The Arch London is a luxurious Georgian townhouse hideaway in the heart of central London. The officially rated five star property is a regular resident amongst the top 20 Luxury hotels in the UK on TripAdvisor and has earned the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Award. Some pretty impressive credentials wouldn’t you say? We recently visited to see if the hotel lives up to its exceptional reputation and *spoiler alert* – it did.
LOCATION
The hotel is tucked away on a calm residential street in Marylebone, a stone’s throw from Bond Street, Hyde Park and the West End, and spans seven Grade II listed Georgian townhouses and two mews homes. It makes the perfect base to explore the delights of west London, whether you want to chill by the Serpentine lake, hit Selfridges or jump on a bus to try out one of Soho’s many watering holes or restaurants.
ATMOSPHERE
On entering the reception, a roaring open-fireplace provides a warming welcome to weary travellers. The interior throughout is quietly glamorous, boasting marble and glass, and a specially curated collection of art, including a moving art installation illuminating the reception desk. English heritage is fused with contemporary boutique design, with walls adorned in eye-catching artwork by British talents. The corridors have also been permeated with character, and black and white ‘Alphatecture’ series of prints span the length of the gallery-inspired hall leading towards the Martini Library.
ROOMS
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ and Pride of Britain, the hotel boasts 82 bedrooms including eleven sumptuous suites spread over six floors. Floors are considerately numbered 1, 2, 3, and 5 as the number 4 is considered unlucky in Asian cultures.
Guestrooms are all light, airy and spacious with Georgian ceilings. Individually decorated with the hotel’s signature hand-painted bespoke wallpaper, guestrooms feature unashamedly luxurious furnishings and are immaculately finished with the highest attention to every detail in every aspect. The beds are a majestic fixture in every room, as each one is adorned with duck down duvets and pillows.
The luxurious amenities in all the guestrooms are personally designed to anticipate guests every need and comfort. A handpicked selection of classic novels can be found in the suites, while all rooms have a full Sky HD TV package, DVD Player and internet radio with over 19,000 channels for international guests. The bathrooms feature modern flourishes such as heated anti-steam mirrors and flat screen TVs built into the wall above baths. Oh and the MALIN + GOETZ toiletries are gorgeous.
The hotel’s eleven stunning suites offer the ultimate contemporary boutique experience. Special features include private outdoor terraces, four poster beds, or stylish kitchenettes to accommodate longer stays. Large artworks have been thoughtfully handpicked to complement each space, providing dramatic focal points throughout.The digital ‘Maid Service’ and ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs perfectly showcase the hotel’s blend of eco-friendly awareness and love of the latest mod cons.
FOOD AND
The hotel’s Hunter 486 restaurant is named after the 1950s dialing code for Marylebone and offers a ‘Best of British’ inspired menu carefully developed by Head Chef Gary Durrant. Hunter 486 has an extensive wine and Champagne list with 27 available by the glass, and has been awarded the one-star award in The World of Fine Wine World’s Best Wine Lists 2017. Designed with an air of nostalgic London glamour fused with contemporary touches, the restaurant features gleaming leather booths and blown glass chandeliers.
The kitchen is delightfully open plan and airy, allowing guests to watch the skilled chefs at work amongst the gleaming selection of copper pots and pans suspended from the ceiling. Light streams through the large windows, treating guests to a charming view of the neighborhood mews, and come the evening, the softly lit restaurant is an intimate setting for dinner.
We enjoyed fresh, light starters of Dressed Dorset crab which came artfully paired with a zingy salsa of grapefruit and avocado. A main of Roast Norfolk Black chicken was a triumph in rich umami flavours, with buttery potato gnocchi, spring vegetables, girolles, and a tarragon velouté. Pan fried halibut was perfectly cooked, its flesh meaty by still succulent, served in a refreshing broth with braised peas, Oxsprings air dried ham, gem lettuce, and mint. A bowl scrapingly-good Chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice cream was the perfect decedent end to the dinner.
BRING YOUR DOG
The hotel has a dog friendly ethos, treating pooches to the same indulgent experience as their owners, with luxurious dog beds, bowls, and a delicious doggy menu cooked to order by a chef. Dog walking services are also available, allowing owners to relax whilst their furry friends are exploring the 350 acres of nearby Hyde Park.
WHY GO
When you stay in a 5 star hotel, its often the little things that set one apart the rest. From The Arch London’s selection of complimentary treats for guests to enjoy to the daily changing exotic flavoured drinks in the lobby and the library of classic movies to borrow from in reception, they all highlight the hotel’s character instantly, showing thoughtfulness and an attention to detail that differentiate it from the others. With its flags flying proudly outside the polished entrance and a friendly porter greeting each and every guest, its the kind of hotel that makes you feel special from the moment you enter.
For more info or to make a booking visit www.thearchlondon.com
