Landmark Hotel - London
- Nick, Editor
- Jul 29
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Landmark Hotel London: A Living Monument to Elegance and Endurance
Article summary
In this article, you will get our unbiased, independent review and thoughts on The Landmark Hotel, London
First impressions
The look
Rooms & suites
Editors notes
Spa & amenities
Food & drink
Service & vibe
Location
Price
Verdict
Itinerary ideas
Pros & Cons
Tours & activities
In the ever-shifting heart of London, where modernity collides with tradition at every cobbled corner, there stands a grand testament to timelessness, The Landmark London. Not merely a hotel, but a living, breathing monument to an era of luxury, romance, and architectural opulence, The Landmark is both a sanctuary from the city’s hurried pulse and a vivid reminder of its regal past. With its soaring glass atrium, palm-filled winter garden, and a history as layered as the city itself, the hotel is more than a place to stay; it is an experience to behold.
A History Etched in Stone and Spirit
Originally opened in 1899 as the Great Central Hotel, The Landmark was the brainchild of Sir Edward Watkin, a visionary railway magnate who imagined a luxury hotel linked directly to his new terminus at Marylebone Station. From the outset, the hotel was built to impress, part of a grander Victorian ambition to reshape London’s skyline. It was designed by Robert William Edis, one of the period’s most distinguished architects, and the result was a magnificent combination of Gothic Revival and French Renaissance styles.
However, despite its grandeur, the hotel’s early years were plagued by competition and shifting travel patterns. It changed hands and purposes several times throughout the 20th century. During World War II, it was used by the military; post-war, it served as railway offices before falling into a slow decline. By the 1980s, the building was a ghost of its former self, a faded relic of a forgotten dream.
Then, like a phoenix rising, the hotel was reborn. In 1993, after an extensive and meticulous restoration that took nearly four years and cost millions, it reopened under the fitting name The Landmark London. What emerged from the scaffolding was not just a restored hotel, but a revival of spirit, a reawakening of elegance in the heart of the capital.
The Winter Garden: London's Hidden Oasis
Step into The Landmark today, and the first sensation is one of quiet awe. The centrepiece of the hotel, the eight-story glass atrium known as the Winter Garden, is unlike anything else in London. Sunlight pours in through the skylight, illuminating towering palm trees and elegant marble floors. The Winter Garden Restaurant, set amid this botanical cathedral, offers afternoon tea and fine dining beneath a canopy of natural light and colonial charm.
This indoor garden, serene and otherworldly, defies the usual tempo of city life. It is the kind of place where time seems to pause, a carefully curated illusion of calm in a world of chaos. It is also where Londoners and global travellers alike come not just to dine, but to breathe, to reflect, to reconnect.
A Palace in Disguise
The Landmark is often described as “one of London’s best-kept secrets,” and it’s easy to see why. While it boasts all the trappings of a five-star hotel, sumptuous rooms, award-winning dining, and a world-class spa, it does so with an almost understated confidence. Unlike the flamboyance of other London landmarks, The Landmark does not shout its grandeur; it invites you to discover it.
Its 300 rooms and suites are some of the largest in London, each designed with a nod to classical British sophistication. Think mahogany furnishings, high ceilings, and rich fabrics. Many overlook the inner atrium, creating a sense of privacy and stillness that is rare in central London. The Marylebone location, though central, is tucked just enough off the main tourist trails to feel like a haven.
The Landmark Spa and Health Club offers another layer of indulgence. With a 15-meter swimming pool, rare in a London hotel, alongside a gym, sauna, and a menu of treatments, it continues the theme of restoration, not just of a building, but of the self. Check availability and start planning your trip here.
A Theatre of Moments
What makes The Landmark truly remarkable, however, goes beyond bricks and services. It is the intangible magic of the place, the atmosphere it cultivates. The Landmark is a hotel that remembers its own history. It does not merely house guests; it hosts moments. It has been the backdrop for weddings, clandestine affairs, political discussions, family reunions, and solitary escapes.
There is a certain drama to its design, sweeping staircases, mirrored corridors, and flickering chandeliers, that feels cinematic. It is no surprise that the hotel has been featured in numerous films and television series. But beyond the glamour, there is a warmth to the service, a quiet dignity in its hospitality, that speaks to an ethos of care and continuity. Guests return not only for luxury but for familiarity. For many, The Landmark is not just a hotel; it is a tradition.
An Icon for the Future
As London continues to evolve, battling the pressures of globalisation, climate change, and social transformation, places like The Landmark become ever more important. Not as relics of nostalgia, but as anchors of identity. In a world where everything is built to be fast and forgettable, The Landmark stands defiantly permanent.
It is embracing the future, too. Sustainability has become part of its mission, implementing energy-efficient practices, reducing plastic waste, and sourcing local ingredients for its restaurants. The hotel is proof that elegance and environmental responsibility need not be in opposition.
The Landmark also plays a role in the cultural fabric of Marylebone, contributing to its sense of community. It partners with local businesses, supports the arts, and participates in initiatives that preserve the character of this unique London enclave.
Conclusion: The Soul of a City in a Single Building
If buildings could speak, The Landmark would have volumes to tell. It would speak of the steam engines that once chugged past its doors, of wartime whispers and post-war resilience, of ballroom dances and breakfast meetings, of second chances and lasting impressions.
In many ways, it encapsulates the soul of London itself, resilient, refined, complex, and deeply human. It is not the loudest or the most ostentatious hotel in the city, but it may be the most soulful. For those who seek not just luxury but meaning, not just comfort but character, The Landmark London is more than a destination; it is a revelation.
Here, in this sanctuary of palms and polished wood, you do not merely rest, you remember what it means to be part of something enduring. And in a city as transitory as London, that is the greatest luxury of all.
Hotel Information:
Location - 222 Marylebone Road NW1 6JQ
Rating - 5 Star
Vibe - Timeless Victorian elegance infused with discreet luxury
Dining - Winter Garden Restaurant, Great Central Bar & Restaurant, Mirror Bar, plus a garden terrace.
Amenities - Spa & Health Club: indoor 15 m pool, sauna, steam room, gym, treatment rooms. Signature spa treatments like “London Elixir” and “Tea Dreams” packages. Meeting & banquet facilities: 11 private event rooms. 24‑hour room service, concierge, business centre, tour desk, express check‑in/out, free Wi‑Fi. Family-friendly: connecting rooms for larger groups, cribs, hypoallergenic bedding available
Rooms - A total of 300 spacious rooms and suites, averaging around 55 sqm, among the largest in London
Price - From £535 /night
Nearby - Hyde Park, Oxford Street / Bond Street, British Museum, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Marylebone High Street.
All hotels & resorts on The Five Star Edit are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive a small commission from advertisers when using our affiliate links.
The Landmark Hotel (London) Review 2025
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