The three-bedroom residences at the Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah have space for large families and are well suited for extended stays.
For affluent travelers, Jumeirah has a strong presence in London—here are two hotels for decidedly different (but equally top-notch) experiences.
The Jumeirah Carlton Tower
The Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel nicely balances elements for both business and leisure travelers...and business travelers who need a bit of pampering at the end of the day. (Don’t we all?)
The hotel’s Peak Health Club & Spa has eight treatment rooms and an extensive range of health and fitness facilities, including a gym, an aerobics studio, a sauna, a steam room, a golf simulator (for those who prefer their tee-time indoors) and a 65-foot indoor swimming pool for serious laps.
We hear the seven different 90-minute Ytsara massages are a popular pick for de-stressing. This range of treatments combines Thai-inspired movements with Western techniques, and is exclusive to The Peak Health Club & Spa. Good to know for families: Children under the age of 16 can also get spa treatments as long as an adult who has signed a consent form accompanies them. Those between 16 and 18 years of age can receive treatments without an adult, but the adult must sign a consent form. All junior treatments must be approved by the spa manager, so reach out to Jenny Hayward ([email protected]; 011-44-20-7858-7312) in advance or with any requests.
Wining and Dining
Foodies will also be in luck here, since the hotel has three distinct restaurants: The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant, The Club Room, and the Chinoiserie (all of which are open to the public). At the Rib Room Bar & Restaurant, try the roast rib of Aberdeen Angus beef and the Dover Sole. The lunch buffet at the Club Room has some healthy options (good for a post-spa meal). Chinoiserie serves a jasmine-themed afternoon tea that was designed by master patissier and Celebrity Chef Eric Lanlard. Reservations may not be necessary, but just to be sure, contact the Rib Room’s Restaurant Manager Michele Caggianese ([email protected]; 011-44-20-7858-7250) with any requests.
Weddings & Events
For groups and events (think cocktail receptions, dinners, themed events, wedding receptions and marriage ceremonies), the hotel has space for up to 700 attendees, including nine private dining and meeting rooms. The Ballroom can be used as one large space or divided into three separate suites as needed.
Cool touch: The hotel is a licensed wedding venue, so all kinds of ceremonies can be performed there. (We’ve heard good things about the conservatory, which looks out over Cadogan Gardens.) For couples looking to tie the knot off-site, the hotel can arrange for cars to take the bride and groom and their guests to their church.
The Rooms
All of the hotel’s rooms sound fantastic, but for something really over-the-top, book the Royal Suite on the 10th floor: It has private access (good for VIPs who need extra security), a private outdoor balcony that overlooks the surrounding Cadogan Gardens, a dining room with seating for 10, electric curtains (does anyone still use cords?), a free-standing bar, and Bang & Olufsen A/V equipment for a top media experience. (The suite’s bathroom is reason enough to book it: There’s a wet room, a heated floor, an infinity bath with chromotherapy lights and inset TV, and a walk-in rain shower.)
Some of the perks of the suite include private butler service, a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne and a one-hour Peak Spa massage per guest.
The Royal Suite is a top pick for families, but if it’s not available, any floor is available for a full buy-out, or Junior Suites with adjoining rooms are also a good option.
Good to know: We hear Head Concierge Nigel Bowen ([email protected]; 011-44-20-7858-7041) and his team (all of whom are members of Clefs d’Or) can arrange all kinds of unique experiences around town...and beyond. (Think after-hours or in-suite private shopping, exclusive restaurant reservations, or private helicopter tours of the English countryside.)
Luxury travel advisors can reach out to Director of Sales Scott Hermiston ([email protected]; 011-44-20-7858-7152), and U.S.-based advisors should contact Account Director Maria Mora ([email protected]).
The Penthouse at the Grosvenor House Apartments
Sometimes, you want a “homier” experience than a traditional hotel, and for that, the Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living are a good option (especially for families). As the name might suggest, this hotel focuses on the in-room experience: There is no spa, for example, but therapists from nearby Spa Illuminata can come to guest rooms for treatments, and in-room kitchens can be stocked with favorite ingredients to make late-night meals and snacking easy.
Pictured: The Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s Executive Suite offers features such as a work desk, dining table and special corporate amenities.
The top room at the hotel is the Grosvenor Penthouse, which can accommodate up to 10 people and sprawls out over almost 5,000 square feet. It has plenty of perks, including a private elevator, a baby grand piano in the living room and top views of Hyde Park from the private balcony. Guests checking in to this suite (and that check-in is private, of course) get a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne on arrival and snacks in the evening as well as their own private bar. Bonus: Each couple gets one complimentary hour-long Spa Illuminata treatment.
Families may also prefer the three-bedroom suites, three- and four-bedroom London Suites, and the four- and five-bedroom Penthouses. For larger groups (families having a reunion, perhaps?), the hotel has more than 40 connecting suites. The London Suites offer additional welcome services including packing and unpacking services, while all of the Penthouse Suites offer a full butler service.
Top perk: Guests staying seven nights or longer in the hotel’s Penthouse or London Suites can get complimentary Heathrow VIP service. These guests will be personally greeted upon arrival at the airport (by a team that regularly caters to high-profile diplomats), and then escorted past all the other passengers and terminals to an exclusive personal lounge where they can unwind while their paperwork clears. (Bonus: This service is available at a charge to guests staying in other rooms or suites upon request.) Airport transfers are also available, and are complimentary for London Suite and Penthouse Suite guests.
Head Concierge Dan McCaskie ([email protected]; 011-44-207-518-4870) can arrange all kinds of unique experiences around town, including picnics, weekend excursions, helicopter trips and private planes.
This is also a good pick for those looking to do some top-tier shopping: The Mayfair hotel is close to Bond Street’s boutiques and the swank shops on Mount Street and Regent Street. Selfridges, the iconic department store that inspired the TV series, is within walking distance, and Knightsbridge (home to Harrods) is a short drive away.
Reach out to Senior Sales Manager Antoinette Kennedy ([email protected]; 011-44-207-518-4882) with any special requests.