Dorchester Collection’s four iconic hotels in the UK and Paris are ready to host guests for the most magical time of the year. From the artistic allure of 45 Park Lane to the idyllic countryside retreat of Coworth Park, or the culinary brilliance of Le Meurice and Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, each destination promises a unique and unforgettable holiday experience.
45 PARK LANE, LONDON
This festive season, 45 Park Lane is unveiling its annual Artist’s tree, transforming the hotel into a cultured winter escape, offering guests an intimate London stay opposite Hyde Park. In keeping with the hotel’s strong ties to the art world, this year’s Artist’s Tree has been designed by British sculptor Ian Turnock, whose work draws inspiration from the intrinsic structures found in nature.
This year’s Artist’s Christmas Tree will be revealed on Wednesday, November 19. Drawing on nature, the trees will capture the stillness of winter, enhanced by sculptural decorations casting shimmering patterns of light and shadow.
The tree will be an evergreen Normann Fir, a timeless symbol of life and renewal at the turning of the year. Turnock’s sculptural additions will elevate it into a work of art, inspired by the winter solstice and the play between darkness and light. Contrasting metal finishes will create a dynamic interplay of shadow and radiance, inviting guests to pause and revel in the magic of the season.
The holiday spirit extends into every detail of the hotel’s 45 rooms and suites, each one overlooking the calm of Hyde Park will be transformed with stockings, and festive treats, setting the scene for a magical escape. Guests can celebrate the season in style with a morning dip in the pool, breakfast in bed, world-class omakase at Sushi Kanesaka, or by sipping signature winter cocktails at BAR 45. For the ultimate festive experience, the hotel’s seasonal offering includes an overnight stay, complimentary welcome cocktails, a festive treat on arrival, and £150 credit to spend at the spa or in the restaurants.
Additional festive activities throughout the season include:
- Thanksgiving at 45 Park Lane: On Thursday, November 27, CUT at 45 Park Lane invites guests to celebrate American traditions with a luxurious three‑course feast. Executive chef Elliott Grover curates a menu using premium British ingredients and US-style favourites, featuring dishes such as roasted heritage pumpkin soup and USDA prime beef steak tartare to start, and Norfolk Bronze turkey served with signature sides for main. Sides include sweet potato with torched marshmallows and maple roasted brussels sprouts, with an indulgent selection of chef-crafted pies available for dessert.
Prices from £210.
- Christmas Day Lunch or Dinner: Guests are invited to celebrate Christmas Day with either lunch or dinner at CUT, where executive chef Elliott Grover presents a festive four-course menu featuring Norfolk Bronze turkey with all the festive trimmings, Japanese A5 Kagoshima Perfecture, Cornish Dover sole, and house made spaghetti with Native Blue Lobster. A selection of bold flavoured desserts is also on offer, from dark chocolate soufflé and Basque cheesecake to Wolfgang Puck’s Dubai-style chocolate bar and a sticky toffee Christmas pudding.
Prices from £400.
- New Year’s Eve Tasting Menu: This year, guests can celebrate New Year’s Eve at CUT, with an a la carte menu showcasing the finest beef, poultry, seafood, and inventive desserts, to be enjoyed alongside fine wines and Champagne for an elegant transition into 2026.
COWORTH PARK, COWORTH
Experience a true English countryside Christmas in all its festive magnificence at Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection’s celebrated country house hotel. This year, Coworth Park will celebrate in fine style with festive afternoon teas, specially crafted menus, games for all ages and a season full of joyful moments to share.
From November 21, the estate will be beautifully transformed into a winter wonderland where Coworth Park’s unique blend of care, comfort and countryside charm meets in perfect harmony. Wreaths and garlands trimmed with golden ribbon, twinkling lights across the Mansion House, the glow of crackling fires, and a grand Christmas tree in the reception hall will set the stage as the season begins with festive afternoon teas served throughout December and accompanied by a live choir at weekends. In addition, whether it’s a cosy meal at The Barn or something special at Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith, both are perfect places to gather and revel in the flavours of the season in a warm, relaxed setting.
The highlight of the season is always Coworth Park’s Christmas House Party. This exclusive festive stay package runs from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day and is looked forward to all year. Families arriving on Christmas Eve are treated to festive story time in the children’s hideaway or a meeting with Santa’s elf before dinner. Optional transfers take guests to Holy Trinity Sunningdale for midnight service with hot drinks waiting by the fire in the Drawing Room on their return.
On Christmas morning, little ones wake to find Father Christmas bearing gifts, before families gather for a traditional feast with all the trimmings. In the afternoon, children and adults can visit Cosy Corner, a snug little festive nook packed with soft blankets, classic board games, much-loved books and a few irresistible festive treats. As evening falls, casual dining awaits at Woven by Adam Smith, accompanied by live entertainment in the Mansion House until Christmas Day says goodnight.
Boxing Day is an invitation to slow down and relax, beginning with a leisurely brunch and some time to absorb the English countryside in all its idyllic beauty. Cream tea in the calm comfort of The Drawing Room will be accompanied by a harpist, before dinner in The Barn or Woven by Adam Smith. For those looking for a little friendly competition, the Games Grotto will offer pool tables and other adult games throughout the day. Guests in search of stillness can retreat to the recently refreshed spa wrapped in the quiet beauty of the countryside. This picturesque setting features eight treatment rooms, an indoor pool, snow shower, steam room and sauna. Treatments from ishga, Natura Bissé, and Made for Life Organics await, followed by an evening under the stars, by the fire, or in the serene comfort of a private suite.
The celebrations continue with Coworth Park’s New Year House Party, starting on December 31 for two nights. This glorious stay begins with a generous Ploughman’s buffet followed by a gala dinner in The Barn or Woven by Adam Smith. Live music will fill the Mansion House as the countdown begins, with fireworks at midnight to welcome 2026 in dazzling style. On New Year’s Day, the festivities conclude with live entertainment and a caricaturist bringing a playful spirit to the day’s adventures.
For a more private and exclusive Christmas, guests can book North Lodge or the Dower House, Coworth Park’s two standalone Signature Suites. Each offers three bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, spacious living areas, and private gardens in the warmth and coziness of a countryside home, with the comforts and service of Coworth Park just moments away. Here, guests may cook for themselves or request a private chef for a fully bespoke stay.
The three-night Christmas House Party at Coworth Park is available from December 24–27, with rates starting at £5,460 for a Stable Superior Room based on double occupancy. The two-night New Year House Party package (from December 31) starts at £3,320 for a Stable Superior Room based on double occupancy. Prices shown include VAT, accommodation, dining throughout the stay, a sommelier’s choice of wine with Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, all activities detailed, Champagne receptions and access to the full range of the hotel’s facilities. Additional treats, such as drinks or extra activities, can be arranged on request.
Supplementary charges apply for dining at Woven by Adam Smith: £40 per adult and £20 per child on 24 December 24, December 26 & January 1 and £65 per person on December 25 & December 31.
LE MEURICE, PARIS
For the festive season at Le Meurice, executive pastry chef Cedric Grolet and head pastry chef François Deshayes will present a return to childhood with the hotel’s yule log. The first creation is a gingerbread man built around the traditional festive spice blend, while a Teddy Bear showcases comforting chocolate flavours.
The chefs worked with gingerbread in several textures: a praline crunch, a soft sponge and a smooth cream topped with vanilla caramel form the centre of the dessert. A gingerbread mousse covers each layer, giving the shape of the gingerbread man, whose smile is drawn by hand.
For the Teddy Bear, the chefs have played on the pairing of chocolate and vanilla, enjoyed by both children and adults. Inside, there is a chocolate praline crunch with a touch of sea salt, a soft chocolate sponge, a chocolate vanilla cream and a chocolate glaze that adds freshness. The bear is finished with a chocolate mousse and a white vanilla ganache scarf.
The Gingerbread Man and Teddy Bear yule logs can be pre-ordered from November 26 on the Le Meurice website. Collection runs from December 10 to 31, priced at €75 for six people. Available in limited numbers, only by pre-order. La Pâtisserie du Meurice by Cedric Grolet is open Wednesday to Sunday, from midday.
HÔTEL PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS
Hôtel Plaza Athénée has revealed two signature creations by its pastry chefs for the festive season. Celebrating both Christmas and Epiphany – the Yule log and king cake combine tradition, precision and carefully selected ingredients.
For Christmas, the hotel has created The Plaza Athénée Ice Rink, a Yule log inspired by the skating rink installed in the hotel’s courtyard each winter. Crafted by executive pastry chef Angelo Musa (Meilleur Ouvrier de France and World Pastry Champion) and pastry chef Elisabeth Hot, the dessert has been designed with a clean, ice-like appearance. It features dark chocolate (70% cocoa) barriers, chocolate fir trees and small chocolate skaters.
The Yule log combines several layers: a pecan crisp base, a soft sponge cake and a caramel made with Erica heather honey from the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The honey’s naturally fruity notes of glazed cherry and lemon give the Yule log a subtle and indulgent flavour. Pieces of glazed citrus peel and a lemon-flavoured mousse add contrast and freshness.
To mark Epiphany – also known as Three Kings’ Day – the chefs have created “Cœur d’Amande”, a king cake that revisits a French classic with a lighter touch. Its golden puff pastry, prepared from a blend of white and roasted wheat flour, offers subtly toasted notes. At its centre, two almond creams create a contrast of textures: an airy cream infused with roasted almonds envelops a soft frangipane. The almonds, sourced exclusively from a cooperative in Provence, guarantee quality and traceability. The result is a king cake that
remains faithful to tradition while offering a balanced and lighter interpretation.
The Plaza Athénée Ice Rink Yule log is priced at €130 (tax included) and serves eight people. The Cœur d’Amande king cake is €60 (tax included) and serves four to five people. Reservations open on Monday December 1 via the hotel’s website.
Both the Yule logs and king cakes can be picked up at Hôtel Plaza Athénée’s La Galerie. Yule logs are available from Monday, December 22 to Friday, December 26, 2025, while king cakes can be collected from Friday, January 2 to Sunday, January 18, 2026. Pickup times for both are 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm, with orders required at least 72 hours in advance.
