Jay Ledesma
Macau is one of the favorite go to places of my husband Jun. We would go there at least once a year… the last one was in October 2019. Then the pandemic happened, and our yearly Macau trip was suspended. Until last August 15, when I took my mother and my hubby for a brief R&R. It was my mom’s first trip since the pandemic.
As in our previous visits, Macau has always something new to offer to its guests each time. Either a newly constructed or renovated hotel or a new shopping complex or new eating joints. After 4 years, I really expected to be surprised with the new sights and sounds of Macau.
And boy! Once again, Macau did not fail! Much has been added since our last visit. There’s The Londoner Macao and Grand Lisboa Palace Resort, the Studio City Water Park, the TeamLab’s ‘immersive museum’ and several fancy restaurants.
Amongst these, what caught our attention was The Londoner Macau. It is a British-inspired integrated resort, which also includes the St Regis Macau, Conrad Macau and Sheraton Grand Macau. As its name implies, The Londoner brings together the very best of the iconic city of London, from the magnificent replicas of the city’s world-famous landmarks to fun London-inspired attractions and charms.
My Mom inside one of the red phone booths adorning the connecting bridge
The facade of the Londoner Macau featuring the Big Ben and the Parliament Building
My son Paolo with his Lola inside the mock up train complete with the PA system
The London experience begins with the exterior facade, which was modelled after the Houses of Parliament, complete with the life-size replica of the very famous clock, known as Big Ben. Much like the original in London, the Big Ben in Macau, welcomes guests with its accurate rendition of the classic bell chimes.
Hubby Jun and I with the Parliament Building, the red double decker and the hotel grounds at the background
Some of the alleys have flowered walls
We were awed by the grandeur of the hotel’s glass-canopied large entrance which reminds us of London’s famous Victoria Station. The gardens surrounding the hotel are inspired by the city’s great parks and gardens. There’s even a replica of their red double decker bus parked on the hotel’s grounds.
My King Jun and Queen Elizabeth
For us, the highlight of the hotel is its main lobby, called the Crystal Palace. This jaw-dropping beautiful Victorian-style lobby features a 33-meter high stained glass ceiling, making it a light-filled atrium during the day. At the center of the spacious lobby is the full-scale Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with Anteros, the Greek god of selfless love on its pinnacle.
The hotel’s grand lobby called the Crystal Palace
The Londoner Macau is just across the Venetian Hotel, where we stayed. There is a connecting bridge which makes it very convenient for Venetian guests to cross to The Londoner. Going to The Londoner through the bridge is already an entertaining experience for the guests like us, as we were able to take snap of the several London-inspired attractions. These include the popular red telephone booth, the British train, the Abbey Road (popularized by the Beatles), and the British alleys and pubs.
Crossing the Abbey Road
We learned that more attractions that will surely fascinate guests, are scheduled to be added this year. Hopefully, on our next Macau trip, we can stay at least overnight at The Londoner. For those who cannot travel yet to London and experience the real deal, The Londoner Macau offers a preview to timeless British design, history and culture. So next time you are in Macau, don’t forget to visit The Londoner, for that exquisite British experience. (Jay Ledesma)