The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London Review

Positioned overlooking Hyde Park and with a unique partnership with The Natural History Museum, The Royal Lancaster Hotel offers truly family-friendly luxury accommodation.  With a team that are always a step ahead, families are ensured a visit to the city with kids is as stress-free as possible. 

Looking for an adventure in the capital, my husband and I, together with our three children (aged 9, 7 and 3) decided to venture to London to stay at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, a mid-century architectural icon with breathtaking views overlooking Hyde Park and the famous skyline.  We arrived via train to London Victoria and in order to take in as many of the sights as possible on a sunny day, we made a remarkably scenic 40 minute walk to the hotel, via Buckingham Palace and across Hyde Park.  We stayed in a Deluxe Park Suite with an interconnecting double room.  With 3 very keen little palaeontologists in tow, we took advantage of the hotel’s collaboration with The Natural History Museum, which included an afternoon tea for all the family, breakfast and a trip to the museum itself. 

The Royal Lancaster London is an impressive independent hotel with a team that really knows their stuff, thanks to over fifty years of experience as one of London’s top hotels. Being an indie business often allows for a more genuine sense of personality, and we felt this the moment we stepped through the front doors. We were wowed by how unique and charming it was.  We couldn’t help but be impressed by the double-height ceiling in the lobby area, boasting magnificent and expansive white marble flooring and warming wooden accents throughout.  Despite being a vast setting, thanks to the charm and warmth of the staff and the time they took to welcome the children, there is a feeling of being home from home, albeit a very grand home! 

The hotel prides itself on being family-friendly and although this title is often over-used, I can confidently conclude it’s exactly that.  The service and amenities are all geared up to make your stay as comfortable and as stress-free as possible.  When staying away with the family, it’s the little things that count and it is those little details that The Royal Lancaster Hotel consistently get just right; a warm greeting, the spacious rooms, treats as we arrived, children’s welcome packs in the room, baby amenities and finally mini dressing gowns and slippers to make the kids feeling like VIPs.  The hotel also has a complimentary kid’s playroom available during the school holidays, Instax Polaroid cameras to capture your family memories and rental bikes and complimentary frisbees for some outdoor fun at the park. 

 We stayed in a Deluxe Park Suite with an interconnecting double room for the kids. The views of Hyde Park and the Italian Gardens were stunning, with south-facing suites offering natural daylight and city views from sunrise to sunset. It was the perfect way to point out all the important London landmarks to the kids, without trapsing around London too much! Our suite had a spacious living area with velvet sofas, a glass dining table, a luxurious marble bathroom with underfloor heating and twin sinks, Jo Loves toiletries, a large rainfall shower, and a bathtub. The bedroom featured a comfortable King size bed with crisp linens and plush pillows. 

Additional hotel perks included in-room spa treatments and a gym. What made our visit truly memorable was the exceptional effort by the staff to surprise and entertain our children while making our stay easy and enjoyable. 

Our kids had a wonderful surprise as they found a welcome package each waiting in their room, filled with a colouring book, balloon, frisbee, bathrobe, bathroom toiletries, and an adorable Paddington Bear toy.  They especially loved the Childs Farm goodies, including hair & body wash and body lotion. 

For those travelling with babies and toddlers (we have finally passed that stage!) an array of must-haves are available, so you can leave those bulky items at home. Car seats, bottle warmers, baby monitors, changing mats, highchairs, and baby bathtubs are all available via a quick call to reception. As if the rooms weren’t luxurious enough, additional hotel perks include spa treatments in the comfort of your own room, as well as a gym (we didn’t make it there but it certainly appeared well-equipped and ideal for those with time to concentrate on themselves!). 

Our family are big on breakfast and a well-stocked buffet is always a highlight of any trip. Breakfast at the Park Restaurant is without doubt right up there with the best of them. With stunning panoramic views of Hyde Park and the Italian Gardens, the restaurant serves one of London's most extensive breakfasts, featuring both buffet and à la carte options to start your day on a high note. 

We were welcomed at the Park Restaurant like old friends, and our little socialites received all the smiles and attention they could wish for from the attentive staff. The impressive breakfast buffet offers both traditional English breakfast staples and a huge number of continental treats, alongside an array of teas, coffees, and fruit juices. The Royal Lancaster takes breakfast to a whole new level. The scrambled eggs are beautifully light and fluffy, the sausages are herb-laced and meaty, and the fried tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, and black pudding are cooked and seasoned to perfection. A particular highlight for the kids was the fresh honey from the hotel's very own hives, served directly from the honeycomb. 

When it came to teatime, we decided to treat the kids to The Blooming British Afternoon Tea which is a special collaboration with the Natural History Museum, celebrating British flora and fauna through beautifully designed treats and a fun, educational twist. The tea is served in the Hyde Cafe which had a relaxed yet elegant setting, making it feel like a real occasion—without the worry of kids being too loud or fidgety!  

The children's afternoon tea, priced at £30 per child, is another example of creativity at the hotel, with a menu designed for young taste buds. The selection of finger sandwiches features fillings that feel fancy but still familiar—think maize-fed chicken with a touch of honey-like bee pollen, classic egg mayo, and simple yet delicious cucumber with butter. The warm scones with clotted cream and jam were, of course, a must-have, but the real stars were the desserts. Inspired by nature, the sweet treats were as fun as they were delicious—the kids absolutely loved by the blackberry ladybird and the butterfly-shaped berry and vanilla cheesecake, both of which looked almost too pretty to eat (almost!). 

What really stood out was how thoughtful the staff were in making everything as easy as possible for parents. They even asked whether we’d like the sandwiches brought out before the scones and cakes—just in case our little ones made a beeline for the sweet treats and skipped the savory bites. It was such a small but genius touch that made the experience feel totally stress-free. 

Once again adding an extra touch of magic, the kids were given a little booklet each, packed with fun nature facts that kept them entertained while they ate. But the real highlight was the beautifully illustrated map inside, showing the route from the hotel to the Natural History Museum through Hyde Park. It pinpointed all the key landmarks along the way, and our kids had an absolute blast turning it into a treasure hunt, racing to find each one as we made our way to the museum the next day.  

And it wasn’t just the kids who had all the fun—the hubby and I enjoyed ourselves immensely too, indulging in the adult version of the afternoon tea (£45 per person, or £55 with a glass of champagne). The beautifully presented selection of sandwiches, scones, and delicate pastries was just as impressive, making it a perfect treat for the whole family.  

Once the kids were in bed, despite indulging in the afternoon tea earlier that day, the hubby and I felt rather peckish, so we ordered room service from Nipa Thai Restaurant, located in the hotel itself. Known for its authentic Thai cuisine and elegant décor, this award-winning restaurant serves up traditional dishes bursting with flavour. We opted for their signature Pad Thai and fragrant Green Curry, both of which were packed with aromatic spices and beautifully presented. With mains typically ranging from £15 to £30, it offers a fine dining experience that’s well worth the price. With a glass of wine, low lighting, and stunning views over the city, it makes for a very romantic setting—all whilst the kids are tucked up in bed safe and sound! 

Location-wise the hotel is central enough that you can you avoid public transport and enjoy the sites on foot should you wish, or you’re within a short tube ride to all the major tourist attractions, shopping destinations and restaurants. 

Exploring London from the hotel base is easy, with the Royal Lancaster being perfectly located next to Hyde Park, within easy reach of some of London’s key child-friendly attractions including the Diana Memorial Playground, The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum (which was our chosen destination, free to enter and brilliant for dinosaur and fossil lovers) and the magical Hamleys toy store.  Walk west to Notting Hill and Holland Park, east to Marble Arch and Oxford Street, or south to Kensington and Knightsbridge. Lancaster Gate tube station is next door, and Paddington Station provides a 20-minute ride to Heathrow Airport. 

The Royal Lancaster Hotel is the perfect home from home if you want to explore the capital with the family, whatever the weather. 

For more information or reservations, click here.

• Words by Victoria Emerson

  Victoria Emerson is a travel writer and Mummy of three intrepid little explorers, ages 3, 7 and 9. Based in Sussex, Victoria loves to find activities, restaurants, hotels and resorts that can keep all her children of varying ages entertained, whilst also (attempting) to enjoy a little luxury herself – and then of course spreading the word!    An avid musical theatre fan and craft lover, she loves creative activities with her children. 

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