The Savoy Hotel, London, UK

The Savoy Hotel re-opened on the 2nd November 2010, after having undergone a 220 million pound restoration project that took three years to complete.  Built in 1889 by Richard D'Oyly Carte, it was the first luxury hotel in Britain and it was the first hotel in Britain to have electricity, electric lifts, air conditioning, 24 hour room service and private bathrooms.   When one looks at the list of guest who have stayed at this hotel, one realises how much history is behind this landmark hotel.  Guests have included King George VI and his daughter Princess Elizabeth (the now Queen), Winston Churchill, Claude Monet, Oscar Wilde, Laurence Olivier, Coco Chanel, Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, the Beatles and more recently Nicholas Cage to name a few.

The Savoy Hotel is owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal and is managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.   It really is the grand dame of hotels and when the restoration project began, there were concerns that the hotel might not have the same appeal after the renovation.  Rest assured, most people today agree that The Savoy is still the same, but just a whole lot better!  We can definitely attest to this, as we stayed at The Savoy in 2006 when we visited London and this time around we saw the improvements.  The designer in charge of the restoration was Pierre-Yves Rochon and he managed to update the hotel and yet keep the same traditional appeal throughout.  We had a wonderful 8-night stay here and we are grateful we got the opportunity to experience the grandeur of The Savoy. 

The Lobby

The Lobby has remained huge and spacious, with lots of seating for guests.

The staircase leading down to The Thames Foyer

The Thames Foyer is where Afternoon and High Tea is served.

Edwardian and Art Deco

The Savoy has kept the two distinct styles of the hotel - Edwardian and Art Deco.  These two styles are evident in the different hallways to the rooms.  The Art Deco hallways are more modern, while the Edwardian hallways are more traditional.  

Our room 

Our room was in the Edwardian section of the hotel, so decorated in the old-style of The Savoy with a gorgeous chandelier.  The room was very spacious and comfortable, but the bathroom was small.  

Room service

The presentation of the room service meals was excellent, which is what one would expect at The Savoy.

The Royal Suite

David was fortunate to get a tour of the hotel, which included a tour of the Royal Suite.  The Royal Suite is 3350 square feet of pure luxury (it covers the entire 5th floor of the hotel) and comes with a gorgeous view of the Thames River, the London Eye and Big Ben.  It cost 2.5 million pounds to renovate the Royal Suite, and at an average rate of 10,000 pounds a night, it really is fit for a king.