London Hilton on Park Lane

The London Hilton on Park Lane is a hotel situated on Park Lane, overlooking Hyde Park in the exclusive Mayfair district of London. It is 100 m tall, has 28 storeys and 453 rooms including 56 suites.

History
The hotel opened as the London Hilton on 17 April 1963. It is a concrete-framed building, designed by William B. Tabler, an American architect who designed numerous Hilton hotels. The building was the first skyscraper hotel to be built in London, containing more than 500 bedrooms and six restaurants.

On 24 August 1967, the Beatles met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at the Hilton and subsequently went to Uttar Pradesh with him in order to meditate.

On 5 September 1975, the London Hilton was the target of an IRA bomb which killed two people and injured 63 others.

During the 1990s, the Pools Panel met each Saturday in a meeting room in the hotel.

A fire broke out in the hotel on 1 July 2011. There were no fatalities or injuries, and damage was limited to a few of the lower floors.

The London Hilton Park Lane served as the Olympic Family Hotel during the 2012 London Olympics, hosting members of the International Olympic Committee and other dignitaries attending the 2012 Games.

The hotel is also the site of the death of the Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan on 15 January 2018, aged 46. She had drowned in her room's bathtub after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.

On March 2022, London Hilton on Park Lane to announced the appointment of the hotel’s new General Manager, Matthew Mullan. With his appointment to oversee extensive renovations and changes with in the Hotel.

On 28 November 2022, Trader Vic's Worldwide announced the closure of their oldest running location inside the London Hilton Park Lane. This sparked an online campaign to reverse the Hilton's decision, due to the valuable Polynesian interior that predated the hotel. The campaign was led by an online petition which received over 7500 signatures, and an Instagram page. There was also a community Facebook group. Many celebrities became involved with the campaign, including presenter Jonathan Ross, and filmmaker Edgar Wright who both made statements in support of keeping the restaurant open. The restaurant closed on 31 December 2022 with no comment from the Hilton regarding the campaign.

On April 2023, the Hotel closed the WYLD night club at the site formerly known as Drama Park Lane and Whisky Mist.

On July 2023, it was announced that Paramount and Channel 5 commissioned “Inside The Hilton On Park Lane”, a docuseries featuring exclusive access to the prestigious London hotel. Produced by Wonderhood Studios, the 4 x 60-minute series goes behind the scenes at the hotel as it undergoes a multi-million-pound renovation. It was screened on Channel 5 on the 7th April 2024 to 28th April 2024.

On 15 March 2024 the hotel's former Business Development Director Jubilee Jenna Mandl was charged at Westminster Magistrates' Court with fraud and money laundering charges. It is alleged that between 1 January 2022 and 16 February 2024 she had committed fraud up to the value of £549,292. A hearing is planned later in 2024.

On the 28th April 2024, London Hilton on Park Lane closed Galvin at Window and the 10 degrees bar.

In September 2024, The Entourage Group will open its first UK branch of the Mr Porter steakhouse brand at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Originating from a restaurant in Amsterdam, Mr Porter has expanded from its initial location at Amsterdam’s W Hotel to its first London site. The new venue will replace the Old Trader Vic's at the Hilton, featuring a main bar, wine library, chef’s table, and open kitchen.

In June 2024, it was announced that Shanghai Me, a restaurant with locations in Dubai and Doha, would take over the rooftop restaurant and bar space at the London Hilton on Park Lane, following the closure of the Galvin Brothers' restaurant after an 18-year tenure. The new restaurant will feature a 1930s Shanghai design and a Pan-Asian menu, including dishes like lobster with Singapore sauce, sushi platters, Cantonese roast duck, and Mongolian lamb chops. Shanghai Me is known for high-end offerings such as roast duck with foie gras and caviar, and a Wagyu sub.

Popular Culture
The London Hilton on Park Lane, when first built, was frequently regarded as a modern landmark of its era known as the London Hilton. It was prominently referenced in popular culture during that time.

In the 1974 The Forever War by Joe Haldeman the main character William Mandella, took a leisure cruise in a "Dirigible" a floating hotel which crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days and docked atop the London Hilton.

The mention of the London Hilton on Park Lane in Only Fools and Horses appears in the episode titled "A Royal Flush," which is the Christmas special of 1986. In this episode, Del Boy attempts to integrate Rodney into high society after Rodney starts dating a young woman named Vicky, whose family is quite wealthy. During one of the scenes, Del Boy makes a reference to staying at the London Hilton on Park Lane, trying to impress Vicky's aristocratic family and fit into their world of affluence.

A scene for The Crown was filmed in Trader Vic's used as a back drop for one of the destination of the fictional Prince Charles during one of his international scenes. The scene was ultimately cut from the series.

The post credit scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home of Eddie Brock drinking in a bar was filmed in the Trader Vic's a bar which was located in the basement.

Tragic Incidents
Due to its height and prominent areas there has been several tragic incident located at the London Hilton on Park Lane that spans over several years:

In October 1992, Darren Newton died from a failed BASE jumping attempt from the top of the London Hilton on Park Lane.

In September 2000, Alastair Morris was found dead on the pavement, having jumped from the 25th floor.

In September 2001, Ajay Goyal, a director of a cosmetics company, jumped to his death from the 14th floor of the hotel.

After the Goyal incident, Hilton said that it had "permanently" locked all bedroom balcony doors. A spokesman said this week: "Security is of utmost importance to Hilton. All windows can only be opened by five inches, and balconies can only be opened if there is more than one registered guest in the room."

In September 2002, Jason Kiernan, suffering from psychological illness, jumped to his death from the 25th floor. His suicide note was found outside his room.

On September 21, 2007, a tragic incident occurred at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, London. A man in his 20s fell to his death from the 19th floor after a three-hour standoff with police negotiators. Emergency services responded to reports of the man standing on a ledge early in the morning, after the man had broken a window to gain access to the ledge. Despite efforts by negotiators to prevent the fall, the man landed on the roof of a second-floor building and was pronounced dead shortly afterward. A post-mortem examination was scheduled to determine the cause of death. Police did not disclose the man's identity or details regarding the circumstances leading to his fall.

In April 2012, Darren Liddle, a Credit Suisse employee, died by suicide from the 19th floor due to work-related stress and substance abuse issues.

In March 2014, an unidentified man fell from the 28th floor. Despite efforts, police were unable to identify him, though his Oyster card suggested connections to South London.

These incidents have prompted the Hilton to implement stricter security measures, including permanently locking balcony doors and limiting window openings, in efforts to prevent further tragedies.