We Tried London’s Ultimate Equestrian Stay

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has teamed up with Hyde Park Stables to offer horse-lovers an equine fantasy escape. Lucy Cleland and her daughter saddle up

Review: Horse Play in Hyde Park with Mandarin Oriental

I have a confession: I wrote to Jim’ll Fixit. This was obviously before we – the wider public – knew what an absolute monster he was, so I can be forgiven (others, I’m guessing, not so much). But it’s what pretty much all Gen X kids did back in the Eighties. He could seemingly make our dreams come true (before crushing some of them).

What did I, as an eight-year-old, desire so fervently? To perform at Covent Garden with the Royal Ballet was one thing (I was tutu and pointe shoe obsessed); to meet Kenny Everett (yes, really, I can be serious); but my third wish was to ride with the Household Cavalry through Hyde Park. My letter went unanswered (luckily).

But today, 41 years later, I got as close to that wish as I was ever going to get, together with my daughter, thanks to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Because great hotels aren’t just spoiling places to stay, they’re dream-makers.

Hyde Park Stables x Mandarin Oriental

Even if we weren’t greeted by name at the door and welcomed up the stairs with smiling professionalism; even if we didn’t get to stay in a suite (with free snacks!) overlooking Hyde Park (the only hotel in London that really can deliver on that very special view), and hoover up horse-shoe shaped pastries and freshly squeezed orange juice; even if we didn’t get to have lunch, sun on our faces on the terrace by the park (a heritage tomato salad for me; a fillet steak for my carnivorous 14-year-old), Mandarin Oriental would have stolen my heart for getting me on a horse in Hyde Park. It was one of those beautiful, semi-surreal experiences that feels all that more special for being in the city.

Tucked away across the other side of the park, in a cobbled mews, is Hyde Park Stables, home to 12 or so bullet-proof steeds. Mandarin Oriental has cleverly partnered with them to allow horse-mad guests to get saddled up and be taken on a unique route that hoi polloi riders just wouldn’t have access to. 

Our mounts had Mandarin Oriental green numnahs to look the part; while my daughter and I had been gifted Holland Cooper riding gloves, so we looked the part. Off we went, the cloppity-clop of hooves on cobbles our soundtrack, our minds drifting to bygone decades when this would have been the only mode of transport. 

The cars stopped as we crossed the Bayswater Road to join the sandy riding track that snakes around the park. We passed the Serpentine Gallery on our right and the pond on our left, turned left up Rotten Row at a bracing trot, and then a sharp right to hit the south side of the park. We’d timed it just right to catch the Household Cavalry – all glossy and plume-helmeted – making their way to Buckingham Palace, as they do each morning. While I wasn’t riding among them, we trotted up pretty close – not so near so as to merit a stern telling off, but near enough to feel special. My eight-year-old self rejoiced inside – and my daughter’s grin was a picture. 

After some selfies and posing outside the hotel, we picked up a merry pace (you are allowed to canter if you have experience; gallops are a no-no though), back down Rotten Row and made our way back to the stables.  

Having said goodbye to our steeds, we walked across the park to the hotel (which takes about half an hour or so), revelling in being tourists for once in our own city and feeling grateful for these huge green lungs that are so much a part of London’s language. You find all of life in a park; it’s the true equaliser. 

It was only when we reentered the hotel that equality left the building; our VIP status speedily reinstated. As part of the Hyde Park Riders experience, you get £100 to spend in the spa, so after throwing off our riding garb and throwing on our fluffy towelling robes, we descended into the subterranean spa, one of the best in London. A massage for me was just the tonic after all that rising trot; while my daughter had her first ever facial with Oskia products. She was almost as excited about this as the riding. It seems that spas and saddles make a very wonderful combination indeed. 

BOOK IT:

Hyde Park Riders package costs £ 1,300 per night for two guests and includes:

• Private riding lessons for two at Hyde Park Stables   
• A stay in one of the hotel’s beautifully appointed rooms or suites 
• A full English breakfast for two 
• A £100 spa credit
• Curated equestrian-themed amenities 
• A keepsake, bespoke map of Hyde Park highlighting the ride route 
• Additional benefits available when you log into or join Fans of MO 

For reservations, contact [email protected] or visit mandarinoriental.com/london