• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Site News / Featured / Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Claridge’s Hotel in London

Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Claridge’s Hotel in London

Jul 13, 2016 By John Rabon

1111121-claridges-hotel-london-united-kingdom

One of the swankiest five-star hotels in London, Claridge’s has been a top place to stay since it opened in 1812.  It’s seen many interesting uses as it grew, including a wartime base of operations, clandestine diplomatic meetings, and Hollywood star hangout.  What was once a modest townhouse now encompasses almost an entire block and its reputation for luxury is well deserved.  Have a look at these ten interesting facts and figures about one of London’s most prestigious hotels.

Nickname

Claridge’s has been so well-known for its luxury that it’s been referred to as an “annexe to Buckingham Palace.”

Joining Forces

When it opened originally in 1812, the hotel was known as Mivart’s Hotel, opened in a single townhouse.  Next door, William and Marianne Claridge opened their own hotel at 51 Brook Street and in 1854, Mivart sold his hotel to them.  The Claridges expanded into five other buildings and renamed the hotel as Claridge’s in 1856.

Royal Fame

It wasn’t long after the Claridges expanded the hotel that they had a couple of royal visitors.  Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the hotel in 1860.  Their prestige added to the hotel’s already growing fame, and it became a favorite place to stay for visiting heads of state.  Over the years, it also became a regular hotel for the Royal Family.  When he would visit Claridge’s, King Hassan of Morocco, who was famous for always bringing his own mattresses, would use a Savoy mattress.  Additionally, it was used as the site of a secret meeting between then-West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Jewish World Congress President Nahum Goldmann in 1951 to discuss reparations for the Holocaust.

Cost

Claridge’s can get pretty expensive if you want to stay there.  Rooms can cost up to £7,000 pounds per night.  Afternoon tea runs £50 per person.

Claridge’s in Wartime

When German and Italian forces took over Yugoslavia in 1941, it pushed out the Royal Family, including King Peter II.  Peter set up his government in exile at the hotel and coordinated its forces from there.  When his son, Crown Prince Alexander, was to be born, Peter wanted to be certain the boy was born on home soil and reportedly had some placed under the bed.  At any rate, the government of the United Kingdom permitted Suite 212 where he lived to be Yugoslavian territory for a single day to give Peter his wish.  Later in the war, Claridge’s served as a temporary home for Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Clementine.

Matching Colours

Dame Barbara Cartland would often take her afternoon tea at the hotel.  Reportedly, her assistant would ring the hotel before she arrived there to let them know what colour she was where so that the hotel could dress her table to match.

Hotel to the Stars

Starting in the 1950s, Claridge’s became a popular hotel for Hollywood’s most famous actors and actresses.  Names such as Cary Grant, Yul Brenner, Katharine Hepburn, Bing Crosby, and Audrey Hepburn were regulars there.  In fact, Katharine Hepburn’s preference for trousers didn’t sit too well with the hotel’s policy for its tea rooms, and she was told several times that she had to wear a dress to tea.  She got around this by using the service entrance instead.

Anything for the Guest

The high-class guests can have some pretty heavy demands.  A Japanese pop star who stayed in the hotel wanted to have a Jacuzzi in her room, so the hotel ripped out the existing bath and installed the new tub for her.  A Middle Eastern princess and her retinue booked 40 rooms on the third floor, having some of them converted into kitchens and dining rooms, while at least a couple were solely to store her shopping purchases.

Building a Legacy

The current Claridge’s building was constructed in 1898 by George Trollope & Sons.  It is Grade II listed and boasts over 200 rooms.  The interior is considered one of the finest examples of the 1920s and 30s art deco.  Basil Lonides redesigned the hotel’s restaurant and several suites.  In 1929, Oswald Milne designed a new main entrance to replace the carriage drive.  In 1996, Thierry Despont revamped the hotel to update the Foyer while keeping its classic art deco look.

Oldest Lift in London

The hotel’s OTIS lift was installed in 1896, making it the oldest still-working lift in the city.  As such, it is still operated by an attendant.

John Rabon
Author: John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Buildings, Featured, Hotels

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maureen says

    Jul 14, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    I suspect you meant to type Katherine Hepburn, not Audrey was asked to wear a dress? Katherine Hepburn never wore anything but trousers & would I believe have been the one they objected to. . Audrey on the other hand was on the world’s Best Dressed list many times.

  2. Lydia says

    Jul 14, 2016 at 9:20 pm

    I think you have the wrong Hepburn. It was Katherine Hepburn who was known for her preference for trousers. Audrey Hepburn, on the other hand, was the epitome of high style.

  3. Mihai says

    Jul 15, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Informative post John! Interesting facts! Thank you!

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • More than 200 looks to feature in V&A exhibition on Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel
  • Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South at The Royal Academy
  • National Portrait Gallery to reopen with exhibition on pioneering color photographer
  • London Eye gets spring clean to mark start of the season
  • Natural History Museum named most visited indoor UK attraction again
  • The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance at the National Gallery
  • Gatwick returns to profit as air travel bounces back
  • Sir Mark Rylance brings role as Dr Semmelweis to West End
  • Shire horses prepare Tower of London moat for next wildflower display
  • In Video: Watch pianist Lang Lang perform at St Pancras station

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

10 Interesting Facts about the Hammersmith and City Line

Nearly half of Londoners have used Elizabeth line so far – survey

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status?

London Alert: Strike by London Underground workers to go ahead after last-minute talks fail

London Mayor hails Elizabeth line as direct routes and Sunday services begin

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in