The Private Traveller

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Hotel Review: The Londoner: A Super Boutique in Leicester Square

The Private Traveller

Overview

This new hotel, self-styled as the world’s first super boutique hotel opened in September 2021, slightly later than planned but was obviously impacted by Covid. It had been on my radar for a while and I was eagerly anticipating when I’d be able to visit, so I was very lucky to be able to stay for a weekend in March 2022. Other than a couple of minor hiccups (first room and afternoon tea at The Stage) which really didn’t impact the stay at all, it was a wonderful weekend and somewhere I would want to go back to.

It’s in such a central location but once inside you feel like you’re in another world altogether, and miles away from where it actually is. The design and build quality is just exceptional, as was the standard of service, facilities offered and a unique ambience for such a large hotel.


Hotel website: https://www.thelondoner.com

Would I stay here again?   In a heartbeat - definitely one of my new favourite London locations and would happily go back anytime. Such a great selection of unique venues in the hotel for eating, drinking and relaxing.

The Londoner Hotel: Luxury Hotel on Leicester Square, London

Location

In such a good location, the hotel is right on the south-west corner of Leicester Square, only a couple of minutes away from both Leicester Square or Piccadilly Tube. Chinatown is literally just across the Square, Soho nearby as is Covent Garden; and only a short walk to the foot of Regent Street for high-end shopping, or slightly further away Regent Street intersects with Oxford Street for more high street shopping. There are multiple cinemas or movie theatres right on the doorstep (and actually an Odeon cinema located in the corner of the hotel building itself), as there were theatres nearby for some of the most popular London shows or musicals. There seems to be an endless choice of bars and restaurants within walking distance, as was the ever popular Lego store and M&M’s World.

Accommodation

There’s a good choice of rooms (King/Deluxe King/Deluxe King City View) with Junior and Corner Suites too. If speciality accommodation is your thing, there is also a Capital, Signature and Tower Penthouse Suite (a two-storey statement apartment with a fantastic entertaining space with incredible iconic London views). We started off in a Deluxe King, which was beautifully designed with great attention to detail, stunning views and a great combination of neutral colours, materials and subtle wood-panelling interspersed with pops of colour. The bathroom was open-plan with bold tiling and colourful sink, separate walk-in shower and WC, with a Japanese electronic Toto toilet. 

Everything was just spotlessly clean and literally sparkling, and supplied with everything you could want like a mini-bar, huge LCD TV, digital and Bluetooth enabled traditional style ‘Roberts’  radio, complimentary mineral water (in recyclable cans), hairdryer, electric steamer, robes, slippers and binoculars. Toiletries were by Miller Harris (Tea Tonique range) with shampoo, shower gel, conditioner and body lotion. 

After a slight housekeeping hiccup which couldn’t be fixed immediately, we were moved to another floor and upgraded to a Junior Suite which was amazing too. Similar in style but more spacious (more windows for a more open view, which also opened outwards to get air, albeit all rooms and suites are air-conditioned). Here there was a more enclosed bathroom, but again beautifully designed with a larger shower and bath area, but not the separate WC. As well as a reclining sofa, small dining table and two chairs, there was also space for a writing desk and chair.

Food & Drink

There was such a great choice in the hotel for food and drinks, so as central as it is right on Leicester Square there’s actually no need to step outside. Breakfast is served in Whitcomb's, with an excellent buffet choice (across multiple stations throughout the bi-level restaurant) of fruits, cereals, yoghurt, juices, pastries and a full hot selection too including an egg/omelette station. Teas and coffees were to order, as was a full selection of hot and cold a la carte options from your server. It is a big hotel so breakfast was quite busy, so it was great to return to Whitcomb’s (which is a fine dining French/Mediterranean inspired restaurant) for dinner (and they also serve lunch). The food choice was excellent, as was service, and nice to be recognised as hotel guests (though open to the public too) and being presented with a special aperitif.

For pre-dinner drinks we opted for Joshua’s Tavern (a great traditional pub like environment) where they have the most incredible selection of gins (a personal favourite) and Gintonicas, carefully crafted to blend together. Post-dinner the concierge team had reserved an outside table at the Japanese-inspired izakaya lounge, 8 at The Londoner. Food is available in the restaurant and lounge (amazing views from a glass wall across the London skyline) and drinks in the outside (covered, but the roof does retract too) Shima Garden. Open only at night, there’s a DJ and heaters to keep you warm on cooler nights.

There’s also the guests only ‘The Residence’, up an amazing curved staircase over The Stage (where there’s often live music) where there are three different bar areas and a restaurant too with limited casual menu. Complimentary teas, coffees and soft drinks are served through the day along with a great selection of Italian antipasti; there’s board games, iMac and a selection of newspapers and magazines to keep you occupied. Slightly hidden towards the back is a small ‘secret' whisky bar. Champagne breakfasts and afternoon teas are served in The Stage area, just off the main reception; and down at the spa (The Retreat) there’s also Refuel for drinks and healthy food, or these can be served poolside too.

Credit: The Londoner Hotel: Luxury Hotel on Leicester Square

Facilities & Service

As well as everything mentioned so far, on level -4 was The Retreat, a real highlight for me being such a spa fan. There was a large gym and fitness room, full of all sorts of equipment, a spa with treatment rooms (had the most amazing 90 minute Opium deep-tissue massage), beautifully designed changing facilities (like basically everything in this hotel), Refuel ( a superfood and drinks clinic), and a style and beauty ‘street’ with men’s grooming by Joe Vipond, Hair & Beauty by Hiro Miyoshi and nails by AMA. In the spa area itself there was a decent sized swimming pool and hydropool, surrounded by private cabanas. Was great to see Stefani (the Spa and Wellness Manager) being so involved in the Retreat and making a personal introduction on our first visit. I’ll write a more detailed spa review later on my blog for This Man’s Journal.

Service throughout the hotel was phenomenal, from the arrival welcome and tour of the hotel, to the bars and restaurants, and in the spa. The only issue we really had was with the first room allocated (which I had picked from an interactive online check-in before arrival which was a great feature) and a housekeeping issue, then incredibly slow service at The Stage on our departure for afternoon tea. I’m convinced that was just a blip, perhaps because we were the last serving of the day.

ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):

  • The pool area does get busy, and although there was meant to be a reservation system in place, with direct access from the bedroom floors without having to pass The Retreat reception or ‘check in’ I’m not sure guests followed this procedure.

  • The room hiccup didn’t impact our stay at all, and allowed us to see two different room types.

  • Afternoon tea at The Stage (booked between the two parts of the Harry Potter show we were seeing on the same day) was something we were so looking forward to. It was still very good, and should normally I imagine be one of the best luxury afternoon teas in London, we just had a couple of hiccups with sandwiches taking so long to come, then me as a strict vegetarian being told I could everything on the top level of a stand which turned out included crab meat. We’ll definitely revisit as I’m looking forward to what the proper champagne afternoon tea experience should be here.

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

  • Location - so central, yet once you’ve stepped inside you feel like you’re in another world altogether.

  • The Residence is such a great idea to have this more secluded guest only space.

  • Hotel design and unique building (number of floors above ground matched by those below) but even the basement levels give such a feeling of space and light - really clever architecture and a wow design.

  • Whitcomb’s was great for dinner and loved the Gintonicas in Joshua’s Tavern, as we did the uniqueness of the after-dinner drinks ‘outside’ in 8 at the Londoner, where we felt we were thousands of miles away from Leicester Square.

  • Having such a wonderful treatment in the spa, then the thoughtfulness of having a private poolside cabana reserved for me post-treatment.

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