I’ve stayed in some wild places, penthouses in Dubai, cliffside villas in Malibu, a floating mansion off Miami. But this one hit different. Not because it was the most expensive, but because it was designed for the fans who get it.
Hilton just dropped an F1-themed suite with McLaren inside The Trafalgar St. James in London and as a Hilton Honors member and someone who’s followed the McLaren story since Senna, I had to see what the hype was about.
Spoiler: it delivers.
It starts with a papaya-orange door. Not subtle. Not supposed to be. This is McLaren’s calling card and when you step inside, you’re walking into a story 60+ years in the making.
There’s vintage race-worn gear on the wall. Lando’s helmet. Team suits. Real pieces from real seasons. Two full-scale F1 simulators face off near the window, and trust me it’s easy to lose two hours trying to beat your own lap time.
A pit wall-style screen playing race footage like you’re at Silverstone with the crew. It’s immersive, but not gimmicky. They didn’t go cheesy. They went clever.
Small detail. Big energy. Every morning, Hilton drops off a custom smoothie. You’ve got a private in-room bar, skyline views of London, and a sense that you’re not in a hotel suite you’re in a mindset.
It’s like staying inside the McLaren paddock without the pressure of needing to post a qualifying time. As someone who’s built brands in luxury, I can tell you — most collabs like this go surface-level. This one? It understood the assignment. It felt like it was made for people like us.
This suite runs July 8–20, timed with the British Grand Prix, but it’s not just a room. Hilton’s rolling out rooftop events, track-side viewing, simulator showdowns, and even a one-night package with a stay at Spark by Hilton for race-day guests.
I used Honors Points to lock in a private dinner, connected with other McLaren fans, and even scored a few collab conversations for future work. That’s what travel should do, open doors, not just put you in rooms.
If you’re part of this world — the late-night race watcher, the airport-lounge business builder, the luxury real estate junkie who has F1 on in the background while closing a deal — this one’s for you.
Hilton didn’t just create a suite. They built a bridge between passion and premium. I’ve said it before: luxury is about access, not just aesthetics. And this suite gave us both.
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See you on the simulator.