Experiencing a Night at the Newly Opened Peninsula Hotel in London

The Dinogo Perspective

After a 30-year quest for the perfect London retreat, the Hong Kong-based hotel group Peninsula debuted its British flagship (marking its 12th hotel) in September 2023 at a prime location by Wellington Arch and Hyde Park Corner in Belgravia. Designed by the British firm Hopkins Architects, this nearly $1.4 billion, nine-story structure evokes a sleek, understated Renaissance palazzo, featuring a serene interior courtyard adorned by Swiss landscape architect Enzo Enea with two 120-year-old Japanese maples along with climbing jasmine and wisteria vines.

As is typical for Peninsula hotels, the lobby serves as the focal point. Here, celebrity U.S. interior designer Peter Marino makes his U.K. hotel debut, bringing a dramatic flair to The Lobby restaurant. This light-filled all-day haven, inspired by Apsley House (the former grand residence of the Duke of Wellington), boasts a triple-height coffered ceiling, ribbed white Portuguese stone pillars rising from a patterned marble floor, and hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper murals showcasing the lush greenery of the nearby Royal Parks. Upon arrival, I felt as though I had entered an instant classic—an indoor Arcadia. In my room, a delightful amenity awaited—a juicy Kissabel apple, golden yellow on the outside and rosy-red within.

Marino also crafted the two-story, below-ground Fitness and Wellness Spa, featuring an 82-foot heated swimming pool and wood-paneled treatment rooms offering services like the Blissful Marma Massage using Subtle Energies aromatherapy products, along with various mind-body therapies and an expert-curated wellness program.

Who’s it for?

Devotees of the Pen brand, renowned for its exceptional service and generous benefits, will be drawn here, particularly due to the historic connections between Hong Kong and Britain. The hotel’s stylish dining venues and exquisite cuisine are sure to attract global gastronauts alongside London’s local food enthusiasts. Aspiring aristocrats will relish the chance to stay in one of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods, while fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the jogging and cycling opportunities in nearby Hyde Park.

Aficionados of fast cars and aviation will find a kindred spirit in Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of Peninsula hotels’ parent company. He has collaborated with Brooklands Museum in Surrey, the historic site of a legendary motorsport and aviation hub, to showcase a classic British racing car in the ground-floor Lobby, with the nose of the original Concorde (owned by Sir Michael) hovering above. More delightful surprises await on the rooftop of the eighth floor.

The Venue

The Peninsula is just a stroll away from Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and the Serpentine, alongside the elegant Georgian and Regency homes and embassies of Belgravia. For dining suggestions, the Pen’s exceptional concierge, Gavin Mahood, might point you to Wild by Tart, a charming eatery with a focus on sustainable seasonal cuisine, nestled in Eccleston Yards near Victoria Station, or a beloved local gastropub, the Alfred Tennyson. Nearby is Pantechnicon, a beautifully preserved 19th-century arts and crafts venue now home to a creative culinary hub infused with Japanese influences. For those keen on fashion, Sloane Street boasts designer boutiques, complemented by Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Further upscale shopping awaits in Mayfair, New Bond Street, and Old Bond Street.

The Accommodations

Peter Marino’s design for the hotel features 190 guest rooms and suites—many offering views of Wellington Arch or Hyde Park, while others boast terraces overlooking the elegant homes of Belgravia—perfectly aligning with the brand’s theme of 'understated opulence.' The color palette blends soft off-white and pale blue with sophisticated dark accents and furniture highlights in orange, deep black, and textured stony brown. Landscape art sourced from the Royal Drawing School introduces a vibrant touch of green. Room sizes begin at an expansive 549 square feet, some of the largest in London, while the lavish sixth-floor Peninsula Suite, complete with a gym, screening room, and private elevator, stands out.

My entry-level Deluxe Room overlooking the courtyard featured a spacious sitting area with a cozy couch—akin to a suite in most other city hotels. The king-size bed, with its deep pocket-coil mattress, provided a royal sleep experience beneath the soft Quagliotti linens and a fluffy white goose duvet. The generous bathroom, adorned in honey onyx and equipped with heated floors and eco-friendly bath products from British perfumer Timothy Han, felt like a personal spa. The ample dressing area was finished in mahogany. Classic Peninsula touches include a valet box for laundry or shoe shining and a digital tablet serving as a compact control panel for various room features. Additional benefits include 'Peninsula Time'—flexible check-in and check-out—and PenChat, the hotel’s e-concierge service.

Culinary Delights

In a city as vibrant as London, the Peninsula’s dining options stand out remarkably. A fantastic way to begin is at the panoramic eighth-floor rooftop Brooklands Bar, where I enjoyed a vodka sour with a twist of orange blossom liqueur beneath a stunning basket-pattern ceiling inspired by the fuselage of a WWII bomber made in Brooklands. Next door, at the Brooklands restaurant, chef Claude Bosi (from the acclaimed two-Michelin-star Bibendum) serves exquisite Franco-British cuisine in a dining space highlighted by a 46-foot aluminum model of the legendary Concorde aircraft hanging above. The chef’s inventive use of British ingredients captivated me, from the smoked eel layered atop delicate Devon skate to the juicy chop of Lake District lamb, finishing with a charming deconstructed British apple dessert. Notably, the three-course dinner includes an endless supply of amuse-bouches and petits fours. To cap off the experience, why not enjoy a digestif on the restaurant terrace, with views stretching from St. Paul’s Cathedral to Big Ben and Battersea?

Located on the ground floor, beyond a row of luxury boutiques, is the Peninsula’s Chinese restaurant, Canton Blue, accompanied by its bar, Little Blue. Designed by Henry Leung of Hong Kong’s CAP Atelier, this enchanting space features whimsical chambers inspired by the 19th-century junk boat Keying, which facilitated trade between China and Britain. Over 2,400 beautifully colored porcelain pieces shine around the plush seating areas. Chef Dicky To’s modern Cantonese cuisine blends traditional Chinese techniques with British ingredients—whether you choose the lacquered duck carved at your table, British wagyu beef fried rice, or the Cornish blue lobster simmered with aged cheddar, starting with some exceptional dim sum is a must.

The Lobby serves the Peninsula's renowned Afternoon Tea (delightfully traditional), guided by Isabela, an insightful young tea sommelier from São Paulo, who eagerly introduces you to the selection, leaf by leaf (be sure to try the sparkling Darjeeling).

Service and Staff

While enjoying coffee in the Lobby, the hotel’s exceptionally vibrant Australian managing director, Sonja Vodusek, shared her approach to hiring: she meets every potential staff member personally. 'I want to see beyond their resumes,' she explained. 'Do they make eye contact? Do they smile and engage in conversation?' During my stay, this warmth and hospitality were evident, from the doormen to the waitstaff and concierges—all elegantly attired by fashion icon Jenny Packham, who has dressed celebrities like Kate Winslet and the Princess of Wales.

“Our staff represents 155 nationalities,” Vodusek remarked, which is fitting for London, a truly multicultural city. With her first decade in the hotel industry spent in housekeeping, Vodusek emphasizes the essentials as well as luxury: 'Is the coffee served hot? Is the bed cozy?' Yes, indeed they were!

Accessibility Features

There are eight accessible rooms, including Deluxe and Premiere options, as well as two Deluxe Suites, all equipped with roll-in showers. Additionally, all public spaces can be accessed by wheelchair.

A Luxurious Fleet at Your Service

The Peninsula boasts an impressive lineup of classic and luxury British vehicles, ready to whisk guests away for complimentary 20-minute rides. The collection includes Rolls-Royce Phantom IAs, hybrid Bentley Bentaygas, an electrified 1960 Austin taxi, and a beautifully restored 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedanca de Ville. I had the pleasure of riding in a Bentley Bentayga (my first experience), gliding through Belgravia like I was enveloped in a lavish leather cocoon.