The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is housed in a magnificent Victorian building overlooking Hyde Park and Knightsbridge. Originally built as a private gentlemen’s club, it was converted into a hotel in 1902. In May 2000 the £50 million restoration by the new owners, the Oriental Group, was completed. The attention to detail is impressive and many of the stained glass windows and original brass, mahogany and marble fixtures and fittings have been painstakingly restored to their former glory. The Edwardian grandeur sits comfortably with the discreet high tech amenities provided.

There are 200 guestrooms and suites. All the rooms are equipped with an interactive entertainment system, high speed Internet access, two telephone lines, modem link and satellite TV. The bathrooms are luxurious and stocked with Penhaligon’s or Jo Malone bath products. Fresh orchids, fruit and chocolates welcome guests on arrival. There are four categories of accommodation from the Courtyard Rooms to the top of the range Mandarin Rooms.

All the tables in the Foliage restaurant offer a view over Hyde Park; it is open for lunch and dinner and serves contemporary cuisine. The Park restaurant serves international dishes all day and is a pleasant place to sit with large windows overlooking the park and allowing plenty of natural light in. The Mandarin bar is considered to be one of the top ten in London. The cool use of leather, silk and frosted glass creates a sophisticated chic interior and cigar smokers can choose from a wide selection in the humidor. For the comfort of other guests the smoking room is a glass room within the bar area, cleverly air-conditioned to prevent the smoke affecting other guests.

The Guest Office offers secretarial services, telex, facsimile, personal computers with high speed Internet access and rental of office equipment. Flexible meeting spaces cater for groups of 15 to 400 delegates or guests in the luxurious surroundings of this lovely hotel.

The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park overlooks central London’s largest green space, great for a jog or stroll or even horse riding. The Household Cavalry has its headquarters nearby; it is an impressive sight seeing them on their way to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard. Also on the doorstep are the superb shopping opportunities of Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Sloane Street. Only slightly further a field in a taxi or on the underground are the theatres of Covent Garden and the financial district making this an ideal location for business and pleasure.

•Exclusive restaurant and bar in the hotel
•Spa and state of the art gym
•Fully equipped business centre
•Flexible meeting space for 15 to 400 guests
•Superb location with views over Hyde Park
•Limousine, group transportation and helicopter available on request

The Mandarin Oriental hotels have taken the spa concept to new heights. There are five signature treatments using oriental healing philosophies in conjunction with ESPA products some exclusively designed for the Mandarin Oriental spas. The therapists here recommend booking a two-hour treatment that will be tailor made to suit the individual after a consultation. Treatments include the Balinese synchronised massage lasting 1hour 50 minutes; two therapists treat the whole body with fragrant oils, starting with a foot ritual and a combination of stretching and rolling movements.

•Shiatsu
•Ayurveda
•Reflexology
•Thai Massage
•Reiki
•Water based treatments, Kneipp bath, sauna and hamam
•Exclusive ESPA body treatments
•Lifestyle counselling