It's hard to decide what's the classiest thing about the Athenaeum: its prime spot on Piccadilly across from Green Park; its afternoon tea with scones and clotted cream; or maybe the whisky lounge, with 250 single malts.
(By the way, note that the spelling is not "Atheneum!")
The Athenaeum has 111 rooms and 12 suites, some traditional, others more contemporary.
The location is terrific. Green Park is across the street, and a short walk away are: Hyde park; Buckingham Palace; Royal Academy of Art; Bond Street; Trafalgar Square; Shepherds Market; Piccadilly Circus; and the Theatre District.
Two tube stations (Green Park, and Hyde Park Corner) are a short walk away. If you have a suite with a kitchen, groceries can be bought near the Green Park tube station.
- Our suite had some cool toys for kids, and a vintage game console ( - click for pic.) High-tech tv screens, with internet, were cool too.
- kitchen was fully-equipped, even with washer/dryer.
- Afternoon Tea: homemade scones, clotted cream and jam; daily at 3 pm in The Windsor Lounge.
The Athenaeum has been voted by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine as one of London’s top ten hotels.
Check the web site for special packages. Sample: A 'London Royal Experience' includes an overnight stay, English breakfast, and passes for the Banqueting House at Whitehall Palace, Tower of London, Kensington Palace State Rooms, exhibit at The Royal Academy of Arts.
Also: inquire about "dollars for pounds" promotions, an excellent price break for American visitors.
- take a photo tour
- visit the Atheneum Hotel and Apartments site
- check visitors' comments at TripAdvisor.com -just enter "Athenaeum London" in the searchbox. (When I checked, ten out of ten comments were raves.)
