Need your Peninsula hotel fix in London? You’re in luck. The parent company of Peninsula — The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited — signed a non-binding agreement to drop a hefty $205 million to secure a 50 percent stake in the buildings at 1-5 Grosvenor Place. While it currently sits as a block of unspectacular office buildings, Peninsula plans to do some major renovations to turn the 50-year-old office spaces into luxurious suites befitting of the Peninsula name. Think sprawling marble hallways, giant columns and the neo-classical style that we so love about the Peninsula brand.
And as Forbes Travel Guide recently entered the London market in April, this Peninsula is high on our list of anticipated hotels. And this newbie has a lot to live up to: Forbes Travel Guide awarded the prestigious Five-Star rating to Peninsula hotels across the globe including the New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Hong Kong and Shanghai properties.
Known for their classical elegance and highly attentive and personalized service, Peninsula got its start in the 1920s with its flagship hotel in Hong Kong, and then sprouted up throughout Asia and into the United States. Now Peninsula set its sights on Europe. With the long-awaited Paris location scheduled to open in just a few months, Peninsula’s London hotel will be the second Europe build.
The anticipated build-site is located in upscale Belgravia, merely a stone’s throw away from tourist hotspots Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace. One of the most affluent districts in the British capital, Belgravia’s boutique-lined streets beckon fashion lovers from all over the world with stores such as Christian Louboutin, Philip Treacy and Dolce & Gabbana. The area also has its fair share of luxury properties including Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Lanesborough, a St. Regis Hotel.
With all that Belgravia has to offer, it’s no wonder Peninsula Hotels chose this location. While you can’t book a room at Peninsula’s London property just yet, you’ll want to keep abreast; when the time comes, reservations will fly fast.
Photos courtesy of iStock
