Hotel in Detail:
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 and has been since the 1990s. The hotel offers a modern appeal with contemporary furnishings, style and modern art being at the heart of the decor. Starting life as an English mansion called Hope House back in 1850 the Athenaeum Hotel is now one of the best known luxury hotels in central London occupying a prime location on Piccadilly one of the iconic roads in the capital city. Sits between Hyde Park and Green Park almost opposite Buckingham Palace.The Athenaeum Hotel features a vertical Living Wall (since 2009) designed by award-winning artist Patrick Blanc. Made up of no less than 12,000 plants with those at the top reaching about two metres. The living wall 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 worlds 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.
All bedrooms come with a flat screen TV, tea making facilities, Nespresso coffee-maker, individually controlled air conditioning, free WiFi, complimentary water, iron and ironing board, safe, hairdryer, Bose docking station, dual line telephone With voicemail and minibar. 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.
Deluxe, park View and suites come with bathrobes and slippers.
Park View guest rooms come with a view of Green park and floor to ceiling windows.
Direct lift access is provided from all guest floors. Room service is 24 hours. Twice daily maid service. Many of the bedroom have wonderful views over Green Park (these being numbered 01 thru' 05 and from the 3rd floor upwards).
Dining Options:
Galvin at The Athenaeum: From Michelin starred London chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. Stepping away from their trademark French-inspired menus in favour of championing British homegrown produce and supporting independent farmers across the UK. Also serves Afternoon Tea and Private Dining. The menu features a modern take on classic British dishes combined with Galvin favourites.Afternoon Tea: Award-winning tradition at the hotel. The Galvin Brothers brings a modern British Afternoon Tea showcasing tthe best of British with fresh smoked salmon from Severn & Wye, Cumbrian ham, Kentish strawberries and Devonshire clotted cream.
Restaurant Open: 07.00 till 11.00, noon till 23.00. Afternoon Tea: 14.20 till 16.30. Terrace open: 08.00 till 22.30.
THE BAR at Athenaeum: Run by the Galvin brothers in conjunction with with renowned Italian bartender, Giancarlo Mancino, whose bar menu includes an extensive range of new and innovative cocktails, most of which are a twist on the classics. A destination in its own right the bar has it owne entrance on Down Street. The bar is intimate and inviting with elegant bespoke interiors. Features an excellent whisky collection (over 270 types), a fine selection of wines, champagnes and a range of pioneering craft spirits and Signature Cocktails created by Giancarlo Mancino.
Open 11.00 till 01.00.
The Athenaeum 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 (free for guests, 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.
Athenaeum Hotel features the innovative 'kids' concierge service.
The hotel offers a dry cleaning, laundry and pressing service.
Additional services include bikes available, concierge service, luggage storage, ticket service, currency exchange, express check-in/check-out, 24-hour front desk, babysitting/child services, trouser press, shoeshine, packed lunches, safety deposit box, barber/beauty shop.
Bedrooms are non-smoking.
Apartments in Detail:
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.Hotel Vicinity:
Nearest: Tube Station: Hyde Park Corner 334 yards (305 metres), Railway Station: London Victoria 0.6 miles (1 km), DLR Station: Tower Gateway 3.3 miles (5.3 km), Motorway: M4 Junction 1 5.7 miles (9.2 km).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 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).
Bedroom Numbers: 123 (of which 12 are suites) / 10 floors Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out: 11.00 am
This hotel has averaged a score of 4.45 out of 5 by 3557 past guests
>>>Booking.com (average customer rating 4.2 out of 5 from 458 reviews)
>>>Tripadvisor (ranked 141 of 1140 for Hotels in London and rated 4.5 out of 5 from 3099 reviews)
Parking:
Private parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is needed) and costs £55 per day.Internet:
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.Pets:
Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.Compared to other London hotels: This hotel has been rated 89% by past guests. The London average is 79% and the average for 5 star hotels is 89%. Therefore this hotel is equal to the average for its sector (star rating) .
Milesfaster ranking: 120th from 865 London hotels, and 54th of 133 five star rated hotels.
Another to Consider:
Another hotel that is much like the Athenaeum Hotel And Apartments and not too far away (0.1 miles, 0.1 km) would be the 5 star Intercontinental London park Lane,
where prices begin from around £389 and which has an 89% guest satisfaction rating.
However you may well prefer to stay with apartments for your accommodation, an alternative apartment is the Jumeirah Grosvenor House Apartments. It is 0.4 miles (0.7 km) away with rates from £470 having scored a guest rating of 89% and has: a spa.
For somewhere with lower starting rates try the Sheraton Grand Park Lane. 0.1 miles
from here (0.1 km), gaining a satisfaction rating of 81%
from its past guests and the hotels starting rates begin at about £389. Can we suggest something with a higher guest score? We suggest the 5 Star Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane seems like a possible option. The Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane is only 0.1 miles (0.1 km) away. The Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane has a perfect unblemished customer rating 99%, a truly stunning achievement.
Local hotels analysed:
The 50 hotels nearest to this location (116 Piccadilly, W1 postcode) that we list cover a 0.6 miles (1.0 km) radius. They breakdown as follows: 35 five star hotels (average rating 90%), 12 four star hotels (average rating 83%) and 3 three star hotels (average rating 61%). Overall the best rated hotel is 41 Hotel (5 star) at 100%.Base Rates: A look at how hotels compare for starting rates (base rates). These published rates are long term rates so do not take account of special deals and offers. The average starting rate looking at all the nearest hotels to this location is £330 per night. The cheapest standard rates begin at £67 at Tophams Hotel Belgravia (3 Star, 61%) while the highest base rates are £1000 at 45 Park Lane Hotel (5 Star, 99%). Averages listed for each individual star sector: Five Star average: £408, Four Star average: £166 and Three Star average: £86.
Summary:
Our in-house ranking based on guest ratings but adjusted for influencing factors ranks Athenaeum Hotel And Apartments 25th (joint) of the 50 local hotels and 19th (joint) for the 35 five star hotels in the area. 23rd of 50 (8th of 35 five star hotels.) for base rates ranking. Scoring the hotels rates and review score together we rank the hotel 14th of 39 when judging value for money (The Hari London was top).
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 'housekeepers 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.
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.