New kid on the square: A magnificent new hotel opens in London

It is the first new-build structure in Mayfair in over a decade.

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair.

By Akash Arora

Updated April 1, 2025, first published June 26, 2024

Located on Hanover Square, it is the first new-build structure in Mayfair in over a decade.

History meets modernity at the second Mandarin Oriental in London. Located on Hanover Square, one of the city's most distinguished nooks, the hotel is the first new-build structure in fabled Mayfair for more than a decade. Renowned British firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is behind the striking facade with stainless steel, glass and burnt red bricks - a nod to the timeless Georgian terraces that surround the hotel.

But it is inside the property where the true magic unfolds. Hand-painted silk wallpapers with flowering magnolia patterns set the scene in the hotel's 50 guestrooms and suites, while natural elements of wind, water, earth and fire inspire the interiors of various dining spaces, including well-known chef Akira Back's eponymous Japanese restaurant. A luxe spa and a stunning indoor pool complete the picture, and when it's time to explore London, some of the most happening spots - from Oxford Circus to Regent Street - are just out the door. mandarinoriental.com

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Words byAkash Arora

Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.

My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.

Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.

My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.