London's grand hotels, among them the Savoy, the Ritz, Claridge's and the Langham, are some of the oldest and most famous luxury hotels in the world. You do not need to book a room to see inside: afternoon tea, a cocktail in the bar or a meal in the restaurant lets you enjoy them for a fraction of the price of a night's stay.
A "grand hotel" is more than an expensive one. The term describes the large, historic luxury hotels built for wealthy travellers from the Victorian period to the early 20th century, with public rooms designed to be seen in: marble lobbies, ballrooms, tea rooms and famous bars. Many of London's are still in their original buildings, and their histories are full of royalty, film stars and politicians.
This guide explains what makes these hotels famous, how to experience them as a visitor without staying, what to wear, and what to check if you do decide to book a room. We describe the best-known names, but we do not rank them: the right choice depends on the area, the style and the price for your dates.
London's grand hotels at a glance
- Best-known names
- The Savoy (Strand), The Ritz (Piccadilly), Claridge's and The Connaught (Mayfair), The Langham (Marylebone), The Goring (Belgravia)
- Main areas
- Mayfair and St James's, the Strand, Knightsbridge and Belgravia, Park Lane, Marylebone
- Ways in without staying
- Afternoon tea, bars, restaurants, some guided tours
- Dress
- Smart; the Ritz requires a jacket and tie for men at afternoon tea and in its restaurant
- Book ahead
- Essential for afternoon tea at the famous names
How London's grand hotels began
The first wave came with the railways. In the Victorian period, large hotels were built next to the new termini and along the main roads of the West End for travellers arriving from the rest of Britain and from abroad. The Langham, on Portland Place, has welcomed guests since 1865 and describes itself as Europe's first grand hotel.
The Savoy followed in 1889. It was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte, the theatre producer behind the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, who had seen the new hotels of the United States while touring there. The Savoy calls itself the first purpose-built deluxe hotel in Britain, and it hired the French chef Auguste Escoffier, who organised its kitchen into specialised sections, the so-called brigade system that spread through professional kitchens.
Claridge's has older roots. According to its owners, James Mivart opened a hotel in a house on Brook Street in 1812; William and Marianne Claridge expanded it and renamed it Claridge's in 1856. D'Oyly Carte bought it in 1893, and the rebuilt hotel reopened in 1898. The Ritz opened on Piccadilly in 1906, founded by the Swiss hotelier César Ritz, and the Goring opened near Buckingham Palace in 1910.
The famous names and what each is known for
| Hotel | Area | Dates from | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Langham | Portland Place, Marylebone | 1865 | Victorian grandeur; afternoon tea in the Palm Court |
| The Savoy | The Strand, by the Thames | 1889 | River views, the American Bar, Escoffier, afternoon tea under a glass dome |
| Claridge's | Brook Street, Mayfair | 1812 (as Mivart's); rebuilt 1898 | Art Deco interiors, royal and Hollywood guests |
| The Ritz | Piccadilly, by Green Park | 1906 | Afternoon tea, a formal dress code, a restaurant with two Michelin stars |
| The Goring | Belgravia, near Buckingham Palace | 1910 | Traditional English style, afternoon tea on the veranda |
| The Connaught | Mount Street area, Mayfair | Opened as the Coburg; renamed during the First World War | Quiet Mayfair elegance, restaurants and bar |
The Savoy's own history is the most colourful. Its archive records that Claude Monet painted the Thames from the hotel around 1899, that Winston Churchill was a regular in its Grill, and that the young Guccio Gucci, later founder of the fashion house, worked there as a luggage porter. The hotel says its American Bar is the oldest continuously operating cocktail bar in London; the bar's head bartender Harry Craddock compiled The Savoy Cocktail Book.
Claridge's has its own legends. The hotel's history records that, at Churchill's request, one of its suites was once declared Yugoslav territory, so that Crown Prince Alexander could be born on his country's soil. Film stars such as Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn made it their London base.
Other famous luxury hotels stand along Park Lane facing Hyde Park, in Knightsbridge near Harrods, and in converted historic buildings in Whitehall and the City. The grand Victorian Gothic hotel at St Pancras station, originally built for the Midland Railway, is also worth a look if you arrive by Eurostar; see our guide to Eurostar from St Pancras and the King's Cross area around it.
Afternoon tea: the easiest way inside
For most visitors, afternoon tea is the way to experience a grand hotel. You get a table in one of the finest rooms in the building for an hour and a half or more, with sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, pastries and a pot of tea. It is expensive for a meal, but cheap compared with a room.
The Ritz publishes its prices: traditional afternoon tea costs from £95 for an adult and £73 for a child, and a glass of champagne adds from £25 (September 2026). It is served daily at 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30 and 19:30, and each sitting lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Check current prices and availability on the Ritz website before you go. The Savoy serves afternoon tea beneath the glass dome of its Gallery with live piano, and advises booking as early as possible; it also offers a children's menu and has no minimum age.
Our full guide to afternoon tea in London compares hotel teas with cheaper alternatives in cafés, department stores and museums.
Treat a late-morning or evening tea sitting as a full meal. Because the Ritz serves tea from 11:30 through to a 19:30 sitting, you can plan it as lunch or as a light dinner before the theatre and skip a separate meal that day, which makes the price easier to justify. If your preferred afternoon slot is taken, ask about these times.
Bars, restaurants and other ways to visit
A drink in a grand hotel bar costs more than in a pub, but you can sit for an hour in a historic room without booking a meal. Hotel bars usually welcome non-residents, though the most famous ones can have a queue or a waiting list on busy evenings. Arrive early in the evening, and treat it as part of a night out; our guide to London after dark has more ideas.
Most grand hotels have at least one serious restaurant, and some hold Michelin stars. The Ritz Restaurant has two. Lunch menus are usually much cheaper than dinner: the Ritz lists a three-course lunch from £98 per person, served Monday to Friday (September 2026). Breakfast is another affordable way in, and at the Ritz breakfast is one of the areas with a smart-casual dress code.
The Savoy offers private guided tours with its archivist, followed by a glass of champagne in the American Bar, by enquiry through the hotel. Tours like this are not sold as regular tickets, so ask the hotel directly.
Dress codes and etiquette in London's grand hotels
Dress codes are the main thing that surprises visitors. They differ from hotel to hotel, and sometimes between rooms in the same hotel.
- The Ritz requires men to wear a jacket and tie for afternoon tea and for lunch and dinner in the Ritz Restaurant. Jeans and sportswear are not permitted there for anyone. In the Rivoli Bar, the Secret Garden and at breakfast, smart casual is accepted, and smart jeans are allowed. Sportswear is not permitted in any of the hotel's restaurants or bars.
- The Savoy has no formal dress code, but asks guests to dress to suit the hotel and the occasion, and does not permit sports jerseys, football shirts and other supporter clothing, or offensive clothing.
Other hotels set their own rules, so check the hotel's website before you go. If in doubt, dress one level smarter than you think you need: a collared shirt, smart trousers or a dress, and proper shoes rather than trainers.
The Ritz tie rule has no summer exception. Men need a jacket and tie for afternoon tea and the Ritz Restaurant whatever the weather. Pack a tie if afternoon tea there is on your list, or choose a hotel with a more relaxed code.
Bills in hotel restaurants and tea rooms often include a service charge. A discretionary service charge is optional, and UK law requires employers to pass all tips and service charges to staff. Our guide to tipping in London explains what is normal, and our page on British manners for visitors covers the rest.
What to expect if you book a room
Staying in a grand hotel is a different experience from a modern luxury chain. The public rooms are spectacular, the service is personal and a concierge can book restaurants and theatre tickets for you. But the buildings are old, and rooms vary a great deal in size, view and noise. The cheapest room category in a historic hotel can be small, face a courtyard or sit above a busy street.
Before you book, check:
- The room category, size and view. Compare the square metres, not just the name. "Superior" and "deluxe" mean different things at each hotel.
- What the rate includes. Breakfast, Wi-Fi and taxes should be clear. UK law requires the total price, including mandatory charges, to be shown up front.
- The cancellation terms. Flexible and prepaid rates can differ a lot. At the Savoy, for example, the flexible policy lets you cancel free until 14:00 one day before arrival, after which the first night is charged; some packages have different terms.
- Check-in and check-out times. At the Savoy check-in is guaranteed from 15:00 and check-out is at noon, and luggage can be stored if you arrive early.
- Accessibility. Historic buildings may have only a few fully accessible rooms, so ask the hotel directly.
Booking directly with the hotel or through a reputable agent are both reasonable choices. Be wary of third-party sites you do not know, and read our guide to booking tips and accommodation scams before paying a large sum.
Choosing an area for a luxury stay
The grand hotels are concentrated in a few districts, and each gives a different kind of trip.
- Mayfair and St James's have the highest concentration of historic luxury hotels, between Piccadilly, Green Park and Oxford Street. Quiet streets, art galleries and old-fashioned shops. Our guide to Mayfair and St James's explains the area.
- The Strand and Covent Garden put you close to the theatres and the river. The Savoy is a few minutes' walk from Charing Cross station and from Covent Garden, and ideal for a West End theatre trip.
- Belgravia and Knightsbridge are residential and polished, close to Hyde Park, the museums of South Kensington and London's big department stores.
- Marylebone is calmer, with a village-style high street and Regent's Park nearby. Read our Marylebone guide.
For a comparison of all areas at every budget, see our guide to where to stay in London.
A grand-hotel walk from the Strand to Mayfair
You can see the outside of several of the famous hotels in one afternoon on foot. Start at the Savoy on the Strand and look into its front courtyard. Walk west to Trafalgar Square, then along Pall Mall into St James's, past the gentlemen's clubs and old shops of St James's Street. Turn left on Piccadilly to reach the Ritz, with its long arcade facing Green Park.
From the Ritz, walk north through Mayfair to Berkeley Square and Mount Street for the Connaught, and on to Brook Street for Claridge's. If you still have energy, continue north across Oxford Street to Portland Place and the Langham. End the walk with afternoon tea or a drink in whichever hotel you liked best. For the Goring, which is near Buckingham Palace, combine it with a visit to the palace instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Ritz in London without staying there?
Yes. Non-residents can book afternoon tea, lunch or dinner in the Ritz Restaurant, or have a drink in the Rivoli Bar or the Secret Garden. Afternoon tea must be booked in advance, and a strict dress code applies in the tea room and the restaurant.
What is the dress code for afternoon tea at the Ritz?
Men must wear a jacket and tie for afternoon tea and for lunch and dinner in the Ritz Restaurant. Jeans and sportswear are not permitted there for anyone. Smart casual clothing is accepted at breakfast and in the Rivoli Bar and the Secret Garden.
How much is afternoon tea at the Ritz?
The Ritz lists traditional afternoon tea from £95 for an adult and £73 for a child, with a glass of champagne from £25 extra (September 2026). Prices change, so check the hotel's website when you book.
Which is the oldest grand hotel in London?
Several hotels claim long histories. Claridge's traces its origins to a hotel opened in 1812 and took its current name in 1856, while the Langham has received guests since 1865 and calls itself Europe's first grand hotel. The Savoy, from 1889, was Britain's first purpose-built deluxe hotel.
Can children have afternoon tea at a grand hotel?
Often, yes. The Savoy has no minimum age for afternoon tea and offers a children's menu, and the Ritz publishes a separate child price. Rules differ between hotels, so check the booking conditions and dress code before taking children.
Sources
- The Ritz London - Frequently asked questions (dress code, afternoon tea) (checked September 2026)
- The Ritz London - History (checked September 2026)
- The Savoy - Frequently asked questions (checked September 2026)
- The Savoy - History and heritage (checked September 2026)
- Maybourne Hotels - History of Claridge's, The Connaught and The Berkeley (checked September 2026)
- The Langham, London - Hotel home page (checked September 2026)
- The Goring - Hotel home page (checked September 2026)
- Competition and Markets Authority - Providing clear and accurate information about prices: summary (checked September 2026)