When You Get 'Heathrow'd'Skip the Airport Hotel and Stay Here - Review: The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel

I spent the final night of my three-week journey stretching Brazil, South Africa, and London at The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Buckinghamshire. This hotel was not part of my original plans. Instead, I fell victim to Travel Armageddon 2024 - the worldwide saga kicked off by some enterprising intern pushing a fix to production at a global cybersecurity company, which managed to take down a major operating system affecting computers and networks worldwide. Perhaps you've heard of it? Nevertheless, my travel woes have a happy ending, as this unexpected delay resulted in a wonderful stay at the Langley—a classic example of lemons into lemonade. Let's jump into it. 

(Note: I've linked all the other reviews from this trip at the end of this article.)

Booking The Langley

I lucked out with the Langley. After spending what felt like an eternity sorting out the rebooking of our flight back home for the following day, I found myself squatting in a corner of Heathrow's Terminal 5, scrolling through the World of Hyatt app. Coming up empty, I turned to the Bonvoy. Just when I was about to give up, I spotted a rogue search result amidst the array of airport hotels of what appeared to be a large countryside estate, lol. Map view indicated The Langley - a Luxury Collection Property was close by - less than eight miles away. To make matters even better, the property showed availability for a room on points for that night for 82,000 points, which would be a great use of the Free Night Award I receive from being a Ritz Carlton Credit Card holder. Booked.

Getting In, Location and Check-in

Pulling up to the Langley is a fun experience, if not a bit dramatic. Located within Langley Park Country Park, your final approach to the estate will take you down a long paved road, passing fields that used to be old medieval deer parks on both sides. As you clear the guard booth, the main house awaits, almost imposingly.

A quick trip around the driveway's roundabout, and you're deposited at the front door. 

It takes 22 minutes to get to the hotel from Heathrow, a reliable timeline as 'there is rarely any traffic between the hotel at the airport,' according to the driver who took us back to the airport the following day. FWIW, there's a project in development to bring a direct rail connection between Slough and Heathrow's Terminal 5 station, making stopovers at the Langley even more accessible. 

Stepping inside the lobby is like strolling through the halls of the portrait wing at the National Gallery.

The floor has original mosaic tiling, and the walls are adorned with paintings of various Dukes and other noblemen. 

The check-in experience was one of the best I've ever had in that I was offered the opportunity to select my room, after touring three choices. At the time of my stay, I was a Platinum Elite, a far cry from my year as an Ambassador. Accordingly, I wasn't expecting a shot at an upgrade, so getting a guided tour of the whole property and three rooms was quite a surprise. 

Vibe and Hotel Decor 

If you're a fan of all things old English, you'll likely enjoy your stay here. The estate has a long history of aristocratic ownership (though it's now owned by the Buckinghamshire Council and leased to Marriott), and it is on display throughout the property. 

In guestrooms and suites, the walls of the stairwells, tableside in common areas, and throughout the dining outlets - there's no shortage of relics highlighting hunting scenes, 18th-century battles, and old English regalia.

If you spent enough time here, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the characters in the portraits hopped off the wall to tell you that 'one time they almost speared the boar while giving chase atop 'Wilbur' his most-trusted Palfrey, but ended up catching a mean one in the rear' instead. 

The bottom line is that if you enjoy period pieces about British aristocracy, you'll be at home here. 

The Grounds

Where the Langley shines is with its grounds and amenities. Great lawns, gardens, and an arboretum surround the entire estate. The 'countryside' aspect of the property is front and center, and you can spend hours strolling through the high grasses, lounging in your robe next to the pond, birdwatching (there was some unique sparrow, I believe?), and greeting the resident cows.

The views of the estate from the grounds are stunning.  

Behind the main house, you'll find a sleek outdoor pool, tennis courts, a kids' play area, and a croquet court. 

If croquet is not your fancy, you can play ping pong, giant Jenga, mega chess or checkers, on the estate patio while you watch cattle graze in the distance.

And then there are the resident stars of the property: Cinnamon and Nutmeg, two pigmy goats holding down the petting farm.

It's a Spice World, and we're all just living in it!

Amenities

Not to be forgotten are the lavish amenities inside the estate, particularly the spa, wet area, and fitness center. 

The hotel's wet area was a delight—certainly one of the strongest I've seen. It includes an indoor heated pool, a hot tub, a steam room, and a hammam.

Within the women's locker room, there's also a dedicated wet area with a hot tub, sanarium, and rose steam room. Shout to Mrs. Blackbeard for the assist!

There's an equally impressive fitness center to help you stay active during your visit. No matter your routine, there's the equipment you need—current and maintained Technogym strength and cardio machines, Woodway treadmills, spin bikes, Pelotons, punching bags, free weights, a sled, bars and racks for heavy lifting—you name it. 

There was even this Prama interactive circuit training unit I'd never seen before.

While I didn't receive a service, the spa looked inviting and offered several premium services. 

The Rooms

The Langley has 41 rooms, split between the main house and the brew house. Of the three rooms we toured, we opted for a deluxe room in the main house, as it had the most light. 

Our cozy room offered great views of the property's back lawns. A touchscreen information guide provides general hotel information, service requests, and the room service menu.

The comfortable bed made for restful sleep. The elegant bathroom featured a deep soaking tub, a rain shower, waffle robes, and Noble Isle bath products.

Though we didn't opt to stay there, the brew house has its own charm, and I'm sure staying there would be just as comfortable. 

Dining 

The food was solid overall, though we didn't sit for a full lunch or dinner at Cedar - the hotel's main restaurant. Instead, we opted for a room service dinner and the elite breakfast the following day. Guests can also enjoy afternoon tea at the Drawing Room and cocktails and cigars at the Churchill Bar.

The bar is named for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who, yes, is an ancestor of Winston Churchill and is also the father of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough, and grandfather of George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough. The father and son Dukes are the former owners of the property responsible for commissioning and overseeing, respectively, the construction of the manor's main building.

After getting settled in and exploring the grounds, we weren't keen on going down to the dining room and decided to split two entrees and an app—fish and chips, a Margherita pizza, and nachos to start. The entrees were good, better than the nachos, which were a lot bigger than we were expecting and a little heavy-handed. 

Breakfast was a strong showing. Bonvoy elite members, Platinum and above, receive complimentary continental breakfast, though you can opt for the countryside breakfast for a £5 upcharge. I had to go with the full English here, and it didn't disappoint, particularly with the obligatory mimosas with the gooseberry garnish. 

Service

Service was A-1; as mentioned earlier, it started from the jump. After the property walkthrough and the opportunity to tour and select our room from a few options (Shout out to Chris!), my interactions with the staff weren't too frequent.

That said, between our room service order, breakfast experience, and a few sidebar conversations while awaiting our transport, the team was very affable and engaging. 

Though I didn't partake personally, I did learn that the property offers complimentary car service to the nearby train station. From there, you can get to London quickly. If you travel in the opposite direction, you can connect with the National Rail network, which can take you anywhere you want to go in the UK. Thus, the hotel is a great stopover property if you're fresh off a flight to Heathrow and want to decompress before your journey to the UK countryside or desire serene surroundings after a day of sightseeing in London. 

Conclusion

The Langley wasn't originally in my plans, but it was precisely the refuge I needed to forget all about the drama surrounding the global travel fiasco. When it was time to check out and return to Heathrow for our flight, I found myself wishing I had a second night to enjoy the spoils of The Langley. The food is solid, the service is on point, and there are so many great amenities to help you relax, recuperate, and re-energize. It's an enjoyable property and a fantastic value on points. 

Other Reviews from this trip:

• American Airlines Flagship Lounge - MIA
• American Airlines - Flagship First Dining - MIA
• American Airlines Flagship First Class (MIA-GRU)
• J.W. Marriott São Paulo
• Grand Hyatt São Paulo
• Bar Dos Arcos - São Paulo
• Evvai Restaurant - São Paulo
• Jun Sakamato - São Paulo
• D.O.M. - São Paulo
• South African Airways (Economy) - GRU - JNB
• The Residence Johannesburg
• Hyatt Regency Cape Town
• Road to Constantia
• Franschhoek and Stellenbosch - Wine Tasting in South Africa
• Disco Wine Tasting
• Gin Bar - CapeTown
• Publik Wine Bar
• Leopard Sands Kruger Park - An Autograph Collection Hotel
• African Pride Melrose Arch - (Presidential Suite)
• British Airways Galleries Lounge (JNB)
• Sofitel Heathrow Airport
• British Airways First Class (JNB - LHR)
• The Langley, A Luxury Collection Hotel
• British Airways Galleries First Lounge
• British Airways The Concorde Room (LHR)
• British Airways Business Class (LHR - MSY)