The Guest Rooms
The guest rooms at The Londoner have been designed by celebrated New York and Toronto-based design agency Yabu Pushelberg and offer a sense of contemporary luxury with a soothing color palette. The Deluxe King Rooms are 29 sq meters with floor-to-ceiling windows, bespoke furniture and original artworks by Ed Pearman and The Connor Brothers.
There's a king-size bed with a handcrafted Vispring mattress dressed in luxurious Irish linens and feather down pillows. In the ensuite bathroom, you'll find a vanity sink with an illuminated theatre mirror, rain shower, a Japanese Toto toilet (this is one of the coolest features of the room … of the hotel as they are even in the Residence washrooms) luxury bathrobes and slippers as well as Miller Harris bathroom amenities. What's more, there's a Roberts Bluetooth radio with speakers, a fully stocked minibar with blended cocktails by Avantgarde, a Samsung Smart TV, Nespresso coffee machine (no issue to call Housekeeping to bring a dozen coffee pods for those who love coffee and/or are jet lagged) and a selection of tea from the East India Company, free Wifi, Lutron lighting system, Dyson hairdryer, handheld steamer and bottled Nordaq water.
The first downside to the Room was the very limited storage space. The clothes closet was very small and there was no dresser. This was exasperated by it being winter so the suitcases we packed full were full of bulky warm clothes. So, we needed to be extremely creative in our unpacking. It's a hotel designed for 2 – 3 day stays, not a couple for a week in the winter.
The second downside to the Room was the Housekeeping. When we arrived, we found a pair of women's underwear on the floor beside the bed. Also, light fixtures work better when they have bulbs in them. One day we returned at 5pm and the room still had not been cleaned. These are definitely things that with better training and more staff can be easily fixed.
A Unique & Brilliant Extension to the Rooms: The Residence
Probably the clincher for us to book the Londoner is that its Guests have access to three exclusive Residence spaces within the Hotel. There is the Y Bar, the Drawing Bar and the Whisky Bar. As The Stage Bar in the Lobby is normally very busy, these private escapes for residents of the hotel are treasured. Complimentary antipasti, soft drinks, tea and coffee are served throughout the day and evening, as well as a complimentary breakfast selection of freshly baked patisseries, yoghurts, fresh fruit and artisan cheese between 9am and 12pm. Full bar service and a dining menu are also available which is great when Whitcombs is packed at Breakfast or you just prefer a little privacy and peace and quiet. There is also a library of handcrafted Assouline books, classic boardgames and the latest newspapers and fashion magazines to enjoy.
Conceptionally brilliant, but to execute The Residence well requires more staff. The complimentary antipasti table offering was thin and was not regularly restocked. Service was exceptionally slow to the point we just left. Again, not difficult fixes.
Innovative Wellness at The Retreat
The Londoner's Spa and wellness offering, The Retreat, is positioned within the hotel's depths, offering a modern subterranean space dedicated to mind and body. Safely cocooned from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis above, it contains a tranquil pool with a lap lane and hydropool surrounded by secluded cabanas as well as a sauna and steam room. Children are welcome but only by reservation during certain hours, which is fair for all.
The Londoner Refuel Clinic is a results-driven superfood and drinks clinic that harmonizes nature's delicious produce with scientifically analyzed supplements, offering a pioneering dining experience designed to improve the functions of body and mind. Somewhere to disconnect and escape, it is a tranquil urban hideaway characterized by natural materials and the soothing sound of water.
Down the hall is a state-of-the-art gym servicing individual fitness ambitions to bespoke personal training . It is a spacious and high-quality gym in the West End. The space and services have been curated in partnership with Technogym and SB Wellness.
Those in need of pampering can access the onsite hair and nail salon as well as an indulgent selection of skincare and aromatherapy treatments. These are led by a team of expert therapists using luxury sustainable and cruelty-free products, in one of the two zen-like treatment rooms. Signature body treatments include 'Harmony' designed for easing tension, which combines Tibetan cupping and acupressure as well as a full body massage using a blend of aromatic essential oils.