When checking into a hotel, there are surely no better words to hear than ‘You have been upgraded to the Presidential Suite.’ Located adjacent to Marylebone Station, The Landmark London sometimes gets unfairly overlooked due to its location on the bustling Marylebone Road, but there’s no need to be put off – to walk into the lobby is to enter an oasis of calm.

The Landmark occupies a magnificent building which was originally opened, in 1899, as one of the last of the great Victorian railway hotels. Its soaring, glass-roofed atrium – just one outstanding architectural feature – provides a sense of space and light unique among London hotels. Part of the Leading Hotels of the World group, the Landmark has 300 rooms and 47 suites spread over six floors.

But let’s get back to the Presidential Suite. Freshly renovated, it is truly impressive. With a balcony and fifth-floor views stretching across London, I felt on top of the world – even on a rainy Sunday evening. Consisting of nine rooms, the suite comes complete with a kitchen, dining room seating 12, working fireplace and walk-in wardrobe. It is equipped with CCTV, two 42-inch televisions and a third 32-inch screen in the bedroom, the latest Denon surround sound system plus an iPod docking station. Additionally, the impressive marble bathroom has under-floor heating and an oversized rain shower – the best I’ve ever had, in fact. I was very happy there.

If you’re not in the market for the Presidential Suite, however, the hotel has recently introduced eight newly designed Lifestyles Suites. Refurbished to an exceptionally high standard, these one- to three-bedroom suites are recognised as some of the largest in London.

Dinner in the Winter Garden Restaurant was a treat. Situated beneath the atrium, the restaurant offers a wide selection of modern European cuisine and – as we soon discovered – is a perfect spot for people-watching: we witnessed an unhappy bride shouting at her bridesmaids before entering her wedding ceremony! (The Landmark also has a wide selection of conference and banqueting rooms.)

One of the highlights of the hotel is its Spa & Health Club, which boasts a 15-metre heated swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room, menthol and sandalwood showers, lavish treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art gym. And there’s none of that slightly stale smell often associated with basement gyms and spas: this place is immaculate. Other guest services include a complimentary shoe-shine service, valet parking and a multi-lingual team of staff among which some 47 languages are spoken.

The Landmark London Hotel

222 Marylebone Road London NW1 6JQ

T: +44 (0)20 7631 8000 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.landmarklondon.co.uk