Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

The rooms were comfortable, the decor was lovely, and the hotel is in a great spot for exploring London. There were fresh flowers throughout, and breakfast was very good in a relaxed setting. Still, our four-night family stay with our one-year-old left us disappointed for what cost €1,000 per night. We chose the Four Seasons Park Lane because it describes itself as baby-friendly, and I booked for three people. At check-in, the staff recognized me by name before I introduced myself, clearly because we had arrived with our baby. Yet there was no cot or baby equipment in the room. After two days of seeing staff and the concierge with our baby, we brought it up at reception and were told, “We didn't know you had a baby.” Their attempt to fix it was a basket with diapers in a ziplock bag. We expected the hotel to take more care and anticipate what a family might need. The service was friendly but uneven. One morning we were offered the juice of the day, the next we weren't; orders were also forgotten and attention lapsed. Breakfast tasted like fine dining, but £22 for a very small fruit plate felt steep. Spending £150+ on breakfast for the family, with small portions and inconsistent service, seemed poor value. The hotel itself is beautiful and well maintained, with comfortable rooms and a prime location. At this price, though, we expected much more consistent, thoughtful service. We felt let down by the lack of attention to our family's needs, and think there are more attentive luxury stays for families in London.

The people are what make Four Seasons on Park Lane special. Whether I’m there for a few days, stopping for a drink, picking up a candle or diffuser at the spa, or just saying hello as I pass, the team makes it feel like a lovely place to return to. Across the concierge, rooms, cleaning, turndown, special requests and management, I’ve found people going above and beyond time after time. Hospitality is a hard business and top hotel staff are expected to do the impossible. When they miss the mark, I’m sure it’s usually an isolated case, or sometimes down to our own unrealistic expectations as guests. It’s a fantastic hotel and I’d happily recommend it. Make an effort to engage with the staff and you’ll get it back tenfold.

I only had about half an hour between meetings, so I popped in for a quick coffee. The room caught my eye more than the menu did. Marble, lighting, flowers, all the details make the space feel grand without being stiff, and the scale of it makes you want to stay for hours. It’s a lovely place to clear your head. I left feeling much more relaxed than when I arrived. Worth stopping in just to see the interior.

After a long trip, the care from the staff made us feel at home straight away. Antonio greeted us warmly at check-in, and at Bar Antoine, Mark noticed our beer glasses had lost their chill and offered fresh ones. That kind of attention really lifted our tired mood. Breakfast was just as good. Ash was accommodating, remembered all our food orders accurately, and took our changes in stride even when we were being indecisive. We felt so well looked after and had a great breakfast. Four Seasons always seems to exceed our expectations when we stay.