Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, Mayfair, London — Hotel Review

The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane opened in 1927 as The Park Lane Hotel — a Grade II listed Art Deco building on Piccadilly, directly opposite Green Park, with a facade of Portland stone and a mansard roof that has barely changed in a century. It is London’s only hotel to retain an intact full-size Art Deco ballroom. For Marriott Bonvoy members it represents the strongest elite package of any Sheraton-branded property in London: the Club Lounge is complimentary from Platinum Elite, breakfast is included, and the building itself provides a backdrop that genuinely justifies a special occasion stay. This is not a lifestyle hotel or a design statement — it is a serious, classic London five-star that happens to deliver well on status.

The Hotel

Construction began before the First World War — the steel frame stood for thirteen years on Piccadilly, nicknamed “The Birdcage” by Londoners, before Sir Bracewell Smith completed the project in 1927 with the backing of a Yorkshire business syndicate. The building opened as The Park Lane Hotel to immediate acclaim, and remained under various independent ownerships until ITT Sheraton acquired it in 1996 for $70 million. Starwood — having acquired Sheraton — subsequently sold the leasehold to Sir Richard Sutton’s Settled Estates in 2014 while retaining the management contract, which passed to Marriott via the 2016 Starwood acquisition. The hotel was formally renamed Sheraton Grand London Park Lane in July 2016 following a major renovation.

The building is Grade II listed in its entirety, with the Silver Gallery, the Ballroom, the Oak Room and the Palm Court of particular note. The Ballroom — the only intact full-size Art Deco ballroom in any London hotel — was fully restored in 1997 by specialist craftsmen including Italian silver gilders, working under the supervision of English Heritage. The Art Deco interiors throughout the public spaces are among the most authentic of any hotel in London; they are original, not recreated. Rooms are generous by London five-star standards — 303 across eight floors, with the Art Deco design language carried through to bedding, fittings and mirrors. Some rooms retain original fireplaces. Molton Brown toiletries throughout. Club Rooms on the upper floors are the quietest and, for Platinum members, the most logical booking given lounge access is included regardless of room type.

Location

The hotel sits on Piccadilly at the southern edge of Mayfair, directly opposite Green Park. Green Park Tube (Jubilee, Victoria and Piccadilly lines) is five minutes’ walk — one of the best-connected stations in central London. Hyde Park Corner is seven minutes on foot. Buckingham Palace is 0.6 km. Bond Street, Knightsbridge and St James’s are all within a fifteen-minute walk. Piccadilly Circus is ten minutes. The location is less convenient for the City and Canary Wharf than for leisure — but for Mayfair, St James’s, the West End and the Royal Parks it is essentially optimal.

Marriott Bonvoy — Earning on the Stay

Standard Bonvoy earning rates apply: 10 base points per US dollar of room spend, with tier bonuses from Silver through Ambassador. The fifth night free applies on standard points redemptions. The Amex Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy 1:1 transfer rate is the primary UK earning route. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express card earns 2 points per £1 on general spend and 6 points per £1 at Marriott properties, and provides 15 elite night credits annually — enough for Silver Elite on its own and meaningful progress towards Gold and Platinum when combined with stays.

Redemptions — What to Expect

Dynamic pricing puts the Sheraton Grand in the 50,000–70,000 points per night range for standard rooms under normal demand — slightly lower than the JW Grosvenor House on a like-for-like basis, making it one of the more accessible five-star Bonvoy redemptions in Mayfair. Demand peaks around major events in the surrounding area (royal occasions, key racing calendar dates given the Mayfair/Ascot connection, and major West End run openings), when points costs will rise to reflect cash rate increases. The fifth night free on standard redemptions reduces the per-night cost by 20% on five-night stays and is worth structuring around.

For cash stays, the Marriott STARS programme via eligible luxury travel agents matches the best available rate while adding breakfast for two, room upgrade and a stay credit — though for Platinum members already receiving breakfast and upgrade through status, the marginal benefit is lower here than at properties where elite breakfast is not included.

Elite Benefits — What Platinum and Above Actually Gets You Here

Dining and Bars

Three food and drink venues. Mercante is the main restaurant — Italian, open for breakfast (extensive buffet plus à la carte), lunch and dinner, with a terrace onto Piccadilly. Smith & Whistle is the cocktail bar, directly opposite Mercante off the main entrance, also with a Piccadilly terrace. The Palm Court — the hotel’s Art Deco centrepiece — serves afternoon tea Thursday to Sunday, accompanied by live piano from 3pm to 7pm; it is one of the more historically authentic afternoon tea settings in London, operating within an original 1927 interior. The Club Lounge provides breakfast and all-day canapés for eligible members.

Facilities

No pool. Fitness centre. The Silver Gallery Ballroom (Grade II listed, fully restored — used for private events and wedding receptions). Three dining and bar venues. Concierge team are members of Les Clefs d’Or. Pets welcome up to 55 pounds with signature in-hotel dog amenities.

Who Should Stay Here

The Sheraton Grand is the strongest value proposition in the London Bonvoy portfolio for Platinum members who want lounge access, included breakfast, and a genuinely historic building — delivered consistently. It sits below the JW Grosvenor House on absolute luxury positioning but above it on points cost efficiency, and it surpasses EDITION and W London on elite benefit delivery by a substantial margin.

For members using Bonvoy points, the 50,000–70,000 range combined with the included breakfast and lounge means the all-in cost compares very favourably with cash rate equivalents. The Art Deco building, Green Park location and Palm Court are reasons to stay here that exist entirely independently of loyalty mechanics — but the loyalty mechanics here, unusually, make the choice easier rather than harder.