In our ongoing series, Millie Walton selects and explores the world’s best art hotels. This month, she finds herself at 45 Park Lane in London.
45 Park Lane has a storied past. Designed by Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius, the curved grey concrete structure was a magnet for the city’s rich and famous in the 1960s, and even played host to the London outpost of the Playboy Club.
Today, it’s the more mysterious, sultry sibling to The Dorchester, just a few doors down. Guests come to 45 Park Lane not just for the Monopoly-winning location – right on the edge of Hyde Park – but to be seduced: by the city, the interiors, the art.
The Concept
Hyde Park Suite Living room
The building’s hedonistic past takes on a more sophisticated look in the present day but there’s still a sense of drama about the place. Designer Thierry Despont envisioned the hotel as a ‘private residence’, using its intimate scale — just 46 rooms, the smallest in the Dorchester Collection — to create interiors that balance warmth with allure. Think dark wood, black lacquer, soft leather, and naturally, lots of art. Wherever you are, there’s always an armchair to sink into, something interesting to look at or read, someone close by to offer something delicious to eat or drink.
The Collection
London-based art consultancy Ackerman Studios oversees the collection and exhibition programme at the hotel, with a strong focus on British artists. Works are scattered throughout the public spaces and rooms — a mix of permanent pieces (like Damien Hirst’s Psalms series, which hangs in Wolfgang Puck’s renowned steakhouse, CUT) and temporary shows that bring fresh energy to the space.
Damien Hirst artwork at 45 Park Lane
Our stay coincided with Icons of the Silver Screen, a photographic group exhibition that captured the glamour — and humanity — of Hollywood’s golden era. Some images were instantly recognisable, like Terry O’Neill’s portrait of Faye Dunaway in a peach silk dressing gown, drinking tea by the poolside, the morning after her Oscar win. But there were revelations too — we fell in love with Eva Sereny’s intimate image of Anthony Quinn dancing on a Mykonos pavement, and Eve Arnold’s candid shot of Marilyn Monroe weaving through a sea of journalists. The current exhibition is titled Par Avion, and brings together the work of Guy Gee and Ella Friere in an exploration of travel and communication.
The Penthouse Suite living room
For real art aficionados, the hotel offers a guided tour with art historian Florence Evans, following in the footsteps of Barbara Hepworth — from her former studio to key public works across the city. It’s all part of an art-focused hotel package, which includes an overnight stay and tickets to Tate Britain.
The Design Details
The Spa at 45 Park Lane
If 45 Park Lane were a dog, it would be a boxer: sleek, strong, square-jawed, and slightly intimidating until you get to know it. Each part of the hotel plays with mood and texture. The wide, open lobby feels like the set of a 1920s film, with glossy art-deco furnishings and golden light, while the stairway to the bar has an almost clubby vibe with a strip of red neon lighting leading the way. Then, the spa, accessed via a ‘secret’ passageway (we got lost both times we went), has a softer, almost beachy feel with floral wallpaper, a 20-metre length pool surrounded by sunbeds, a sauna, steam, hydrotherapy pool and an enormous lounge area with hanging seats and an open fireplace.
The Rooms
Hotel suites are often compared to apartments, but the Park Lane Suite really does feel like someone’s very well-appointed London home. You enter into a wood-panelled hallway with separate doors leading into the open-plan dining-living area, the bedroom and the secondary bathroom. The views across Park Lane and onto Hyde Park are extraordinary – on the bright spring day when we arrived, the city looked green and radiant.
Park Lane Suite
Inside, it’s all low lighting and quiet glamour: dark wood, velvet and leather furnishings, with a few well-chosen artworks setting the tone. Elegant stacks of art books top the side tables; light shifts through golden hues with a tap on the in-room iPad; and thick cream carpets pad the floor. The main bathroom is classically opulent — marble-clad with underfloor heating, a tub, a separate shower, and twin sinks. There’s even a personal butler, should you want one.
The Food & Drink
Binchotan Grilled Kobe Beef with Wasabi And Shio at Sushi Kanesaka_
Food is taken seriously at 45 Park Lane. CUT offers prime beef with all the trimmings (the truffle fries are a must), while Shinji Kanesaka’s Michelin-starred sushi restaurant offers a more intimate experience with a seasonal omakase menu selected by the chef. Both are in high demand, so reservations are essential — even for hotel guests. The glamorous Bar 45 is perfect for pre- or post-dinner cocktails or a glass of wine.
Art in the Neighbourhood
X10748: Duccio Maestà – Panels, 1308-11. The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, Tempera and gold leaf on panel 43.3 x 46.2 x 4.4 cm. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1939.1.141). Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington.
You’re spoilt for choice. The hotel sits within strolling distance of the capital’s major museums, with the galleries of Mayfair and Soho practically on the doorstep. Don’t miss Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300 ‒1350 at the National Gallery (on until 22 June 2025), which includes some of Europe’s earliest and most dazzling artworks. The new photographic exhibition by Rene Matic, who is shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize, exploring intimacy at Arcadia Missa (until 3 June) is also well worth a visit.
Lead image: Damien Hirst artwork at CUT at 45 Park Lane / All images credits: 45 Park Lane
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