Editor’s Review – The Landmark, London
Located adjacent to Marylebone Station, The Landmark, London, is a visually outstanding 5 star hotel which screams luxury. Built in 1899, the hotel has gone by various different names and owners over the years; today it resides under the current ownership of the Lancaster London Hotel Company and renamed the Landmark London. In 2008 it became a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World.
Its location makes the Landmark a convenient base for exploring some of the Capitals many tourist attractions, Madame Tussauds and Regents Park are within a 10- minute walk and with almost direct access to the Bakerloo line; you can be at Oxford Street or Piccadilly Circus within the same time-frame.
On arrival, we were greeted in the large spacious reception hall, with marble floors and archways and wide staircase to the mezzanine floor, which houses the majestic Winter Garden Restaurant. The staff were exceptional in their professionalism and friendliness. We are shown to our room, a suite at the front of the hotel, with floor to ceiling French doors overlooking Marylebone Road. There is so much space in the room, a king-size bed at one end with artwork adorning the wall above the headboard and the vast living area with settee and armchairs, coffee table, writing desk and sideboard unit, which contained the mini-bar and supported a Nespresso coffee machine and flat screen television with Sky TV.
The marble-clad bathroom was equally spacious; there was a deep bath and separate walk-in shower and toilet. The vanity unit had a large well–lit mirror, his & hers sinks and complimentary Molton Brown and Bambini Boutique toiletries.
The facilities at the Landmark are second to none. There is a well-equipped fitness centre and health-spa, which is open to all guests. So whether you are looking for beauty treatments or massage, a swim in the chlorine-free pool, or just the need to relax in the sauna, steam room or hot tub, the Landmark Spa can cater for all your individual needs. Before our evening meal, we made good use of the pool for a refreshing swim and stress-free session in the sauna.
Fully relaxed, we headed down to the Winter Garden for dinner. Set at the heart of the hotel, the Winter Garden is a stunning glass-roofed atrium which raises eight-stories adorned with palm trees to give a novel tropical feel. When we were there, it was exquisitely decorated for Christmas – the highlight being a spectacular 40 foot plus tree. The restaurant was beautifully lit, delivering a tranquil ambience and a perfect setting. The menu is full of British classics, but with an edge to them. For starter we had a lobster and King prawn cocktail and cannelloni of slow cooked beef, which was simply oozing with flavour. Alternatives included warm salmon, soup or salads. Main course will provide a dilemma; everything on the menu jumps out at you, steaks, seafood, canon of lamb, breast of chicken and various fish dishes. After much changing of minds, we selected a whole dover sole with brown shrimp and butter sauce and a grilled veal cutlet with béarnaise sauce. To complete the meal, we had sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel ganache and vanilla ice cream and what was a sublime baked passionfruit tart with lime yoghurt sorbet, a wonderfully sweet way to end the evening.
After an extremely comfortable night’s sleep, we ventured back down towards the Winter Garden for breakfast. En route we paid a visit to the floor above the mezzanine which looks down onto the restaurant, for a spot of window shopping in the numerous luxury boutiques within the hotel. Breakfast at the Landmark is a wondrous thing and worth a visit in its own right. Initially you are confronted by a continental buffet, offering everything one could possibly think of; fresh pastries and bread, all kinds of fruit, yoghurts, muesli, granola, meats, fish, cheeses and glorious smoothies. Supplementary to the continental breakfast is a Chef’s station from where you can get freshly cooked crepes and omelettes to order. Whilst there is no hot buffet as such, much better is an extensive hot breakfast menu, all cooked fresh and to order; whether you are after traditional full English, pancakes, waffles, kippers or all variations of egg dishes, your appetite will be satisfied and leave you wanting to return to try something else from the menu.
From the moment you arrive, to the second you leave, you are made to feel at home by the staff, always polite, informative and willing to help in any way possible and a credit to the owners. The building itself and the décor are simply stunning, all facilities are deluxe and if you are paying a visit to the capital and looking for a luxurious, relaxing, friendly place to stay, then look no further than The Landmark, London.