London is one of the most premium hotel markets in the world, though it’s a city that has surprisingly few luxury points hotel options. That’s slowly changing, though we’re having to be really patient, given constant construction delays.
In this post, I want to take an updated look at the most anticipated new Marriott property in London, which is now running a few years behind schedule.
In this post:
Westbury Mayfair Hotel will become St. Regis London
In February 2022, it was announced that Marriott signed a management agreement with Cola Holdings and the Westbury Hotel Limited to bring the St. Regis brand to London, with a 196-room hotel.
Specifically, the former Westbury Mayfair Hotel (which was a Marriott Luxury Collection property) is being rebranded as a St. Regis after an extensive $122 million redevelopment.
That’s a huge amount to spend, so this will be more than just a renovation — the hotel will be getting an eighth floor, plus the rear of the hotel will be extended, creating enhanced public areas, along with renovations to the facade of the building and the drop-off area outside the main entrance. Once completed, the hotel will feature a signature restaurant, speakeasy jazz bar, fitness center, and spa.
When plans for the St. Regis London were announced, we were told to expect an opening in 2023. Unfortunately that timeline didn’t stick, and the latest update is that the hotel is expected to open in spring 2026. Do any London locals who pass this area frequently have a sense of how construction is actually going, and if progress is being made?
I understand construction is complicated, but it’s kind of incredible how often hotels miss their opening deadline, and not just by a couple of months. So the project was initially supposed to take well under two years, but will now take well over four years, and that’s best case scenario?
While we’ll have to be patient for quite some time, this is a property I’m excited about. Personally St. Regis is my favorite Marriott Bonvoy brand, given that St. Regis honors elite perks better than Ritz-Carlton properties. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above can receive free breakfast at St. Regis properties, and can also use nightly upgrade awards.
As of now renderings of the property are limited, so I’m curious to see what this property looks like. With the amount of money being spent, it better be good!
This actually won’t be the first time that there’s a St. Regis property in London. In the early 2000s, The Lanesborough was branded as a St. Regis. However, in 2014 it rebranded, and joined Oetker Collection.
London’s luxury points hotel scene is improving
Fortunately it’s not just Marriott bringing one of its flagship luxury brands to London, as Hyatt and and Hilton are also opening new properties in London.
In late 2024, we saw the opening of the Park Hyatt London River Thames. Physically, the 203-room hotel looks quite nice, though the location leaves a bit to be desired, especially for a flagship property. It’s located in the One Nine Elms development, which is a mixed-use skyscraper, which doesn’t exactly have a central location.
Perhaps the most exciting points hotel coming to the city is the Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch. This 100-room property is expected to open in 2026, and will be located near Buckingham Palace, in a landmark that’s going to become a hotel for the first time.
Between Park Hyatt, St. Regis, and Waldorf Astoria, those of us who like redeeming points at luxury hotels in London should be happy campers in the next couple of years.
Bottom line
The St. Regis London is expected to open in the spring of 2026, representing a roughly three year delay over the initial timeline, which called for a 2023 opening. The former Westbury Mayfair Hotel is undergoing a significant redevelopment, including an expansion, and should reopen as a 196-room St. Regis.
What do you make of the upcoming St. Regis London?
The Park Hyatt in London has a great view from the rooms and is overall quite nice -- but as you said the location really sucks when you compare it to any of the Mayfair options for instance.
I need to disagree with your assessment of London Luxury hotels. From Category 6 upward, we have found the same diminishments as most hotels in the USA and London following Covid have done to their hotels.
The prices have increased dramatically, but for what, nothing added, but more taken away.
Luxury is only an illusion these days.
By the way, people I know around Heathrow said it was like Covid, nothing moving, no people around.
"Luxury is only an illusion these days."
Luxury at chain hotels is an illusion.
Do you know the cost of labor in London? Let alone the cost of living? These hotels struggle to staff at the level or standard necessary. The Marriott hotels in London and even Paris have almost uniformly outsourced housekeeping. The JW Marriott Grosvenor House was used temp staff as waiters and lounger attendants during my last stay. I stayed there 2-3...
"Luxury is only an illusion these days."
Luxury at chain hotels is an illusion.
Do you know the cost of labor in London? Let alone the cost of living? These hotels struggle to staff at the level or standard necessary. The Marriott hotels in London and even Paris have almost uniformly outsourced housekeeping. The JW Marriott Grosvenor House was used temp staff as waiters and lounger attendants during my last stay. I stayed there 2-3 times a year for about 8 years. I haven't returned in two years because the service has declined so much and I also learned the temp staff don't get any tips that guests give them.
To get the luxury 5-star experience, you probably have to pay a minimum of US$800-$1,000 per night. Minimum.
Typo
... was using temp staff as waiters and lounge attendants during my last stay.
That hotel was completely rebuilt only ?15 years ago.
ISTR that rebuild took years too.
Like the Mandarin, it will be an expensive hotel but it will not be a true luxury hotel. It will never match the service level of London's true luxury hotels. Those who know know. Those who don't don't.
I would be shocked if the St. Regis can compete against London's genuine luxury hotels. It will be nice, like the Park Hyatt, and it will also give Marriott a Bonvoy-participating 5-star hotel above the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, which for years operated more along the standards of a Ritz-Carlton, but I don't see it coming surpassing the more-established London luxury 5-star hotels.
With the amount of spend on this rebrand and reno, dollars to donuts the property becomes the latest rogue Marriott one to try to find an exception to the Plat breakfast
A greater reckoning is coming to hotel loyalty. Marriott's elite breakfast is on the cutting board for all properties. This "test" we're seeing is an omen of change. Just like certain Hyatt properties are dynamic.
Ben - from an aesthetic and classic luxury service standpoint, do you consider St Regis true top tier luxury?
I ask because, based on your pervious reviews, we're largely aligned on criteria for luxury properties. Your Airelles property review was spot on.
Concur that St Regis is the strongest Marriott luxury brand (for points). Attempting to assess it on a broader luxury scale.
This is a good question. It's like what constitutes First Class in the air.
Service is king for me. But a high-priced hotel room with lesser furnishings, design and offerings definitely glares in comparison to others.
I resent Hyatt (the only hotel group to whom I'm loyal) offering the bare minimum at Regency and Grand properties. And Andaz is like someone said "let's make it look like a luxury hotel room that was robbed."...
This is a good question. It's like what constitutes First Class in the air.
Service is king for me. But a high-priced hotel room with lesser furnishings, design and offerings definitely glares in comparison to others.
I resent Hyatt (the only hotel group to whom I'm loyal) offering the bare minimum at Regency and Grand properties. And Andaz is like someone said "let's make it look like a luxury hotel room that was robbed." Park Hyatts are widely inconsistent, to say the least.
Don't catch me praising Bonvoy but I appreciate St. Regis always having a great bar with solid drinks and incredible staff who can mitigate a family-wide meltdown in summer.
The Westbury was home to the Polo Bar - I really like the space and the vibe. While not really a St Regis brand, I hope they retain this in some way.
This property is in the middle of the shopping. I imagine it'll be popular with travellers from the Gulf.
Hopefully the 120 million addresses vibrations from the tube line running under the property.
If paying with points I suppose it is fine, but London has so many nice non-points hotels that will be better than the STR and WA & I always question how much to spend on a city hotel in the first place when you aren't there that much. Excited to see it open though.
Exactly! We favor the Lanesborough and Claridge's. Friends prefer the Goring. Considered the Dorchester, their property in Rome is very impressive. A dark horse favorite is the Shangri-La at The Shard - randomly got set up there one time and they did a smashing job.
It's the Marylebone Hotel for us. The Berkeley is also excellent, but on another level altogether.
Claridge's.
The St Regis & upcoming Waldorf-Astoria can be considered competitors, because they are more or less in the same area. With St Regis having almost 2x the room count, would you pick this over the Waldorf?
I'd imagine that the St Regis will become the go-to points hotel because of that room count allowing for more standard points redemptions. The Waldorf will most likely be extremely hard to get standard awards, and instead will be...
The St Regis & upcoming Waldorf-Astoria can be considered competitors, because they are more or less in the same area. With St Regis having almost 2x the room count, would you pick this over the Waldorf?
I'd imagine that the St Regis will become the go-to points hotel because of that room count allowing for more standard points redemptions. The Waldorf will most likely be extremely hard to get standard awards, and instead will be more commonly 300-400k points per night which turns so many of us away from Hilton.
All the reports I've heard about the Park Hyatt are that it's very well executed and the location isn't as bad as you make it out to be, as the Vauxhall Station is across the street and the Battersea Power Station is a very cool hub just down the street.
Remember the recent updates of dynamic pricing on some Marriott properties. I'll guess point prices will be Maldives-esque. It's the direction of things.
You should check out the Edition. It’s a wonderful property and Bonvoy.
I agree that amongst Edition hotels the London location does seem the most well executed. But my general feeling is that once you've seen one Edition hotel, you've seen them all. This is because of that strict design template they use for the rooms and, to a lesser degree, the public spaces.