The Corinthia London opened in May 2011, and already it has managed to skip straight to the top of the city’s ‘best hotel’ lists, counting celebrities and royalty among its regular guests and collecting a number of accolades along the way.
Let’s start with its definitive standout features; the hotel was constructed from two former Ministry of Defence buildings at Whitehall Place on the Thames Embankment. From its entrance you can walk across the Millennium Bridge, over the Thames and to the London Eye and the Tate Modern in minutes, and the financial district is a short taxi or tube ride away – although judging by the Bentleys parked out front, many of the guests here prefer to travel by private chauffeured car.
Despite its location just metres from Trafalgar Square, the Corinthia’s front entrance is surprisingly peaceful (another entrance on Northumberland Avenue leads to the hotel’s Harrods boutique). Doormen in top-hats and tails pull open the glass doors, and my gaze is instantly drawn to the circular Lobby Lounge, its vaulted glass ceiling flooding the room with natural light.
Guests are seated in leather armchairs, some in the midst of business meetings, others taking afternoon tea; the Baccarat crystal chandelier overhead, illuminated by more than 1,000 tiny LED lights, adds a modern edge to the heritage building. Beside the Lobby Lounge, glass doors open into The Courtyard, an al fresco garden book-ended by open fireplaces and plenty of spots to sit with a cocktail.
On the seventh floor, the 84 sq m Trafalgar Suite seduces with its looks alone, but its charm is enhanced by functionality. While the decor has a rather feminine theme, with a palette of muted purples and soft textures of silk and velvet, it is balanced by masculine touches of white leather, lacquered wood and glass, and the suite has been designed with the kind of astute attention to detail that makes calling the front desk unnecessary.
I adored the sunken stone bathtub in the master bathroom, with a waterproof TV at its foot and a window just above, looking out over the rooftops of Trafalgar Square. Thoughtful extras like a heated towel rack and ESPA bath salts were an extra pleasure. There is also a marble walk-in rain shower, a toilet in its own frosted glass compartment, and an en-suite bathroom hidden behind the corridor that connects the bedroom and sitting area.
Lighting and heating are easily adjustable; I especially appreciated the ‘Mood Lighting’ option next to the bed, which bathes the room in a soft glow that’s perfect for bedtime reading. There is a Nespresso machine in the sitting room’s mirrored mini-bar, across from a curved white sofa that is backed by windows. The 42-inch flat- screen TVs in the sitting room and bedroom offer channels from the Middle East, Asia and Russia.
Breakfast is served from 6am until 10.30am in the Northall Restaurant, but should guests miss the first service, they can order from the à la carte breakfast menu served in the Lobby Lounge.
And this tailored service is not reserved just for dining. The hotel will schedule your check-in and check-out times according to your travel plans, meaning I could check straight in at 8am and leave my room at 6pm the next day to catch my 9pm flight.
Apparently the Corinthia sought to align itself with London’s finest hotels when it opened ahead of the 2012 Olympics. It may have outdone itself.
THE IMPORTANT BIT
What: Trafalgar Suite
Where: Corinthia Hotel London, 10 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2BD
Price: from GBP 2,300 (US $3,510) + VAT
Call: +44 207 930 8181
Contact: london@corinthia.com
