The Chesterfield Mayfair- London

London has always been known as one of the “Grand Dame” Cities of the World.  A destination everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.  A city with culture, historic landmarks, and wielding a seat of power with a reach that impacted the world over and reigned supreme for so many centuries.   London is a city which is known to be on the cutting edge of Arts, Dance & Theatre.  The richness of it’s Architecture, both ancient & modern, is stunning.  It is a place that has inspired & cultivated Authors, Poets, Composers, Recording Artists, Dancers & Chefs.  And finally, London is a city whose loyal, enthusiastic citizens have firmly resisted the tide of anti-monarchists.  Their Royal Family remains a highlight of the typical Londoner’s identity, as witnessed recently during the Queen’s Royal Jubilee.

London is the hot-spot for seeing, experiencing, tasting & feeling some of the best of all of the above.  And where better to see it all from than The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel.  Let us show you why.

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Deborah’s Review

SO WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT IT:

The Chesterfield London Hotel has just about everything going for it.  With a killer location in the posh Mayfair District, it makes walking to just about every amazing location London has to offer very manageable – albeit with the assistance of a good pair of walking shoes!  But location is not the only draw to this very charming boutique hotel.  Let us show you why we would not hesitate to stay there again.

UNIQUE & OVER THE TOP SERVICE:

We chose to be picked up at the airport by executive car, which was a wonderful way to arrive in London the very first time.  The friendly and welcoming driver was waiting for us with a smile and a handshake, and promptly took care of our luggage.  Brian kept us entertained on the approximately 1 hour drive from London Gatwick to the Chesterfield Hotel, pointing out places of interest & engaging in professionally yet friendly conversation.  By the time we got to the hotel, we were already relaxed and enjoying ourselves.

Arrival at The Chesterfield was delightful.  The curbside greeting was warm & authentic, with helping hands & smiles all around.  Check-in was immediate & professional.  Our luggage was sent up to our room separately, and we were escorted by a lovely fellow to our room.  We were happy to find coffee available in our bedroom (hand press), a kettle & a selection of tea & hot chocolate, along with some excellent cookies which were refreshed every day (my favorites were the shortbread chocolate-chip – divine!).

UNIQUE ROOM:

Being in London for Royal Jubilee Weekend was not something we had planned on, so when we booked there were not many rooms available.  As such, we stayed in one of their more simple “Deluxe” Guest Rooms, but found it entirely adequate, though of course a little on the small side.  This is Europe, after all, so it was not unexpected.  Aside from this, our little room was charming, with floral print wallpaper, a comfortable bed, and an adequate bathroom with a nice deep bathtub, which we always appreciate in a hotel room!

AMAZING ACTIVITIES:

You will never be at a loss for something amazing to do when staying at The Chesterfield Hotel in London.  Being in the very central, very stylish and very accessible hub of London, walking everywhere is a joy, with the tiny exception of some aching feet and legs at the end of a glorious day.  Here were some of the highlights of the many attractions we took in.  It is worth noting that we couldn’t indulge in many of the usual attractions as we would have liked to, given the immense crowds present for the Queen’s Royal Jubilee celebrations.  However, the excitement, joy and fervor demonstrated by the Brits upon this special occasion made it worth the frustration of dealing with the inaccessibility of the main tourist attractions, one of them being Buckingham Palace itself.  Here is a list of activities we were able to experience, which we highly recommend:

Walking Through Mayfair District

The classic, romantic English beauty of this district is unforgettable.  Wander, delight, and become lost as you stroll through streets that are an architectural ode to the passage of time.   As you gaze at these buildings, it is not hard to visualize the lives of women, men & children who lived here hundreds of years in the distant past.  Somehow an echo of their existence remains, a somewhat haunting yet fascinating experience.  Turn another corner and you are on a wide avenue of eclectic shops, with amazing selections of goods, fashions & treats to suit the shopping appetite of virtually everyone.

Thames Clipper

Though certainly an extremely “touristy” thing to do, a trip down the venerable Thames River is a must-do for every first-time visitor.  First of all, it is a fun & relatively cheap way to spend an afternoon, and secondly, it gives you a great sense of how London is “knit together”, as you motor at a stately speed from Embankment Pier Station and complete a round trip which encompasses many of the highlight landmarks which you must see when in London.  We hope you will visit our upcoming article on “London’s Best” to be published shortly, which gives more detail on this glorious London district.

Fortnum & Mason

When in London, do not miss a visit to this incredible store.  I’m not quite sure what kind of store you would call it, but let’s say that it has a little bit of everything, and every one of those things are overwhelmingly beautiful.  Just one look inside the door and you will be hooked, and be prepared to want to spend an hour or two – or maybe three as one amazing display leads to yet another equally magnificent vision of grandly presented goods.   Stay tuned for our article devoted solely to our experience in Fortnum & Mason, coming soon.

Piccadilly Circus

We weren’t sure what to expect from this famous, “must-see” part of London.  Luckily, it is a comfortable stroll from the Chesterfield Hotel.  We found ourselves in this area quite often over our three days in London, as it seems it is the “hub” around which a lot of the attractions revolve.  We loved the energy and emotion of the Circus; the “Tube” station brings many young people to the area to enjoy the diverse selection of restaurants, lounges, wine bars, and stores selling everything possible with prices to suit just about every pocketbook.

Covent Gardens

A short but very convenient & easy Tube ride (entrance located not far from The Chesterfield) brings you to this also very famous shopping area.  Similar to Piccadilly Circus, it provides many hours of fun, diversion & stimulation.  There are street entertainers aplenty, including comics, mimes, singers and dancers who break into spontaneous action to the delight of onlookers.  We saw a gorgeous Tango performed by two gorgeously dressed dancers in one of the inner squares of Covent Gardens, thrilling a growing crows.  Covent Garden is well worth the experience, and riding on the famous London Tube was remarkably easy & stress free.  If we’d had more time in London, we would have made use of this excellent mode of transportation more than just once!

Also within easy walking distance are a few other dining establishments which we heartily recommend.  Separate reviews will be done for each of these restaurants:

The Only Running Footman, The Wolseley, China Tang at the Dorchester.  Stay tuned for why we liked these restaurants!

NOTABLE DINING:

The Chesterfield Mayfair has the blessing of having a comfortable restaurant, an airy Conservatory/Tea Room and an ultra-cozy lounge right inside the hotel.  Our first morning breakfast was taken in the main restaurant “Butlers”, a very cozy and warm area with really excellent service by their well-trained, smiling staff.  Full breakfasts were included in our room rate, and their offerings were superb, with fresh croissants (chocolate croissants, my biggest weakness), fresh juices, piping hot coffee or tea, eggs to order with toast… yum!  The next two mornings we chose to eat in the Conservatory, where their famous Afternoon Tea is held, where we could look out onto their sweet little courtyard, a very civilized and indulgent way to begin the day.  Gorgeously green & feathery ferns thrive in the bright & airy conservatory, their vivid color contrasting beautifully with the white linen tablecloths and rich wicker furniture, all resulting in an enormously fresh & relaxing way to begin a busy day.  We also experienced their wonderful, award-winning “Afternoon Tea” in the Conservatory – but that is another excellent story!

We did not have dinner at Butlers Restaurant, but we did quickly settle into the habit of finishing our evenings off in the cozy comfort of the “Terrace Bar”, where our host Antoine Dépierre delighted us with his welcoming presence and a charm that is rarely seen even in the best establishments we have been to.  Due to our late arrival, our first evening saw us ordering from the food menu; we chose a trio of light, “Share Plates” which included “Pigs in Blankets”, “Spicy Chorizo Sausage & Chicken Skewers” and “Panko Tiger Prawns with Sweet Chili Sauce” accompanied by two very cold, very dry Vodka Martini’s, which we critically judged as some of the very best we have ever had.  The combination of the congenial atmosphere, the delicious food, and the ability Antoine had to make us feel so happy to just relax and unwind here made these evenings some of our best memories from our time in London.  In fact, we wish we were back there right now!

ESSENTIALS TO KNOW:

1.  Depending on where you have travelled to before, and your expectations of four and five-star hotels, you may be surprised or disappointed at the small size of the average European Hotel rooms.  Unless you can spring a significant sum to book a suite, the rooms at the Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair are typically small.  The rooms are long and narrow, and the bathrooms quite tiny, although we were impressed with the lovely, deep bathtub.   Cupboard space is limited, as is the amount of room to store your suitcases.  If you can accept that space is at a premium because of the fabulous location, the rooms are really very comfortable and homey.

2.  Elevators in many of the European hotels, because of the age of these buildings, can be extremely tiny.  If you have any kind of phobia of small, enclosed spaces, be prepared to use the stairs.  Luckily, most of these hotels do not go higher than five or six stories, and their staircases are quite beautiful and functional in their own right.  Plus, it helps in burning all those extra calories from the croissants, cupcakes and tea-scones you will be consuming throughout the day!

3.  Everything you could want to see and do is within walking distance of this wonderful little hotel, but it is essential you wear proper walking shoes!  If a fashionable appearance is essential to you, bring a large enough purse to include a change of shoes for when you want to have lunch or go for a drink in a lounge.

4.  England’s weather can be capricious and unpredictable!  Most of all, it can become quite chilly without warning, and rain can appear out of nowhere.  Be prepared for all weather types by going out every day with a wrap or light sweater of some kind, and if there is even a hint of rain in the skies, bring that brolly along!  The Chesterfield has a good supply of sturdy umbrellas for their guests right at the entrance; you can help yourself.

5.  Try your best to walk everywhere.  This is part of the charm of seeing London; discovering tiny streets packed with wonders and delights, finding hole-in-the-wall pubs or lounges, spying unique & perfect souvenirs in shop windows, these are the experiences that will make your stay in London an amazing life-memory.

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Deborah’s Comment

I must confess, London was never on one of my “must see” lists.  Ever.  Yet now I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing, most entertaining and most memorable cities I have ever visited.  I believe that my stay at the Chesterfield Mayfair is one of the reasons I was able to experience and enjoy London so beautifully.  To be welcomed so warmly at the hotel, to be greeted and recognized each day as we entered and exited the hotel was so lovely.  The complimentary, award-winning Afternoon Tea on our first day was incredible and delicious, and made us feel very special & lucky to be staying at this hotel.   To have a comfortable room and interact with staff who did not hesitate to try and meet every need, and to have all of this in a location mere steps from some of the very best London has to offer combined to make this an experience which exceeded all of my expectations.  Thank you Chesterfield Mayfair!

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