LONDON
aren’ t left out either, with cocktails- a Negroni and a lychee Martini- delivered as smoothly as the fluffy robes.
Packages aside, Royal Lancaster’ s reputation as a family hotel is wellearned. Beyond the practicalities of interconnecting rooms, sofa beds and cots, it’ s the smaller touches that make the difference. Children are offered their own bathrobes and toiletries, rooms are stocked with age-appropriate activities, and takehome gifts ensure the adventure continues after check-out. Staff chat easily with children, offering them the same courtesy as adults, and it was heartening to spot returning families being remembered- a small but pivotal observation cementing the hotel’ s effortless character.
High above all this, the rooftop is home to a different kind of guest- a neighbourhood of thriving beehives that hum with life as part of the hotel’ s partnership with Bees Abroad, an organisation that twins its colonies with sustainable beekeeping projects in Tanzania. Honey harvested here appears throughout the hotel in glistening honeycomb at breakfast, as a sweet note in cocktails, and as a subtle thread through afternoon teas, serving as a small but powerful reminder that even a hotel of this size and stature can champion sustainability.
Now, let’ s talk about the food. At the heart of the hotel sits Nipa Thai, a restaurant that has earned the rare accolade of being described as the most authentic Thai dining outside Bangkok. The secret? A kitchen staffed entirely by Thai women, led by head chef Sanguan Parr, who has been part of the Royal Lancaster family for over 25 years. The result is consistency, tradition and deep respect for culinary heritage, and the experience is immersive from the start with teak carvings and silk furnishings glowing softly; seamless, unhurried service; and a menu that’ s an unforgettable journey through tasty Thai classics.
Starters set the tone. Satay kai, marinated chicken skewers grilled to smoky perfection, arrived with a silky, nutty and mildly fiery peanut sauce; toong ngern yuang, golden parcels of minced chicken and prawns, crunched satisfyingly before melting into rich aromatics; and phoo nim- soft-shell crab fried to optimum crispness and heavily flecked with salt and pepper- was an addictive blend of sweet, briny and hot. Mains continued with beautiful balance: kai phad med ma muang him ma parn- stirfried chicken with cashew nuts- combined tender meat with crunch and gentle heat; nuea nam mun hoy- beef in oyster sauce- had a rich umami dressing that clung silkily to each juicy slice; and suer rong hai- or weeping tiger- was a standout dish of sirloin, chargrilled rare and lifted from its earthy depths by zingy coriander and lime.
A little lighter, but equally satisfying, the hotel’ s afternoon tea is a showpiece. A collaboration with the Natural History Museum, it draws inspiration from pollinators in the museum’ s newly rewilded gardens. Settling into plush chairs overlooking Hyde Park, a floral fantasy ushers you in with trios of finger sandwiches in classic combos- cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon with dill, rare roast beef and horseradish- followed by stillwarm golden scones with a buttery softness that melts into clotted cream and tart jam. The desserts are like edible art; intricate blooms, berry-vanilla cheesecakes and petit fours shaped like butterflies and ladybirds, and refreshments come as two bespoke fragrant blends from Camellia’ s Tea House, or, for extra celebratory sparkle, a glass of Taittinger Champagne or Nyetimber English sparkling wine.
With 411 rooms, nine categories and some of the city’ s largest event spaces( including a ballroom for 1,500 guests), it would be easy for a hotel of this size to feel impersonal, but the opposite is true and the staff are the most integral cog in this well-oiled wheel. From remembering how you take your tea to entertaining inquisitive children at check-in, their attentiveness is as natural as it is polished and it’ s this genuine warmth combined with professionalism that transforms the Royal Lancaster from a grand hotel into a city centre home-from-home.
Hotels in London are plentiful and many are wonderful, but hotels that feel like home are priceless. The Royal Lancaster manages both- luxury and ease, indulgence and warmth, big-hotel polish and small-hotel heart. Whether you visit for a family adventure, a romantic escape or simply a night of fun with cocktails, pyjamas and pick‘ n’ mix, there’ s no better base for making memories, especially with teens- a tough crowd, but the very best company when full of satay, scones and( Instagram) stories to tell.
royallancaster. com royallancasterlondon www. insidekent. co. uk • 149