Luxury In Leicester Square? Our Take On The Londoner

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

This is what to expect from a stay at The Londoner, a five-star hotel in an unlikely luxury location: one of London‘s highest-traffic tourist spots, Leicester Square.

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

The idea of staying in Leicester Square is daunting. I lived in London for a long time, and there is pretty much no area you’d be less likely to find me these days. That being said, though it’s clearly not trying to hide, there’s something quiet about The Londoner; it’s far enough from the hustle and bustle of the Square itself — just on the fringes — that it seems almost quiet and set apart. So a tick there; the location truly isn’t an issue for those who might be on the fence.

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

And while this property is far from offering The Dorchester-levels of service, I’m still shipping it as a great destination for business travelers. It’s convenient, and offers everything you might expect from a five-star stay in theory (offerings that not all London hotels actually offer, as it happens) in a fitness center, private club for hotel guests, spa, barbershop, juice bar, cinema, and a plethora of dining outlets (six).

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

Here, there are 350 rooms spread out over 16 stories, but as can be expected, not all are built the same. And when I say that, I really mean it: you need to splurge on a top room here, because in London, bijoux means bijoux, and those accustomed to business travel may not be happy with a standard room at this particular property. Which isn’t to say that the rooms aren’t all lovely — designed in collaboration with world-renowned architectural designers Yabu Pushelberg, the aesthetic of the hotel is meant to capture London itself, with winks and nods to British humor throughout — but you definitely want to look at the 2000 square-foot Tower Penthouse duplex  or the expansive Trafalgar Suites – half the top suite’s size, but of which offer impressive living areas, a kitchenette, and foyer. Throughout, guests will find a serious art collection, inclusive of classic and contemporary pieces and those from emerging designers.

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

One of the nicest things the hotel offers is its own private members club style space, The Residence. The 24-hour club, strictly for guests only, is hidden from the happenings of the wider hotel and features an exclusive collection of discrete spaces for relaxing, working and indulging. For intimate dining, The Residence’s Y Bar and The Drawing Room offers an à la carte menu and a curated reserve wine list, complemented by signature house cocktails. There are gratis treats here all day, and I was surprised to find guests actively working and taking business meetings here (surprising in that I typically do these things from my hotel room); the air of conviviality was definitely present.

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

Guests will also be able to experience The Whisky Room, where a secret passage reveals an intimate 14-cover parlor, which offers an exploration into the world of whisky.

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

Of the six dining concepts, I only checked out 8, which was the complete highlight of my stay. The fabulous Japanese fare and cocktails at this rooftop izakaya lounge were pleasant surprises, and the venue has a pretty unbeatable view from its perch atop The Londoner. One side of the restaurant is a party — bamboo walls, an ever-present DJ — and the other has that quiet, awe-inspiring beauty, overlooking this majestic city with The London Eye as a beacon of a backdrop. I favored the latter, but I also like to hear my dinner companion speak, which wasn’t always possible on the latter side because of the DJ’s proximity. Still a vibe, though!

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

Last but not least, there’s The Retreat, which is actually something pretty unusual for any hotel. This is a full-on floor dedicated to wellness, merging fitness, nutrition, and nourishing therapies with other wellness practices, bringing a completely new style of holistic retreat and wellness destination to the West End. The Retreat gives hotel guests and members a curated edit of tools so that they can look and feel their best: a private training gym, fitness classrooms for innovative weekly programming, an indoor pool, barber, blow dry bar, nail bar, and other modalities to offer a holistic approach to wellbeing. Nestled within The Retreat is Refuel, a sanctuary offering a food and beverage program designed to refresh, recharge and rejuvenate. Available to-go post-workout, perched at the bar or in a secluded cabana, the offerings at Refuel include detoxifying smoothies, beauty juices, nourishing body wraps, and Ayurvedic morning ritual bowls, among other options. The spa itself doesn’t offer as many treatments as you might expect from a concept so cool, but if you’re looking for a standard massage or basic facial post-flight, it’s a good place to start.

Photo Credit: Andrew Beasley

The Londoner is located at3 8 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX 

Photo Credit: Adrian Houston