Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

The ideal host for both summer and winter events, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is the only five star hotel in London to offer outdoor space with panoramic park views. The ballroom provides a visual feast of rich 24-carat gilding for receptions and gala dinners while the stunning Loggia offers a more intimate setting for distinguished private dining or meetings. Offering 6 different types of outstanding event spaces, you will find consistently opulent decor and subtle integration of technology through out.

Arguably one of the finest venues in London, Mandarin Oriental's Victorian facade, rich interiors and unrivalled location make it the ideal venue for a prestigious event. The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London event spaces, have staged everything from Royal banquets and weddings to intimate cocktail parties and world class meetings. Offering sophisticated technology and transforming the atmosphere with lighting and floristry, an event here is one to remember. With a diverse selection of beautiful function rooms all opulently decorated, guests from 10 - 400 are catered for in style.

Licensed to host a wedding ceremony or a lavish wedding reception, this venue has the wow factor. Overlooking Hyde Park, the stunning Mandarin Ballroom is where HM Queen Elizabeth II learned to dance with her sister. Now extensively restored, the Ballroom presents a visual feast of rich 24-carat gilding, breathtaking chandeliers and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. As well as its own entrance onto Knightsbridge, a private foyer and cloakrooms, the Ballroom also has an exclusive Royal Entrance onto Hyde Park. The only five star hotel in London to offer outdoor space with panoramic park views, the Mandarin Terrace adjoining the Ballroom is the perfect setting for a summer drinks reception. On request, personalised flags with the initials of the bride and groom will fly over the event entrance and every couple who book their wedding in the Mandarin Ballroom also receive a complimentary night in a Junior Suite at the hotel.

Also a striking venue for corporate events, the hotel's Carlyle room can cater for a large meeting or presentation for up to 60 while the Loggia offers a more intimate venue for up to 20 guests in boardroom style. The Asquith and Balfour rooms are ideal for meetings or private dining and come with the services of a personal butler as well as a private entrance. Offering the latest technology and equipment from state-of-the-art audio visual, to laptops, phones, WiFi and interpreters; high level business meetings here are conducted with ease.

English elegance and liberal luxury spill through the 169 bedrooms. Beds are laid with pure Irish linen and bathrooms are provided with Ormonde Jayne soaps and scents. Boasting 25 luxury suites of individual character, the hotel caters to the most discerning of guests. The Turret Suites on the top floors have superb views over Knightsbridge; others such as The Churchill or Aspley feature open marble fireplaces. The Royal Suite has been the London residence of many dignitaries, with a grand private terrace overlooking the park.

Bar Boulud restaurant features a French menu by Michelin starred Daniel Boulud as well as two stunning private dining rooms, each of which can accommodate up to 20 guests. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal has become a destination in its own right. With room for up to 10 people, "Dinner's" private dining room offers a unique and exclusive environment in which to enjoy its award-winning cuisine.

The hotel enjoys a long and prestigious history. Overlooking London's Hyde Park on one side and Knightsbridge on the other, the hotel building was originally created in 1889 as an exclusive 'Gentleman's Club'. The project, originally known as Hyde Park Court, was announced in August 1887 but was delayed by planning disagreements, the most notable dispute being the proposed height of the development, which was to be the tallest building in London. The dramatic skyline using red brick and Portland stone in an eclectic Franco-Flemish style. Loggias were built to provide space for a pleasant summer's evening lounge and promenade overlooking the park. Each of the first three floors was designed with four family suites and a bachelor's suite. The upper floors were planned as single residences of varying sizes; however, more than half the tenants occupied at least two or more suites.

The hotel opened its doors to the public as the Hyde Park Hotel in 1902. The palatial interior decoration and the use of marbles and gilding were years ahead of the best London hotels of the time. The hall, entered from Knightsbridge through swinging doors of carved walnut, was lined with coloured marble and had a frescoed ceiling, as well as a marble chimney-piece complete with a marble clock. Stairs of white marble flanked with balustrades led to the upper ground floor. This style of decoration continued in the principal communal rooms, including the breakfast and dining room overlooking Hyde Park.

As a private 'Gentleman's Club', the entrance to the building was through the Loggia, but in 1902, when it reopened as Hyde Park Hotel, the postal address had changed from Albert Gate to 66 Knightsbridge. Tradition has it that the Queen would not allow any form of advertising within the Park, and therefore insisted that the main entrance, with the hotel's name above it, be moved from the Park side to Knightsbridge. The Queen consequently mandated that the original entrance be preserved for Royal use, unless permission is otherwise granted by the Royal Household, which has been upheld ever since. The doors were opened during the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 when the Crown gave special permission for the guests to use the park entrance.

Today, guests of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London can still take part in this tradition of the hotel by requesting permission from the Royal Parks to use the 'Royal Entrance' for special occasions. Guests who have been granted access to this entrance include members of the Japanese Imperial family, former South African Premier General Hertzog, and a President of Uganda. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group purchased the Hyde Park Hotel in November 1996 and renamed it Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.