The Peninsula Hotels portfolio will soon include London as plans for a 190-bedroom hotel in the heart of Belgravia are revealed

London’s luxury hotels could soon have to compete with a new addition in the five-star category. Grosvenor Britain & Ireland and The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels group have released plans to open The Peninsula London at prime Belgravia location 1-5 Grosvenor Place on Hyde Park Corner. With hotels located in cities around the world including New York, Tokyo and Paris, this latest launch will be the 11th to open under the Peninsula brand.

British-based Hopkins Architects have designed the new building which will replace the existing 1960s office block at the site. It will house 190 bedrooms plus a spa, shops and restaurants. Key features also include a ‘Palazzo-style’ courtyard and up to 28 residential apartments which will have their own private entrance on Halkin Street.

The area around Grosvenor Place, Halkin Street and Grosvenor Crescent will also be redeveloped with easier road crossings, wider footpaths and new trees planted. However, there’s still some time to go before Londoners and tourists can step inside Belgravia’s latest offering. Construction is due to start in 2017 with an opening date for the hotel scheduled for 2021.

Peter Vernon, chief executive officer of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, outlined the impact of opening a hotel in the capital.

‘For over 300 years Grosvenor has carefully curated its London estate in Mayfair and Belgravia and The Peninsula London is another important step in our journey,’ he said. ‘This high-quality development is sensitive to its surroundings, sustainable and will support around 2,800 jobs in the wider economy. It will enhance the West End’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost places to visit and a driving force for the UK economy.’

As The Peninsula Hotels group has just taken the top four spots in the latest Best Asia City Hotels list, this new arrival is likely to become a contender for London’s most desirable place to stay.

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