Some central London hotels feel like airports with minibars. The Marylebone, reviewed recently by The Independent, goes the other way: a 248-room five-star hotel at the quiet end of Marylebone High Street that manages to feel like a smart townhouse even though it lives in a 1960s building behind Georgian neighbours.
The location is a big part of the appeal. You're five minutes on foot from both Oxford Street and Bond Street (the nearest Tube), with Daunt Books' beautiful Edwardian bookshop and the independent shops of Marylebone High Street practically on the doorstep. The Wallace Collection is a short stroll away, and Regent's Park about ten minutes.
Inside, the look mixes marble tables, jewel-toned velvet chairs, dark wood panelling and modern art — moody and glamorous in the bar, light and airy in the rooms. All bedrooms come with a Nespresso machine, marble bathrooms and Chromecast TVs, with Frederic Malle toiletries upping the luxury ante. Bathrooms vary: some have a bath and shower, others just a walk-in shower. There are five luxury suites, three terrace suites and a loft suite if you want to push the boat out.
Two things set this hotel apart from the pack. First, guests get complimentary access to the members-only Third Space health club — weight machines, fitness classes, a 16m pool, sauna and steam room — which is a genuine perk at this address. Second, the food and drink holds up on its own: a marble-topped Cocktail Bar with a seasonal signature menu (including decent non-alcoholic options), and 108 Brasserie, an all-day restaurant serving everything from crab crumpet to beef and Guinness pie, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options clearly marked and dishes happily adapted.
It's family-friendly in ways that feel thoughtful rather than token: interconnecting rooms, cots and babysitting on request, under-fives eating free in the brasserie before 7pm, and milk and cookies at turndown. Small dogs and cats up to 10kg are welcome for £50 per pet. Accessibility is well covered too, with step-free access, five adapted rooms with grab rails and walk-in showers, and a vibrating Deafguard device for guests with hearing impairments.
Verdict: this suits travellers who want a stylish, homely base with proper facilities, and it's probably not for anyone chasing a vast, showy mega-hotel. Check-in is 3pm, checkout a generous noon. Reviewer Helen Wilson-Beevers stayed as a guest of the hotel, but the details speak for themselves — a chic cocktail bar downstairs, a swimming pool upstairs, and one of London's most likeable neighbourhoods outside the front door.
