Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments

Introduction: The Athenaeum hotel London is situated on Piccadilly on the edge of Mayfair opposite Green Park and close to Hyde Park. The hotel was built in 1973 on the grounds of a former gentleman's club. This location puts you smack bang in the heart of tourist London. Piccadilly itself is part of the A4 dual carriageway which is the main route into and out of central London from the West, and is thus a busy main road for most of the day. However this also means haling a famous London Black Taxi is never a problem. Piccadilly is a long Road and the hotel is on the Western side away from Piccadilly Circus at the opposite end. Some 300 yards to the West is the major road junction of Hyde Park where Wellington Arch sits proudly in the middle. At this point is also the start of road that leads  down to Buckingham Palace, Constitution Hill. On the far side of Hyde Park Corner is Knightsbridge with its famous shopping areas and the world famous Harrods department Store. Hyde Park Corner is also the South Eastern edge of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. To the East at just under half a mile is the upmarket fashion and jewellery shopping of Bond Street, Just over half a mile to the wide range of boutiques, shops, bars and restaurants of Regent Street and 0.7 miles to the North is Europe's most densely populated area for shops at Oxford Street. Other nearby attractions include St James's Palace (0.4 miles), Marble Arch (0.8 miles) and Leicester Square (0.8 miles).

Hotel:
By design the Athenaeum Hotel blends the modern and contemporary with traditional standards. Notable as one of the few family owned major hotels in central London. The hotel offers a modern appeal with contemporary furnishings, style and modern art being at the heart of the decor. In April 2009 as part of its rebranding the hotel added its very own living wall garden. This is a garden that takes up an entire face of one section of the hotel, 10 floors high. With native plants and flowers, with the world’s biggest collection of Urticaccae below the garden room.
The Athenaeum takes the care of its guests to heart and before your stay at the hotel guests are sent a questionnaire to let the hotel know al their likes and dislikes allowing for a personalised stay.

Every Room And Suite Has A DVD/Cd And Video Player With A Free Library Service, games and pay movies, individually controlled air-conditioning, WiFi high speed internet access, cable TV (32 inch or 42 inch plasma screen) with internet browser (charge), Two Line Telephones With Voice Mail And Fax-Modem Facilities, minibar, coffee/tea maker, Ipod docking station, coffee making machine, USA Voltage Sockets and Personal Safes. The beds are luxurious 'Hypno' Beds with Egyptian cotton linen. Alongside the state-of-the-art modern facilities are delicate touches of the traditional such as the traditional English leather toped bedside chests. Bathrooms are finished in marble and feature high pressure power showers and heated towel rails. Toiletries are provided.
Direct lift access is provided from all guest floors. Room service is 24 hours. Twice daily maid service. Daily Telegraph delivered every morning. Many of the bedroom have wonderful views over Green Park (these being numbered 01 thru' 05 and from the 3rd floor upwards). Many rooms have views out over Green park.

Dining Options:
Bullochs at 116: The Restaurant's light design, featuring a conservatory roof and a Jerusalem stone floor bordered in antique mosaics helps create a wonderful atmosphere reminiscent of the hotels former gentleman club days. Innovative menu with modern British cuisine. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Windsor Lounge: Located on the first floor with a friendly atmosphere, comfortable sofas and a warm personal service. The perfect place to relax with afternoon tea.
The Malt Whisky Bar: Well known amongst malt whisky aficionados, the bar offers a unique selection of 157 malt whiskies.
 
The hotel has 4 meeting rooms with a capacity for up to 48.
Hotel guests have exclusive use of the onsite health spa located on the ground floor. Facilities include a 12 piece gym (open 24/7, running machines, bikes, free weights), jacuzzi, showers and marble steam room, sauna with relaxation area and a beauty treatment room. Treatments at the spa include the likes of enzymatic sea mud wraps and multivitamin lifting and firming facials.
Introduced in 2009 was the innovative "kids' concierge" service.
The hotel offers a dry cleaning, laundry and pressing service.

Apartments:
These are one and two bedroom air-conditioned Edwardian Townhouses that have separate entrances to the hotel and which include a video entry phone system. They are adjacent to the the main hotel. Although separate from the hotel the hotels amenities remain available to you while staying in an apartment. Features Include spacious sitting rooms and well equipped kitchens. A grocery shopping service is provided. The Executive Apartments additionally have a clothes washer/dryer and a sofa bed for extra guests.

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Room Numbers: 123 (of which 12 are suites) / 10 floors
Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out: 11.00 am

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Comment: The Wild Suite was listed as one of the UK's 10 most outrageous hotel rooms by the timesonline in 2009. Almost totally decorated and furnished in black and white.
Athenaeum Hotel underwent major refurbishment in 2008/09. Launched a rebranding in 2009 via branding group 'Construct'. Launched a rage of new services including a picnic menu, a ‘housekeeper’s cupboard’ menu ( range of travel items), free minibar room-delivery service run by Fortnum & Mason, loan service for cycles, wellington boots, kites, buggies, cots and iPods. There was also a 10 floor high vertical garden by Patrick Blanc.
In 2006 the hotel was refurbished by Martin Hulbert.

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Hotel Awards:
Tea Council:
Award for excellence 2008, 2009
Visit London:
 2009 Bronze for Large Hotel of the Year

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History:
£7m refurbishment 2009 added floor-to-ceiling windows and Juliet balconies to the bedrooms.
The building was originally called “Hope House” and was constructed between 1849-50. Sold by the 6th Duke of. Bought by the Junior Athenaeum Club in 1864. Converted into a luxury Art Deco apartment block in the 1930's and called The Athenaeum. Bought by The Rank Organisation in 1971 who converted its use into a luxury hotel opened in 1973. Family run since the 1990's.
On December 25th 2009 a fire in the hotels basement was brought under control by 30 fire fighters and 6 fire engines. The incident lasted for 3 hours. Damage was localised to the basement.
Privately owned since 1994.