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The Intercontinental London Park Lane
London: Intercontinental - Park Lane
Kevin Bourke30/ 8/2008
LET'S face it, when you book into a London hotel, however luxurious, stylish, welcoming and well-positioned it may be - and the Intercontinental London Park Lane is all of these things and more - it's unlikely that you'll want to stay there the whole time.
But if you're a bit cooler than simply wanting to visit Harrods (just up the road, incidentally) or go to see Billy Elliot, what do you do if you should want, for instance, to check out the hipper antique markets or the happening art galleries?
That's where the Intercontinental's Insider Experience comes in very handy indeed. "Our aspiration is to be in the know," I'm told, so as "to ensure a fully-rounded, individual destination experience that provides each guest with a local, authentic and inspiring stay."
The head concierge puts it in less corporate speak. "Through our interactive website," he says, "guests can tell us their interests and then, when they arrive at the hotel, an interactive video will be waiting in their room which takes them on a tour of my favourite London haunts and shows them what hidden gems are on offer."
Spectacular
There are also two specific packages, one of which is the Vintage Fashion Tour, not unconnected, one assumes, with the fact that the hotel happens to be the `Official Hotel Partner for London Fashion Week'.
Firstly, and crucially, the package includes a one-night stay in one of their tremendously stylish rooms.
The hotel had a £76m refurb only a year ago and is now a "global flagship" for InterContinental. The hotel now boasts elegant new rooms and spectacular suites, including the split-level loft style London Suite and a stunning Club InterContinental lounge.
Guest rooms are "designed to evoke a timeless residential feel with a distinct local flavour", while "fabrics are part of a heritage collection, reflecting the colours used in stately homes".
After revelling in this luxury and drinking in the fantastic views over two royal parks and Buckingham Palace, you'll meet and greet Funmi Odulate, author of the critically-acclaimed book Shopping For Vintage and a former style writer for Harpers Bazaar, over breakfast in the hotel's Cookbook Cafe to create a custom itinerary for exploring boutiques and galleries.
This two and a half hour tour will usually include visiting a variety of iconic emporiums such as Alfies Antique Market.
Vigorous
It opened in 1976 on the site of the old Jordan's department store in Church Street, north of Park Lane and is none too easy to find, even if you grew up in London, as I did.
Alfies quickly became the country's largest indoor antique market and more than any other indoor market in the UK, even the old Affleck's Palace, Alfies has retained the vigorous hustle and bustle of a traditional street emporium.
Over the years the development of the market into one of the most attractive and lively places for the trading of antiques and collectibles, of every period and value, has given rise to massive improvements in Church Street and in Marylebone as a whole.
Nearly all of the shops in the vicinity of Alfies have been refurbished and occupied by antique dealers, many of whom started their business in the market. Church Street is now firmly on the map as one of the most important areas for antiques in London, all thanks to Alfies.
There's also a See London Through An Artist's Eye package, experiencing London through the eyes of the hotel's current artist in residence, Jeremy Houghton.
You start the day with a visit to the Royal Academy of Arts to see the works of emerging British artists before visiting famous landmarks around the hotel and discussing how to capture such scenes on paper.
Splendid
It is then back to the hotel where Jeremy tutors guests willing to try their hand at art. The `Experience' includes a limited-edition, signed print from Jeremy.
Also included is complimentary access to the hotel's Club InterContinental, a splendid contemporary lounge on the seventh floor of the hotel featuring floor-to-ceiling bay windows overlooking the Wellington Arch and Green Park.
Tired out by all that mental and physical activity? Spa InterContinental features a double VIP suite, a therapeutic steam temple and five treatment rooms along with an extensive range of services.
The hotel's unique Time To Spa concept allows guests and visitors to mix and match the treatments "that fit with their schedule and lifestyle, whether they have a few minutes to spare or several hours to indulge".
But, by general acclaim, the hotel's real triumph is its restaurant, Theo Randall at the InterContinental.
For 10 years, Theo was head chef and partner at the Michelin-starred River Café and in his elegant and spacious new surroundings serves a menu of regional and Italian cuisine and fine wines.
For more information or to make a booking, call the InterContinental London Park Lane on 0207 409 3131 or visit
www.intercontinental.com.
Urban Gentry offer "London tours for the savvy visitor" themed around fashion, arts, shopping, design, markets, and architecture or tailor-made. Enquiries to 0208 149 6253 or
www.urbangentry.com
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