After a “three-decade search for the perfect location” The Peninsula London has opened in its first phase, bringing the Hong Kong-based brand to the UK for the first time.
The 190-room new-build hotel overlooks the capital’s Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch and is centred around a large courtyard, landscaped by Enzo Enea, while interior design is by Peter Marino.
Guest rooms and suites start at 50 square metres and are designed to evoke “chic private residences”, with mahogany-panelled dressing rooms, bathrooms with honey onyx stoneware, and customised fittings by renowned British artisans.
The hotel has six restaurants, bars, and lounges, starting with The Lobby, offering traditional Peninsula Afternoon Tea and international favourites, accompanied by live music. A more casual offering is also available throughout the day at The Peninsula Boutique and Cafe.
Reflecting the brand’s Asian heritage, main restaurant Canton Blue and its adjacent bar, Little Blue, showcase innovative Chinese cuisine, cocktails and teas, against a backdrop of interiors by Henry Leung of CAP Atelier.
“It’s a proud moment for me and my team, to open the doors of The Peninsula London to our first guests. We are very excited to welcome local residents and international visitors alike, to experience this exceptional property and to enjoy The Peninsula’s sophisticated hospitality and service in one of the world’s most dynamic cities,” said Sonja Vodusek, managing director of The Peninsula London. “This beautiful hotel has been a complex and creative project, many years in the making. We hope our hotel will stand out not only in London but globally for generations to come.”
Still to come – opening in early October – will be the signature rooftop restaurant on the eighth floor, Brooklands, which will be helmed by Michelin-starred chef director Claude Bosi, with modern British cuisine set against a backdrop of spaces inspired by classic British aviation and motorsports by architects Archer Humphreys. Also coming soon on the roof will be Brooklands Bar overlooking the London skyline.
Also still to come, The Peninsula Spa and Wellness Centre will open in November, with a 25-metre indoor pool, while the hotel’s events spaces will be completed by November, with the grandest space being the St. George Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 450 guests; other spaces include a private cinema for film screenings for up to 15 people.
Following them in December, will be the launch of four signature suites, three of which will have private balconies and terraces, and can also be used for special-occasion gatherings. The Peninsula Suite, the hotel’s most opulent suite, includes a private screening room and fitness centre.
The hotel will have an exclusive ground-floor retail arcade with nine luxury boutiques including Asprey London, DMR – David M Robinson Jewellery and Watches, Mouawad, Moussaieff Diamonds, opening before Christmas.
A fleet of cars will be available for guests, including Peninsula’s signature Rolls-Royce Phantom IIs, as well as a hybrid Bentley Bentaygas, an electrified 1960 vintage Austin taxi, and a restored 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedanca de Ville.
The hotel has drawn on many British partnerships to finesse the hotel, including calling on fashion designer Jenny Packham for team members’ outfits, while more than 40 artists from The Royal Drawing School were commissioned for pieces in the hotel’s public spaces and guest rooms.
Guests can avail of services such as Peninsula Time (offering fully flexible check-in and check-out) and PenChat (access to a 24-hour digital concierge).
Introductory night’s stays start from £1,300, bookable until 30 November, including breakfast, use of a house car and fully flexible check-in and check-out with Peninsula Time.
The hotel joins sister properties in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Paris, Istanbul, Bangkok and Manila.