It begins with a tree. Not the kind you buy from a market, but a sculptural moment that commands the lobby at 45 Park Lane with calm confidence. This year’s Artist’s Tree comes from British sculptor Ian Turnock, whose work finds its rhythm in the hidden structures of nature. His evergreen Normann Fir stands tall, dressed with metal details that catch the light in slow, mesmerising shifts. Walk past it and the shadows seem to move with you. It turns winter into something meditative.
Turnock’s vision draws on the solstice and the gentle tilt from darkness toward light. The result feels alive, a tree that holds the room without ever shouting for attention. It fits the hotel perfectly. Art is woven through every inch of 45 Park Lane, so this installation feels less like decoration and more like another thoughtful gesture within the space.
Upstairs, the rooms and suites look out over a quieter Hyde Park. The hotel leans into the season with stockings, small festive touches and an atmosphere that makes you tempted to stay inside all day. Mornings can begin with a slow swim or breakfast in bed with the park stretching out beneath the window. By afternoon, the pull of Sushi Kanesaka becomes very real. Evenings often end at BAR 45 with a winter cocktail and the warm glow of Turnock’s tree below.
For anyone wanting the full festive treatment, the seasonal offering includes an overnight stay, welcome cocktails, a treat on arrival and credit to spend either in the spa or across the restaurants. It feels like an invitation to settle in rather than a simple turn down service.
The celebrations play out across the season. Thanksgiving arrives first, with CUT at 45 Park Lane serving a three-course feast created by executive chef Elliott Grover. The menu blends British ingredients with American classics. Roasted heritage pumpkin soup, USDA prime beef tartare, Norfolk Bronze turkey and sides that invite no restraint. Dessert is a selection of pies that reward enthusiasm. Prices start at £210.
Christmas Day brings a four-course menu that reads like a polished celebration. Norfolk Bronze turkey with all the festive trimmings sits alongside Japanese A5 Kagoshima beef, Cornish Dover sole and spaghetti with Native Blue Lobster. Dessert keeps the pace with dark chocolate souffle, Basque cheesecake, a Dubai inspired chocolate bar and a sticky toffee Christmas pudding that refuses to apologise for its richness. Prices start at £400.
New Year’s Eve closes the season with an a la carte menu at CUT. Expect standout beef, refined seafood and bright desserts, all paired naturally with Champagne. It is an elegant way to see out the year without stepping into anything chaotic.
What makes 45 Park Lane feel so special in December is the balance it strikes. The hotel is bold by nature but the season softens its edges. You get the buzz of Mayfair with the stillness of Hyde Park at your window and art in every direction. And at the centre of it all sits Turnock’s tree, glowing gently, holding the whole Christmas edit together with surprising quiet.
@45parklane | dorchestercollection.com
45 Park Ln, London W1K 1PN
