Syon Park Hotel, London – Review

London Syon Park, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel is a cacophony of surprises!!! Who would have thought that you could find such a supremely luxurious hotel set in over two hundred acres of beautiful parkland in the middle of central London! Situated in the gorgeous grounds of Syon Park, this brand new hotel boasts access to `A Secret Garden` where guests can enjoy trout fishing, cycling, foraging trails, punting and shooting and even a purpose-built helipad for those who might wish to fly.

Having only been open for 3 weeks, I was fully expecting to be met with at least some teething problems. How wrong I was! From the moment we set foot in the door until we left, we were met with staff who appeared to live, eat and breathe the product they were tirelessly and enthusiastically endorsing. Nothing was too much trouble for our hosts and the passion they showed for their work, whether it be on the administrative or catering side, their loyalty and their respect for each other positively shone through. Every member of staff was extremely knowledgeable and eager to share with us the history of Syon Park along with many interesting and amusing anecdotes. Our initial impression of our room was that it had a very sophisticated, funky elegance yet it still retained the homely personal touches such as underfloor heating and an LCD screen in the bathroom. No attention to detail was spared.

Having settled more than comfortably into our room and after a tiring day walking the streets of London, we were only too pleased to have the opportunity to sample the state-of-the-art Kallima Spa where the calming, soothing decor just breathed relaxation. Here we had an initial personal consultation where it was explained to us that our forthcoming treatment was to be `an individual journey to relaxation`. It was suggested that my partner have the sensorial Terrake massage, which was unusually described as being from the air and light universe. The warm `On a Cloud of Weightlessness` oil that was drizzled and then gently massaged into her body truly gave her an `out of this world` feeling. This was followed by feather brushes being gently swept over her skin which created an incredibly deep sense of relaxation and well-being. I was recommended an Anne Semonin `Made to Measure` top to toe massage which left me feeling relaxed and uplifted for the evening ahead. As an extra resource available to clients, the renowned cosmetic surgeon Mr Alex Karidis has opened his first nonsurgical treatment rooms within Kallima, offering a range of non-surgical, tailor-made treatments.

We were now ready to think about feeding our insides. There were 5 restaurants and bars to choose from. We selected the flagship restaurant, Capability, which is named after Lancelot `Capability` Brown, who created the famous landscapes of Syon Park. On arrival we were offered a selection of exotic sounding cocktails from which we both chose the highly recommended Duchess cocktail. Exemplifying the best of British seasonal produce, the menu in Capability was outstanding. As well as using produce grown in the hotel`s orchard, herb and kitchen garden, Executive Chef Lee Streeton has access to a trout lake and actually smokes his own fish – which was amazing. Studying the extensive and exciting menu, our biggest challenge was to whittle it down to just 1 choice per course. After much debate my partner chose the smoked haddock tart with poached quail eggs and Tewkesbury mustard for her starter. The lightness of the pastry blended perfectly with the home smoked fish and delicate flavour of the quail`s eggs resulting in a very tasty and surprisingly not too filling first course. She followed this with a very luxurious glazed lobster omelette, literally bursting with sea vegetables. I selected the Cornish wild Seabass exquisitely marinated with just the perfect quantity of fennel and dill. For my main course I finally chose the huge, succulent and very tasty 28 day aged Aberdeenshire rib eye 400g steak. Being a true carnivore I can honestly say that the steak `was out of this world and the best that I have ever had. The array of delectable desserts on offer proved too much of a temptation and my partner finally decided on the very indulgent amedei chocolate pudding with caramel and sea salt whilst I opted for the beautifully rich sticky toffee pudding with Cornish ice cream. Throughout the meal our very friendly, enthusiastic and helpful waitress was eager to share her extensive knowledge of each dish. We also enjoyed the personal attention of the director of food and the sommelier. Both were very passionate about celebrating the quality of the experience and eager that our meal was truly special.

Sadly we had only one nights stay but on our departure we were presented with a delightfully presented package of inventive sweet creations from the pastry kitchen – yet another gesture of the supremely gracious hospitality we were offered. London Syon Park is truly an oasis of elegant charm and most definitely a place of sheer luxury in which to unwind, away from and yet close to the hustle and bustle of city life. This was an unforgettable stay and one which we would be very keen to repeat in the future. Our congratulations to everyone associated with The Waldorf Astoria for producing such an amazingly enjoyable experience.