In our Suite Staycation column, Gina Jackson – hotel expert and author of British Boutique Hotels – tours some of the best hotel suites in the UK. Next up, The Savoy, London.
Best for: a spoiling stay
Few London hotels command quite the same prestige as The Savoy, a storied stay straddling the Strand, often celebrated as London’s first true luxury hotel.
Give us the lowdown
Since opening its doors in 1889, this Art Deco icon set the benchmark for hospitality in the capital, having pioneered the use of electric lighting, lifts, and en suite bathrooms – true hallmarks of luxury at the time. As soon as you slide through the revolving door and click your shoes on the chequered marble floors, it’s hard not to be bowled over by the theatre of it all: doormen in top hats, suited-up butlers, and glittering chandeliers in every room.
And I’m sure a flick through the hotel’s guest book would prove similarly mind-boggling. Everyone who’s anyone has stayed here: Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, The Beatles, and Winston Churchill, who famously kept a bottle of his preferred champagne on standby.
What’s in the suite?
Many of the hotel’s guest rooms have undergone a major revamp as of this year: in total, 10,000 square metres of new carpet have been laid – and almost 500 pictures now grace the walls. The River View Suites are the hotel’s finest, offering far-reaching views over the city’s skyline, with the pointed top of Cleopatra’s Needle seemingly within reach if you lean out ever so slightly.
From here, you’ll be sharing the same panoramic vistas that inspired Claude Monet, who returned to the hotel several times to paint the changing cityscape. Interiors are a modern tribute to the building’s heritage: expect creamy furnishings, draped curtains in soft, sky-blue velvets, and marble-draped bathrooms. There are still plenty of Art Deco and Edwardian flourishes: original fireplaces, cornices and period detailing remain and have all been carefully restored. And yet, rooms have been thoughtfully equipped with slick tech: think wireless charging stations built into the bedside tables, Dyson hairdryers, and huge flat-screen smart TVs.
How’s the crowd?
Travellers from all across the globe drift through the hotel’s doors, whether they’re checking in for an overnight stay or stopping by for pre-theatre tipples. Guests aren’t limited to any age, either: you’re just as likely to spot elderly couples dressed to the nines in the American Bar, as you are multi-generational families with tots in tow, wide-eyed at the grandeur of it all.
Where can we eat and drink?
There are seven destinations to wine and dine under the hotel’s roof. Centrepiece restaurant Gallery sits nestled in a lowered atrium and received a full facelift at the same time as the River Suites upstairs. With its sunset pink hues, red marble columns, and live pianist tinkling away, it’s a glamorous go-to spot at any time of day. The menu is all about comfort: proper fish and chips, the hotel’s much-loved chicken tikka pie with its perfectly flakey crust, and nostalgic puddings.
An additional three restaurants are overseen by Gordon Ramsay, including a Michelin-starred standout – and there are two glitzy bars, including the iconic American Bar, which is something of a legend in its own right – and supposedly the longest-standing cocktail bar in London. Before checking out, swing by Scoff, the hotel’s cake shop, where you can bag some pimped-up scones to take home with you.
Are there any stand-out touches worth mentioning?
Impeccable, intuitive service is what The Savoy is best known for, and staying in one of the River View Suites comes with the added boon of your own personal butler. Just minutes after I’d checked in, mine appeared with a welcome glass of champagne. Their local knowledge is second to none: whether you need help securing theatre tickets, offering restaurant and museum recommendations, or even acting as a personal shopper, your butler is just a WhatsApp message away.
What’s on the to-do list?
You’re slap bang in central London here, so make the most of your stay by exploring all of the thrills on your doorstep. The West End’s best theatres sit a short stroll away, and there’s plenty of standout restaurants nearby to tempt you. Head to Toklas or Ikoyi, both housed within 180 The Strand: the former a contemporary Mediterranean gem, the latter a two-Michelin-starred sensation. Somerset House is also within easy reach, and has its own culinary pull, including Spring, Skye Gyngell’s produce-driven restaurant, and newly-opened Poon’s. Its famous ice-skating rink also twinkles to life at this time of year.
What should we know before we go?
If you can find a moment to unwind amid all of the frivolity, head up to the hotel spa, where you’ll find a swimming pool bathed in natural light, and a boutique gym for working up a sweat.
What should we pack?
There’s no formal dress code, but you’ll fit in best in your finest gladrags. Most guests like to glam up (this is The Savoy, after all), so smart frocks and heels won’t go amiss.
All image credits: The Savoy, London
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Any Questions or Tips to add?