Don't waste your money.....

My worst hotel stay ever. I have stayed in pretty much all the best hotels in the world and have never been treated with such 'miserly' respect. Maybe one has to be famous to get the expected 5 star treatment, but when you are paying > $400 for a room, you expect better than that. Small queen room, dirty hand marks on the ceiling, rusty screws in the bathroom wall where the telephone "once" was. Ashtrays and matches in both bedroom and bathroom. But I booked a non-smoking room and confirmed this at check-in. Called the front desk and asked if my room was smoking. She said yes. I said, fine, but I specifically requested (at checkin and on reservation form with LHW) a non smoking.

She changed her story and said that the room was in fact non-smoking.

STRANGE!!!! During the previous few hours, I had to bear the noise of kids running around on the floor above us and the loud TV in the bedroom next door. Enough was enough. I called for the manager. She came up to the room and admited that in fact it was a smoking room on a smoking floor and could not explain the reception desk's response. Nor could she explain why I was on a lower floor despite my reservation request for an upper floor. She told us that she would make it up to us as she saw our displeasure. We returned from dinner and were greeted by the reception manager. He apologized and tried to explain how that room was sometimes a smoking room and sometimes not. Unbelievable from a hotel of such supposed reputation and "expense"!!!!! He moved us to an equally small King room on the 9th floor and offered us a complimentary bottle of wine. With my flight in 6 hours, this is the last gesture I needed. What a feeble way to make it up to us. That was my second stay at that hotel and very much my last!!! Four Seasons and Claridges treat us with a lot more respect.

Okay if you are famous!

This hotel is overrated - rooms are dark , spa is OTT , gym is poor , but staff are good - but overall not in the same league as The Landmark.

Satisfactory but Always Too Full

My husband and stay here whenever we are in London because I like the location with Hyde Park behind for short walks and the shops on the other side. Since "luxury" London hotels are usually nicely packaged but not very good in terms of value and service, I would rate the Mandarin as one of the best in London because of its friendly and professional service. The hotel itself is wonderfully decorated and both its dining and spa outlets are very good. In particular, Foliage is pricey but excellent for lunch and dinner. However, since we frequently stay at Mandarin's sister hotels in Hong Kong and Bangkok as well, I must say that the London hotel is a notch below its Asian counterparts which are truly world-class.

Most of the reviews on this site focus on the good aspects (many of which I agree with) so let me give you the minuses: 1) The hotel is almost always full with travelers and functions (weddings, etc) that it is always worked to maximum capacity. Therefore the lobby and public areas such as the bar can be like a meat market.

Quite jarring to the nerves if you prefer a relaxing atmosphere. Last time, we checked in at 4:30 pm and our room was still not ready and all other rooms were full. However, there was no place to sit in the lobby and the bar and restaurants were all full.

2) Because this is sort of a hotel to see and be seen, the only relaxing place is the spa. Everywhere else you feel so much energy and motion from people, that a stay can be quite stressful. Even in your own room, you are constantly hearing footsteps and banging doors because the hotel is full.

3) Service is not up-to-par at times. Don't get me wrong, though -- the service is good, efficient and professional on all levels, whether concierge, room service or housekeeping. However, if you're looking for that extra oomph that usually comes from staying at an expensive luxury hotel, you won't find it here as everyone is just too busy and too distracted by other more high-profile celebrity guests. Like another user here, I felt that ordinary guests were serviced on a second track compared to the movie stars and millionaires. While this is the same case everywhere, at the Mandarin, there are so many VIPs staying here at any one time that this service has become the norm. In contrast, I have never felt this way at the Ritz in London or at the Mandarin Orientals in Hong Kong and Bangkok, which are all just as used to hosting VIPs and regular guests as well.

4) Uneven rooms. London itself is not known for its hotel rooms so perhaps I should not complain. However, the rooms at the Mandarin are very different from each other. If you book at a discount rate or if you happen to be an "unknown" guests (a.k.a. Not a VIP), you may be unfortunate enough to be given one of the lousier rooms, which are small, dark and depressing -- especially when you think of how much you are paying for it. On each of our stays we have had so many different kinds of rooms (at the same prices) and the contrasts are just incredible.

5) Do not use the hotel phone for long distance calls. Perhaps because its guests are hostage to its services, the hotel charges obscene amounts for calls. I was shocked to get charges like 74 pounds for an 8-minute call and 20 pounds for a 1.8 minute call, etc.

6) Finally, we usually like understated hotels so I would probably stay elsewhere if not for the hotel's location. The wealthy clientele who stay here are usually on the flashier side and the staff is quite young so we find the hotel atmosphere and service rather a little too "nouveau riche" compared with the elegant Old World style of other Mandarin hotels.

If Heaven Was Only Like This

We spent the first night of married life here. The staff treated us like we were filmed stars. Speaking of which we literally bumped into two Hollywood A listers who were very friendly and didn't mind star struck honeymooners fawning all over them. The room was luxurious & the breakfast in bed the next morning was divine. Thoroughly recommended.

Meet the stars

You will meet the starts here but the hotel gave me the clear feeling that they prefer to cater to them than to us mortals. I have stayed here several times since it is our corporate hotel and always prefered the les pretentious London charmers when not travelling with a group.

To be sure, the hotel is stunning and has a perfect location on the park (great for jogging) and shopping (Harrod's is two minutes). It has huge curb appeal and looks spectacular to come home to (esp. when it gets or is dark). Staff is nice and the rooms are nice (some a bit small and dark).

Great designer bar with lots of wannabees waiting for the overpriced drinks. Breakfasts and other meals are very good but you pay for it (as you do in most London hotels to be fair).

Net, net, it is a truly nice hotel but I prefer One Aldwych, The Trafalgar and some of the boutique hotels.

Brill place to stay!

Damn good place!

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Excellent location! Famous shops are all within walking distance. Felt like home with their warmth services.

Spectacular London lodging

While all the Mandarin Oriental hotels are outstanding, the London property is magnificent. Large luxurious rooms and incredible personalized service. It's hard to stay at other hotels when you have spent some time here.

Best staff amongst luxury London hotels

I have stayed at all the top hotels in London (Claridges, Dorchester, Lanesborough, Savoy, Connaught, Berkeley, Ritz, etc.) and have settled on Mandarin Oriental as my favorite. The accomodations are impeccable, as is to be expected in this price range. But what really sets this location above its competition is the staff. They manage to be professional, charming, helpful and alacritous all without coming across as in any way stuffy. They really have perfected the provision of classic English service without the seemingly requisite dollop of pretense. I really love this hotel and it has become my destination of choice for my frequent trans-Atlantic excursions. The only other locations I would consider would be the Metropolitan (if I'm in a "chic" mood for some reason and decide to put up with the minimalist decor), Four Seasons (if my meetings are at Canary Wharf) or 22 Jermyn Street (if I'm travelling with a lady and want a more romantic atmosphere).

Luxury at its finest

While in London, I had the pleasure of staying at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. All of the stories I have heard about how luxurious this hotel is were true. My stay was extremely relaxing and I was cared for as if I were royalty. I highly recommend this hotel.