A Blooming Affair at the Royal Lancaster London

Vingt Sept
Jun 19
4 min read

Travel & Lifestyle

The main lobby reception at Royal Lancaster London

The Royal Lancaster London Hotel is more than just a gem in the crown of London. It's an institution.

Nestled on the edge of Hyde Park, with sweeping views of one of the city’s most prized possessions, the hotel has welcomed guests from all corners of the world since opening in 1967. A remarkable feat, considering it has weathered some of London’s most turbulent chapters while maintaining its signature grandeur. The Royal Lancaster has proven time and again that it can, and always will, move with the times. From the Swinging Sixties to the digital age, it has never lost its sense of glamour.

Unlike many city hotels, the Royal Lancaster embraces change. Its £80 million renovation in 2017 remains a point of fascination, merging timeless luxury with the clean lines and elegance of contemporary interior design.

Background

Located just around the corner from Lancaster Gate station and overlooking the grand entrance of Kensington Gardens, the Royal Lancaster’s architecture was originally led by Richard Seifert. The building had humble beginnings as an office block for filmmakers the Rank Organisation, better known for their shrewd business moves than their design credentials. Yes, we kid you not, one of London’s most iconic hotels started out as the kind of place we all dread commuting to.

The front entrance of Royal Lancaster London

But Seifert was already designing with the future in mind. A pioneer of post-war architecture, he conceived more buildings in London than even Christopher Wren. His fingerprints are all over the capital, from South Bank Tower to the Royal Garden Hotel and the NatWest Tower (now Tower 42). His architectural language embraced expansive glass façades, streamlined modernist forms and a muscular, mid-century edge that even today, feels ahead of its time.

Afternoon Tea

We decided it was time to embrace the grandeur of the Royal Lancaster London with none other than their new afternoon tea offering and an overnight stay. Partnering with the Natural History Museum, the hotel has launched a pollinator-inspired afternoon tea celebrating Britain’s flora and fauna. A fully vegan option is available, alongside a bespoke Children’s Blooming British Afternoon Tea.

Perfect for marking the change in seasons or celebrating British moments in patriotic style, this floral twist on a quintessential tradition honours local pollinators using only seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The collaboration supports a shared mission to create a future where people and pollinators thrive, combining the Natural History Museum’s conservation work with the family-owned hotel’s renowned hospitality.

Inspired by the Museum’s efforts to protect the natural world, the themed menu includes delicate sweet treats, all paired beautifully with honey from the hotel’s very own rooftop hive and blends from Camellia’s Tea House.

Displayed with flair, we chose both The Royal Lancaster Afternoon and the Pollinator Blend teas. The former is a timeless English Breakfast with soft chamomile and woody notes from China Keemun. The latter, a bespoke blend crafted in collaboration with the Museum, features rare black teas from Darjeeling and China, layered with rose and marigold petals, and a hint of organic bee pollen. It was the perfect pairing for classic savouries like smoked salmon with cream cheese and dill, and maize-fed chicken dusted with bee pollen.

When it came to sweet bites, these were the undeniable stars of the show:

Scones – A timeless classic, whether you’re jam-first or cream-first. Served warm, they came with clotted cream and a trio of preserves.

The Ladybird – A delicate, visually charming vanilla mousse with caramelised apple atop a buttery sablé Breton.

The Beehive – A beautifully layered honey cake with honey and crème fraîche cream.

Apple Blossom – An elegant elderflower and apple mousse with a green apple centre and a crisp, crunchy base.

Rooms

Following an indulgent afternoon, we made our way to the suite, gliding through the signature lobby with its polished marble floors, gold and brass geometric accents, and curated displays of art and fashion books.

The Park Suites are a visual delight, not only for the sweeping bird’s-eye view of London, from Hyde Park to the BT Tower but also for their refined interiors. Fresh bouquets greet you on arrival, alongside subtle nods to the capital through coffee table books, city-inspired sculptures, and playful touches like a model Mini Cooper.

Geometric gold and brass accents continue throughout the suite, softened by pale green velvet sofas, grey carpets, and brushed wood cabinetry. Delicate butterflies encased in glass gently echo the natural world outside, making it easy to forget you're in one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

A pandan and vanilla cake, paying homage to the Eastern roots of the hotel’s Nipa Thai restaurant, awaits as a sweet surprise.

Soak in the marble bath with Jo Loves toiletries or, like us, wake early to meditate on the plush bed as soft morning light spills across the skyline. Here, the city feels both calm and entirely your own.

We ended our stay with an indulgent à la carte breakfast of smoked salmon, complemented by selections from the generous buffet, all enjoyed with a view of the park and a Bellini in hand. A gentle stroll through Hyde Park followed, with a stop at the Serpentine to soak in the calm before returning to the city’s rhythm.

Breakfast provides stunning views of both Hyde Park and London

With a packed summer calendar in London, from the elegance of Wimbledon to the adrenaline rush of Formula 1 just a little further afield, the Royal Lancaster is the place that captures everything we’re craving this season.

Blooming British Afternoon Tea prices: