If I had to choose one word to describe my experience in this hotel it would have to be “Magic”!
Rated among London’s finest 5-star luxury hotels, Corinthia Hotel is clearly an establishment that pushes the existing standards of luxury hotels in the English capital, if not the world, today. It perfectly reflects the stimulation, the energy, the union of tradition and modernity that one breathes in London and, located in the heart of the town, is a veritable epicentre for the worlds of art, culture, business and politics.
The first sensation upon entering the hotel and the most lingering one that stays with you long after you leave it is LIGHT. It permeates your days and invades your dreams. During the day swathes of soft natural light are lured from the outside in through the tall Victorian windows. During the night it’s reproduced thanks to the multitude of various fixtures strategically placed throughout the space and is reflected off many surfaces. It is never a beaming strong light, always soft, but always luminous enough that it allows you to see every beautiful detail clearly.
The hotel is a blend of classic Victorian architecture with outstanding craftsmanship and contemporary art, mirroring the energy, style and history of the area. Victorian architecture is still evident in generous ornate detail and sumptuous materials. The interior lines are clean, simple, but never Spartan. The modernity is luxurious here, the surfaces are lush, the colour palette is pared down, without resulting minimalist. The details are many and varied, but the overall sense is of perfect harmony, balance and taste – it is never too much, nor too little.
We are greeted and guided by Fiona Harris, the Director of International Public Relations, who reveals to us the many assets of the hotel in an open and friendly manner.
Corinthia London is the ninth of Corinthia Hotels’ collection of five-star hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta. Housed within a Victorian building, redesigned for the 21st century by experts with a passion for craftsmanship, it boasts the largest room sizes in London and is ideally located within walking distance from many of city’s major attractions. The hotel counts 294 rooms including 36 suites and 7 spectacular two-storey penthouse suites (which herald a new era of luxury accommodation for the city) and offers sweeping views across London’s most popular landmarks.
Corinthia Hotel London provides unrivalled world-class luxury with superb ground floor offerings, featuring two world-class restaurants and a bar. Garry Hollihead, winner of Michelin stars at three different establishments, is at the helm of The Northall, the restaurant celebrating the best of British artisanal produce, including Cumbrian short horn cattle, together with an extensive selection of organic and biodynamic wines. The modern Italian cuisine may be sampled at Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar. Bassoon, the musically inspired concept cocktail bar designed by the award-winning David Collins Studio, serves both molecular cocktails and colonial inspired drinks from its boutique spirits library.
Corinthia London is also home to the flagship ESPA Life at Corinthia, a next-generation award-winning international spa company. Spanning 3300m2 and on four floors, this magnificent spa with indoor pool, amphitheatre sauna, ice fountain, a state-of-the-art gym and Daniel Galvin hair salon, offers guests a new level of spa and wellness in a five-star luxury setting.
The details are many and varied, but the overall sense is of perfect harmony, balance and taste – it is never too much, nor too little.
The elegant and contemporary interiors are set around an inner foyer and garden, boardroom meeting facilities and a beautifully refurbished grand ballroom. But the heartbeat of the hotel is its Lobby Lounge. The soaring dome in the centre is adorned with the pioneering Full Moon chandelier created by Parisian designer Chafik Gasmi and produced by Baccarat. The chandelier, composed of 1,001 crystal baubles, is the grand focal point of the main hotel area, enhancing the space, which is an eclectic mix of furniture and bespoke artwork.
Adorning the walls and public spaces throughout London’s Corinthia is a unique collection of specially commissioned artworks by predominantly British artists, its distinctive pieces bringing the historic building into the 21st century. Corinthia Hotel London supports the arts with the annual Corinthia Artist in Residence programme, nurturing young up and coming talent by providing a new outlet at a time when there is a question mark over funding in the arts. Corinthia Hotel London takes great pleasure in providing a stimulating and visually rich environment that promotes creativity and imagination for guests.
