Royal Lancaster London: How a Swinging Sixties landmark became Britain’s best-rated hotel: No. 1 in Britain, No. 2 in Europe and No. 4 in the World

Michael Caine, The Beatles, magnificent Hyde Park views and an extraordinary international accolade. We discover the independently owned London hotel ranked No. 1 in Britain, No. 2 in Europe and No. 4 in the world in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards — with preferred rates for CountryClubuk Members.

London is home to some of the most celebrated hotels in the world. Their names evoke generations of royalty, statesmen, film stars and distinguished travellers, and their grand entrances are as familiar as many of the capital’s monuments.

So there is something rather intriguing about the results of Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best hotel awards.

The hotel ranked No. 1 in Britain, No. 2 in Europe and No. 4 in the world was not one of London’s famous Edwardian palaces, but a striking Sixties landmark beside Hyde Park: Royal Lancaster London.

It is a remarkable achievement for an independently owned hotel with 411 bedrooms and suites, and an excellent reason to take a closer look.

For CountryClubuk Members, there is another attraction. Through the Club’s preferred arrangements, Members may enjoy savings of up to 20% on the hotel’s public Best Available Rates, subject to availability.

But first, there is a rather wonderful story to tell.

Michael Caine, The Beatles and the Swinging Sixties

The story begins in 1967, when London was at the centre of an extraordinary cultural revolution. The Beatles were changing popular music, Carnaby Street was transforming fashion, and the capital had become a magnet for visitors eager to experience the excitement of the Swinging Sixties.

Beside Hyde Park, a striking new building was preparing to welcome its first guests. Designed by Richard Seifert, one of the most prolific architects of post-war London, the tower had originally been intended as offices for the Rank Organisation, the British entertainment company associated with so many familiar films. But London was desperately short of hotel rooms, and a Government incentive encouraged the construction of new accommodation. Plans changed, and the Royal Lancaster opened on 1 August 1967.

The hotel soon found itself caught up in the excitement of the period. In 1968, it hosted celebrations associated with the premiere of The Beatles’ animated film Yellow Submarine. The following year, it appeared in The Italian Job, the much-loved Michael Caine film whose improbable escapades and fleet of Mini Coopers have become part of British cinematic folklore.

It is an entertaining piece of history, and a reminder that London’s great hotels do not all have to date from the reign of Queen Victoria. Some have equally colourful stories of a more recent kind.

From Sixties landmark to contemporary luxury

By its 50th anniversary, the Royal Lancaster had already witnessed half a century of changing London life. In 2017, the hotel completed an ambitious refurbishment costing around £80 million, which transformed its bedrooms, suites and public areas. The result is a hotel that feels thoroughly contemporary without disguising its mid-century origins.

A striking glass entrance leads to elegant public spaces, while a sweeping marble staircase provides a dramatic architectural centrepiece. The bedrooms and suites are furnished in a restrained modern style, with comfortable beds, attractive bathrooms and the thoughtful details expected of a five-star hotel. What particularly distinguishes the Royal Lancaster, however, is its outlook.

Hyde Park through the bedroom window

There are many fine views in London, but few are quite as agreeable as looking out over the treetops of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. From the hotel’s park-facing bedrooms and suites, the gardens stretch towards the London skyline, their appearance changing with the seasons. Spring brings fresh leaves and blossom; summer offers a great canopy of green; autumn turns the park to gold and russet. Even in winter, there is something wonderfully atmospheric about the bare trees and distant rooftops. The Italian Gardens, with their ornamental fountains and formal planting, are just a morning stroll away.

It is a particularly attractive setting for Members who enjoy beginning the day with a walk, or returning to a quieter part of London after the bustle of shopping, sightseeing or the theatre. The hotel’s accommodation ranges from comfortable contemporary rooms to larger suites. We would especially recommend enquiring about a park-view room, as the outlook is one of the property’s great pleasures.

Member Services can help Members select the most suitable room category, taking account of space, views and the purpose of their visit.

A London location with a great deal to recommend it

The Royal Lancaster’s position is exceptionally convenient for some of London’s most enjoyable destinations. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are immediately at hand, while Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall and the museums of South Kensington make splendid outings. Selfridges, Oxford Street and Bond Street are within easy reach, as are the shops, cafés and antique dealers of Notting Hill and Portobello Road.

For Members arriving by train, Paddington station is within walking distance. This makes the hotel especially convenient for journeys from Bath, Bristol, Oxford and the West Country, as well as for guests travelling to and from Heathrow. Lancaster Gate Underground station is close beside the hotel, providing straightforward access to the West End and other parts of central London. It is, in short, an appealing base for a London visit: central enough to be practical, yet with the welcome sense of space provided by the Royal Parks.

A little taste of Thailand beside Hyde Park

One of the pleasures of staying at the Royal Lancaster is the quality and variety of its dining. Nipa Thai, the hotel’s celebrated Thai restaurant, has earned a loyal following for its traditional cooking and elegant surroundings. Its richly decorated dining room makes an attractive contrast to the contemporary style elsewhere in the hotel. For something different, Tortello offers Italian dishes, including handmade pasta. The hotel’s other restaurants, lounges and bars provide plenty of choice for breakfast, afternoon tea, drinks or a relaxed meal.

And, of course, London itself offers an almost inexhaustible variety of restaurants, with the hotel well placed for Members who wish to explore further afield.

A welcome for families — and dogs

The Royal Lancaster is also a practical choice for Members travelling with children or grandchildren, offering a variety of accommodation options, including suites and connecting rooms subject to availability.

And there is welcome news for CountryClubuk’s many dog-owning Members.

The hotel accepts dogs by prior arrangement, subject to its pet policy and applicable charges.

With Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens so close, it is an attractive possibility for Members who prefer to travel with a four-legged companion.

Dogs are welcome in certain lounge areas but not all restaurants, and should not be left unattended in bedrooms. Member Services will be pleased to confirm the current arrangements before a reservation is made.

What makes a hotel Britain’s No. 1?

The Tripadvisor award is especially interesting because it reflects the experiences and opinions of guests. In its 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Hotels awards, Royal Lancaster London was ranked first in the United Kingdom, second in Europe and fourth worldwide. Those are extraordinary positions for any hotel, particularly one competing in a market containing some of the world’s most famous names.

The accolade reflects consistently enthusiastic guest reviews, with particular praise for the hotel’s service, cleanliness, comfortable accommodation and location. Of course, every Member has a personal idea of the perfect London hotel. Some will always favour the intimate, traditional atmosphere of The Goring, the discreet St James’s charm of The Stafford or the theatrical grandeur of The Savoy.

The Royal Lancaster offers a different proposition: a large, independently owned five-star hotel with modern comfort, splendid park views, excellent transport connections and a reputation for exceptionally warm service. That makes it a particularly valuable addition to the CountryClubuk London hotel collection.

Five-star comfort with exclusive savings for Members

We are delighted to introduce Royal Lancaster London to CountryClubuk Members. Through our preferred hotel arrangements, Members may enjoy savings, subject to availability and applicable booking conditions.

Our Member Services team will be pleased to advise on preferred rates, room categories, park-view accommodation, suites and arrangements for families or guests travelling with dogs. Whether visiting London for the Royal Albert Hall, an exhibition at the V&A, shopping in Mayfair or simply a few days enjoying the capital, the Royal Lancaster is a hotel well worth discovering. It has a colourful past, a splendid location and an enviable reputation among its guests.

And there is something particularly appealing about the thought of returning from a busy London day to a comfortable room overlooking Hyde Park — especially when CountryClubuk can make the stay more attractive.

For Member rates, availability and reservations, please contact CountryClubuk Member Services on 020 7399 2960 or fill in the form below.

Royal Lancaster London
Lancaster Terrace,
London W2 2TY
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