Top tips from our concierge

Early mornings in Green Park

One tip I love to share with guests is to make the most of The Athenaeum’s fantastic location just opposite Green Park. This is one of London’s Royal Parks and is a verdant haven in the middle of the city. I think one of the best times to go is early in the morning for a jog or a power walk. It sets you up for the day and gives you a glimpse of city life for other Londoners who love to exercise in the park too. I even have some jogging route maps for those who want to run specific distances.

Book a table in advance

So many people visit London for the foodie credentials. It’s no surprise – London is a gastronomic centre of the world and there are more than 70 Michelin star restaurants in the city alone! I always recommend that guests plan in advance if there’s a specific restaurant they want to visit, as it can be tough to get a reservation in some restaurants. When you book your stay at The Athenaeum, just let me know where you’d like to dine and I’ll take care of the rest!

London from our doorstep

Staying somewhere as central as The Athenaeum means you don’t have to go far at all to enjoy so much of what London has to offer. In fact, many of the city’s top attractions are within walking distance. Green Park is a firm favourite, but just the other side of the park is Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park too. Hyde Park is also within walking distance. A stroll along Piccadilly also takes you to London’s Theatreland and famous department stores such as Fortnum and Mason. The city’s famous shopping streets of Oxford Street and Regent Street are all a short walk away too.

Specialist tours

It adds so much richness and depth to a London visit when you go on a guided tour of the city. It’s possible to go on various big bus tours from just outside The Athenaeum, and this is an iconic thing to do in London. I also love some of the more specialist tours going on in the city. There’s everything from walking foodie tours to ghost tours in the evening – there’s basically a tour to suit any interest! We can organise for some tour guides to pick you up from The Athenaeum too, which makes life extremely easy for our guests.

Make the most of our children’s concierge

The Athenaeum is the only hotel I know of to have a children’s concierge, and I highly recommend any visitors with families to make the most of this unique service. Our children’s concierge can organise things like DVDs, board games and milk and cookies to make The Athenaeum feel comfortable and welcoming for the little ones. It depends on what your child is interested in, but the children’s concierge has been known to organise anything from kite-flying sessions in Green Park to tickets to the best children’s musicals in the West End too!

Have a chat

My final recommendation to guests at The Athenaeum is to come and have a chat at the beginning of their stay. When I understand a little more about your interests and what you want to get out of your London visit, it opens the floodgates of my imagination! I can suggest all sorts of places to visit and activities that would be ideal for your trip, so it’s always worth having a friendly chat so I can help you make the most of your time in the city.