For a fall weekend getaway, I ventured out of my Belgravia & Mayfair comfort zone to try out the new and highly touted Corinthia Hotel. Departures Magazine referred to its location as “curious” – near Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, The London Eye and more than 15 theaters are within easy striking distance so would be ideal for those on a theater binge! The closest tube stop is “Embankment” (which I needed to use due to many streets being closed for a marathon!).
The public areas are attractive and welcoming with a tremendous sense of space, high ceilings and tons of natural daylight. Four Seasons-inspired flowers are everywhere, and to my delight, the florist works her magic in an open space just off the lobby where all can view her craft. A circular lobby bar with cozy seating areas offers all day light dining options and that gives way to 2 restaurants – the Norfolk, serving classic English dishes and Massimo’s for Italian. One of my favorite aspects is the patio area called The Garden Lounge, open all year, with fireplaces burning at night, love seats and lap blankets – the perfect place for a nightcap.
There is a contemporary feel to the hotel which houses 294 rooms and suites. Black & white photographs relating to tailoring, shoes and clothing lined the halls. This hotel definitely has a corporate clientele – you could see deals being consummated over pots of tea at breakfast but equally, there were families and designer-clad guests clearly there on holiday.
I stayed in Room 345, an Executive double room which is the third category up from the lead in. The room was high tech but not overly complicated. Wi-fi was complimentary (as it should be in all hotels but often isn’t!). There were a total of four floor to ceiling windows in the room – two in the bedroom, one in the closet and one in the bathroom – a real treat to have natural daylight in the closet and bathroom. But an even nicer treat was the heated bathroom floor! I’m told that 85% of the bathrooms in the hotel have dual sinks and all have separate rain shower and tub. Turn down amenities were aroma therapy pillow spray and lavender sachets. There was a Nespresso machine and of course, full minibar.
After a quick shower on arrival, we made tracks for Cecconi’s, a popular haunt and a favorite of mine. I was craving the aubergine parmesan and delicious homemade spaghetti with shaved black truffles. I could swoon just thinking about it. After a bit of retail therapy on Old Bond Street (I still can’t believe our first Frontiers UK office was at 14 Old Bond Street!) and a few macaroons at La Duree in the Burlington Arcade, we made our way back to the Corinthia.
I learned during my inspection of the hotel that by law, no hotel in London can have plugs for hair dryers in the bathroom—an annoying little fact that rang true from past experience. So the Corinthia has installed plugs in the closet with full length mirrors for doing one’s hair… clever! They have several interconnecting room options for families (such as rooms#314/315) – including the ever popular but oh-so- scarce king room connected to a room with two queen beds plus 1-2-and 3 bedroom suites. My favorite though are the 7 themed penthouse suites on the top two floors of the property. They are laid out as duplexes and individually decorated. I saw one called The Actor which was very inviting with dark paneling, again lots of natural light and a step out balcony. Some of the top floor suites have sweeping views of the Thames and a panoramic view of the London skyline.
The hotel has an impressive 50,000 sq foot spa by ESPA complete with 24/7 gym, swimming pool and treatment “suites” offering a full range of massages, facials, wraps, etc. It was hard to believe one was in a city hotel.
Sunday morning, we headed to the Victoria & Albert Museum which was a hive of activity. I was keen on seeing three special exhibits all of which interested me: “Pleasure and Pain,” which was the history of shoes and why they are such an important accessory, “Fabric of India,” which was an amazing collection of textiles from across the subcontinent, and much of the handiwork I recognized from my travels there. Woven of cotton, wool and fine silk, it included saris of every hue, banners and a full scale Rajashtani block printed tent dating from the 1700s. Lastly were some of the more than 17,500 photographs taken by Captain Linneaus Tripe of India and Burma in the mid 1800s. It was somehow reassuring to see a familiar temple in Bagan looking very much the way it does today!
I planned lunch today at the Ham Yard Hotel, which has also received high accolades and I was intrigued. Another “curious” location, but I must admit I was smitten by its bold use of color, more natural daylight and eclectic décor. Ham Yard is the brainchild of Kit Kemp, owner and design guru behind Firmdale Hotels, an interesting portfolio of boutique London hotels and now expanded to New York with the successful launch of Crosby Street Hotel. The restaurant was bustling and had a nice buzz. Brightly colored canvases hung on the walls and colorful appliqued textiles that could have come from the Indian exhibit I’d just been to were featured pieces. Objets d’art from Ms. Kemp’s travels were here and there and her iconic “rick rack” fabric lined the walls in hues of hot pink. It was a happy space – no other way to put it!
They also have some of the most interesting and inspired event space I’ve ever seen in a hotel including their own Brunswick bowling alley imported from Texas! So if you’re itching to give a party in London, I know just the place! I was shown a Luxury Junior Suite which was spacious and done in a charcoal color palette—not my favorite when I know there are pink & green ones – but I loved the ethos of this place.
Dinner tonight was at Nobu and we were once again in the capable hands of sushi chef extraordinaire, Mark Roberts. This is my second meal there in six months and I’m quite certain no future trip to London will pass without paying homage to his culinary genius. In spite of it being a Sunday night, it was hopping, and we started with yellowtail served with chilies diced like angel hair and a sublimely seared black cod that flakes off and melts in your mouth – his signature dish apparently. Indulgently we continued onto wagu beef, tempura rock shrimp and something sinfully chocolate paired with green tea ice cream. I should have walked back to the hotel after this feast, but instead decided to field test my Uber app in London and it worked like a charm! A pot of fresh mint tea, curled up under a blanket on the Corinthia’s patio rounded out a perfect day!
Departure from Delta’s London home at Terminal 4 is bleak. I forgot how much longer it takes to get there compared to the other terminals and it’s as dark and depressing as ever. Definitely time for some renovations! The “Sky Team Lounge” was more like a bus terminal – upholstery worn and spotted and the buffet looked like a high school cafeteria with pumpkin soup that was crusty around the edges, some sort of gloppy looking chicken dish etc… the only bright light is the Clarins Spa which is highly recommended – when I checked in at the lounge, they were taking appointments for complimentary 15-minute mini facials and I naturally accepted! My therapist , Annaliesse, was outstanding and there is nothing better going into a long flight than knowing that your skin is properly hydrated with serums containing 23 precious ingredients!