Review: Our wedding night hotel at The Athenaeum in London's Piccadilly

Weddings. Oh how equally stressful and special you feel on the day. With getting married way up in Edinburgh this time a month ago, it's time to talk about the practicalities. One such practicality is where we're were going to stay once we landed back in London, because home in Essex is a good 35 minutes away from the city.

We chose the Athenaeum, located right on Piccadilly and a stone's throw from The Ritz (dahlink) for a few reasons. Firstly, it's lux enough for a wedding night hotel in London. It has a garden on the wall, is how luxury this hotel is. Secondly, it's special enough for a bride and groom and friendly to dogs, which means they're friendly to people too (we did not have a dog). Thirdly, free minibar.

So what did we think of our first night in London as a married couple?

Hotel review of The Athenaeum Hotel Piccadilly

Read our review of The Athenaeum Hotel in London's Piccadilly

Check in

We'd decided to hail a taxi from King's Cross as we were lugging around everything from my wedding dress to our flipping amazing rainbow wedding cake. The tube would have been a nightmare, and it was only £15. The best £15 I've ever spent, I dare say.

Upon arrival the doorman grabbed all of our bags and helped us weary travellers into reception. A friendly chap greeted us, and after a quick tour of the ground floor whisky bar - one of the best stocked whisky bars in London no less, with a mere 270 bottles - we signed the forms and were given a key card. No wake up call thanks, and no Sunday papers needed.

Our bags were to be brought up by the porter so we ambled upstairs ready for some well earned rest.

The room

We stayed in a park-facing room on the fifth floor, I believe. The hotel goes up and up further, and has apartments located in it somewhere, but we were in a standard double room for the night. There is also a three double bed rooftop suit available. With Ben & Jerrys, guys.

And what a room. There were mirrors everywhere, from the mirror on the back of the door in the bathroom (yep, ever seen yourself on the loo? I HAVE) to the wardrobe and headboards. It screamed luxury, opulence, and expense.

The bed was gorgeously comfy, and little amenities such as slippers placed right by the night stand and even a brown paper bag to carry shopping home made us feel right at home.

Mr W has asked me to include the iron in the room description as being the best iron he's ever used. It was a full sized Morphy Richards steam technological contraption with a extra hot tip or some such technology which he was thrilled with.

The room, though, had so many little quirks. There was a display of red toy solders neatly lined in a row on one side of the bed, and a three-way holographic picture on the other. Books and magazines were provided as well as two alarm clocks, and Nespresso pods for coffee and did I mention the mini bar? Featuring pear and peach purée, Kit Kats, Mars Bars and other treats? All complimentary and so handy.

For London, the 26m² you get is larger than most hotels with room to unpack and have coffee by the table, but with the floor to ceiling bay window looking out over green trees, the room felt so much bigger than it was. Views from the upper floors would be absolutely gorgeous I'd say.

There were only two issues. Plug sockets were seriously lacking, with only one by the floor and one under the telly. Considering all the mirrors in abundance, this plug socket was as far from the mirror as possible, so I had to do my hair from a distance. Secondly is the light console. It's really clever once you get the hang of it, and a lovely feature to roll out in a hotel of such calibre. But after dinner when you're laying in bed trying to figure our how to turn off the lights without the air con fan being switched on at the same time and what is this a dimmer why oh why, it gets a bit tedious.

We slept so well though, with only a little bit of noise from neighbouring rooms and the traffic from the road below. But hey, this is London. If you're looking for quiet then head to a village in Lincolnshire.

Dinner at The Athenaeum

It being such a lovely occasion for us, we were treated to a meal in the restaurant downstairs which was so lovely and unexpected (thanks guys!) It's really all about the little things in this place, and the staff go out of their way to make each visit excellent.

We confirmed our time at reception, and after getting washed and dressed, we were ready for our first meal as a married couple. Scary, but what a setting for the occasion.

They offer a taster menu for £99 per person, which includes food, cocktails, wine and liquors. We thought this was such a great deal, with items on the menu including scallop gazpacho with a gin cocktail, goat's cheese paired with a South African wine, followed by sorbet and fish and quail and cheesecake and fruit and cheese. The meal is finished with a Cognac, a coffee and rose truffles. Luxurious, and well worth it's price tag. We decided to go a la carte - after such a long week of eating and drinking the taster menu seemed a bit too much for our stomachs.

Lobster Medallion for me and a Ham Hock Terrine for Mr W were ordered and promptly served. I wasn't 100% sold on my starter, it was very, very fishy and although the lobster was cooked to perfection, the bisque was too much. I knew I should have gone for the Make Your Own Seasonal Salad. Mr W loved his terrine though, and the egg it was served with looked scrumptious.

Mains were a 250g rib eye steak (which we forgot to order sides for, but the waiter brought some out so quickly) and broad bean risotto with quails egg. Now, the risotto was lovely, but the steak was something else. It was cooked to perfection. Literally, the best steak I've ever eaten, and Mr W (the fussiest man in existence) agreed. It was a beautiful cut of meat and so delicious.

We were far too full for desserts, so after asking to waiter to bring the rest of the wine up to our room we retired for the night with full bellies and happy as clams.

The restaurant was lovely, and the ambiance was so relaxed for such a high end place. There was a couple on a first date on the table next to us (her Louboutins were FAR too high for a first date imo) and a couple walked in excited to try the food - they'd ensured they had all the chef's accolades beforehand. There was a table of five ladies and gents clearly staying for business... it was such a lovely mix of people.

The meal was with compliments of the hotel, but would have cost us both £85, for two starters, two mains and two sides.

The breakfast

Now, being as we were staying here after our wedding, breakfast in bed was called for. We were actually swayed after seeing next door's trolley left outside and it was packed to the rafters with food and champagne. So why not?

We filled out our choices, me opting for pancakes and bacon, with cereal and some fresh fruit salad with yoghurt, and Mr W choosing a Full English as standard. We set our delivery time for fairly early at 8:45 (is it wrong I wanted to go home early to see the cat?). The form was hung on the doorknob, and we drifted to sleep.

Right on cue the next morning the dude arrived with a trolley full of our food. He said his goodbyes and we got stuck in, hoping it tasted as divine as it looked. And after the food the night before, it was only natural we'd think so. (That steak...)

Sadly, it really wasn't that good. Mr W's order was missing beans and sausage (two key components of a Full English) and my pancakes were just that. Literally small pancakes with two small rashers of bacon and a small jug of syrup. It was so, so stingy considering the price paid. My Earl Grey tea had been sitting there for a while as it tasted bitter and was undrinkable which was really disappointing.

The carrot juice I ordered was great though, as was the fresh fruit salad, the pastries and Mr W's enormous pot of coffee. But we were a bit let down at how everything else is five star, except this. It may have been chef's off morning, but I'd recommend walking down to Pret and sorting out something there.

For wow factor, and luxury in London it looks great. But there was a little something missing (like sausages).

Check out

This was simple. A taxi was waiting outside and the same doorman collected our luggage and packed it into the taxi for us. A simple signature from reception, and we were done. It was the quickest, easiest reception experience I've ever had, and one we were thoroughly impressed with. Service from front of house was top notch throughout, so thanks to them for their professionalism.

Our overall opinion

This place is as central as you can get, and nothing is too much. Granted it's not the Ritz, but it's a slice of real luxury in an already very luxurious location. The room was gorgeous and you can tell a lot of money's been spent on even the more basic of the rooms. The mirrors were unique and such a gorgeous touch. Sure, the breakfast was a let-down and I'm gutted I didn't go for the steak, but the hotel was the perfect place for our first night as a married couple.

Definitely ask for a park-view room and, if you fancy it, go for the taster menu and settle down in the gorgeous bar downstairs in the evening.


The Athenaeum Hotel | 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ | 020 7499 3464
Rooms start from £199 per room per night

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Edinburgh Adventure | Review: Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor

Following on from our Edinburgh Adventure series, after a glorious night in the absolutely stunning Glasshouse Hotel, we packed our bags and moved over to the West End of Edinburgh to the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor, located a short jog away from Haymarket station.

When we reached the street the hotel is based on, we were slightly confused. There were two signs for the hotel. One in front of us on the right, and the other a good walk away on the left. It was 50/50, and we decided after a long walk to just go to the closest set of door. Fortunately we chose well, as both our room and reception was located within this side of the building. 

Check in

Check in was pretty simple and standard. A friendly girl took the name, sorted out a key-card and asked if we wanted a newspaper or wake up call. She also booked us in the restaurant for that evening. We declined both and booked in at 7, and were then pointed in the direction of the room - past the lobby, just before the restaurant and up one floor in the lift. No one offered to take our bags so we carried them ourselves.

As the hotel was once a series of old town houses, there are odd steps here and there, as well as wonky walls and creaky floorboards in the hall. It's quite charming.

The room

As you can see below, the room looked stunning. We had the luxury of a corner room with a lovely double bed, a large seating area and the telly and coffee-making station all the way over to the left. Our first impressions were really good. High ceilings dominated the room, the windows had their old shutter features, and the character of the town houses had been retained, which is always a plus for this history fan.

The bathroom was dated, a shame really when you consider this is a Hilton, well renowned for their luxury. But the bathroom was clean and the range of toiletries on offer was the best I've seen, with beaded facial scrubs and gorgeous body polishes.

On closer inspection, things were a bit tatty around the edges. The net curtains were ripped and grubby. The bed had suspicious looking stains on the sheets. And on the very last day, after double checking we'd left nothing behind, we were surprised to find there was a half-full bottle of Sprite under the bed, which was alarming.

With a few tweaks, and more attention to detail, this would be a gorgeous little stop off for exploring the city.

Saying that, we had a good sleep on a comfy bed, and woke up refreshed in the morning.

The meal and breakfast

The room we had booked had a meal and breakfast included, which added up to an extra £50 - not too shabby really. When we got downstairs for dinner were were greeted by a super polite waitress and shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant. It was fairly empty, with only four or five other diners dotted around.

We were handed the special amended room menu, before being informed no drinks were included in the package. Tap water it was for us then. For a Hilton, we thought this was pretty stingy and would have even been satisfied with a glass of cheap red. We had a two course meal, with a choice of three starters, mains and desserts. The food itself was presented beautifully, and we loved the free potato cheese appetiser, but being totally honest, it wasn't anything spectacular to write home about.

If you're staying at the hotel for business, definitely book in the restaurant. It's quick, simple and easy. But if you're in Edinburgh for pleasure, I'd suggest only spending on a room rate and forgetting about the meal all together. There are so many places nearby which offer more traditional cuisine, and you're only a short taxi ride away from the more upmarket restaurants, if that takes your fancy.

Breakfast was a standard buffet but it looked like there was lots of choice. And this is where it trumped the Glasshouse's offering. We peeked our heads in, but after a manic weekend spent exploring we decided it was back to bed and gave breakfast a miss.

Overall

When you think of a Hilton hotel, you think of something a little bit special. And in some ways, this hotel has it - the service was great and the rooms (on the surface) look gorgeous. But when it boils down to it and you look a bit closer, it's not what you'd expect when you hear 'Hilton', so definitely go in with no expectations of luxury. If the bathrooms were refurbished and the little tatty edges were smoothed over, then it would be definitely worth a stay, and with room rates starting from £85 (Sun, compact double) it's not massively expensive. Wifi is charged at £15 per day which we think is extortionate, so if you're planning on using a laptop check your mobile carrier as you may be able to tether cheaper for the month.

What we liked

Location
It's a stumble from the station and buses to the airport, a taxi ride from all the main sights and sounds, and if you love walking, then then it's great base to explore.

Breakfast
It's great to start the day right, and we were impressed with what was on offer.

Room sizes
Does what it says on the tin. Ask for a corner room if you can, they're light and airy and some look over the green.

Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel | Grosvenor Street, Haymarket, Edinburgh, EH12 5EF | 0131 226 6001

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Edinburgh Adventure: Review: The Glasshouse Hotel

Having arrived into Edinburgh's Waverley Station, slap bang in the middle of all the action (and the fog) after a five hour train journey, we couldn't wait to stretch our legs and see what Edinburgh had to offer.

First impressions? The city is one of the most gorgeous places in the world. Brimming with old stone buildings, centuries of history are woven through each little street and secret pathway. We were enchanted, left speechless by the sheer beauty of the place.

As we left the station, we planned our route to the Glasshouse Hotel. Admittedly, as mentioned in the intro feature, we didn't really know what to do, where we were going or even what the hotel looked like. So after meandering through a few little streets with suitcases dragging behind, we approached a newly built cinema and family-friendly entertainment complex. Next to a rather rowdy looking place called The Playbar. And the Mood Nightclub. Followed by The Glasshouse Hotel's church facade.

We were worried. If you've ever stayed in a hotel next to bar, you know to expect noise, vomit, and potentially lewd behaviour outside your very window.

The Glasshouse Hotel check-in

Putting our fears and judgements aside and stepping through the glass doors, we were greeted by a polished receptionist, Karolina, who welcomed us and offered us a seat at her desk in the cavernous reception area.

We ran through check in at super speed, and Karolina was happy to get out a map to introduce us to the area. The hotel is within walking distance of all the main tourist hotspots (aside from the zoo) and she was happy to recommend shopping areas, as well as places to drink. With that sorted, all that remained was the ransom: a £50 deposit is taken from your card, as in the money is taken from your bank and refunded should the mini bar remain untouched.

Once all the paperwork was done and dusted, Eduardo appeared as if from nowhere to take the room key and our luggage. We were staying on the third floor, at the end of what seemed like a mile-long corridor. The hotel's rooms all seemed to be based off two long dimly lit corridors, taking us further and further away from the worrisome bar and club. We passed the rooftop garden, however the terrible weather would mean we only really saw it at a glance. In summer it would be a great place to have champagne in the sun.

When we reached our room, Eduardo took our cases in, introduced us to the main features and said a well-timed goodbye.

The Glasshouse Hotel room: Executive Double

I can't help but feel Edinburgh is a real rival to the capital city I know so well. While London has its patches of beauty, everything in Edinburgh just seems to be so well designed, including this hotel. The room was gorgeous. Although modern and newly built, the high ceilings, central bed and shared balcony were beautiful.

The bathroom was polished and new with a huge walk-in shower, bathtub and all the little extras you'd expect from a top hotel (scented loo roll? Check).

The main room had the bed itself dominating the space, facing the wardrobes and the television. Dressing gowns and slippers were provided, as was a little welcome selection of chocolate treats and strawberries on the table. Nespresso coffee on demand was another luxurious touch. No freeze-dried packets of Nescafe for us, thanks.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows were gorgeous - even if the view on offer was an office building and the shared nature of the balcony meant anyone could walk past at any moment.

I think the main testament to the hotel was that, although we were in a new city, we didn't want to leave. It was Just. So. Comfortable. So instead of putting on our glad rags and heading out for a drink and a dance, we put on the fluffy gowns, plumped up the feather pillows and settled in for a night of junk food and Will Smith movies. Bliss. We slept through the night with absolutely nothing to disturb us, and woke up refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

Prices for this room start from £85, which is amazing. Choose your own pillow, the room location and even a hypo-allergenic feather-free room for those with sensitive skin.

The Glasshouse Hotel Breakfast

Dragging ourselves out of bed, we got as presentable as bed head and no make up would let us be, and traipsed down to the observatory for breakfast. The host greeted us, checked our names off the list and set us a table near the window overlooking the steepest hill.

A continental breakfast was included in the room rate, but as we'd arrived towards the end of serving time there wasn't much left on offer aside from a little bit of ham, cereal and yoghurt. Plus, we felt like sampling some of the chef's offerings and went for a Scottish Breakfast (minus the black pudding) and pancakes, bacon and berries.

Breakfast was served in good time, although there wasn't any toast with the Scottish Breakfast despite it being offered.

Although the rooms had us blown away, it's sad to say the breakfast seemed a little lacking, especially at £18.50 each. The portion sizes were quite small - for someone who can never finish a meal, I polished off every crumb - although it tasted delicious. In all fairness, it probably would have tasted a bit better had we asked for breakfast to be delivered to the room, but with a £5 tray charge per person for room service, we weren't too sure what the rules were when breakfast was included.

After signing the bill we retreated back to the comfort of the room, had a warm soak and got ready to check out.

The Glasshouse Hotel check out

Check out was simple. Sat at the desk again, we handed in room keys and the £50 deposit was refunded promptly. As we planned a day on foot, we checked in our luggage to collect it later. And that was it. Simple. Quick. Efficient.

Our overall opinion

Stay here. Seriously. It's a hotel that oozes style, luxury and comfort and would be just as perfect for a group of friends as it is for a couple celebrating a special occasion. They have some great room rates if you book in advance. In all honesty, we'd probably give the breakfast a miss, especially if you're a late sleeper and like to meander down to grab a bite towards the end of breakfast serving time. Save the £37 and head over to one of Edinburgh's little cafes for a traditional bite to eat.

The location is amazing, right in the heart of the city. We spent a day wandering around the area, never really feeling that far away from The Glasshouse. We've already recommended the hotel to a couple for a special event, and we know we'll definitely be returning the next time we're in Scotland's capital.

What we liked

The rooms
Luxury. Pure, unrivalled luxury.

Location
You're a stone's throw from the major sights and sounds, and only a short taxi ride if you're not up to walking.

Service
If you need a bit of TLC and want to be treated like royalty, this is the place.

Design
It's not overly arty, but this is one seriously stylish hotel.


The Glasshouse Hotel | 2 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA

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