Set in the heart of the oh-so well-heeled borough of Mayfair, The Connaught is, by anyone's reckoning, nothing short of a legend amongst luxury hotels. Built in 1917 and originally named after Queen Victoria’s late husband, it exudes old-fashioned glamour and with its seamless service, sumptuous rooms and sublime fine dining, it remains one of London’s finest grande dames.
Bedrooms are sleekly luxurious, and due to a recent refurbishment from renowned designer Guy Oliver, offer a refined, stylish elegance, with muted tones mixing with silver leaf and Edwardian slate on the walls, bespoke furniture and swathes of damask silk curtains at the vast windows. Fresh flowers fill the rooms, and add a wonderfully personal touch. The nine suites are all completely individual in style and more contemporary in decor. From the hand-carved walnut wardrobes in the Prince’s Lodge to the 1909 Steinway piano in the Sutherland suite and, remarkably, their own personal butler, the luxury on offer here is pretty much unrivalled.
Although tearing yourself away from such luxurious rooms is tough, the iconic bars (The Connaught and The Coburg) downstairs are definitely worth a visit. Elegant cocktails are created with meticulous attention to detail and are perfect pre (and post) a trip to the award-winning dining room, for which head chef Hélène Darroze recently received her second Michelin star. The accompanying historic wine cellars are seriously impressive and great care is taken to match your wine and meal to perfection.
If you don’t already feel spoiled to within an inch of your life, then the Amman Spa will make sure you do. With a dark granite swimming pool, essential oil-filled steam rooms (which are chosen to match the season) and signature spa treatments inspired from ancient cultures and practices, it takes sybaritic indulgence to a new level.
What’s hot?
- The luxurious Amman spa
- The exceptional service - staff greet you by name throughout the hotel
- The Michelin-starred restaurant
- Sipping cocktails in either the Cobourg or Connaught bar
What’s not?
- First-rate luxury like this costs a pretty penny
Need to Know: The Connaught
Number of rooms: 121 (including 34 suites)
Check-in/check-out times: 2pm and 12noon
Room service: Yes. There’s 24-hour room service and your own butler if you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of the suites
Swimming pool: Yes. There’s a lavish indoor pool with dark granite walls and a natural ionising system
Spa: Yes. The UK’s only Amman spa - and it’s seriously impressive
Dogs welcome: No. Pets are not allowed
Eating and drinking: The Connaught offers some of the very finest eating and drinking in the city. Hélène Darroze's double Michelin-starred efforts continue to wow all comers, and the two bars offer some of the best cocktails in town. The senior mixologist there has also just won 'World Class Bartender of the Year'.
Near to? Slap-bang in the centre of town, you’ll be perfectly located for shopping (Bond Street, Oxford Street, Knightsbridge and of course the infamous Selfridges), shows (Theatreland’s not far away) and if you can tear yourself away from The Connaught’s fine dining, there are plenty of exceptional restaurants nearby.
Getting there: Located just a five-minute walk from Bond Street and Green Park tube stations, there’ll be plenty of taxis. Paddington is just a 15-minute taxi ride away, where you can hop on the Heathrow Express.
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