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Claridge's Hotel — History, Rooms, Dining & Everything You Need to Know
For over two centuries, one address in Mayfair has been synonymous with the very pinnacle of British luxury.
Brook Street · Mayfair · London W1K 4HR
Claridge's — A Living Institution
Claridge's is not merely a hotel; it is a living institution. Owned and operated by the Maybourne Hotel Group — the same collection that includes The Berkeley and The Connaught — it sits at the heart of Mayfair and consistently ranks among the finest luxury hotels on the planet.
This guide covers everything worth knowing about Claridge's — its 200-year history, room categories and signature suites, afternoon tea (one of London's most sought-after reservations), restaurants and bars including the newly launched Dante Mayfair, the spa, its extraordinary roster of notable guests, cultural programming, events, and practical information for planning your visit.
Over 200 Years of Luxury
Few hotels anywhere in the world can claim a story as rich — or as long — as Claridge's.
Origins & Victorian Growth
The hotel's origins trace back to the early 19th century, when a modest lodging house stood on the same Brook Street site. By the 1850s, the establishment was being run by William and Marianne Claridge, whose name it still carries today. In 1860 they sold the business to Richard D'Oyly Carte — the impresario behind the Savoy — who merged it with an adjacent property to create a more substantial hotel.
A major rebuilding programme in the 1890s largely replaced the original structures. By the Edwardian era, Claridge's had firmly established itself as the preferred London address for European royalty — at various points the corridors housed so many visiting monarchs it was quipped the hotel was 'the annex to Buckingham Palace.'
'Visiting Claridge's was like visiting a foreign king.' — Attributed to Queen Victoria
The Art Deco Transformation
The most visually defining chapter in Claridge's history came in the 1920s and 1930s, when the hotel underwent a sweeping Art Deco redesign. Architects Oswald Milne and Basil Ionides shaped the interiors — introducing geometric grandeur, mirrored surfaces, and monochromatic elegance that remain the hotel's visual signature today.
The foyer — with its Dale Chihuly glass chandelier (added in 2014) and black-and-white marble floors — is perhaps the most photographed interior in any London hotel. That combination of original 1930s bones with carefully chosen modern additions is exactly what makes Claridge's feel both timeless and alive.
21st-Century Renovation
Renovation works in the 2000s and 2010s refreshed guest rooms and public spaces without disturbing the architectural DNA that makes the place special. The opening of new dining concepts — most recently the permanent London home of Dante, the acclaimed New York bar — reflects an ongoing commitment to remaining relevant without becoming unrecognisable.
Accolades & Independent Recognition
Claridge's standing is consistently validated by the hospitality industry's most rigorous independent bodies. The hotel is recognised by Forbes Travel Guide as a Five-Star property, one of a small number of London hotels to hold that status. Its dining outlets have attracted AA recognition, and the hotel regularly features in the world's leading luxury travel rankings.
The Maybourne Hotel Group
Today, Claridge's is part of the Maybourne Hotel Group, which also operates The Connaught in Carlos Place and The Berkeley in Knightsbridge. The Connaught is the most intimate — a townhouse-scale hotel known for its Irish-influenced service culture and the celebrated Hélène Darroze restaurant. The Berkeley, set in Knightsbridge, takes the most contemporary approach with its rooftop pool and fashion-conscious clientele.
Claridge's is the grandest — unmatched in scale, Art Deco heritage, cultural programming, and the sheer weight of its history. Together they represent the gold standard of London luxury hospitality, but Claridge's occupies a category of its own.
Suites & Rooms — A Legacy of Design and Distinction
Staying at Claridge's is not simply a matter of booking a bed for the night. The rooms here are expressions of a design philosophy — one that prizes artistry, craftsmanship, and the sense that every detail has been considered. All rooms include butler service.
Art Deco Rooms
The hotel's signature — geometric patterns, lacquered surfaces, and that particular 1930s restraint that manages to feel both minimal and opulent.
Contemporary Rooms
Designed by David Collins Studio and other leading names — a more modern sensibility while remaining unmistakably Claridge's in quality and finish.
The Penthouse
The hotel's most celebrated suite — a multi-room residence set beneath a glass-roof terrace with panoramic views across London's rooftops. Among the most in-demand accommodations in Mayfair; enquiries are best made directly with the reservations team.
The Residence
Wrapping around the exterior of the building with private terraces, it offers an almost residential sense of space and privacy — rare in central London, where even the grandest hotels can feel hemmed in.
Where The Ritz leans into French gilded opulence and The Savoy into Edwardian grandeur, Claridge's occupies a distinct niche — Art Deco restraint combined with genuinely residential scale and a butler service model that few London hotels can match at this level. The Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons may offer comparable facilities in some respects, but neither carries the same sense of architectural and cultural continuity. At Claridge's, the building itself is part of the experience.
Classic rooms from approximately £700 per night · Suites from approximately £2,000 per night
Afternoon Tea, Dining & The Spa
Beyond an overnight stay, Claridge's is a genuine destination for dining and wellness — as relevant for Londoners as it is for hotel guests.
Afternoon Tea in The Foyer & Reading Room
Served beneath soaring ceilings, tiered chandeliers, and the gentle sound of a live pianist — afternoon tea at Claridge's is one of London's most in-demand reservations. The traditional menu runs to finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and Claridge's own preserve, and a selection of seasonal pastries. A tea list of around 30 varieties; approximately £85 to £115 per person. A champagne upgrade is strongly recommended.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available if flagged at booking. Book 4 to 6 weeks in advance for peak periods — December, school holidays and spring weekends in particular.
Book directly at claridges.co.uk — online and by telephone
Dante Mayfair, Claridge's Bar & ArtSpace Café
Dante — the legendary Greenwich Village bar founded in 1915 and named the World's Best Bar in 2019 and 2021 — now has its permanent London home within Claridge's. Dante Mayfair brings aperitivo culture to Brook Street: Negronis, spritzes, and seasonal cocktails alongside Italian-influenced small plates.
Claridge's Bar remains one of London's finest cocktail rooms — low lighting, plush seating, hushed and unhurried elegance. For a lighter visit, ArtSpace Café offers exceptional coffee, croissants and pastries in a modern gold-and-marble setting.
The Claridge's Spa
Signature herbal compress massages — warm bundles of aromatic herbs applied with a rhythmic technique — alongside bespoke facial and body therapies tailored to individual needs. The therapists here are genuinely skilled, and the treatment rooms have that particular quality of stillness that's hard to achieve in a busy city hotel.
Facilities include a swimming pool, steam room and relaxation areas. Day visitor access is available — you don't need to be a hotel guest to book a treatment. Hotel guests have priority booking windows. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your first treatment.
Private dining rooms host everything from intimate birthday dinners to large corporate receptions — panelled rooms with period features and impeccable service — available through claridges.co.uk.
Planning Your Visit
Whether you're arriving for a three-night stay or simply dropping in for afternoon tea, a few practical details are worth knowing before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Claridge's
The questions below address the most common pre-visit queries about Claridge's. For anything not covered, the hotel team can be reached directly at claridges.co.uk.
There is no strictly enforced dress code for hotel guests. Smart casual is the minimum that feels appropriate in the public rooms, and many guests dress more formally for the bar, restaurant or afternoon tea. Trainers and sportswear are out of place in the lobby and dining areas. For afternoon tea specifically, smart attire is expected — it fits the occasion and the setting naturally.
Why Claridge's Remains the Benchmark
Claridge's is not easily summarised. Over 200 years, it has been a home for displaced royalty, a stage for the greatest Art Deco designers, a dining destination, a cultural institution, and — above all — a hotel that has managed to remain at the very top of its field across every era it has inhabited.
What makes it genuinely remarkable is the accumulation of detail: the history embedded in the walls, the craftsmanship in every room, the dining that moves with the times without losing its sense of occasion, the spa that actually delivers, and the staff who make you feel — whether you're staying for a week or stopping in for a cup of tea — that you're exactly where you're supposed to be.
From the Suite 212 wartime story to the annual Christmas tree that stops London in its tracks, from Dante Mayfair's aperitivo culture to the hushed elegance of Claridge's Bar, this is a place that earns its reputation every single day. Independently recognised by Forbes Travel Guide and consistently celebrated by those who know London's luxury hotel landscape best, it remains the benchmark against which others are measured.