The Ritz, London - hotel review

​It’s as opulent and gloriously extravagant as you imagine it to be, says Alice Howarth
1/6
Alice Howarth22 June 2018

First opened in 1906 by Swiss hotelier César Ritz, today The Ritz remains one of the most iconic hotels in the world and with good reason.

Lavish and decoratively mesmerising, footmen will usher you into a world of no-decadence-spared luxury.

Steeped in history but still a golden grid-entry for the jet-set and fash pack’s Instagrams, the hotel is as relevant today as it was when it first swung open its doors all those years ago.

Where is it?

Situated in historic Piccadilly, the hotel is a 10-minute walk to Bond Street and Oxford Circus and within a stone’s throw of the Royal Academy and Green Park.

Style

The bathroom  
Leading Hotels of the World

As decadent as you would hope, The Ritz is the embodiment of a proper world-class hotel. Enter the lobby via the revolving doors and your foot will instantly rise on the impossibly plush carpet. Through the chandelier-lit Long Gallery, which is adorned with vast bouquets of fragrant roses, you’ll head up to your room via a hand painted lift.

Recently renovated, The Ritz has (thankfully) avoided the temptation to go modern and has stayed true to its heritage. The famed Palm Court, clad in a glowing light of sherbet lemon and pink, remains an art-deco heaven. In the rooms, you’ll find floral wallpapers, heavy-silk cornflower blue curtains, dusty pink marble bathrooms with embossed ‘The Ritz’ taps and vast velvet Chesterfield headboards.

Facilities

The Ritz has all the amenities you would expect from one of the Leading Hotels of the World. There’s a spa, fitness centre and a kids club but perhaps the most ritzy place is the Casino.

Located on the bottom floor, The Ritz Club is a gilded den of opulence. Made up of connected chambers, guests of the hotel are welcome to play on the various slot machines or try their luck on the card tables. It’s certainly worth getting a strong cocktail at the private bar if gambling's not your thing. The people watching potential is something else.

Food & Drink

The Ritz Restaurant  
Leading Hotels of the World

You cannot stay at The Ritz and not experience the afternoon tea. It’s legendary for a reason.

Penguin-suited butlers will pour you a glass of champagne as you browse the twenty-plus blends of fresh teas to choose from. Tiers of fascinator cakes, bouncy warm scones and perfectly sliced triangle sandwiches will shortly appear in front of you, replenished as soon as you’ve taken your last bite.

For breakfast, you’ll head to the dining room which could rival some of Europe’s finest houses. Marble columns line the walls, the cornices are gilded and the room is adorned with frescoes.

The breakfast spread is as elaborate as its setting. A grand table in the centre of the dining room is stacked with various tiers groaning under the weight of handcrafted pastries, Scottish smoked salmon and lemon wedges, Bircher muesli of all varieties and scores of Continental platters. Whenever you do, go hungry.

Which room?

A Suite Bedroom  
Leading Hotels of the World

If spending over one thousand pounds a night to stay in the Piccadilly Suite is out of your budget, then opting for the Deluxe King room is a perfect alternative. The rooms are still lavish with their own seating area and large marble bathrooms and the decor is suitably powdery with a colour scheme of blues, yellows, pinks and peaches. Make sure to ask for the highest available floor to really take advantage of the hotel's spectacular views of the city.

Best for

A one-off night of pure decadence. Whether you go with a partner or a friend, go with something to celebrate. This is the occasion to really go all out.

Details

Rooms start from £320 per night excluding breakfast. The Deluxe King rooms at The Ritz start from £501 per night. The Ritz is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Find out more here.

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