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Perfectly poised in Knightsbridge, across from Harvey Nicolls and Harrods, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London proudly projects a sense of place. This turreted, red-brick Edwardian confection, all aflutter in Union Jacks, is a lustrous landmark in its own right.

The legendary hotel brand is renowned for its distinct Asian minimalist aesthetic. But a destination should always trump décor, which is why the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has ensured its British heritage and storied tradition is the signature attraction. It’s recent multi-million dollar refresh fully respected the bones and history of the property, hitting all the right notes for lovers of a signature London experience. Jovial doormen in classic red coats and black hats set the tone. Grand double front doors open into a red-carpeted staircase, graced at the top with an open fire and reception. Welcome to high-end but homely hospitality!

The roll call of its famous past and present guests is voluminous. There’s a dedicated royal entrance originally built for Queen Victoria; Winston Churchill used to check in regularly; and Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret took dance lessons here.In a city liberally endowed with prestigious luxury hotels, this grand dameof Knightsbridge says is still one of the capital’s most coveted and decorated destinations. Check out the hotel’s fascinating history in the ‘If Walls Could Talk’ gallery, located to the left of the hotel entrance.

This building is dressed in history and it shows - although it’s anything but faded or dated. Just about every space throughout this property feels fresh and modern, artfully touched up, while maintaining a clear sensitivity to the past. Copious amounts of highly-polished and richly-coloured marble anchor the sense of grandeur in so many of the hotel’s public spaces.There’s the subtle, inventive touches too, like the horse-hair light shades. Internationally acclaimed designer Joyce Wang oversaw the hotel refresh and for the accommodations, she drew inspiration from the boundless beauty of Hyde Park and the 20th century Golden Age of travel, in her design palette.

Accommodations are as grand and opulent as they were pre-renovation, but they feel lighter and more playful. The heavily patterned fabrics have been swapped out for wooden floors, soft, earthy tones, and Art Deco flourishes. Bathrooms are slathered with white marble, and who could say no to the personal pampering of a heated toilet seat? Push the boat right out and book a Park Suite for a truly wondrous stay, which comes complete with a butler at your beckandcall. With two spacious rooms (master bedroom and salon) and a separate marble bathroom, it’s high-life hotel living. Interiors are opulent but not in a flashy way. My incredibly expansive salonfeatured luxurious silk wall coverings, hand-gilded mirror artwork, a leather-topped writing desk and an illuminated 'acorns' chandelier.

Tall glass cabinets house decorative ornaments and books or practical implements like the state-of-the-artNespresso coffee machine. A complimentary mini-bar, welcome champagne & fruit, and complimentary round-trip transfers are all part of suite life. Gazing out my panoramic windows, as Royal Household horses clopped-clopped along storied Rotten Row, the leafy surrounds of Hyde Park unmistakeably lends the hotel a soothingly bucolic texture. As you’d expect from such a decorated hotel, service is graciously charming and outgoing, personable, attentive but never pretentious or obtrusive. Be royally treated at this hospitality treasure.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a 2 Michelin star restaurant that has become a mainstay for bon vivants atthe Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Although the celebrated chef Blumenthal is synonymouswith molecular gastronomy and cutting-edge cooking techniques, for Dinner he has curated and updated a trove of historic British recipes that travel through the mists of time as far back as the 14th century. A three-course dinner has a set price of £125, but this is destination dining in excelsis, overlooking the dappled light of Hyde Park and historic Rotten Row. Service is super-obliging, charismatic with a few touches of pure theatre.

For my starter I chose Meat Fruit, which originates from the 1500s. This chicken liver parfait is presented in the shape of a mandarin, covered by a mandarin orange jelly, served with a slice of toasted sourdough.  I love a chicken parfait and Heston’s mandarin-themed version knocked it out of the park. Silky smooth, it has an elegant, earthy sweetness that contrasts effortlessly with the fruity "skin.” This dish has been a perennial crowd-pleaser since the restaurant opened 14 years ago.

My Main actually reached back to the Roman Empire and the “Edible History of Pompeii” in 79AD. I chose the Duck & Turnip dish which was sensational. Cooked to perfection, the meat was medium rare with a perfect balance of sweet and salty seasoning, the buttery soft turnip puree offered another layer of smooth earthiness texture, with a sprinkling of black truffle. Be sure to order a side of Blumenthal's famed triple-cooked chips. Plunge into their super crisp, shattery exteriors, where theinsides are soft and pillowy.

For dessert, Dinner's smash-hit is the Tipsy Cake, served with a slice of spit-roast pineapple. Sourced from the 1858 English Cookery Book, this Victorian-era cake isbrioche-like, arriving utterly rich, buttery, bittersweet, and delicious, with a beautifully crystallised top. However, even better was the succulent and juicy pineapple, which exuded a wonderfully rich, deep, caramelised sugariness. It’s the best single piece of pineapple I've ever devoured.

One final act of tableside-theatre loomed, when my waitress pulled up with Dinner's off-menu Nitrogen Ice Cream Trolley. Constructed of Corian, the cart features a hand-cranked mixer that fuses liquid nitrogen and vanilla custard, in a dramatic cloud of mist, to a create a seductively smooth, but substantial ice cream, served in a sugary, shattery cone. Three toppings were available: strawberry crumble, raspberry meringue, and walnut praline. I plumped for a strawberry/walnut combo, which made the ice cream sing with its fruity and nutty notes. This climactic coned presentation honours the history of English frozen dessert pioneer Agnes Marshall, who advocated the use of liquid nitrogen in the cooking process in 1901. For historical British cuisine reimagined – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a class-act that will linger fondly in your memories.

I flew to London with Cathay Pacific, who are extending their wings across Europe, launching direct flights to Munich in June and Brussels in August. This will increase Cathay Pacific’s reach into Europe by flying to 11 destinations. If you prefer to turn left when boarding, Cathay’s London services are operated by Boeing 777s which include the all-new Aria Suites in the Business cabin, complete with sliding doors. Services between Hong Kong and Auckland are operated by advanced A350-900s. The aircraft offer fully flat beds in Business, spacious seats in Premium Economy and comfort in Economy. The cabin air quality is decidedly better on A350s, and you’ll notice how much quieter these big birds are. The seatback entertainment system kept me suitably engaged with a head swirl of premium movie and TV selections, live news channels - all in vivid 4K, plus in-flight WiFi is available.

Mike Yardley is our resident traveller and can be heard every Saturday with Jack Tame on Newstalk ob�����ӿ�.