My healthy fish pan-fried sea bass was served with an unusual risotto of Cornish crab, chilli and coriander. I really liked this combination and would definitely choose it again.
Paul raved about his lovely Summer Berry Eton Mess with meringue and Chantilly cream…As I did once I’d stolen a spoonful ;-).
My dark chocolate tart with a milk chocolate ganache and passion fruit sorbet was a triumph. The quality of the chocolate was fantastic and the passion fruit balanced its richness very well.
This is one restaurant that I’ll definitely return to, and it’s just as popular with locals as hotel guests. We finished with some complimentary petits-fours – I left the jellies to Paul and polished off most of the chocolates 😉
Breakfast at The Landmark London
The Landmark hotel buffet is well known as being one of the best in London and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The array of buffet dishes is impressive.
There are baked goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, smoked fish, and cereals as well as a variety of hot breakfast items. I ordered healthy crushed avocado with poached eggs on toasted sourdough and Paul enjoyed the full English, with maple-cured back bacon and Cumberland sausages.
The Landmark Hotel Spa
The Landmark London Spa and Health club boasts a 15 metre chlorine free swimming pool, quite unusual for central London. The Landmark spa has been recently renovated and has steam rooms, a sanarium, which is less intense than a sauna, monsoon showers and a sizeable gym with the latest equipment.
Paul made good use of the running machine, sauna and steam room whilst I enjoyed a spa treatment. The spa offers some top-notch treatments including the Black Diamond facial that I was lucky to experience.
They have partnered with renowned Spanish brand Germaine de Capuccini to offer a range of face and body treatments. My therapist was a charming lady who asked me about my skin concerns before starting. The 50 minute Diamond Noir (Black Diamond) facial is results driven, and aims to increase luminosity and combat ageing.
She removed my makeup, then opened my pores by placing hot towels on my face. Afterwards, she exfoliated with a menthol scrub which had a pleasant tingling effect.
Next came the exciting part, she applied the diamond mask, containing extracts of diamond, iron and zinc, massaging my face with gentle yet effective movements. Unlike some masks, it didn’t dry on my skin so there was no sensation of tightness.
She removed it about 15 minutes later with hot cloths, applied a serum and left me to relax whilst it soaked into my skin. My skin was transformed – visibly smoother and brighter, whilst redness and pores were both considerably less noticeable.
Over the next few days, the effect got even better with silky soft skin and a subtle radiance. It was a great way to finish a wonderful staycation. This historic hotel has an indefinable character of its own, timeless yet contemporary. We’ll be back!
Have you visited the Landmark? What would you do on a London staycation?
The Landmark London, 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JQ
I haven’t seen anything cuter than a welcome chocolate train! What an utterly fabulous staycation, *love* the sound of the spa treatment too 😉 xx
The spa treatment was great, I felt to relaxed!
I agree it does look very homely and the chocolate train really is the best ever welcome present!
Almost a pity to eat it, it looked so good!
What a lovely experience! I love that it was so personalised – what a treat! x
They really pulled out all the stops, you’d love it, Lauren
I adore that you sent Paul for a run whilst you reviewed the spa 😉
Ha ha, at least one of us was getting fit 😉
That view from your hotel room is too gorgeous! And I love the marble floor in the bathroom, definitely future home goals!
http://thecourtneydiaries.com
I wouldn’t mind a marble floored bathroom myself, very chic!
I have only done a staycation once when I was eighteen. We stayed at a luxury hotel in Luxembourg City but it wasn’t as glamourous as The Landmark.
I hope that you get the chance to do another one, Anouk
I love read your post…amazing Hotel!!!! Wth your post I travel with my fantasy in the beautiful Hotels and restaurant!!!
FRANCYGFASHIONBLOG AND THE STRANGE CASE OF BERLIN AESTHETICS
I’m so glad that it took you on a virtual journey, Francesca!
So this luxurious hotel is called “Landmark”? At first I thought the hotel is a landmark, but then I realized this is it’s name. It is really an amazing hotel, quite a ‘landmark’. So luxurious and opulent. Like I said before, Suze, I envy you for visiting all these fancy places.
It used to be called the Great Central and they renamed it a few years ago – I think that it fits pretty well!
The Landmark is such a gorgeous hotel. I’ve sampled their afternoon tea before and I’ve had a few work Christmas parties here too – every time I’ve visited I’ve left with that wow hotel factor! I love personal touches such as the gorgeous Peonies in your room
The peonies were so stunning, made me feel right at home
So this is when staycations beat vacations. 😀
Wonderful experience that must have been.
Ha ha, you’re right there, Lux and no need to get on a plane
I agree, it feels like somewhere really hot with those palms
You too, Jalisa – the sun is out in London today!
Luxury with the Fab Suze…
Such a glam place!
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr/
London is one of my favourite cities for luxury hotels! I’ve never visited The Landmark before but I’d love to someday. I LOVE the bed and the washroom!
How fabulous is this hotel. London truly has some of the best. Very luxurious feel, little wonder it’s a member of the prestigious ‘leading hotels of the world’. The food! Oh the food! I stayed at the Ritz London a couple years ago and enjoyed every fleeting second. Leaving was hard. Amazing review.
http://fashionablyidu.com/
The Spa looks incredibly luxurious! How relaxing and what a beautiful place to visit.
Gorgeous photographs!
Laura xo
www.shehearts.net
I have had afternoon tea at the landmark which was lovely. The setting is supper grand with the massive palms. The rest of the hotel looks superb Lucy x
This looks like such a lovely spot to relax and unwind.
– Elise XO
www.thewaterwanderer.com