Staying at London’s Sustainable and Luxurious 1 Hotel Mayfair
by Krish Patel
Within the heart of London, England, is a luxurious and sustainable five star hotel you won’t want to miss out on. Of course, I’m talking about the 1 Hotel Mayfair. With comfortable rooms, great amenities, and impressive dining options, this extravagant hotel is one that makes for a perfect stay in the English capital. Plus, the hotel has less of an environmental impact on the community compared to some of London’s other luxurious hotels.
1 Hotel Mayfair Location and Convenience
The 1 Hotel Mayfair is located in Mayfair, London, which gives the property a fabulous central location. Many of London’s famous landmarks and attractions, such as the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Victoria Park, Covent Garden, and Buckingham Palace are all located within a short drive from the hotel. Also, this property is within an easy reach of public transportation such as the London Underground.
If you’re visiting the city, it takes the following amounts of time to drive to the hotel from London’s following airports:
Heathrow Airport, LHR- about 1 hour
City Airport, LCY- about 35 minutes
Gatwick Airport, LGW- about 1 hour and 10 minutes
Stansted Airport, STN- about 1 hour and 5 minutes
Luton Airport, LTN- about 50 minutes
1 Hotel Mayfair Amenities, Ambiance, and Layout
1 Hotels has opted for a botanical garden-inspired ambiance with its hotel properties. The outpost in Mayfair brings the outside in, with earthy tones, several plants throughout, and beautiful accents of wood. Even before you enter the hotel, you’ll notice the earth-inspired tones and lush plants hanging from outside.
Upon entering, your eyes will be drawn by the striking brown accents and greenery throughout. Rather than feeling very classical or traditional like most of London’s luxury hotels, 1 Hotel Mayfair has a more laid-back and unique ambiance. To the right of the entrance is the check-in area with contemporary wooden desks and potted plants. There’s also a table with fruits and flavored water, as well as a cozy seating area with comfortable seating that reflects light tones of gray, white, and green.
At the opposite side of the entrance level are a few more seating options also surrounded by a nature-inspired and earthy atmosphere. You’ll also notice signage for the public restrooms which are located both on the entrance level and downstairs. They’re relatively clean, spacious, and embrace the 1 Hotel vibes.
Located on level one are the hotel’s wellness amenities. You’ll find the Bamford Wellness Spa, which is great for guests who want to relax and take a moment of peace amid the hustle and bustle of London. At the spa facility, it’s possible to take part in relaxed yoga sessions, enjoy a facial, or get a massage.
Adjacent to the Bamford wellness spa is a gym that’s open 24/7 and offers both private training sessions with instructors and workout classes.
There are also meeting rooms found near the wellness facility and seemed to be almost always occupied.
Free Wi-Fi is available for guests at no additional cost. Even if you’re not a member of 1 Hotel’s Mission Membership program, you can still connect with no additional charge.
1 Hotel Mayfair Rooms/Suites
The 1 Hotel Mayfair offers nice, modern rooms and suites to its guests. For my stay of three nights, I was booked into a stunning one-bedroom suite measuring over 400 square feet. The suite is very functional and possesses both cleanliness and a taste of modern elegance, with white walls and brown accents, as well as touches of green.
Instead of being provided with a traditional keycard, you’re given a circular wooden chip engraved with the 1 Hotel logo, which is part of the company’s sustainability measures.
Found outside the room is a potted plant. It’s a nice touch to find them outside the room, as they contribute to the overall natural atmosphere.
To the right immediately upon entering the suite is one of the most unique features I’ve come across in a hotel. The rooms at the 1 Hotel feature a water-refill station, above which is a real green moss plant. The purpose of the water-refill station is to help guests stay hydrated and eliminate using single-use plastics. Almost wherever you go in the room or hotel, you’ll always be able to spot at least one plant.
There’s a well-stocked mini bar that includes a coffee machine and selection of teas, a variety of sodas and juices, and alcoholic beverages. You’ll also notice a selection of sweet and savory snacks. Some of the snacks included Karu cashews and Fitbake nutrition bars. In addition to the snacks and drinks are also a few Bamford products, such as lip balm.
Across from the mini bar is a circular dining table with cozy chairs, and above the table is a lamp that contributes towards the attention to detail of the overall table area. Both the table and chairs display light wooden accents.
The living room is quite cozy and luxurious, featuring a plush white couch with soft pillows and a table, as well as a TV. Adjacent to the couch is a low counter space with a lamp, a speaker, and a few large books to make the living room feel extra cozy. There’s also some creative artwork, such as an abstract wall art piece created from tree branches.
The suite features a bedroom with a luxurious bed, two night stands, another TV, and floor-to-ceiling curtains. When the curtains are open, you’ll be able to enjoy a view of the neighboring Ritz Hotel. The bed is clean, with comfortable pillows and a thick blanket, making it a great place to sleep or catch up on some needed rest.
The nightstands feature a built-in drawer for personal storage and plenty of table space.
I’m a fan of the bathroom, which is kept clean and looks modern thanks to the earthy tones and plants all around. With various tones of green, a black countertop, and wooden walls, the bathroom truly brings the outside nature inside.
The bathroom features one large sink surrounded by a black stone countertop, beneath which is space for storing towels. Provided at the sink are also Bamford skincare products such as soap and hand cream. The fragrant Bamford products are provided in refillable containers, however, it’s unfortunate that hotel guests can’t keep them.
Across from the sink is a bathtub, next to which is a wooden table stocked with bath amenities, including bath salt. There’s also a shower, and I found the temperature and water pressure to be excellent, making it nice to freshen up after spending some time out in the hectic city.
At the opposite end of the bathroom is a walk-in closet space with plenty of storage areas for clothing and luggage. There are several drawers and a few hangers, one of which holds a bathrobe. In the closet, you’ll also find a yoga mat and a hair dryer.
There’s also a powder room located next to the closet, which includes a heated toilet and well-sized sink. Overall, this is one of the most practical and well-designed suites I’ve stayed in at any hotel.
The Food and Drink at 1 Hotel Mayfair is Delicious
The 1 Hotel Mayfair offers three food and drink establishments, all of which are in addition to room service.
Found next to the lobby is the Neighbours Cafe, which is a small cafe where you can order a cup of Workshop Coffee, tea, or have a pastry. The cafe is very cozy and is full of comfortable furniture and potted plants. It’s a great spot to relax and read, get some work done, or watch the hotel guests pass by.
For dinner, be sure to make reservations at Dovetale, the hotel’s signature restaurant held by celebrated chef Tom Sellers. The restaurant is quite cozy and dark with wooden chairs and plush furniture, as well as a fireplace and dim lighting.
At Dovetale, you’ll be able to enjoy scallops and oysters from the raw bar, as well as European classics such as autumn truffle and potato gnocchi (my personal favorite) and pumpkin agnolotti. The food is truly mouthwatering and everything I ordered tasted great, from the umami mushroom tempura to the autumn leaves and roots salad. What an interesting combination of flavors! There’s also a tempting ice cream cart offering a selection of ice creams for dessert. You can customize the ice cream flavors and toppings to your liking.
Situated right next to Dovetale is Dover Yard, the hotel’s stylish and trendy bar. Dover Yard has a living room ambiance to it, with low-slung couches and a fireplace. In addition to being able to order wines, cocktails, British spirits, and various other beverages, food is also available at Dover Yard, however, the selection isn’t as extensive as what’s available at Dovetale. This popular bar receives a lot of attention from hotel guests throughout the day.
Service at the 1 Hotel Mayfair
As far as the service, 1 Hotel has left me very impressed. The staff were friendly and professional throughout my stay and acted like nice friends who exchanged meaningful conversations with me. I’d say that this hotel in London is the right one for you if you like professional service.
Booking the 1 Hotel Mayfair and Pricing
1 Hotels has its own loyalty program, Mission Membership, however, it’s more experiential-based than traditional hotel points programs. With Mission Membership, the points earned during stays give you benefits based on tier levels. The benefits include exclusive experiences, late checkout, credits to use during your stay, and possible room upgrades. You should try to sign up for Mission Membership to see how it can help you save money when booking your stay.
Prices for a one night stay in an entry-level room start at around $350 to $400 and can fluctuate even further, considering the fact that staying in London is very expensive. If you’re looking to stay in a suite, you could expect to pay about $500 per night.
Overall Thoughts
The 1 Hotel Mayfair is one of the most modern properties I’ve stayed at and has the right balance between luxury and incorporating elements of nature into its ambiance. I’m a huge fan of the natural tones and fabrics seen throughout the hotel and the coziness of the suite. The amenities offered are meant to help guests relax, and the food and drink offerings are quite delicious, especially at Dovetale. I was also impressed with the friendly service, and it’s certainly one of the best I’ve come across at any hotel. If you’re looking to stay at a hotel that offers a great experience to its guests but has less of an impact on the environment, then you’re going to have a terrific time at the 1 Hotel in London.