COMO Metropolitan Hotel | COMO London

London is at its beautiful best in autumn. The Royal Parks are turning golden; the leaves hues of rust and red, and the paths are laced with the crunch of leaves. Hyde Park is indisputably one of the capital’s most scenic spots, and so, when we were invited to spend a night at the COMO London, a city centre hotel that boats unrivalled views over this London park, we jumped at the chance.

Lucy Pearson | Cover Image © COMO Metropolitan

A bubbly welcome at the COMO Metropolitan London. Image © Lucy Pearson

COMO London

Contents

Nestled down a side street off of London’s hugely sophisticated Park Lane, COMO Metropolitan location is unbeatable, and undoubtedly one of the key attractions for visitors. After all, what could be better than waking up to expansive views of Hyde Park in the early morning autumn sun? A stone’s throw from Hyde Park Corner tube, the address is one of London’s most coveted, and guests are in a prime location for exploring London’s main attractions – from shopping on Knightsbridge’s stylish streets, to afternoon tea at London landmark The Ritz, to pounding the pavements of several of the city’s most beautiful parks.

The rooms at COMO Metropolitan fuse classic with modern chic. Image © Lucy Pearson

A Luxury Urban Escape

Our room was bathed in sunlight from its panoramic views across Hyde Park. Cleverly fusing contemporary with classic, the rooms were urban and stylish; sleek and minimalistic. Wonderfully generous in size, the bedroom had a king-sized bed with crisp white linen and touchscreen controls that did everything from operating the flat screen TV to closing the blinds. The long walnut desk and contemporary art offered an elegant edge, while the mini bar was equipped with everything you could want from a cosy night in, from coconut water to crisps.

The generous seating area in our room at COMO Metropolitan London. Image © Lucy Pearson

The bathroom features the type of rainfall shower that makes leaving almost impossible, and is well stocked with COMO Shambhala products; perfect for imagining you’re in some far-flung exotic destination. No sooner had we settled in out room than a bottle of bubbles on ice and a bowl of fresh fruit was sent to our room, and we enjoyed a glass of champagne and strawberries as my enjoyed a stunning sun set over Hyde Park.

Lucy enjoying the view over London’s iconic Hyde Park at COMO Metropolitan. Image © Lucy Pearson

Yoga, Meditation and Wellness

In keeping with the holistic ethos behind the COMO chain, health and wellness are both an integral and integrated part of any stay at COMO London. Offering guests an urban sanctuary in the heart of the city, rooms come equipped with yoga mats and bespoke yoga and meditation programs to guide guests through either an asana practice or meditation. The dedicated meditation channel offers both a morning and evening session created by resident expert Jody Shield to help guests energise for the day ahead or unwind for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Set up for in-room yoga with hotel supplied mats and their bespoke yoga program at COMO Metropolitan London. Image © Lucy Pearson

The yoga channel offers guests a healthy way to either end one’s day or kick-start a morning. We set out our yoga mats for some downward dogging as the early morning light flooded the room, and it was certainly a memorable way in which to begin our day. It’s the touches like this that really set COMO apart from other hotels, and it’s the ease with which guests can encompass an element of health and wellness that make any stay with COMO unique. There is also a state-of-the-art gym at the hotel which guests are able to access 24 hours a day with a team of on site fitness experts offering both personal training and private yoga classes. Post work-out guests can enjoy the Chroma steam rooms as a perfect way to relax after a cardio or weight lifting session.

The 24-hour COMO Metropolitan London is state of the art. Image © Lucy Pearson

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape is the perfect place to spend an afternoon after a busy day of shopping in central London. Image © Lucy Pearson

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape

Shortly after our arrival, I made my way to the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape for an indulgent 105-minute facial. The on site spa has a dedicated retail space, with COMO Shambala products for sale, as well as the hotel chain’s COMO Shambhala Cook Book; full of healthy recipes for anyone wanting to recreate the foodie fare they sample while staying at COMO London. They have a wide range of treatments on offer, with everything from facials to massages to foot baths and beyond, and I enjoyed one of their bespoke Guinot facials. After a consultation with one of the therapists, in which we discussed my skin concerns and needs, my skin was cleansed, toned and moisturised with an array of Guinot products, leaving me with refreshed and revitalised skin. The facial offered the perfect amount of pressure to my tired and sun-worn skin, and the various techniques the therapist used, left it feeling immediately plumper and rehydrated. I was recommended not to wear any make up for the rest of the day, and so after enjoying a cup of herbal tea, retreated to my room for a quiet night in.

The incredible treatment space at COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, London. Image © Lucy Pearson

A Superior Dining Experience

The food at COMO London is an experience in itself, and ranges from the height of sophisticated indulgence, to the ultimate in healthy fare. The hotel features a number of dining options, from the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Nobu, to the Met Bar which continues to be a cult classic featuring a unique cocktail menu and classic British cuisine served all day.

They also offer the healthful COMO Shambhala menu; boasting organically and locally sourced produce where possible, which is inspired by the living foods tradition. The specially developed COMO Shambhala Cuisine emphasises on a perfectly balanced mix of raw and cooked ingredients which ensures all food maintains the nutritional integrity of the ingredients such as essential enzymes, vitamins and minerals and allows you to benefit from their ‘life force’, thus increasing energy and general wellbeing. The food has a farm to fork approach, looks great, and tastes delicious. We ordered in room dining from the COMO Shambala menu, and chose the Raw Butternut pumpkin and macadamia nut pizza with tomato, avocado, mango & basil alongside the rye bread with avocado, vine ripened tomatoes, rocket and lime. Both our meals were beautifully presented, and tasted just as good as they looked. We then went through the evening meditation session, which offered the perfect way in which to end our night at COMO.

Farm to fork fare at its best at COMO Metropolitan London with a Raw Butternut pumpkin and macadamia nut pizza with tomato, avocado, mango & basil. Image © Lucy Pearson

For breakfast, we dined in the White Room, with views overlooking Hyde Park. A huge variety of food options are available, from Continental to English breakfasts, as well as an a la carte menu, and COMO Shambala options for those wanting a healthy start to their day. We shared the Zucchini rosti with smoked salmon, lemon scented ricotta cheese and dill (from the Shambala menu) and the Ricotta hotcakes with fresh banana almond chocolate sauce and salted caramel. To drink we tried the Muscle Mylk smoothie, said to speed recovery and reduce muscle. With banana, young coconut water, coconut meat, cinnamon, almond milk, flax seeds, dates and cocoa beans it was an idyllic sweet treat. The food tasted just as good as it looked, and provided the perfect fuel for a morning walk through Hyde Park.

The ultimate urban retreat, COMO Metropolitan is a luxurious sanctuary offering an unbeatable London location, away from the smog of the city. A holistic experience that will leave you refreshed, revitalised, satiated and zen, COMO Metropolitan is one of London’s hidden havens and a dream destination for anyone on a city break.