UK hotel loved by royals and celebs where a prince was born | UK | Travel
One London hotel has a rather unique history and has remained loved by celebrities and royals alike. Claridge’s Hotel opened its doors in 1856 after being run as a small family-owned hotel in the years before. Claridge’s was immediately hit with the A-list of society, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert even visiting in the 1860s.
And they aren’t the only royals who have resided in the Mayfair hotel over the years. Many exiled heads of state, including the Kings of Greece, Norway, and Yugoslavia, stayed at Claridge’s during World War II. Then, in the 1970s, the hotel’s restaurant was the favourite of Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon – and to this day, her favourite table is still decorated with sweet peas in her honour.
Royals haven’t just stayed at the hotel; Crown Prince Alexander II of Yugoslavia was even born in Suite 212 in 1945.
Ahead of the birth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill even declared that the suite was Yugoslavian territory, so the prince could be born within his own country.
Throughout the decades, Claridge’s has also been something of a celebrity hotspot.
In the 1950s, numerous Hollywood stars, including Aubrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, and Katharine Hepburn, made the hotel their home away from home.
In more recent history, the hotel has continued to prove popular with A-listers, with Kate Moss, Lulu Guinness, Kylie Minogue, Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet among the guests who have visited since the turn of the century.
This glamorous hotel has been getting even more glam since the 1970s, with a number of the hotel’s suites being redesigned by Diane von Furstenberg – including the stunning Grand Piano Suite.
With all this glitz and glamour within these walls, it’s perhaps unsurprising that a stay at Claridge’s can cost upwards of £1,000 a night, with the cheaper rooms still likely setting you back at least £600.
Although it’s not just basic service you’ll get for the price, rooms typically include a chilled bottle of champagne, luxury snacks, and a minibar.
And if that’s not enough, those opting to stay in signature suites can also expect to have a butler on hand for the duration of their stay.