The London Hilton on Park Lane is a
hotel situated on
Park Lane, overlooking
Hyde Park in the exclusive
Mayfair
Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world. ...
district of
London. It is tall, has 28 storeys and 453 rooms including 56 suites and a
Michelin star
The Michelin Guides ( ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments. The acquisition or loss of a ...
red restaurant
Galvin at Windows
Galvin at Windows is a restaurant located on the top floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane restaurant. Launched in May 2006 by Chef Patron Chris Galvin as the second restaurant from the Galvin Brothers, the restaurant was awarded its Michelin ...
on the top floor of the hotel.
History
The hotel opened as the London Hilton on 17 April 1963. It is a concrete-framed building, designed by
William B. Tabler
William B. Tabler Sr. (October 28, 1914 – February 3, 2004) was an American architect who designed more than 400 hotels. He was best known for giving Hilton hotels the clean but sometimes stark face of corporate America, most notably in the 46-s ...
, an American architect who designed numerous Hilton hotels. The building was the first skyscraper hotel to be built in London, containing more than 500 bedrooms and six restaurants.
On 24 August 1967,
the Beatles met
at the Hilton and
subsequently went to
Uttar Pradesh with him in order to
meditate
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm ...
.
On 5 September 1975, the London Hilton was the target of an
IRA bomb which killed two people and injured 63 others.
During the 1990s, the
Pools Panel met each Saturday in a meeting room in the hotel.
A fire broke out in the hotel on 1 July 2011. There were no fatalities or injuries, and damage was limited to a few of the lower floors.
The London Hilton Park Lane served as the Olympic Family Hotel during the
2012 London Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
, hosting members of the
International Olympic Committee and other dignitaries attending the 2012 Games.
The hotel is also the site of the death of
the Cranberries lead singer
Dolores O'Riordan
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan ( ; 6 September 1971 – 15 January 2018) was an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. She was best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist for the alternative rock band the Cranberries. One of the most recogniza ...
on 15 January 2018, aged 46. She had drowned in her room's bathtub after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.
On 28 November 2022,
Trader Vic's Worldwide announced the closure of their oldest running location inside of the London Hilton Park Lane. This sparked an online campaign try and revert the decision made by the Hilton, due to the valuable Polynesian interior that predated the hotel. The campaign was hosted by an Instagram page
and a petition. Many celebrities became involved with the campaign, including presenter
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Stephen Ross (born 17 November 1960) is an English broadcaster, film critic, comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He presented the BBC One chat show ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' during the 2000s, hosted his own radio show on ...
, and filmmaker
Edgar Wright who both made statements in support of keeping the restaurant open - the restaurant closed on December 31, 2022, with no comment from the Hilton regarding the campaign.
Gallery
File:The London Hilton on Park Lane 1.jpg, London Hilton on Park Lane
File:Reception, London Hilton on Park Lane.jpg, Reception at London Hilton on Park Lane
File:View from 27th floor at London Hilton on Park Lane.jpg, View of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...
and other London landmarks from the 27th floor of London Hilton on Park Lane
File:Executive Lounge, London Hilton on Park Lane.jpg, Executive Lounge at London Hilton on Park Lane
See also
*
London Hilton bombing
*
Hotels in London
*
Tall buildings in London
References
External links
The official hotel webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:London Hilton on Park Lane
Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotels
Hotels in the City of Westminster
Hotel buildings completed in 1963
Hotels established in 1963
Skyscrapers in the City of Westminster
Skyscraper hotels in London