The InterContinental Hotel Park Lane - London, England: The InterContinental Park Lane is brilliantly located right at the heart of London's up market district, on Park Lane, where the Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern, Harrods Department Store, Madame Tussauds, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Dover Street Market, and the Royal Academy of Arts are within walking distance or just a Tube ride away. Ideal for business as well as leisure travelers, the InterContinental retains old world class and grandeur (the site of the hotel is a former royal residence), even as it integrates modern stylishness and up-to-date technologies.

First Impression/Lobby: We had just come from the Dorchester Hotel and figured that it would be hard to meet or beat the glamor and luxury of the Dorchester even for a five-star international hotel chain like the InterContinental. The moment we entered the lobby, however, we were immediately struck by the beauty of its interiors.

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The walls were tiled with expensive marble and four huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings. One reached from the ceiling all the way to the floor and served as the centerpiece of the lobby, providing a dramatic and romantic setting. At once lovely and elegant, the hotel’s public spaces were a sight to behold. The warm and friendly service added even more to the feeling of a true five-star luxury hotel. From the doorman to the bellman, the service was welcoming and professional, and at par with the first-class service at Dorchester.

Reception: When we first arrived, the young lady at the reception could not find our reservations, but with grace and determination and some help from a colleague she finally found it, quickly completed it for us and escorted us to our room.

The Room: When we stayed at the InterContinental, there was an ongoing business conference; most of the upper category rooms were booked and the hotel facilities were in full use.

We were able to try both an executive room and a deluxe room on separate nights. There was not much difference between the two in terms of décor and ambiance, the only difference was space. The executive room had an extra two or three feet between the desk and the window. This may not sound like much, but it was perfect for storing our luggage. Their rooms were definitely smaller than average but pleasingly and classically decorated, to the point of being a bit too safe and predictable. Our room had a wonderful and vast view of the park, which made it feel larger than it really was.

Both the rooms we stayed in had a traditional English design with modern interpretations. They combined wood antiques, handmade silks, tapestries, and fabrics in muted earth colors and varying patterns, which gave the room an elegant yet homey feeling.

The bathroom was typical with one sink and a shower and a bath tub combination. While the amenities were updated, the design was from years ago and needed refurbishing.

Room Service: The room service was no less than perfect. Each meal that we ordered was delivered to our room on-time. The food was fresh and well prepared and every dish was exactly as we ordered and specified.

Housekeeping: As you would expect from a five-star hotel, the InterContinental housekeeping service was flawless, whether it was the daily service or the evening turn-down service. Everything was done with great care and thoroughness.

Concierge: As I had mentioned earlier, there was a conference in town and the hotel was very busy, but this did not seem to affect the concierges at all, their service was steadily professional and helpful and their restaurant recommendations were spot on.

Restaurant: There are three restaurants and two bars in the hotel to choose from. For a casual and laidback breakfast or lunch, there is the Cookbook Café and Lobby Lounge which served typical English dishes and European fare. Theo Randall is the more formal, serving Italian-European cuisine. Based from the room service, their food is excellent.

Pool/Spa/Activities: The hotel had no pool but had a fitness center, spa, sauna and beauty salon, none of which we were able to try.

Overall Impression As far as five-star and luxury hotels go, the InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane offered superior service from beginning to end. It was all the more impressive that they were running at 100% capacity at that time, but never once did their service lax or lack in any way. They made me feel like a welcome and important guest each and every time, and that I was not just one among many. The only thing keeping the InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane from being Fantastic Bombastic is the size of their rooms, which I find to be on the small side. The room décor is also a bit predictable and could really need revamping. Overall, my hotel rating for the InterContinental Park Lane is Bombastic.

To see other luxury and 5 star London hotels, we have reviewed, follow the links below:
Brown’s Hotel Luxury Hotel London Review
Le Meridien Piccadilly Hotel London Review
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel London Review
The Dorchester Hotel London Review

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