Afternoon tea in The Promenade
Daily from noon to 5.30pm: £95 a head, £115 with champagne, plus a discretionary 15% service charge. Bookings open 6 months ahead; the pianist plays from 2pm.
The Dorchester
The Dorchester faces Hyde Park from Park Lane, with 173 rooms and 68 suites renewed by a 4-year renovation completed in 2026.
A week here, month by monthFor a Mayfair stay with 4 restaurants and 3 bars under one roof, The Dorchester starts at £861 in December 2026 for 2 adults: the lowest seller’s single-night price on Google. If you want to swim without leaving the building, choose a hotel with its own pool: guests here cross to 45 Park Lane next door.
Official site Book afternoon tea on the official siteDoes it suit you?
5 pairs of hotels, and the guide tells you whether this one suits you.Like a regular
The room facing the park
I would ask for a Deluxe Park View Room: 40 m² with a Hyde Park view, and a Juliet balcony under the yellow-striped awning that draws the park into the room.
Early December for less
The 5 nights from 6 to 10 December 2026 ranged from £861 to £878 for 2 adults on Google, read 15 October 2026. The dearest night shown, 9 July 2027, was £1,680.
What the bill adds
Rates include 20% VAT and exclude a discretionary 5% employee service charge. Valet parking costs £85 a day; an extra bed, for guests aged 13 and over, £84 a night.
Parcafé, on Hyde Park
For a coffee in hand before a walk in the park, the hotel has its own cosy coffee shop overlooking Hyde Park, Parcafé, with artisanal coffee, homemade treats and takeaway cups.
What The Dorchester is
The Dorchester went up in 18 months, a floor a week, and opened on 20 April 1931 as the world’s first hotel built of reinforced concrete; Eisenhower stayed here while planning the Normandy invasion. The 4-year renovation completed in 2026 has refreshed the rooms and suites in the colours of an English garden, and in the Deluxe Park View rooms a Juliet balcony opens under the yellow-striped awning onto the trees of Hyde Park.
The ground floor is a small town. The Promenade serves breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, with Liberace’s piano from 2pm; The Grill does Sunday roasts and wheels out a pudding trolley; Alain Ducasse holds 3 Michelin stars; China Tang cooks Cantonese until 11pm; Vesper Bar, adults only, pours martinis until 1am. Non-residents come in for all of it, which is the reason to stay and also its cost: on a tea afternoon the hotel is never quiet.
Choose the room by its window. Classic, Superior and Deluxe rooms, 34 to 43 m², look over Mayfair; for the park, book a Park View room or one of the 6 suites that face it, from the Belgravia to The Royal Suite. Families get connecting rooms, free cots and an extra bed at £84 a night from age 13. The spa has a gym and no pool: guests swim in the 20-metre pool of 45 Park Lane, the sister hotel next door.
In the Lumina Guide
Lumina Guide 2027
The Dorchester faces Hyde Park from Park Lane, with 173 rooms and 68 suites renewed by a 4-year renovation completed in 2026.
How we choose the hotelsOur reading, point by point
What we found reading the hotel’s own pages, one thing at a time.
Location
53 Park Lane, opposite Hyde Park, between Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner
Character
Opened in 1931, Grade II listed since 1981, renovated over 4 years to 2026
Rooms
17 categories, from the 34 m² Classic Room to the Royal Suite of up to 433 m²
Food and social life
Alain Ducasse’s 3 stars, The Grill, China Tang and tea in The Promenade
Wellness
A spa and gym in the hotel; the pool is next door at 45 Park Lane
The stay as a whole
Grand-hotel London with Hyde Park across the road
The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them
What do The Dorchester’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.
Location
Nearly every guest who mentions it is happy with it. Hyde Park is across Park Lane, a few steps from the door, and Bond Street and Oxford Street are within walking distance
Room
Nearly every guest who mentions it is happy with it. The refurbished rooms come up again and again: beds people sleep well in, roomy marble bathrooms and, for those who had it, the view over Hyde Park
Staff and service
9 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Doormen, concierges and Promenade waiters are remembered by name; what went less well, guests mostly tell of afternoon tea, when the room is full
Breakfast
7 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Breakfast is served at the table in The Promenade: guests like the viennoiserie, the açaí bowl and the service; some also mention being turned away from tables and à la carte prices
Price
The bill people write about is nearly always afternoon tea in The Promenade: those who find it fair remember the scones and the service, the rest £95 a head plus service
The numbers, and how we count them
| What | Score out of 10 | Guests who mention it | Happy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 8.5 | 55 | 95% |
| Room | 8.4 | 67 | 96% |
| Staff and service | 8.2 | 333 | 85% |
| Breakfast | 7.5 | 30 | 70% |
| Price | – | 42 | 40% |
The scores come from 500 Google reviews with text, left from 8 October 2024 to 4 October 2026. The other hotels are the ones weighed for a stay in London: for each we read its latest 500 Google reviews with text, or all of them where there are fewer, as of 15 October 2026. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.
The hotels we weigh it against in London:
- Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
- The Lanesborough
- Claridge’s
- Connaught
- Ritz
Price: for two on the night of 7 December 2026, from £861 (seen on Google Hotels on 15 October 2026).
What a night costs, season by season
From 16 November to 22 December 2026 single nights for 2 adults run from £861 to £1,303; from 12 June to 11 September 2027, from £1,140 to £1,680. I would compare sellers before booking: for the night of 16 November 2026, read on 15 October 2026, the hotel’s own listing on Google asked £1,260 and the lowest seller £931.
| Period | Pounds a night |
|---|---|
| 16 Nov.–22 Dec. 2026 | 861–1,303 |
| 23 Dec. 2026–21 Apr. 2027 | 996–1,322 |
| 22 Apr.–11 June 2027 | 1,060–1,400 |
| 12 June–11 Sept. 2027 | 1,140–1,680 |
The lowest price any seller showed on Google Hotels for one night searched alone, for 2 adults, read 15 October 2026; no room or meal plan is specified. The calendar stops on 11 September 2027.
The Dorchester or Claridge’s
Choose The Dorchester for a dinner with 3 Michelin stars, Tuesday to Saturday, without leaving the hotel. Choose Claridge’s for the Underground close by: Bond Street station, on the Elizabeth line too, is 4 minutes’ walk away.
| Hotel | A night, from |
|---|---|
| The Dorchester | £931 |
| Claridge’s | £939 |
The lowest single-night seller price in the week of 16–22 November 2026, for 2 adults, on Google: The Dorchester read on 15 October 2026, Claridge’s on 13 October 2026; no room or meal plan is specified.
The Promenade, rooms on the park and tea
The gallery where tea is served, 2 refurbished bedrooms, the Lalique bar and Alain Ducasse’s table inside its curtain of light.
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From The Promenade to Vesper Bar
The Grill
British cooking, Sunday lunch from noon to 3pm and the pudding trolley; Beef Wellington for 2 is £140 on the Sunday menu.
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
3 Michelin stars, dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 6 to 9.30pm. Children over 10; long trousers are required for men.
China Tang
Cantonese cooking in the style of 1930s Shanghai: lunch from noon to 5pm and dinner from 6 to 11pm daily; dim sum is served all day in the bar.
Vesper Bar
Martinis from noon to 1am in Martin Brudnizki’s room; adults only.
Artists’ Bar
The Lalique crystal counter, the mirrors and the pianist; children are welcome until 6pm with an adult.
The Dorchester Spa
Treatments from 8am to 7pm, a Technogym gym, the Carol Joy London salon and La Prairie facials; non-residents can book too.
The pool at 45 Park Lane
The Dorchester has no pool of its own: guests swim in the 20-metre indoor pool of the sister hotel next door.
Good to know before you book
Room rates include 20% VAT and leave out a 5% discretionary service charge; tea and The Grill add a 15% discretionary charge.
There is no pool in the hotel: guests swim in the 20-metre pool at 45 Park Lane, next door.
No shorts or sportswear at tea or in the evening. At Alain Ducasse, long trousers are required for men.
Vesper Bar is adults only; the Artists’ Bar takes children until 6pm, Alain Ducasse children over 10.
Google Hotels lists breakfast as extra; the Bed & Breakfast offer, with English breakfast for 2, starts at £940 a night.
From 34 to 433 m²
Getting there
| Address | 53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA, opposite Hyde Park. |
|---|---|
| Underground | Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line), about 530 metres in a straight line; Marble Arch (Central line), about 800. |
| From Heathrow | About 45 minutes by car, the hotel says; transfers on request, included with selected suites. |
| By car | Valet parking, £85 a day. |
| Step-free | Accessible entrance on Deanery Street; 2 accessible rooms. |
Distances in a straight line on OpenStreetMap; the rest from the official site, read on 15 October 2026.
Around Park Lane
Hyde Park
Across Park Lane from the façade: London’s largest Royal Park, as the hotel describes it.
Mount Street Gardens
Benches and plane trees behind the hotel, off Mount Street: a Mayfair garden for a break from Park Lane’s traffic.
Green Park
Beyond Hyde Park Corner, towards Buckingham Palace; Green Park station is about 650 metres away in a straight line.
Around The Dorchester
53 Park Lane, between Hyde Park and Mayfair
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Recommended for you
A day at The Dorchester
7am
Breakfast in The Promenade
Start in The Promenade, where breakfast begins at 7am, or 7.30am on Sundays and bank holidays.
The morning
Walk into Hyde Park
Cross Park Lane from the front door into Hyde Park, London’s largest Royal Park.
Midday
Book a spa treatment
Book a La Prairie facial at The Dorchester Spa, where treatments run through the day until 7pm.
2pm
Tea to the piano
Take tea in The Promenade at 2pm, when the resident pianist starts on Liberace’s piano.
Evening
Cantonese at China Tang
Dine at China Tang, which serves Cantonese cooking until 11pm every evening.
After dinner
A martini at Vesper Bar
End at Vesper Bar, for adults only, which pours martinis until 1am.
The Dorchester: reviews
The Google listing mixes overnight stays with afternoon tea and restaurant visits.
Guest voices
GoogleA Deluxe room and the breakfast breads
A guest who spent one night in April 2026 found the refurbished Deluxe room comfortable, with a rainfall shower, had a pre-theatre club sandwich in The Promenade to the live piano, and calls breakfast, with its selection of breads, the highlight.
Google · April 2026Read the review
GoogleA Wellington ordered ahead
A guest who had booked 3 nights in an Executive Room was upgraded to a Dorchester Suite on arrival, and remembers the Beef Wellington at The Grill, ordered in advance and presented by the chef, and table service at breakfast in The Promenade.
Google · August 2025Read the review
GoogleRoses in the bedrooms too
A guest writing in November 2025 says Vesper Bar feels like a private club, counts breakfast in The Promenade, with eggs cooked to order and a spread of pastries, among the highlights, and remembers the deep marble baths and the roses in vases even in the bedrooms.
Google · November 2025Read the review
Questions about The Dorchester
What kind of hotel is The Dorchester?
Dorchester Collection’s hotel on Park Lane, opened on 20 April 1931 and the world’s first hotel built of reinforced concrete, Grade II listed since 1981. It has 173 rooms and 68 suites, 4 restaurants and 3 bars, a spa and 8 event spaces, according to the hotel overview.
Has The Dorchester been renovated?
Yes. The hotel completed a 4-year renovation in 2026 that refreshed its rooms, suites and public spaces, and with it launched The Royal Suite on the 8th floor.
Which rooms look onto Hyde Park?
The Deluxe Park View (40 m²) and Executive Park View (49 m²) rooms and, among the suites, the Belgravia, Hyde Park, Dorchester and Regal, the Garden Terrace, whose terrace looks over the park, and The Royal Suite, according to the rooms pages. Classic, Superior and Deluxe rooms look over Mayfair; Executive rooms and junior suites over Mayfair or a quiet courtyard.
How much does a night cost?
Google Hotels, read on 15 October 2026, for 2 adults, showed £931 for 16 November 2026, £861 for 7 December 2026, £996 for 6 January 2027, £1,300 for 1 June 2027 and £1,680 for 9 July 2027. For 16 November the hotel’s own listing on Google asked £1,260. A calendar price names neither the room nor breakfast; the hotel’s own rates include 20% VAT and leave out a 5% service charge.
How much is afternoon tea at The Dorchester?
In The Promenade, daily from noon to 5.30pm: £95 a head, or £115 with champagne, plus a 15% discretionary service charge; the children’s tea is £65. Bookings open 6 months ahead. The dress code asks for no shorts or sportswear.
Where are breakfast and dinner served?
Breakfast is in The Promenade from 7am (7.30 on Sundays and bank holidays), £45 set, or at The Grill from 8am, £35. For dinner: The Grill, British, Monday to Saturday until 10.30pm and Sunday until 10pm; Alain Ducasse, 3 Michelin stars, Tuesday to Saturday; China Tang, Cantonese, every evening until 11pm; and The Promenade until 10.30pm. Non-residents are welcome everywhere, subject to availability.
Is there a swimming pool?
Not in the hotel. Guests use the 20-metre indoor pool at 45 Park Lane, the sister hotel next door; the spa page says the pool is for hotel guests.
What is the spa like, and can non-residents use it?
The Dorchester Spa has treatment rooms, a relaxation room, an MLX Quartz bed, a Technogym gym and the Carol Joy London hair salon, with La Prairie facials; the hotel overview also lists a steam room. It is open 8am to 7pm, the gym from 6am (7am on Sundays and bank holidays). Non-residents can book treatments; membership is £350 a month. The spa pages read on 15 October 2026 give no day-pass price.
Is there parking, and an airport transfer?
Valet parking costs £85 a day. Airport transfers are arranged on request; round trips are included with selected suites. Heathrow is about 45 minutes by car, the hotel says.
Which room suits a family?
Most rooms can connect; cots are free and an extra bed costs £84 a night from age 13. The Family time offer, for stays until 31 December 2026, takes 50% off a second room, or gives the second room free with a suite, with breakfast.
Can you bring a dog?
Yes: up to 2 small dogs of no more than 7 kg each, at £35 a day. They stay in the room while you visit the bars, Alain Ducasse, China Tang, The Grill, the spa and the gym, or travel in a carrier in The Promenade.
Where is it, and how do you get there?
At 53 Park Lane in Mayfair, opposite Hyde Park and halfway between Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch. The nearest Underground stations are Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch; the step-free entrance is on Deanery Street.
Is there a dress code?
Yes, at tea and in the evening: no shorts or sportswear. At Alain Ducasse jackets and collared shirts are preferred and long trousers are required for men.
Can you hold a wedding or an event?
Yes, in 8 rooms. The Ballroom has its own entrance on Park Lane, 555 m² and room for 100 to 474 guests. Wedding packages include a night for the couple and a champagne breakfast; prices come with a proposal.
Is there a New Year’s Eve dinner?
Yes: a 6-course dinner at The Grill on 31 December 2026, with a sample menu on the festive page, which does not print the price.
What offers are there?
Read on 15 October 2026: Bed & Breakfast from £940; Plan in Advance, 15% off at 14 days or 20% at 30, prepaid and non-refundable; A Night On Us, the 4th night free; the Festive Offer from £1,010 with £150 to spend, from 11 November 2026 to 9 January 2027.
Is the hotel open all year?
Yes. Alain Ducasse closes on Sundays and Mondays and Parcafé at weekends; the accessibility page notes that the Crystal Suite and Park Suite event rooms are not wheelchair accessible during maintenance work.
What do guests say?
Google showed 4.6 out of 5 from 4,672 reviews on 15 October 2026. Guests return to the refurbished rooms, the staff and tea in The Promenade with its pianist; the criticism is mostly about the price of tea. Read the guests’ reviews.
More hotels in the guide
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Rosewood London
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Estelle Manor
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