What is the best club or executive lounge in the top luxury hotels across London? This is a question I am often asked, and as I sit in the Club Lounge at the Intercontinental Park Lane, I ponder which is the very best lounge in London, based on the luxury level of the lounge and also taking into account the hotel price.
Book luxury hotels via our Virtuoso luxury travel concierge, to benefit from free gifts, resort credit, room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out.
Want Club Lounge Access For Free?
Book a standard room at the InterContinental London Park Lane, which is one of our partner hotels, via our luxury travel concierge (rates tend to range from £400 GBP to £600 GBP depending on the day and the season) and you will get a guaranteed room upgrade and Club Lounge access free. This has got to be one of the best hotel deals in London!
In fact, we have a special relationship with this hotel which gives guests who book with our luxury travel concierge a double room upgrade. The first room upgrade is guaranteed on booking. The second upgrade is subject to availability on check-in. And this upgrade is on top of that free Club Lounge access.
The Club Lounge at the Intercontinental Park Lane is our favorite Club Lounge overall, so getting it for free makes this Intercontinental our top hotel choice in London.
Why Choose A London Hotel With A Club Lounge?
When deciding which hotel to choose for your stay in a city like London, it is sensible to consider the added extras provided by a hotel club lounge. Offerings usually include complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day, breakfast in the morning, and evening cocktails with canapés. Often the evening food and drink offering is more than enough to replace the need to go out for an evening meal. Even better, the InterContinental and Langham London club lounges offer a particularly good and very British afternoon tea too.
Club or Executive hotel lounges provide an enjoyable environment to work and relax. Some lounges also offer dedicated meeting rooms, although I find holding meetings in the main lounge more friendly. When I travel on my own for business, I’m not particularly eager to sit in restaurants on my own. Room service is also a lonely affair, so a club lounge provides the ideal environment to enjoy good food and atmosphere whilst being completely comfortable sitting at a table for one.
The Best Club Lounge In London
When it comes to the very best Executive Lounge in London, taking into account the price, view, food, staff, and overall experience, my winner is the Club Lounge at the Intercontinental Park Lane.
The View
The view here is an absolute winner. It is simply the best view from any Executive Lounge in London. The view looks south towards the Thames with Big Ben and the London Eye in the distance to your left, Hyde Park corner in the middle, and Knightsbridge to your right. I write this the day after Guy Fawkes Night, and the distant fireworks across the London skyline were spectacular. In the distance front, you can see the spires of Battersea Power station, and directly in front, beyond the Hyde Park roundabout, is Green Park, and Buckingham Palace is hidden in the trees beyond. You are literally looking down on the Queen (assuming that she is in residence!).
Across the other side of the Hyde Park roundabout is the Peninsula Hotel, one of the newest luxury hotels to be built in Knightsbridge. Behind that is the whole of Knightsbridge with the iconic stores of Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Unfortunately, Harrods was a bit of a letdown this stay. The children’s department of Harrods used to be a magical wonderland of toys, but this fantasia has now been reduced to a colorful corridor. Harrods is not the destination for kids that it once was and was a major disappointment for my boy. That said, with numerous designer stores a short walk through the pretty Regents park, you are spoilt for choice when finding a place to shop in the city.
But I digress. It is the bird’s eye view of the skyline with the poetic dance of London doubledecker buses and the old-fashioned black taxi cabs below, all circling the Hyde Park corner roundabout, that makes this Lounge so London! This is a unique view that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and it is unbeatable.
Location
The location of the Intercontinental Park Lane itself is fantastic, just a short walk from Knightsbridge and its designer shops. In the other direction, you can stroll to Regent street for the Apple Store, Hamley’s Toy Shop, and Selfridges, as well as the lively bars and Michelin Starred restaurants in Soho and W1.
As I outlined above, the Intercontinental is directly across the Hyde Park corner roundabout from the new Peninsula Hotel London, which is a couple of doors down from the boutique hotel The Wellesley. A minute further into Knightsbridge and you reach the Mandarin Oriental, which looks out upon Regents Park and is also situated opposite the Marriott branded hotel, the Sheraton Park Tower.
The entrance of the hotel is directly opposite the Four Seasons Park Lane in London and about a 30-second walk from the tower that is the Hilton Park Lane, which also has a Club Lounge (with good food but uninspiring view). The Hilton is not a favorite of mine as it is set in a 1960’s tower block, and it feels somewhat dated. A few blocks down from the Hilton is the Sheraton Grand which we have also reviewed and has a Club Lounge. The JW Marriott Grosvenor hotel overlooking Hyde Park is also a short walk up Park Lane and also features an Executive Lounge.
So you can see that the Intercontinental is slap bang in the center of all the luxury hotels in London, and from the Club Lounge, you have an ever-changing view of it all!
The only hotel that isn’t close by is the Langham London which has the second-best Club Lounge in London. More on that below. The Langham is around a 20-minute walk north wast on the far side of Oxford Street.
Why Is the Intercontinental Club Lounge The Best?
Beyond the view, this lounge has so many great features. The staff are also unbeatable and full of personality. The desk tends to be manned by Sebastian, who cannot do enough for you, and we were shown around by a lovely girl with a super long plait (I didn’t catch her name). She went out of her way to ensure we had everything we needed and paid special attention to our son which was super sweet and something we really appreciated. All the staff were great with the odd, well-behaved child in the lounge.
Every need is catered for in this lounge. The moment you sit down, the staff come and offer any drink you want. There are loads of fridges with water and any cold drink you could wish for. Throughout the day are nuts crisps, homemade biscuits, and snacks.
The last time I was in the Intercontinental Park Lane club lounge, Tony Blair was holding an important-looking meeting in one corner of the main lounge, so clearly, this club lounge is one of his favorites. I have been told by the staff at this lounge that this lounge was also a favorite of Condoleezza Rice when she was over in London. Is the Intercontinental Park Lane club lounge the best in London? On views alone, most definitely (see featured photo above), but there are many other factors to consider, which you can read in each of my separate reviews that will be added below.
Staff
The staff in the lounge are also awfully helpful. Usefully, you can stay in the lounge as long as you like after check-out, which is a major bonus if you have a late flight out or are leaving after your allocated check-out time. There are also shower and storage facilities so you can safely stow your luggage. The staff will also help you with any business services, from color printouts to help with anything else you want.
Food
The breakfast is massive in offering and delicious. There is a buffet and an A La Carte, so you can select from cheeses, smoked salmon, salads with olive oil, yogurts, a glorious array of fruit and berries, Bircher muesli (a particularly good one and a personal favorite!), cereal, yogurt, muffins, and bread as well as some delicious pastries.
On the A La Carte, there is a British Style offering with eggs as you like; Florentine, Benedict, full English, along with options like pancakes. I doubt there is much you couldn’t request, and crucially, everything is cooked to perfection. I like Eggs Florentine, and the poached eggs are soft in the middle while the white is cooked to perfection.
The breakfast is served until late, you can literally arrive at the last minute, and you can still raid the buffet and order a hot dish.
In the afternoon is the delicious afternoon tea is served between 3 and 5 and is arranged on a wedding cake style and up a tray with scones and cream, an array of sandwiches, and any drink you want, including, of course, their excellent tea. There is none of your teabag rubbish here. All the tea is made from dried leaves. It is the little touches that make a big difference.
In the evening, the food offering is limited. Drinks are available early evening, including a nice selection of canapes, but that is it. Do not expect a full evening meal. You will need to eat out. On the plus side, Theo Randall’s restaurant downstairs is excellent and you are missing out if you do not try his pasta. Easily the best pasta in London.
Alcoholic Drinks
It is worth noting that the staff in the lounge are incredibly generous, with topping up and supplying drinks. Champagne, cocktails, beers, and wines are available and expect to be pestered into “just another one” before the bar closes. Even after the bar is officially closed, the staff seem happy to refill you or bring out an extra glass of beer. In fact, one evening, the staff suggested lining up 2 or 3 beers and glasses of wine to keep us topped up through the evening.
So there you go, my favorite Executive Lounge in London is the Club Lounge at the Intercontinental, particularly as we book via our own luxury travel concierge and get it free. Worth noting, that we also have status with IHG and Intercontinental Ambassador Club, so we collect points at the same time as getting our concierge benefits.
Langham London Club Lounge
The Langham London Club Lounge is my second favorite Club Lounge in London, and the Langham is a beautiful and historic luxury hotel. The Lounge has THE best food across any London Executive Lounge, but this Lounge lost the top spot as it is not cheap, and the hotel’s location is less convenient. On the plus side, the hotel has a great pool and a super jazz lounge if you like jazz.
If you book the Langham London via our luxury travel concierge you get a room upgrade on arrival, early check-in / late check-out, (subject to availability), complimentary buffet breakfast for two daily for the duration of the stay and $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full) a kitchen tour and aperitif when dining at Roux at the Landau. You do not get free Club Lounge access; you need to book a room rate that includes Club Lounge.
In my humble opinion, you are missing out if you don’t book this Club Lounge as part of your Langham stay. Why do I rank the Langham London Club Lounge so highly? This lounge is stunning. There is no other way to describe it.
Ambiance
You enter down a corridor that reminds me of a Library with regal books laying open, depicting the British Royal Family. At the end of the corridor, you step down a few steps, and you have arrived in this huge Club Lounge.
To your immediate right is the welcome desk, where you can check-in and check-out. Beyond this desk area is a large food area and a more intimate sitting area with dimmed lights that feels like a bar. Ahead of you is a seating area and to your left a business area with computers, toilets, and further seating.
The interior design is classic and incredibly stylish. This is easily the most stylish Club Lounge in London, but the staff and the food make it stand out. Usually, a Club lounge will have one or two members of staff catering to the guests. In this Club Lounge, there must have been 5-10, laying out the food, arranging drinks for guests, and generally making your life so easy that you don’t need to lift a finger. This is not the kind of lounge where you will find yourself carrying your own food back to your seat from the buffet!
Food & Drinks
This deserves a separate section. The volume, selection, and quality of food in this lounge are overwhelming. Usually, in a Club Lounge, breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner are toned-down versions of what might be offered in the main restaurant. Not so in this lounge.
Breakfast was a vast array of buffet items plus eggs made for you any way you liked. Afternoon tea has so many choices of sandwiches, patisseries, and cakes that you may well not have room for dinner.
Dinner, described as “Evening Canapes,” is really a full meal service and is not to be missed. Try not to stuff yourself too much at the afternoon tea. On offer is an array of cold meats and fish, a vast shell containing oysters (impressive, although not something I am keen on), as well as salads and puddings. If you want something hot, there is a delicious-looking soup. You can see the sheer volume and quality of the food in my photos. You do not need to eat out.
Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel Executive Lounge
My third favourite club lounge is the Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel Executive Lounge. The location of this hotel is ace, just up the road from the Four Seasons and the Intercontinental.
The Grosvenor House’s lounge entrance is on the ground floor, reached by following some stairs adjacent to the hotel’s reception area. Climb up the marble staircase and enter through a keyed glass door to reach this spacious lounge. After entry, your eyes are immediately drawn to an attractive floor-to-ceiling media wall showing colorful videos shot in Hyde Park. These videos change so that the colors and scenes that you see on the wall depict those of the current season – during our stay, an autumnal montage was on display. I love little touches like this.
Ambiance
To your right sits a welcoming concierge beyond which the lounge opens up to reveal some private meeting rooms to the left and two large communal lounges to the right, the latter of which backs onto the food and drinks offering. The natural creams and oatmeals make the lounge feel relaxing; plentiful sofa-style seats arranged in groups of 2 to 6 offer guests plenty of room to relax. There is also a shared dining table area for about ten guests. The lighting is subtle but not dim. Mirrors, classwork, and ornaments are strategically placed to accentuate the space and form wall coverings and divisions. A fireplace is lit throughout the day, and the temperature is a comfortable 23’C. Although there are no windows in this lounge, the interior design is such that I didn’t notice the lack of natural light. One unusual thing about the lounge is the slight rumble of tube trains passing below from time to time, serving to remind guests that they’re in the heart of London.
The food offering in the executive lounge at the JW Marriott, London, is generous throughout the day, and you can read more about this in our full review.
Intercontinental O2 Club Lounge
The Intercontinental O2 Club Lounge is a hidden gem out to the East of London on the banks of the Thames. The InterContinental London The O2 is not convenient for walking to central London. You need to take public transport to get into town, but there is a super fun riverboat you can hop on, which whizzes you up the Thames, which has to be one of the best ways to travel in London.
This is a great luxury hotel and is ideal if you are flying in and out of City Airport or heading to Excel, or exploring the Naval history of Greenwich.
The lounge here is particularly good, and the views are phenomenal over the sparkling spires of Canary Wharf. The food offered at the Club InterContinental London, The O2, has to be the third-best food selection of any lounge in London and is certainly enough to fill you up. It is also worth noting that this hotel has a really nice pool, gym, and spa, so if you like a swim.
Sheraton Grand Park Lane Club Lounge
At number five is the Sheraton Grand Park Lane Club Lounge which has no view and a more limited offering but remains a well-located hotel that has been recently refurbished and a good chain hotel choice in London, particularly if you favor the SPG and Marriott program.
Hilton Park Lane Executive Lounge
Hilton Park Lane Executive Lounge is a good lounge in a great location and comes in at number six. Again, it is just up the road from the Intercontinental, perhaps a 1 minute walk away, and slap bang in the center of everything. The food offering is extensive and generous, but the lounge is on a low floor, so it loses out on much of a view. You can see passing traffic on the road, which is fun but not noteworthy.
The Hyatt Regency London The Churchill Regency Club
We used to be regulars at The Hyatt Regency London The Churchill Regency Club which I am putting in seventh place. The lounge here is nice, with limited views over rooftops and hit-and-miss food. The last time we were there, we were served burned scrambled eggs in the morning and then had to fight for the food through a scrum of World of Hyatt members to grab some evening food before it was all gone. Honestly, it felt like the locusts had landed!
There is a quiet adults-only lounge and one that lets families in, and this lounge is certainly a nice place to spend the afternoon. Still, it is not a favorite due to the lack of care taken with the food and the rather hectic atmosphere at feeding time, even though the location is decent, just behind the Selfridges store.
At number eight is the Hotel 41 Executive Lounge.
At number nine is the Marriott London County Hall Executive Lounge.
There are also lounges at Hotel The Montcalm At The Brewery Club Lounge 770, the London Marriott Park Lane, the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel Chambers Club Lounge, the Conrad London St James with its Executive Lounge, the The Montcalm London Marble Arch Club Lounge, the The Waldorf Hilton Executive Lounge, the The Hilton London Metropole and the St. Ermin’s Hotel, Autograph Collection
Whichever hotel you decide on in London, always check the rates with our luxury travel concierge as we offer a bunch of brilliant benefits at most luxury hotels in London.
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