- It's less than a 15-minute walk from the gay nightlife of SoHo
- The over-the-top suites are among the most luxurious in the world
- It's on a quiet street in Mayfair yet centrally located
- The decor is whimsical, imaginative, and fun
- Great facilities, from the restaurant to the spa - plus free Wi-Fi
- Rates are steep, even by London standards
- Although gay-friendly, it doesn't draw an especially gay crowd
- Stratton St. (corner of Berkeley St., W1J 8LT), steps from Green Park tube, a 10-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus.
- 406 rooms, 10 signature suites, and 13 studio suites, plus 24-hr business center, 2 bars, restaurant, spa, and health club.
- In-room perks include Bang & Olufsen cable TV, free Wi-Fi, in-room TV messaging, personal phone number, and full minibar.
- All rooms have large marble bathrooms with Gilchrist and Soames bath products.
- Book online or call 44-020-7769-4041 (800-333-3333 in U.S. and Canada).
- Guests have use of 24-gour business center, gym, and spa (extra fee). You can also dine at the stylish Amba Bar & Grill.
- Rooms start around US$300 nightly, but rates vary greatly according to size and day you book.
- The clientele is mixed gay/straight.
- Shopping, dining, and nightlife are within a 10-minute walk or a short cab ride.
- It's centrally located, on several city bus routes and by the Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria, Jubilee lines) tube stop.
It's a bit of a splurge, although standard rooms aren't crazily expensive by London standards, but the Edwardian May Fair is one of London's finest lodging options. A problem with many of the city's old-world hotel institutions is that they feel...well...old and institutional. A problem with some of London's hip and contemporary hotels is that they can feel overly slick and gimmicky. The May Fair strikes a terrific balance, with its mod Amba Grill and a similarly swank hotel bar, and rooms with a plush but uncluttered aesthetic.
The elegant building, which opened as a hotel in 1927 but underwent a 70-million-pound top-to-bottom refurbishment completed in 2006. By all accounts, it needed the updating, and guests have been packing the place ever since, thrilled with the new look and the sterling service. The location couldn't be more inviting either - it's on a quiet lane just off Berkeley Street (steps from the Mayfair outpost of Nobu, and a short walk from St. James Park and Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Harrods department store.
Rooms are filled with ancient antiquities and artifacts from far-flung locales, the bedding and towels are gorgeous, and the decor is offbeat yet sleek and somewhat understated. The suites are justly famous, among the most talked-about accommodations in London, with a variety of unusual themes. Gold leaf and limestone accents give the Azure Suite a suitably cool vibe, while the hot pink scheme of the Schiaparelli Suite makes for a great conversation piece. The amenities in these top rooms are eye-popping - 24-hour butler service, six bottles of house wine, 42-inch Bang & Olufsen plasma TVs and CD players; some even have kitchens.
Mere mortals, however, will still find plenty of amenities and comfort in standard rooms, and be treated to the May Fair's sterling service and almost doting staff.
