The industrial revolution and the newly-invented steam train offered the emerging English middle class in the 19th century an opportunity for travel like never before. While the Victorian working poor toiled under the oppression and sweat of the ‘dark satanic mills’ the privileged few found a new use for their leisure time; tourism. Thomas Jones stayed where they stayed.

This massive interlinking of tracks that drove Britain’s industrial engine suddenly brought all the beauty of the nation within easy reach and the need for hotels to accommodate this phenomenon was met at resorts and railway terminuses all over the country. The Landmark Hotel in London started its life as one of the grandest hotels in the land and played host to movers and shakers from across the world. Despite a long 111 year history of highs and lows that saw it fall from fashion and grace due to circumstances beyond its control, it has risen again to again become one of London’s most prestigious hotels.

It opened in Marylebone in 1899 as The Great Central Hotel, and was one of the great Victorian railway hotels that reflected the wealth and power of the era. The Gothic Revival design with a large and imposing clock tower, housed 700 rooms and a large inner courtyard, where horse and carriage could drop off guests and turn around. In the 1920s the courtyard became a winter garden where wealthy patrons could enjoy the garden surroundings in comfort, but unfortunately the building’s first period as a luxury hotel was drawing to a close.

With railway traffic falling due to the advent of the motor car, The Great Central fell out of hotel use and its grandeur faded. It became a convalescent home during World War II and served as a military office building for many years afterwards before becoming the headquarters of the British Railways Board.

That was a far cry from the opulent star wonder that exists today. As demand for luxury hotels in London grew in the late 20th century the building was purchased by a Japanese company in 1986, renovated and reopened under the name The Regent, London.  In 1995, it was resold and renamed with the monkker it retains to this day, The Landmark London. During this time many renovations were undergone including converting and substantially upgrading the original 700 rooms to 300, and also the building of a glass roof over the winter garden to create the atrium, and in the pocess increasing the hotel’s public space considerably. As a result of all this tender loving care, the hotel that stands before you today is a restored masterpiece designed to transport you back to a time of unimagined opulence and comfort.

Once inside the regal marble and wood interiors one is drawn straight to the centre of the hotel to the soaring glass-roofed atrium stretching eight storeys up to the roof. The space and light created by this space is unique amongst London hotels, and has given the hotel an all-weather environment for year round shopping and dining pleasure. The Winter Garden restaurant at the base is pseudo al-fresco surrounded by towering palm trees and endless amounts of natural light. Serving delicious European fare it draws heavily on locally-sourced fresh ingredients to give diners an open-air experience like none other.

Afternoons are extremely popular as people come from all over London to enjoy that most British of institutions, the high tea, and enjoy the colours of the fading day as night approaches. Another dining option is twotwentytwo, a splendidly designed restaurant and bar with ornate plaster ceilings and rich wooden wall panels serving stylish European inspired dishes, a distinctly more fashionable place to lunch or to start an evening in old London town. And you can’t beat the Mirror Bar’s luxurious and decadent bespoke surroundings where you can sip on the worlds’ best champagnes, cocktails and cognacs and watch yourself be indulgent.

Of the 300 lavish rooms, 47 are suites and there are 35 sets of connecting rooms. Guest rooms are located over six of the floors and, with an average size of 55 square metres, are some of the largest in London. Because of the design of the hotel it can be a long walk to the elevators but this just gives you an excuse to take the stairs  more instead which will provides the chance to soak up the grand old architectural design of the building. The richly carpeted staircases are wider than wide and surrounded by great stained glass windows and paintings all the way down to the ground and back again. Just another example of the opulence and rich history that give Landmark guests a 21st opportunity to dwell amidst all the pomp, wealth and privilege that made Britain great.

The Landmark London
222 Marylebone Road
London, UK
Tel: +44 20 7631 8000
www.landmarklondon.co.uk

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