The Prince Akatoki: A luxurious sanctuary in the heart of London

Like many Aussies this year, my husband and I decided to jet off and enjoy a Euro summer, and while we didn't have long to spend in London, we certainly had a memorable stay thanks to the team at the Prince Akatoki.

After being forced to wait two hours for our luggage to arrive at the baggage carousel at the airport, we were feeling a little annoyed and less than impressed. This all dissipated, however, when we arrived at the hotel in London's Marylebone.

The hotel is nestled among a row of smart townhouses and looks quite unassuming, but when we entered the lobby of the Japanese-inspired hotel, we were instantly calmer. The Prince Akatoki also has a signature scent, which is a combination of Bergamot, Juniper Berries and five other notes – it's beautiful, of course, just like the rest of the hotel.

The room

After checking in and being taken to our room, we were stunned by what we found waiting for us. 'Room' is probably not the right word as we were lucky enough to be staying in a Studio Suite, which my husband described as bigger than our apartment back home.

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The studio featured a huge bedroom, with a small living area, kitchenette and large bathroom with two sinks, which was a dream come true after staying in very cramped hotel rooms throughout the trip. We were also greeted with a tray of sweets to welcome us to the hotel, which went down a treat with the tea on offer in the kitchen. The hotel also gives those staying in their studios access to free soft drinks in the mini-bar, which was a nice surprise.

After a long day of travelling, one of my favourite parts of the room, however, was the bath, which had a TV screen that you could watch while relaxing – it also had a little pillow in the tub, which made the experience even better.

The large rain shower was just as luxurious, and I loved the scents of the MALIN+GOETZ toiletries – the rum hand + body wash was divine. The hotel's robes were also the softest we'd come across during our time in Europe, and they just felt incredibly luxe.

Given it's a Japanese-inspired hotel, you will also find a smart toilet in the bathroom – it certainly gave me a bit of a surprise as it kept opening its lid every time you walked past!

We loved the wooden floors, the calming lighting and the interiors. While I haven't been to Japan, I was assured I'd probably never experience a room of this size over there, so it felt even more special.

OK, now the most important part of the room – the bed. I can safely say that this was the comfiest bed of our entire stay, and I was very sad to have to leave in the morning, as I'd had possibly the best sleep of the entire trip there.

Eat and drink

The Malt Lounge serves rare spirits, with many being from Japan, and they have a very cool service that allows you to use a locker and store a bottle there to enjoy throughout your stay in case you want to savour a certain spirit. A very cool spot if you love Japanese whiskey!

There are plenty of options when it comes to dining in London, however, you would be making a huge mistake if you didn't try the hotel's restaurant TOKII during your stay.

The restaurant is open to guests and non-guests, so feel free to visit, even if you don't get the chance to stay at the hotel!

Here, you'll find plenty of mouthwatering options from sushi, skewers, ramen, and so much more.

Other experiences and features

If you're keen to learn the art of sushi-making, you can do so with the hotel's Sushi Masterclass from Friday to Monday at 3pm, make sure to chat with the hotel to reserve your spot! You can also try your hand at other activities, such as calligraphy, Furoshiki, or Japanese origami workshops.

The hotel gym also features premium equipment, like a Peloton bike, and the hotel's concierge can also organise local fitness classes, personal training and other services for you.

Perhaps, most importantly for some, the hotel is also pet-friendly! So, if you're travelling with your furry friend, you can bring them with you!

You will also find that you're about a five-minute walk to the Marble Arch tube stop, which is so convenient!

Yahoo Lifestyle was a guest of The Prince Akatoki.

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