Walk down Piccadilly on a Tuesday afternoon and you’ll see it. That massive, shaggy wall of green that looks like a vertical slice of the Amazon dropped right onto a London street corner. That’s the "Living Wall," and it marks the entrance to The Athenaeum luxury hotel, a place that has spent decades proving that being "cool" is mostly about being yourself.
Honestly, the story of this place is wild. It started in 1850 as Hope House, a private mansion owned by Henry Hope. He was an MP with enough cash to house one of the best art collections in Europe. Fast forward through a stint as a fancy Victorian gentlemen’s club and an Art Deco apartment block, and you get to the 1970s. This is where it gets interesting. The Rank Organisation—the movie studio behind the Carry On films and those iconic gong-striking intros—bought the building.
They didn't just want a hotel; they wanted a home for their stars.
The Hollywood Living Room on Piccadilly
When you’re Steven Spielberg and you’re in London editing a little movie called E.T., you don’t want to be hounded by paparazzi every time you grab a coffee. Spielberg basically lived here. So did Harrison Ford and George Lucas. The hotel became a sort of unofficial clubhouse for Hollywood legends because it offered something the massive corporate hotels couldn't: discretion and those famous "Residences."
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These aren't just standard hotel rooms. The Athenaeum luxury hotel actually owns a row of red-brick Victorian townhouses right behind the main building on Down Street. They have their own front doors. If you’re a Bond girl or Marlon Brando (both former guests), you can slip into your private apartment without ever walking through the main lobby. It’s that "home away from home" vibe that actually feels real, not just like a marketing slogan.
That Massive Green Wall is More Than a Gimmick
Let’s talk about the plants. Designed by the French botanist Patrick Blanc, the Living Wall is 10 stories high and covers 329 square metres. It’s the oldest vertical garden in the UK.
In late 2025, the hotel dropped £80,000 on a massive "refresh" of the wall. They didn't just swap out a few dead ferns; they worked with Daniel Bell Vertical Gardens to plant over 12,000 plants, including things like Viburnum tinus and Erigeron 'Lavender Lady'. Why does this matter? Because in a city as polluted as London, this wall literally breathes. It sucks up about 757kg of CO2 every year. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem that provides berries for birds and nectar for bees right in the middle of Mayfair.
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What the Rooms are Actually Like
If you’re staying in the main hotel, the vibe is "Contemporary British." It’s polished but not stiff. You've got:
- Superior and Deluxe Rooms: These are around 20 to 25 square metres. Not huge, but they use the space well with floor-to-ceiling windows that look right over Green Park.
- The Suites: The Green Park and Mayfair suites are the ones you want if you have the budget. They come with Hypnos mattresses—the kind the late Queen used to swear by.
- The Residences: This is the gold standard. You get a kitchenette, a separate lounge, and that private entrance. It’s basically like owning a piece of Mayfair for a week.
The hotel underwent a massive £50 million renovation a few years back, which dumped the old-school stuffy carpets for sleek wood, velvet, and a whole lot of modern art. You might see a portrait of David Beckham hanging in a hallway or some quirky sculptures tucked into corners.
Eating at 116 at The Athenaeum
Dining here is anchored by the restaurant "116." It’s currently led by Executive Chef Ian Howard. Unlike some of the other Mayfair heavyweights that feel like you need a tuxedo just to eat a sandwich, 116 is surprisingly relaxed.
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They focus on "Hyper-Local" British stuff. The Afternoon Tea is probably what brings in the most locals. They do a savoury version—which is great if you’re tired of sugar—and they even have a dedicated vegan tea. The honey they use? It often comes from hives nearby.
Is It Worth the Price Tag?
Let’s be real. You’re looking at £500 to £800 a night for a standard room, and way more for a suite or residence. You’re paying for the location. You are literally across the street from Green Park. You can walk to Buckingham Palace in six minutes.
But there’s a nuance here. Some guests in recent reviews from January 2026 have noted that the gym is a bit small, and if you’re staying in the townhouses, it can be a "long walk" through the connecting corridors to get to the main restaurant. It’s an old building, after all. It has quirks. If you want a 50,000-square-foot mega-spa, you might be disappointed. If you want a place where the doorman remembers your name and you can feel like a 1970s movie star, this is it.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
- The "Secret" View: Head to the 10th floor. There’s a residents-only lounge called "The View." It has arguably the best panoramic view of the London skyline, including the London Eye and the Shard, without the crowds of a public rooftop bar.
- Family Travel: They have a "Children’s Concierge." They’ll set up your room with toys, books, and even kid-sized robes. It’s one of the few luxury hotels in London that doesn't treat kids like a nuisance.
- The Best Room: Ask for a "Park View" room on a higher floor. Looking out over the treetops of Green Park at sunrise is worth the extra 50 quid.
- Getting There: Don't take a taxi from Heathrow. Take the Elizabeth Line to Bond Street or the Piccadilly Line straight to Hyde Park Corner. It’s a 4-minute walk from the station and saves you an hour in London traffic.
The Athenaeum luxury hotel isn't trying to be the Ritz or the Savoy. It’s too busy being a high-end, slightly eccentric, very green sanctuary on one of the busiest streets in the world. Whether it’s the history, the Hollywood connection, or just that massive wall of plants, it remains a standout in a city that’s usually quite crowded with "luxury" options.