The Landmark London is a hotel that has been through its fair share of changes over the years. But, it has come full circle, and as part of the Leading Hotels of the World group, is once again charming guests with its elegant glamour and uncompromising service.
When the doors first opened in the summer of 1899, the name over the door may have been different, but the vision of providing guests with luxury and magnificence was the same. The Landmark London makes an impression from the very first glimpse, with an imposing gothic facade featuring a clocktower drawing the eye.
As you approach the entrance, you are greeted by a friendly doorman in full uniform. Step through the door and you’ll find yourself in a beautiful lobby which is filled with warm light, enhanced by the pale marble floors and beech-coloured wood panelling, even on the dullest of January afternoons. It’s certainly a good starting point, giving us high expectations of what was to come.
Landmark London: The Room
After checking in, we headed up to our executive room on the sixth floor, which offers plenty of space for a stay, and both a sofa and an armchair to relax in after your day’s activities. There’s everything else you’d expect to find there too. The desk offers a good amount of space for a laptop if you do happen to be working during your stay, with plug sockets to hand for charging cables if need be.
The rooms all have quite high ceilings, as was the style in the late 19th century, and this with three full-height windows made it feel very airy and comfortable.
The bathroom was exceptionally spacious too, accommodating a large wardrobe hanging space, double sinks, a bath and large separate walk-in shower, and the toilet at the far end, with a door to separate it from the main bathroom. With marble floors throughout though, it is a little chilly on the feet. Amenities are all individually bottled, with glorious Jasmine-based choices from The White Company.
There was very little to fault with the room – it was stylishly decorated, with everything to make the stay as enjoyable and homely as possible. The king-sized bed was comfortable and not overloaded with decorative cushions which end up stacked in the corner.
In fact, the only gripe we had was that there are no plug sockets accessible on either side of the bed. There was an alarm clock with a USB port on one side that would be suitable to charge a phone, but if you have anything else requiring power, it would need to be plugged in across the room. Of course, that’s not an insurmountable issue, and a quick trip to the concierge desk on our way to dinner resulted in an extension cable waiting in the room on our return.
Landmark London: The Mirror Bar
Before dinner, we decided to hit the bar for a drink. Located on the second floor, the Mirror Bar is a relatively small area, but it has a very 1920s cocktail bar vibe to it.
No matter what you might want to drink, it’s likely to be covered within the 10-page menu – there’s everything from soft drinks and wines to sparkling cocktails and rare spirits, so whether you’re staying at the hotel or just dropping in while you’re out and about, you’ll find ample refreshment in this tranquil oasis.
Landmark London: Winter Garden Restaurant
When it first opened under the name the Grand Central Hotel, the hotel was unique in its design, with a glass-roofed enclosed courtyard, into which horse-drawn carriages could bring guests, offering unrivalled levels of privacy.
Since it was renovated during the 1980s and 90s, that feature has been reinstated at what is now The Landmark London (although without the horse access!) and now houses the Winter Garden restaurant. The glass roof is suspended some five storeys above diners, and with the addition of tall potted palm trees, it has the distinct feel of an open-air eatery. The gentle piano music playing in the background adds to the relaxed atmosphere, making it a lovely place to spend some time.
Once seated, the waiter could not have been more helpful. As we perused the menu, he enquired about any food allergies and, on hearing that I’m lactose intolerant, returned with warm bread rolls and some olive oil in lieu of butter – a very thoughtful touch that is often overlooked.
My dinner companion and I both opted for choices from the set three-course menu, starting with a warm croquette of Gressingham duck with butternut squash, caramelised orange and five-spice sauce, and the vegan option of roasted Jerusalem artichokes with puree, black truffle and dressed lambs lettuce.
Our main course choices consisted of slow-cooked short rib of beef with mashed potato, chestnut mushrooms, baby onions and a grain mustard sauce, and the vegan option of roasted miso spiced aubergine with charred broccoli, pine nut and pomegranate couscous and a carrot and ginger sauce.
After taking a short breather to enjoy the glass of champagne which comes as part of the set menu, we carefully selected our desserts, which was difficult, as they all sounded delightful. We finally settled on the steamed lemon sponge with orange compote and creme fraiche ice cream, and as I’d gone for the vegan options for the rest of the meal, I again chose vegan with roasted plums with honey and star anise, pistachio Bakewell and chocolate sorbet.
There is really very little I can say about the food, other than it was spectacular. Every dish was beautifully presented, fresh, piping hot and extremely tasty.
Our waiter timed things perfectly, leaving enough time between courses for a relaxing evening, but not leaving it too long so that we felt neglected. The portion sizes were good too – we were certainly not left feeling hungry.
The most surprising thing, however, was the price. The set menu, including a glass of champagne, was just £47 per person (excluding service charge, of course), which given the location and quality seems like a bargain. Rates do change with the season though, so check first.
The Morning After
Breakfast at the Landmark London was every bit as well prepared as our evening dining experience had been. With a continental buffet or a cooked breakfast to choose from, I selected a full English, while my companion went for the buffet option. Once again, dietary requirements and allergies were enquired about, and a non-dairy spread was swiftly bought out to accompany my toast.
The quality of the ingredients used for breakfast was evident, with some of the nicest sausages I’ve had in a while forming part of the plateful. The toast was a slight disappointment though, as it was a rather bog-standard sliced loaf, rather than a more artisan freshly sliced offering. Given the obvious care taken to provide the best foods possible for the rest of the meal, this jarred perhaps more than it should. Although, with breakfast starting at £29, you’d be right to expect something better than you might have at home.
The Spa and Wellness Facilities
While there’s no longer a cycle track on the roof as there was in 1899 to help guests work off the excesses of the day, there is a spa and health club on site, which provides complimentary access to guests. The spa also has a range of treatments available at a fee, if you want to treat yourself to a pampering session.
Before we checked out, I headed down to the basement for a swim. The 15-metre pool is chlorine-free, using copper and oxygen to cleanse the water, so unlike a chemically treated pool, there is no pervasive smell clinging to you once you get out. The copper gives the water a rather lovely bluey-green tint too, making it look even more inviting.
There’s a sanarium – a less intense sauna that tops out at 60 degrees – and a jacuzzi, as well a steam room to relax in once you’ve got a few lengths under your belt. For those looking for something more intense, the fully-equipped fitness centre is available for you to work up a sweat instead.
The Verdict
The Landmark London strives to offer a quiet haven of luxury within the bustling city. No more than a minutes’ walk from Marylebone station, and surrounded by busy streets, it certainly achieves what it set out to do. Once you step through the doors – deftly opened for you by the doorman – the city sounds melt away and quiet elegance takes over.
Nothing is too much trouble and standards are high. Our stay at The Landmark London was fabulous, and it is most certainly a hotel to be recommended, but The Winter Garden restaurant was the star of the show – if you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, this should be towards the top of the list.
What: The Landmark London
Where: 222 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 6JQ
Web: LandmarkLondon.co.uk
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