The Luxurious Langham Hotel

Even before you enter the Langham Hotel there’s an impending sense of grandeur and luxury as the grey morning suited doormen whisk away your luggage you can sense that your stay here is going to be like no other.

Opened by The Prince of Wales in 1865, The Langham, was immediately known as Europe’s first ‘Grand Hotel’ and those two words sum up The Langham today for its gracious hospitality and values are still those of an old style grand hotel.

The impressive exterior and entrance are just a taster for what is to come. Step through the glass revolving doors and you are faced with a sight that will take your breath away as you step into the foyer in all its glory.

Since it opened The Langham has played host to royalty, the rich and famous. Poets, playwrights and politicians have been amongst its guests from Emperor Napoleon III, Winston Churchill, Edward and Mrs Simpson to Robert Browning, Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward and Princess Diana and its not hard to understand why

The spacious foyer is an architectural work of art with its highly polished marbled floors, antique furnishings and glittering chandeliers. There’s a feel of traditional elegance not only here but throughout the hotel with a plethora of gilt, silk, marble and mahogany and works of art.

Totally blown away by the grandeur of our surroundings we were escorted to The Club for a private check-in. The sheer decadence of sitting down in comfortable surroundings with a glass of chilled champagne is the ultimate check-in-experience.

The Langham is the only 5 star property in London to feature the club concept which is available for guests booking Executive Rooms, Junior and One Bed Suites.

The benefits are numerous with delicious culinary offerings ranging from breakfast, a sampling of the Langham afternoon tea – yummy hot scones and mouth-watering pastries to canapes and cocktails in the early evening plus  non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks available all day up to 10.00pm.

It’s a comfortable chill-out area at any time of day with every modern amenity, discounts in the restaurant and even complimentary pressing of three garments when you arrive and the service is amazing.

Our Executive Room was more than spacious with a large seating area, hall with a super-size wardrobe and a large marbled bathroom with a beautiful extra large shower and even a pair of scales!

Langham Beds were described in their 1930’s brochure as having ‘the most seductive of mattresses and pillows to soothe you to a sweet sleep’ This is the testimony and heritage behind their “Blissful Bed” as today’s bed is called and blissful it truly is.

Although I’ve stayed in many five star hotels The Langham is the only one that has kept those old traditional comforts and house-keeping services in its rooms, its just like having your own personal maid, yet at the same time our room had every piece of modern technology and how I loved the Wi-Fi that didn’t need a password!

But one of the nicest touches were the complimentary gifts because our stay was before the end of October. From Turnbull and Assert, Gentlemen’s Bespoke Accessory and Shirtmaker there was a silk hanky whilst for me from Amanda Wakeley, a favourite designer of the Royals there was a purse/wallet.

When it comes to food The Langham triumphs. We started off with a glass of champagne in The Club before making our way down for a pre-dinner cocktail to The Artesian Bar – it was a must as its known of one of London’s most chic, but fun cocktail bars. The mixologists here are so creative and have some wonderful concoctions on offer including the best Bellini I have ever tasted.

Roux at The Landau was our choice for dinner as we had already breakfasted there in the morning. You get into the culinary atmosphere when you enter the doorway and along a wooden floor with glass cases of wine and other niceties at each side.

The Landau is a marvellous feat of restaurant planning. The horseshoe shaped bow window is large and in the morning fills the room with sunlight whilst in the evening it becomes pivotal to an ethereal view of outside and the majestic BBC building and The Langham Church.

Seating here is well planned and the décor elegant with a rustic touch and if you are celebrating or want a little privacy there are some booths that look so accommodating.

The menus are fresh ingredient led and this is a wonderful dining experience to have. Like all the creative culinary direction at the hotel it is overseen by renowned Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux, Jr.

We started with a chef’s extra that was just so tasty – small bread-crumb coated balls filled with a tasty cheese filling.

My partner decided on a starter from the slicer choosing prosciutto, grissini and olives whilst I went for the langoustines but as I didn’t want the saffron emulsion the chef created a butter sauce for especially for me.

The beef fillet my partner had for main course was so tender and succulent and was complimented by succulent mushrooms and a tasty sauce whilst my wild sea bass was cooked to perfection with crispy skin and moist fish and the Nolly Pratt sauce was so flavoursome.

When it came to dessert my Hazelnut Praline Sorbet and Raspberry Cloud was sheer heaven on a plate – a sweet lover this is one of the best I have ever tasted. Whilst my partner’s Grand Marnier Souffle was light, hot and incredibly good. The Grand Marnier flavour really came out and the orange ice cream gave it a real burst of flavour.

After our meal it was time for a short stroll and as we walked across the foyer on our return the piano music filled the air from the Palm Court. In the afternoon piano music accompanies afternoon teas whilst in the evening the room sparkles and classic dishes are served to piano music.  Mornings it takes on yet another mantle and we decided to breakfast in the Palm Court before the end of our stay. That’s was so charming about The Langham you can breakfast at any of the three locations during your stay.

The gold and cream décor in The Palm Court is just something else. The tables are well placed and one can almost imagine you are thrown back to the 30’s.

One place to visit in the hotel is The  Chuan Body and Soul at The Langham its luxury have and great for relaxing with lots of exclusive treatments available and amazing facilities.

The Langham Hotel is a place you will want to return to again and again. It’s service is excellent and nothing is too much trouble to any member of staff whatever your wish. It’s also a friendly place where one feels at home and relaxed every minute of the day.

The Langham Hotel, Portland Place, Regent Street, London W1B 1JA. Tel: 020 7636 1000. Website: www.langhamhotels.com

The Autumn Style Package runs for bookings before 30 October and should be booked through the hotel’s website.

Liz Coggins is a member of The British Guild of Travel Writers