Arrival/Check-In: My overnight flight landed early in the morning, and I arrived at The Langham, London before 9 a.m. In the lobby I was directed to club level check-in on the third floor. In the lounge the friendly reception staff found me a table where I enjoyed a full breakfast spread before completing the check-in paperwork. My room wasn’t ready, so I set out for the day and picked up my keys at the lounge when I returned that afternoon; my bags had already been sent to my room.

Guest Quarters: The Langham, London boasts 333 guestrooms, five apartments with kitchens and 42 private suites. I was traveling with a friend, and our guestroom featured two twin beds with a nightstand in between. A small sitting area under the window included a round table and chair opposite a desk and TV/credenza. The door had an interesting locking mechanism which almost appeared broken at first glance. The room opened into a small entryway with a built-in closet and storage space. The standout was the large marble bathroom, particularly the towel warmer. When we finally arrived at our room after a night of traveling and a day of sightseeing, we were eager to shower and take a quick nap before the night ahead, and the lush bathroom was a welcome sight, with both a soaking tub and a separate shower. Depending on the guestroom level, in-room amenities include Nespresso machines, complimentary WiFi, the Langham Blissful bed, MP3 player connectivity, a media hub to connect TVs and laptops, complimentary newspapers and continental power sockets.

Services/Amenities: The Langham, London recently opened The Wigmore, a modern British tavern on Regent Street. Roux at The Landau brings together father and son chef team Albert and Michel Roux. Artesian has won the World’s Best Bar accolade — the ice here is specially crafted — and serves all-day dining. Palm Court offers all-day light dining in addition to a famed afternoon tea. A special The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood serves Wedgwood specialty teas in Langham Rose Wedgwood tea ware. The hotel’s function space runs the gamut from ballrooms to boardrooms. A 24-hour fitness center boasts state-of-the-art equipment, and a new wellness sanctuary, Chuan Body + Soul, recently debuted.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ One of my favorite aspects of my stay was the club-level access, with privileges including continental and hot breakfast selection, Champagne and cocktails available throughout the day, evening canapés, a sampling of afternoon tea, private check-in and check-out and exclusive butler and specialist concierge services.

◆ Location, location, location — situated off Oxford Street at the end of the West End, The Langham, London is not only near many city highlights but also is conveniently located to the Oxford Circus Underground, just a fiveminute walk, and accessible to many parts of the city.

◆ The hotel’s history dates to 1865, and it is a luxury icon on the London hotel scene. It even includes some haunted lore, but I saw no evidence of ghostly happenings!

The Langham, London

1C Portland Place
Regent Street,
London W1B 1JA
United Kingdom
tel 44 20 7636 1000
langhamhotels.com