Claridge's
Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
The Story
Claridge's, the art deco grande dame of Mayfair, has been hosting Hollywood visitors since the talkies era. Its combination of supreme discretion and impeccable service made it the obvious choice for stars who wanted privacy without sacrificing luxury — and the obvious choice it has remained. The hotel's discretion policy means specific rooms are not publicised, which is rather the point. You came to Claridge's precisely because nobody would tell anyone you were there.
Cary Grant's London
Cary Grant's London connections were surprisingly thin for a man who was born English. Bristol was home, Hollywood was work, and London was somewhere in between. But when he was in the capital, Claridge's was his hotel of choice, and he stayed here on visits to the UK throughout his career. The hotel bar still has the kind of hushed, wood-panelled atmosphere where you can imagine Grant ordering a very dry martini and making it look like the most natural thing in the world.
" Claridge's, the art deco grande dame in Mayfair, was Grant's London hotel of choice.
Ava Gardner and the Pandora press
Ava Gardner was a regular at Claridge's during her years living a short hop away in Knightsbridge. She and the rest of the cast of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman were put up here during filming, and she hosted a press conference in the hotel's Banquet Room. She was in good company: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn maintained a discreet suite arrangement, and the guest book over the years has taken in Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, and Audrey Hepburn. Still one of London's finest hotels.
Signature Experiences
The Foyer
The Foyer serves one of London's best afternoon teas, taken beneath the hotel's art deco splendour.
The hotel bar
A hushed, wood-panelled room with the kind of atmosphere where you can imagine Cary Grant ordering a very dry martini and making it look like the most natural thing in the world.
The Banquet Room
Where Ava Gardner hosted a press conference during the filming of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, when she and the rest of the cast were put up at the hotel.
Famous Connections
Who Came Here
Plan Your Visit
Good to Know
- How to Book: Book direct at claridges.co.uk or by phone. Afternoon tea in The Foyer and tables in the bar can also be reserved through the hotel's website.
- Best Time: Year-round. Afternoon tea in The Foyer is best booked well ahead.
- Accessibility: Contact the hotel directly to confirm access requirements.
- Tip: You do not need to be a guest to soak up the atmosphere — book a table for afternoon tea in The Foyer, or order a martini in the bar, the room where you can most easily picture Cary Grant at home. The hotel's celebrated discretion means specific rooms are not publicised, which is rather the point.
Nearby
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