With the holiday season coming up, if you’re anything like me you’ll be looking forward to Christmas markets and winter light displays that London is so famous for. But after all that exploring, you’ll need somewhere convenient to rest your head. We’ve got an idea; meet Hyde & Seek - (perhaps obviously) located just by Hyde Park on the Bayswater side.
Taking over what was Corus Hotel and before that, seven gorgeous Victorian townhouses, Hyde & Seek opened in September 2026 following a £42 million makeover. From looking online, it showed great promise and stood out due to its playful, mischievous spirit, but we had to stop by to check it out for ourselves.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Hyde & Seek London
You can't help but admire the bright and airy Seekers restaurant (and the hearty but inventive menu).
Need To Know:
- Address: 1 Lancaster Gate, W2 3LG
- Area: Central London
- Hotel Type: boutique
- Transport: Lancaster Gate tube is the nearest (roughly five minutes away) but Paddington is a ten minute stroll from Hyde & Seek which is handy for the Elizabeth Line, including Heathrow
- Attractions Close By: Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park (for Winter Wonderland), Little Venice and Serpentine Galleries
Ambience & We Think Perfect For:
- Atmosphere: from the outside, it gave me serious Bridgerton Regency feels, but once we stepped through the doors, we were met with stylish, colourful interiors with a boho, Moroccan-style finish. The reception area, leading into the bar and restaurant space, had a friendly, buzzy air to it, with a flurry of excited guests checking in
- Perfect For: couples enjoying a fun weekend getaway in London
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: half board rates for a Sunday in November, including breakfast and a three-course dinner, came in at approx. £350. You can see this listed as 'The Curious Table Dining Offer'
Rest your legs after a day's sightseeing in a superior room (pictured above).
Room Quality & Comfort
Room: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Each of the 309 rooms, including ‘Townhouse’ suites, follow a similar design to downstairs, with some even boasting views of Hyde Park. Our superior room had stunning, illuminated tall ceilings, massive windows and a column that not only nicely divided the space but housed a super-sized TV that we watched in bed. As for the palette, expect neutral tones alongside pops of colour like orange or teal, paired with patterned cushions and geometric rugs. Our room was so grand, it even had its own set of stairs.
What I loved most were the modern touches, for example a bathroom mirror that had a head-height section that didn’t steam up after showering, and I hope I’m not revealing too much here, but a heated, self-cleaning toilet that you commonly see in Japan.
In terms of how we slept? Very soundly indeed, considering you’re near a main road, and woke feeling energised for the day ahead.
Dining Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The in-house restaurant Seekers is a destination in its own right, promising refined British fare (with a twist, as you’ll soon discover) at reasonable prices. We sat inside the pretty, airy conservatory with a window table right opposite Hyde Park. Even though it was a little quiet when we visited, there was still an enjoyable atmosphere and the service we received was amazing; providing thoughtful recommendations that were completely spot on.
Psst... make sure to check out the whole menu section dedicated to potatoes.
- Fenland pumpkin – a circle of earthy root vegetable that had the right amount of bite, revealing an absolutely incredible Maltaise dressing that had bags of flavour, especially with the hit of Tobasco at the end. The perfectly salted quail egg bon bons added texture, so overall this beautifully presented starter delivered on all fronts.
- Hertfordshire chicken and tarragon pie – cooked fresh to order (so may take a little time), the chef managed to stuff a lot of delicious meat into this golden-hued mini, plus the balance of tarragon was just right for us (on the stronger side). But the best bit? The silky, mustard velouté served on the side; it was basically drinkable.
- Seekers’ wagyu beef burger - my dinner date chose to upgrade to olive-fed wagyu for this stacked main, bringing together layers of refreshing tomato, a giant gherkin, smoked cheese, crispy onion and to our delight, a fried egg. If anything, we would have loved a bit more patty, but this plate was still knockout.
- Roasted Kentish hispi cabbage – if you thought this humble vegetable didn’t have what it takes to be a flavour-packed main, you’d be wrong. I adored the wonderful char, a well-rounded sweet pepper relish and moreish Saffron garlic aioli. Now, I'm not normally one for fennel seeds but this gave the dish a great crunch. Unfortunately, I couldn’t detect much jalapeno that was mentioned on the menu but this didn’t detract from how much I loved this vegan main.
- Brie brûlée – after a new take on the classic? This pud effortlessly balanced chunks of buttery cheese with a caramelised demure sugar crust, plus the red grapes provided freshness. It’s not as savoury as you might expect – showing the skill of the chef.
Make sure to order a quirky cocktail off the menu (check out the smoke above), plus the English breakfast had us full to bursting.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Mrs Seek (£18.50) – theatrically presented with an iridescent bubble on top, this sweet sip brought together tart rhubarb syrup, a quinine-flavored aperitif wine, vodka and a dash of lemon. A 10/10 from me.
- Moss & Myth (£15) – going off the booze? Make a beeline for this bubbly little number, mixing up homemade basil and cucumber cordial that had wonderful herby notes with soda and two different 0% botanical spirits (similar in taste to gin).
Breakfast: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We were back down in Seekers for a buffet breakfast, included in our room rate, and let's just say they mean business when it comes to the most important meal of the day. Alongside all the usual, here you'll find chestnut mushrooms that have a chilli kick, paprika-topped hummus, yoghurt decorated in flowers and a tasty honey granola cereal. My favourites were the super crispy hash browns. They were so good, I went back three times for more. Finally, don't skip on the huge, creamy lattes too, they'll even make one to-go if you're in a hurry.
Our Overall Experience At Hyde & Seek London
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Needless to say we had a lovely stay here, and you can’t deny they’ve paid a lot of attention to everything from the attractive decor to state-of-the-art technology, with the hotel’s cheeky character shining through at every touchpoint. The location is perfect for a weekend break in London, plus service was genuinely impeccable and they clearly want each guest to have the best time. Would we return? Absolutely.
