W London

London – Leicester Square

Once the capital of the world’s largest colonial empire, London is a metropolis representing 50 different nationalities with 300 languages spoken. Its rich and varied history gives the city a multi-faceted image in which the oldest monuments like the Tower of London stand side by side with the most contemporary.

London consists of a multitude of “villages”, each with its own identity; a huge multi-cultural patchwork that is lively and animated at any time of day or night.

ThePiccadilly Circus and Leicester Square quarter, with its theatres and concert halls is the city’s entertainment epicenter. It’s “the place to be” for galas and night life in general. In the midst of the dense crowds, street artists are constantly plying their wares and their talents.

The West End as the quarter is called, is London’s cinema center, with huge movie theatres which are often the venue for European and world premieres, and it’s not uncommon to see film stars on the red carpet which is sometimes rolled out all the way to Trafalgar Square.

Daring design

Ideally situated in Leicester Square, in the heart of the theatre district, the W in London follows the same pattern as other W hotels: a five star chic, hype and design hotel. Located in a fairly discreet building, its interior represents a truly daring design concept.

In the immense lobby, blue lamps and crystal balls form the lines of the ceiling. On the leather covered walls, needlework with the “union jack” motif is a subtle reference to the hotel’s British identity.

The crystal balls present throughout the W create paths leading to different parts of the hotel. All the common areas possess the same atmosphere, with a blend of comfort and elements of fashion, music and design.

In the salon’s huge library, sofas surround strange book shelves filled with ornamental made to order plates on which fashion photographs are printed. With its open fireplace and enormous Chesterfield armchairs, the salon is a veritable reflection of contemporary British culture.

In the corridors of the different floors of the hotel, we find the same round lights leading to the 192 modern and spacious rooms, which are light years away in style from classic hotel rooms. The sleeping and bathroom areas are one and the same, representing a voluntary break with standard codes so that guests can take full advantage of the space. They can enter the room via the bathroom or come across a sink in the center of their living space.

In the Wow suite, everything was designed to create a « wow ! » effect. The lighting, the atmosphere, the leather covered walls, the scintillating gold and an immense round rotating couch reflect the glamour of a VIP suite and a typically British sense of originality. The Wow suite’s 150 squaremeters in the heart of Leicester Square is a veritable jewel.

Another treasure of the W is its Away spa, which as its name indicates, takes visitors far away from the stress of the city, to the land of wellness. In this space dedicated to detox and revitalization, the treatment areas change colors to create different atmospheres in the purest spirit of relaxation.

The same calm and intimate ambiance exists in the W’s restaurant, the Spice Market. This two story space won the design award in 2011 for Europeanhotel restaurants. Nuances of gold, copper and chrome, blend wonderfully with the leather sofas, the dark wood and the lampshades in the shape of inverted woks. The incredible spice shelf that covers the back wall is a hint to the aromas and flavors proposed on the menu.

The starred Michelin Guide chef, Jean-Michel Vongerichten, from the Alsace region of France, offers guests an updated version of Southwest Asian cuisine. Dishes include fantastic “lobster spring rolls accompanied by crispy fried rice with ginger.” Afterwards, a last drink in the bar, one of the trendiest spots in the British capital, is highly recommended.

At the entrance, behind the « whatever, whenever » desk, a concierge provides guests with all the information they need, like for example, the latest « in » place to party or a good restaurant to have lunch.