Last week saw the highly-anticipated debut of the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard—the talk of the town in London. As befits such a buzzed-about hotel opening, the Mayor Boris Johnson himself led the official ribbon cutting. With a crowd of distinguished guests including Lord and Lady Coe, the ceremony featured the traditional “awakening of the lion” dance procession. This is the third hotel in Europe for Shangri-La, after the elegant Paris palace (2010) and the Bosphorus-facing Istanbul hotel (2013). The London property is he 83rd hotel globally for the Hong Kong-based hotel group.
What is so extraordinary about this property is its location on floors 34-52 in the tallest building in Western Europe. Simply put, the views over London are jaw-dropping.
We can’t wait to behold the Shangri-La London with our own eyes; stay tuned for details and insider tips in a future issue of Luxury Travel Advisor. In the meantime, we have the skinny on the facilities:
There are 202 guest rooms—each with a view, Acqua di Parma bath products, and free Internet—and at 452 square feet on average, these rooms are amongst the largest in town. There are three F&B outlets, including Ting restaurant; Láng patisserie and deli; and Gŏng, London’s highest champagne and cocktail bar, which will open on May 19, 2014. The 24-hour gym is located on the 52nd floor, and the infinity pool—the highest in London—will open this summer. Overlooking the Thames, the event spaces on the 34th floor will no doubt be coveted venues for parties and business events. The entire floor can be privatized for a reception with 200 guests.
Opening room rates start from £450 (approx. US$759) per room per night, including VAT. The “Room With A View” package starts from £530 (approx. US$894) per night with breakfast for two and two tickets to The View from The Shard. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/london
