I've Stayed at 17 Hotels in London — and This Is the One I Can't Stop Thinking About

“Is that Adam Sandler?” I said to my partner as we walked across the lobby’s polished marble under its sparkling chandeliers. While guests at Claridge’s normally tread around in Louboutins, instead of basketball shoes, Mayfair’s most famous address has played host to all types of celebrities, billionaires, and royalty for nearly 170 years.

With a pedigree as blue-blooded as the royal family — who has walked the hotel’s halls — a stay here blends British history and next-level pampering. After undergoing a seven-year multimillion-dollar renovation, the city’s grand dame looks as elegant and opulent as when it opened in 1856.

I’m a sucker for art deco design, and once the surprise of Sandler wore off, I couldn’t stop staring at the gilded glamour in every corner. We’d been to almost a dozen five-star hotels in London already, but something about Claridge’s kept coming back to me for weeks after our checkout.

Maybe it was the decadent afternoon tea, swarming with wide-eyed tourists, drinking in the British pomp and all the tea they could stomach. Or, the little touches like the hand-embroidered pearls on our living room cushions and the monogrammed crest on the elevator floors. Whatever magic sauce they create here, we couldn’t get enough and didn’t leave the hotel for the entirety of our stay.

Instead, we walked down the grand staircase to the newly redesigned Claridge’s Restaurant and dug into scrambled eggs decorated with smoked salmon roses and freshly squeezed orange juice. Grabbing one of the coveted leather smoking chairs next to the lobby’s open fireplace, we people-watched, keeping an eye out for another A-list encounter.

Once 2 p.m. hit, it was time for the can’t-miss afternoon tea, served on custom-made bone china and perfectly starched white linen. I opted for the chai and my partner went with the rooibos while we wolfed down a selection of dainty finger sandwiches, including the roasted ham with tomato relish, crispy shallot, and rocket on onion bread (our favorite). Small raisin and plain scones with Cornish clotted cream and house-made jam followed. In a carb-induced coma came the array of sweets, including a rhubarb and blood orange pavlova and a passionfruit and pineapple brûlée tart.

After a soak in our all-marble bathroom’s vintage tub, we ambled downstairs, noticing the caffeine-addled crowd had thinned and was replaced by one wearing evening jackets and stylish dresses. The hotel’s sexy speakeasy was calling. The Fumoir can be found through a guarded art deco-embossed silver glassed door on the side of the lobby. A nearly 100-year-old Lalique panel decorates the ceiling, and its Jazz Age-inspired cocktails are served in etched Lalique glasses.

Following the cocktail buzz, it was time to unwind with a swim in the swanky André Fu-designed pool before bed. We had the place to ourselves as we sunk into the heated water, realizing we may be in one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive pools.

Although we were heading to another ultra-luxurious London hotel, we asked for a late checkout to linger longer in the splendor that makes this Mayfair stalwart the city’s — and maybe even the world’s — best landmark hotel.

Here’s my review of what it’s like to stay at Claridge’s.

The Rooms

In a hotel with so much history, it’s a relief to see its recent renovation hasn’t stripped it of its character. Claridge’s 269 rooms and suites are anything but cookie-cutter, with 26 categories, ranging from the Superior Room to the palatial new Penthouse, decked out with four bedrooms, green onyx fireplaces, a revolving couch, and the world’s largest Damien Hirst private collection.

The newest suites are delightfully modern, with scalloped pastel couches, curved timber furniture, and stunning all-marble bathrooms. But if you’re really looking to take advantage of the hotel’s legacy, book the Prince Alexander Suite, where its namesake was actually born.

Whichever you choose, every room has decadent Claridge’s bath products, Dyson hair dryers, marble bathrooms with heated floors, Bang & Olufsen speakers, pillow-soft beds, and plenty of strong British tea.

Food and Drink

Known for one of the city’s best afternoon teas, The Foyer & Reading Room at Claridge’s is legendary. Gilded and grand, the room is designed by Thierry Despont, and in the morning, guests can order Claridge’s waffles with Chantilly cream or a full English breakfast, black pudding and all. But making a reservation for its ultra-elegant afternoon tea is like a London rite of passage. (Hot tip: You can order more of any finger sandwich and try as many tea flavors as you like.)

Claridge’s Restaurant is its all-day dining venue, recently reopened after a head-to-toe renovation. Mosaic-tiled floors, art deco molding, lofty stained-glass skylights, and black leather booths decorate the large dining area. Seasonal and local British ingredients are the focus, with a majorly fancy twist. Expect to see Orkney scallops, Cornish lamb, and Norfolk chicken alongside truffle and caviar.

Its third restaurant, Claridge’s ArtSpace Café, is more of a grab-and-go kind of place in between shopping trips or a visit to Tate Modern. But its two bars are the place to see and be seen. Reserve a table at The Painter’s Room or The Fumoir, both hidden away with moody lighting and sexy decor; drinks here are expensive, but can you really put a price on the perfect dirty martini?

Activities and Experiences

Rooms here are so lavish, you really do have to rip yourself away, but when you muster up the strength, Claridge’s concierge team is among the best and most well-connected in the city.

But if classic English weather rolls through, retreat to the subterranean spa, one of the hotel’s newest highlights. Complete with a pool, steam rooms, saunas, seven treatment rooms, and a gym stocked with new NOHRD, PENT, and Peloton equipment, you’ll feel worlds away from London’s hustle and bustle.

The Spa

Award-winning designer André Fu brought the tranquil feel of Kyoto’s temples and gardens to London with the property’s spa. His ingenious use of lines, light, and limestone makes the heated pool feel bigger than it is. The rooms use the same concepts with timber, soft colors, and ikebana floral bouquets to create the perfect space for a facial or deep-release massage. But if you only have time for one treatment, book a signature hammam experience on the heated pink marble onyx bed in the brand-new Pink Room.

Wellness concierges and personal trainers can create custom programs to aid whatever’s ailing you. Plus, the hotel’s rotating “wellness masters” include an acupuncturist specializing in women’s fertility, London’s most in-demand osteopath, and Josh Wood, the city’s premier hair colorist to the stars.

Family-friendly Offerings

Although the hotel feels more like an adults-only getaway, there are plenty of family-friendly room options and discount offers. Plus, kids get mini bathrobes, teddy bears, and welcome bags. Older kids can also request a gaming console for a night in. And if afternoon tea is on the cards, the staff trades in Earl Grey for rich hot chocolate and coloring books.

Don’t forget to get a shot of your little one on the hotel’s famous zebra rocking horse from Stevenson Brothers.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Claridge’s has four ADA-compliant rooms with spacious closets that fit wheelchairs and sprawling bathrooms with an accessible bathtub, expanded showers, and vanities. All elevators, entrances, and restaurants are wheelchair accessible.

All of the properties under the Maybourne Hotel Group operate on 100 percent renewable energy from a large solar panel farm in Essex.

Location

Taking up an entire block on Mayfair, the hotel’s prime location puts you within minutes of shopping on busy Oxford Street, strolling through Hyde Park, or sipping cocktails in Soho. Its super-central address means nothing is too far, and if you do venture out, every cabbie in London knows where Claridge’s is located.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

The hotel is an American Express card member favorite. As a member of its Fine Hotels + Resorts program, guests who redeem points for a stay get special perks like a room upgrade on arrival, breakfast for two, plus early check-in and late checkout.

Before you book, take a peek at Claridge’s special offers. At any one time, they have half a dozen ways to stay and save, like getting a fourth night free or 15 percent off when you book a suite.