You can trust Coach We give honest reviews and recommendations based on in-depth knowledge and real-world experience. Find out more about how we review and recommend products.
Ever since King George VI first opened its doors in 1927, the May Fair Hotel has been synonymous with luxury. Located in the heart of London’s most stylish district – there’s a reason why May Fair is the most expensive property on the Monopoly board – this lavish hotel is fully equipped with everything you could possibly want to make the most of your stay in the capital.
Room for manoeuvre
The May Fair offers a variety of rooms and suites, all of which feature contemporary décor, rich furnishings and cutting edge technology. Sizes vary, ranging from the spacious 25.8m2 Superior bedrooms all the way up to the enormous Curzon Wing, which incorporates a suite and three deluxe bedrooms behind a single secure entrance. My wife and I are staying in a beautiful, 50m2 Studio suite, which – in addition to having the same king-sized bed and sumptuous Sicilian marble bathroom as a Superior room – features a lounge area with a sofa, coffee table and comfortable work desk. It’s also kitted out with a huge flatscreen TV, a sound dock, and – best of all – a Nespresso coffee machine. After dumping our bags and necking a quick espresso, my wife heads to the spa and I make my way to the gym.
Weight to go
Membership at the May Fair Gym costs £95 per month, but the facilities are free to use for hotel guests. The gym itself – like the rest of the hotel – is stylish and well equipped, featuring a range of kit to suit a variety of training and fitness goals. After checking out the cardio area – which consists of three treadmills, a cross trainer and an exercise bike – I grab a mat and foam roller, and head to the free weights area to warm up and do some prehab work. In addition to all the essential muscle-building equipment you’d expect – two benches, barbells with plates and dumbbell sets rising to 26kg – the gym also features kettlebells, med balls, gym balls, a Bosu ball, a Kinesis machine and a host of additional gear. The subdued lighting, air con and tasteful tunes offer a refreshing change from the sweaty, loud, hectic environment of a commercial chain gym. With the place to myself, I grab a set of dumbbells and crack on with my workout.
Time at the spa
After an hour of lifting weights, I head to the spa to unwind and wait for my wife, who’s halfway through having back-to-back treatments. The spa facilities include an aromatic steam room, a herbal sauna, an ice fountain and a relaxation room with heated beds, all of which can be accessed with a day pass costing £15 for hotel guests and £30 for non-guests. The range of treatments on offer is vast, including face and body therapies, hand and feet treatments and a selection of massages. My wife opts for a traditional Swedish massage, followed by a golden caviar facial, both of which are fantastic. The massage is intense but very relaxing, helping to relieve stress and muscle tension in tight areas around her glutes and lower back, while the facial – which uses caviar extract to boost moisture levels – leaves her skin feeling refreshed and looking fantastic.
Grub's up
A stay at the May Fair wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its wonderful, recently opened grill and seafood restaurant, the May Fair Kitchen. With a separate entrance on Stratton Street, the restaurant offers a daily- and seasonally-changing menu of meat and fish from around the world. Signature dishes include French-trim fore rib of beef, rare seared Persian salt-coated tuna and, for vegetarians, griddled green zebra tomato and barbeque haricot beans. On our waiter’s recommendation, I opt for the Iberian spiced chorizo and smoked garlic black tiger prawns as a starter. The chorizo is soft and delicately spicy, while the prawns – easily the biggest I’ve ever seen – are exquisite. Our main courses are equally impressive, both in terms of size and taste. My wife picks a 3lb (1.4g) Georges Bank native lobster, while I select a monstrous, 20lb (700g) grass-fed, 28 day-aged rib steak, supplied by Aldens of Oxfordshire. The steak is tender and packed with flavour, while the lobster is rich and fresh, having been handpicked from the live seafood bar minutes earlier. Fine dining really doesn’t get any better than this, and the quality and quantity of the protein-rich meat and seafood makes it ideal for fitness enthusiasts who want to support their training with good nutrition.
MF verdict
The May Fair Hotel is one of London’s premier locations to relax, recover, train or indulge, in comfort and luxury. Highly recommended.
To make a booking, visit themayfairhotel.co.uk
