Three-hundred and eighty splendid rooms. More than 150 years of gilded heritage. Five gleaming stars. Make no mistake, The Langham - the very model of a properly prestigious hotel - is a London hospitality heavyweight. Just look at it there, looming gloriously over Portland Place in all of its gothy, Italianate glory. It has history seeping out of its immaculate furnishings and decor, tangible everywhere from the buzzy lobby’s marble pillars to the indoor pool built into an old bank vault. As you’d expect the rooms are elegant and mostly spacious. Worth mentioning that if you splash out on the fancier end of the spectrum, you’ll get access to the Langham Club which is basically a big chilled-out-but-still luxurious area where they serve complimentary champagne cocktails all day.
On the subject of booze, the hotel bar, Artesian, has, at very times, been considered one of the very best in the world. The drinks on offer vary from straight-forward to high concept (the one we had featured blue cheese, and was delicious). If you fancy a less formal meal than what’s on offer in the two restaurants (Roux at the Landau and Palm Court), go next-door to the Langham’s gastropub (complete with footie on the telly), the Wigmore. While staying, we also made full use of Chuan Body + Soul, the big spa specialising in Chinese traditional medicine in the basement. Worked wonders.
Neighbourhood
If you’re visiting London as an eager tourist, it’s hard to do better than this, really. The Langham is a short walk from both the west end’s consumerist paradise and the sprawling green space of Regent’s Park. If Bond Street and Oxford Street are a bit too full-on, the hotel’s also right by Marylebone High Street and Fitzrovia, two relatively boutique-y, fun areas to wander around. Many of the city’s most famous museums, galleries and theatres are close by, so getting your culture fix won’t be hard.
Nearby
The Golden Eagle: For drinkers wanting an unpretentious, old-school, back-street boozer to cleanse the palette after The Langham’s grandiosity.
St John Marylebone: For those who love meat and faff-free dining. The west-central outpost of Fergus Henderson’s nose-to-tail empire is one of his best ventures yet.
Daunt’s Books: For lovers of printed materials and proper shops. Daunt’s set the standard for the modern strain of charming book store in London.
Time Out tip:
If you’re into your cooking (and Lord knows, everyone is these days) don’t sleep on the Langham’s in-house cooking school, Sauce. Check the website for the full range of courses, all taught by the hotel’s team of chefs.
