24 Hours in Park Lane: A guide to Mayfair’s finest shopping destination

Picture this: you have 24 hours to spend in Park Lane. With so many different options to choose from — whether it is picking a luxury hotel to stay in or finding the best destinations to shop — it can be quite an overwhelming decision to make. 

In Tempus’s exclusive new 24 Hours series, we have scoured the capital for the most exceptional, interesting and fun things to do the next time you find yourself with a day to spare in one of London’s most luxurious neighbourhoods.

Here, we will guide you through some of London’s — and beyond — most exciting and affluent neighbourhoods, exploring interesting things to do along with the best places to stay, dine and shop. 

This series is a celebration of some of the most prestigious areas of this city – and what better place to kick start this journey than in Park Lane? We explore Mayfair’s finest shopping destination, experience fine dining courtesy of Wolfgang Puck and discover one of London’s best year-round entertainment landmarks. Here’s the best way to spend 24 Hours in Park Lane.

Related: Wolfgang Puck on British cuisine and childhood favouritesStay: The Dorchester

Nothing says Park Lane more than The Dorchester. Part of the Dorchester Collection — and having recently undergone a beautiful renovation — this hotel is the pinnacle of Park Lane luxury. From the moment you enter the hotel to the second you leave it, you will be met with incredible hospitality. 

Whether your time is spent lounging in luxurious suites (think deep marble bathtubs, gorgeous mirrored cabinets and restful prints and hues) with views of Hyde Park or unwinding at the hotel’s brand new spa, there is plenty to explore inside the walls of one of the capital’s grand dame hotels. Not to mention the level of hospitality delivered by each member of staff: from the Vesper Bar to The Grill by Tom Booton — where they serve a mean eggs benedict, FYI — expect, simply, the best of the best. This hotel is the very definition of luxury living.Dine: Bar 45 and CUT at 45 Park Lane

Just a two minute walk from The Dorchester, Bar 45 at 45 Park Lane is a Tempus favourite. With chic interiors and even better drinks (don’t miss this bar’s unique takes on the negroni), this is a great place to enjoy a few cocktails before heading down to the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, CUT at 45 Park Lane. Created by Wolfgang Puck, this is one of London’s premier steak houses, with mouth-watering dishes like the black pepper lobster, rib eye steak and creamed spinach on the menu. 

CUT at 45 Park Lane is a sophisticated twist on American steakhouse culture, and also features some amazing seafood dishes in case red meat is not your preferred choice. The hotel also usually has an artist exhibition displayed on their walls, which guests can peruse at leisure. If you’re on the lookout for the most luxurious fine dining experience from one of the biggest names in the culinary world, it truly doesn’t get better than CUT at 45 Park Lane.

Related: Review — An unparalleled Japanese kaiseki experience at Umu Restaurant, MayfairShop: Mount Street

No visit to Park Lane is complete without exploring the luxury shopping hub that is Mount Street. Here, you will find streets lined up with boutiques and stores of some of the biggest names in high fashion and haute horology. Whether you’re in the market for Jenny Packham, Oscar de la Renta, Balmain or Christian Louboutin, you will find stores with the best of high fashion here. 

Beyond fashion, you can also indulge in the much sought-after face and body treatments at Dr Barbara Sturm and Omorovicza; grab a bite to eat at local favourites Scott’s or Delfino’s; or check out the many incredible art galleries like Gagosian or Sylvia Kovali, showcasing works from some of the best up and coming artists on the scene.Explore: Hyde Park

While you can choose to continue exploring the many wonderful cafes and galleries of Mount Street, the vast expanse of Hyde Park has something to offer throughout the year. Whether it is the BST Hyde Park music festival in the summer — this year featuring performances by some of the biggest names in music including Stevie Nicks and SZA — to the ever-popular Winter Wonderland from mid-November to early January, there is never a dull moment at this public space. 

The park also has a lot of heritage to discover, including Speaker’s Corner, where radicals and revolutionaries from Karl Marx to George Orwell have come to have their say. Other highlights include Serpentine Lake and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. And if you’d like to spend some low-key hours walking your dog, going for a run or lounging around reading a book, Hyde Park can be — perhaps surprisingly, given its central location and size — an oasis of calm. A perfect place to unwind and pause for a little bit before venturing back into the hustle and bustle of London.

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