Hotel Corus Hyde Park

The hotel could hardly be closer to "London's lung". A few more inches and it would actually be in Central Park! Its location in the heart of the city also offers the opportunity of enjoying long walks in the neighbouring districts if you (and the weather) are up for it... The hotel is at a short distance from Lancaster Gate station (Central Line) and it offers quick, but indirect access to most of the city's tourist sights. Paddington station is only a short walk away and offers more connections.

A hotel with three formulas: single unit, room with breakfast or half board. There is 24/7 room service but not everything is available during the night. With the exception of guide dogs, pets are not allowed.

Looking at the chic facade, you would expect to find the interior just as refined, but unfortunately this is not the case. The entrance hall is a standard marble-clad and white column affair with wall-to-wall carpet and furniture that doesn't exactly qualify as elegant. The rest of the communal areas go from modern to traditional but the result isn't always harmonious. There is a small business centre with three computers in a corner of the reception hall. The hotel also includes a modern and well-equipped fitness centre. There are no other amenities to speak of...

The establishment houses 390 rooms that were renovated in the autumn of 2008. There are three types of interior to choose from: modern, English modern, or English traditional. They all have air conditioning, a flat screen TV, high bandwidth Internet connection, a safe, a kettle with tea and coffee and a trouser press. The "stylish rooms" are the most modern and seem to have nothing in common with the rest of the hotel. They include a futuristic bathroom, (there is a green light that you turn on with a lift-type button) and will probably attract a young clientele. The Mews Wing rooms were decorated by Laura Ashley and are more traditional and spacious but don't offer much in terms of equipment. The Viceroy rooms are decorated in a true English style and most of them afford a view of Hyde Park and Lancaster Gate. The 10th floor also includes Executive rooms. Spacious and luminous, they offer a beautiful view of the city, a large walk-in closet and numerous services, such as free bottled water.

There are two restaurants and a bar to the right of the reception desk open to non-resident guests as well. The first occupies a charmless and large room (120 seats) and is where breakfast is served. The second is open in the mornings for continental breakfast only, and then for lunch and dinner. Opening out onto the park and with a seating capacity of 50, it offers Malaysian, French and English cuisine served in a nice little room. Special buffets are occasionally organised. The rest of the time, reasonably priced à la carte dishes are served: 19 pounds for two dishes. The bar stays open till 2:00am and offers a selection of snacks. It is also the venue for jazz concerts.