Athenaeum Hotel Spa

Overnight hotel guests have round-the-clock access to The Athenaeum’s small but state-of-the-art gym. Simply swipe your room key card to get in, and you’ll find Peloton and Technogym equipment, free weights and floor mats.

No room key? No problem! Green Park is right across the road and makes a lovely spot for an early-morning run or a brisk walk beneath the trees. Carry on through and you’ll reach St James’s Park, with its lake and famous resident pelicans, while the wide-open spaces of Hyde Park lie just beyond Hyde Park Corner.

For something a little different, London’s docking-station hire bikes make it easy to pedal along Hyde Park’s cycle paths, or you could saddle up for a horse ride along Rotten Row, the park’s historic bridleway. In warmer months, the Serpentine is perfect for a spot of rowing or a refreshing dip at the lido – a fun way to stay active that barely feels like exercise. 

Here for a spa day that includes something delicious? You’ll dine at 116 at The Athenaeum – and whichever package you choose, you’re in for a treat. 116 has two AA Rosettes to its name and a relaxed, softly lit dining room where contemporary art lines the walls and comfortable seating invites you to linger.

The cream tea keeps things classic, with homemade scones, Cornish clotted cream, strawberry jam and your choice of artisan tea. Afternoon tea goes a step further, thanks to handcrafted sandwiches, warm plain and raisin scones and a sweet finale of cakes and pastries.

Opt for a three-course meal and you’ll enjoy seasonal modern British cooking that celebrates the people behind every ingredient, with produce from Kent farms and seafood from the Cornish coast regularly finding its way onto the menu.

Tucked away at the back of the hotel, The Bar has the relaxed feel of a private members’ club, with colourful sofas, cosy corners and views of the famous living wall. It’s open from 11am until midnight with no booking needed, serving speciality coffee by day and expertly mixed cocktails by night, alongside a collection of more than 100 whiskies. 

Fancy learning a thing or two? Whisky masterclasses pair four drams with carefully chosen cheeses, while cocktail masterclasses let you take a turn behind the bar. And out front, The Terrace sits right on Piccadilly, with umbrellas, cushions and blankets making it a year-round spot to watch the world go by.

It does, and it often comes as part of a spa day deal. Afternoon tea is served in 116 at The Athenaeum and includes freshly prepared sandwiches, warm plain and raisin scones served with strawberry and raspberry jam and generous amounts of clotted cream. The sweet finale is a collection of handcrafted cakes and pastries, lovingly created by the in-house pastry team. 

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions are available too – plus there’s a cream tea if you’re in the mood for something simpler. 

Feel like pushing the boat out? You can extend your spa day by booking a room at the hotel, which has around 160 rooms and suites. Even the entry-level Superior rooms come with comfy Hypnos beds, a pillow menu, a Nespresso machine, a minibar and an evening turndown service, along with marble bathrooms, robes and slippers. 

Rooms are decorated in warm burnt-orange tones with black-and-white photographs of Green Park, and many look out over the park itself. Deluxe and Park View rooms, along with Green Park and Mayfair Suites, offer extra space and views, while the new tenth-floor Penthouse Suites have floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping views across the London skyline. 

For longer or more private stays, there are 18 townhouse residences next door, each with its own kitchen, sitting room and full hotel service. Better still, hotel guests can use the spa facilities as part of their stay, though booking ahead is essential.

For spa packages, arrival times vary so it’s best to check your booking confirmation. For overnight stays at the hotel, check-in starts at 3pm (with check-in available until midnight), while check-out is at 12pm.

Yes, it is. A ramp leads from the front door into the hotel’s main reception, and public areas including 116 and The Bar are step-free. There’s a lift down to the spa, which has accessible changing rooms and treatment rooms. If you’re staying over, some of the Superior rooms are wheelchair accessible.

The spa is open from 9am to 7pm every day. Guests using the facilities must be 16 or over. Please note that while The Spa at The Athenaeum offers individual pregnancy massages, spa day packages are not suitable during pregnancy as they include time in the thermal suite – and it could get a bit toasty for your bump!

Down in the spa, it’s robes all round. You’ll be given a fluffy robe, towel and slippers, so all you need to pack is your swimwear. Things get a little more polished upstairs, though. 116 at The Athenaeum is a smart Mayfair restaurant, so when it’s time for your cream tea, afternoon tea or three-course meal, slip into something more fancy. Smart casual is ideal, as it matches the relaxed but elegant feel of the dining room perfectly.

You’ll find The Athenaeum at 116 Piccadilly in the heart of Mayfair, directly opposite Green Park and a short stroll from Buckingham Palace. Green Park and Hyde Park Corner Underground stations are both around five minutes away on foot, and the shops of Bond Street, Burlington Arcade and Shepherd Market are all close by.

The building began life in 1850 as Hope House, home to MP Henry Hope, a passionate art lover whose collection was one of the finest in Europe. Its extravagant interiors even caught the eye of Charles Dickens! 

The hotel takes its name from its next incarnation as the Junior Athenaeum Club, a 19th-century gentlemen’s club favoured by the creatives and intellectuals of the day. In the 1930s the club became a luxurious Art Deco apartment block, and in the 1970s the Rank Organisation turned it into a hotel where its film stars could stay while working in London. Steven Spielberg even set up an editing suite here while working on E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark. More recently, in 2009, French botanist Patrick Blanc created the living wall, his very first vertical garden in the UK.

Sorry! The spa is for guests aged 16 and over, so spa days are a grown-up affair! But the hotel is family-friendly, with interconnecting rooms and extra beds or cots available on request. For more space, the townhouse residences have their own kitchens and sitting rooms, and adjoining residences can be connected for larger families. 

A dedicated children’s concierge is on hand to make little ones feel at home. Ask the concierge team about borrowing kites and bikes for an afternoon of fun in Green Park, just across the road. There’s a children’s menu in 116 too, and the team are always happy to adapt dishes for younger tastes.

Four-legged friends can’t join you in the spa, so if you’re here for a spa day, it’s best to leave them at home. But if you’re staying the night, The Athenaeum rolls out the red carpet for pups. And with Green Park right across the road, walkies don’t get much better than this.

Up to two well-behaved pooches can stay in any bedroom for £35 each per night, as long as you add them to your booking before you arrive. They’ll find a cosy bed, a feeding bowl, tasty treats and a welcome goody bag waiting in the room. Dogs are welcome to sit with you in the lobby, the front of the restaurant and out on The Terrace.