I stayed in the UK's coolest hotel room – with racing simulators, a cocktail bar AND you can take the dressing gown home
I was the first person in the world to stay at the lavish suite at The Trafalgar St James in London's Trafalgar Square - created to celebrate 20-year partnership between Hilton and McLaren Racing.
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Ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend, petrol-heads can take the ultimate pitstop until July 20 with the two-room suite setting fans back £1,800 for the night.
But with all the amazing extras included in the price I think it's actually worth every penny.
The experience starts with a VIP welcome at the hotel where a luggage trolley with Jensen Button's racing helmet in the lobby sets the scene for the racing stay and you're handed a plush folder decked out in McLaren colours containing your room key and detailing all the extra special features of your stay.
Then it's up to the first floor suite - dubbed room 20 to celebrate the partnership - and beyond the first door, lifesize photos of the 2025 McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri line the hallway walls.
The first door opens up into a vast 51-square-metre luxury suite with carbon-fibre wrapped furniture and a vast sofa and coffee table in the McLaren signature Papaya Orange colour.
Sitting alongside it is yet more McLaren memorabilia including the racing helmets of former drivers Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen as well as a vast flat-screen TV, ready to show the highlights of the latest Austrian Grand Prix.
Ready to relax?
The orange bathrobes are yours to keep - alongside slippers and silky eye masks.
Fancy a quick snifter as you're getting ready for the night?
There's a complimentary decanter of Jack Daniels and exclusively-designed orange glasses for you to indulge in.
This Hotel is Home to the UK's Only Swim-Up Bar
With a tot of the good stuff in hand, I ran a bath in the marble-clad ensuite, which comes complete with full-size Molton Brown toiletries you can take with you and a built-in TV.
But for the real fans, it's the second door to an incredible 68-square-metre playroom that will be the ultimate treat.
The 'Drivers Access Only' opens into a lobby stuffed with memorabilia - including racing suits and yet more boots and helmets worn by the current duo.
And there's more fabulous freebies for guests here - two exclusive McLaren backpacks are yours to fill with the other merchandise that comes with your stay including Lego McLaren car kits, baseball caps and a pair of sunglasses.
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Beyond, the room opens up to reveal two F1 racing simulators and a lounge area with a pit wall of TV screens and original McLaren F1 car seats to relax on.
A high-end speaker comes complete with a QR code to a curated McLaren racing play list.
But before you get settled into those racing seats, Hilton treats guests to their own personalised private happy hour with signature cocktails and snacks.
Last Lap Lemonade featured Jack Daniel's, mandarin liqueur and ginger beer; Formula Jack combined more whiskey with fresh lemon juice, muddled blackberries and basil.
But my favourite was the Podium Spritz with raspberry-infused Grey Goose vodka, Limoncello and prosecco.
You'll have an hour to enjoy as many cocktails as you please - but the potent concoctions definitely didn't improve my driving skills!
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While not included in the suite price, the Trafalgar St James' has two great restaurants for refuelling between laps.
The Rockwell in the lobby features a tapas-style menu with reasonable prices for its central London location, dishes start from just £9.
Right now there's a couple of McLaren-inspired specials including two chosen by the drivers.
Lando's choice is a grilled chicken slider with slaw, avocado and sriracha mayo complete with sweet potato wedges and Oscar has gone from fillet steak with chimichurri, wild crispy rice and charred sweetcorn.
And for a nightcap before we retired for a night of racing fun, the rooftop bar and restaurant offers unbeatable views of the London skyline including Big Ben to the London Eye.
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After an incredible night's sleep alongside my racing heroes, there was one more amazing treat - signature smoothies based on the drivers' favourites alongside McLaren-branded Nutribullet blender you are also welcome to take home with you.
You'll have plenty of time to enjoy more racing fun with a midday check out but tearing myself away from the intoxicating mix of hotel luxury and racing fun was no easy feat.
The suite is the latest in Hilton's 'Stay Like' specials, inviting guests to relax like their favourite stars in immersive suites.
Previous suites have included Stay Like Wicked at the New York Hilton Midtown adn the Stay Like An Infinite Icon at the Beverly Hilton in LA.
While the suite is only at The Trafalgar St James' until July 20, rumours have it the F1 suite could pop up at other Hilton hotels across the globe.
Also, Monaco Grand Prix' most expensive hotel room costs £69,000 and is filled with Ayrton Senna memorabilia.
Plus, inside the unique Hilton hotel rooms overlooking the F1 grid at Silverstone and they only cost £108.
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