In London’s original foundations, just opposite the Tower of London, we checked into the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, set in a heritage building that Londoners often miss, a monument to the city’s past glory as the self-billed ‘centre of the world’.
Back when the river Thames flowed with trade riches, the Port of London Authority building at Ten Trinity Square officiated over it all. Fast forward just a hundred years, and this building in the heart of the old city of London is now the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, complete with a private members’ club and residences.
The grandeur began as we walked up its steps through its imposing Corinthian columns, into the marble lobby that faced the property’s grand rotunda. We’re drawn to the cavernous space set under an imposing, gilt-ribbed dome, the circular communal lounge that nodded to its Edwardian past, coming complete with maritime detailing to remind us of its illustrious history. It is a glorious spot for guests to sip whiskey or afternoon tea… our charming host proudly exclaimed.
In contrast, our suite at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge was surprisingly modern and a departure from the wanton Britishness that the rest of the property exuded. Instead, French designers have had a hand in the interiors – the Parisian 4BI et Associés no less, known for their contemporary opulence – picked to appeal to a more international jet-set audience, in a city already well known for its heritage hotels. Our room’s proportions were fantastic, with high ceilings so rarely found in city hotels these days. Sadly, the view wasn’t up to much – probably a quirk of the hotel’s layout – looking out onto a rather nondescript internal courtyard.
The French touches continue in the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, La Dame de Pic, where under the stewardship of Michelin-starred chef Anne-Sophie Pic, delicious, contemporary haute cuisine was on offer in a grand, yet informal atmosphere.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Sophisticate | LHR / LCY | GMT |
| While you’re Out There |
| If you’re interested in London’s ancient history, then just a short walk from the Four Seasons London at Tower Bridge, behind the tube station, you’ll find remnants of the Roman walls that once protected the city of Londinium. To get your head full of the facts, we recommend you read Peter Ackroyd’s epic history book, London, The Biography. For a more poignant history, you don’t even need to leave the hotel. The gorgeous, wood-panelled ballroom was host to the first ever meeting of the United Nations, back in 1946. |
Photography courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
