Claridge's facts for kids

Claridge's London
Quick facts for kids Claridge's in 2002
Hotel facts and statistics
Location	Mayfair, London, England, United Kingdom
Opening date	1812
Architect	Edward James Ferrel
Owner	Maybourne Group
No. of rooms	203
of which suites	11

Claridge's is a very famous 5-star hotel in Mayfair, London. It's located at the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street. This hotel is known for its long history with kings, queens, and other royal families. Because of this, some people even call it an "annexe to Buckingham Palace".

When you visit Claridge's, you'll notice its beautiful Art Deco style inside. This design is very popular and looks elegant. The hotel has a large central area called an atrium. Here, guests can enjoy afternoon tea. They also serve coffee after breakfast and dinner. Claridge's has two big restaurants and several bars. It offers many other services for its guests.

In 2012, the BBC 2 television channel made a three-part show about the hotel. It was called Inside Claridge's.

Hotel History: Claridge's Story

Claridge's first opened its doors in 1812. Back then, it was called Mivart's Hotel. It started in a regular London terraced house. Over time, it grew by buying the houses next door.

In 1854, the person who started Mivart's Hotel sold it. A couple named Mr. and Mrs. Claridge bought it. They owned a smaller hotel right next door. They decided to join their two hotels together. For a while, it was known as "Mivart's at Claridge's". Soon after, they changed the name to simply Claridge's.

The hotel became even more famous in 1860. This was when Empress Eugenie of France stayed there for a long time. She even invited Queen Victoria to visit her at the hotel. This visit helped make Claridge's known as a top place to stay.

In 1878, a famous travel guide called Baedeker's London was first published. It listed Claridge's as "The first hotel in London". This showed how well-known and respected the hotel was.

Modern Updates and Design

Richard D'Oyly Carte bought Claridge's in 1894. He was also the founder of the rival Savoy Hotel. Claridge's became part of The Savoy Group. Soon after, the old hotel buildings were taken down. New, modern buildings were built in their place.

This change was needed to add new features. These included modern lifts and private en suite bathrooms in every room. The current building is a Grade II listed building. This means it's a special building protected for its history. Today, the hotel has 203 rooms and suites. Around 400 staff members work there.

Rooms and Suites at Claridge's

Claridge's offers many different types of rooms. They have special designer rooms, suites, and even penthouses. The Mayfair Suite is decorated in the stylish Art Deco design.

Staying at Claridge's can be quite expensive. Rooms usually start around £450 per night. Suites are more spacious and start around £780 per night. For the most luxurious stay, penthouses can cost about £4,644 per night.

Dining and Fun at Claridge's

For 12 years, the main restaurant at Claridge's was run by the famous chef Gordon Ramsay. In 2014, a new restaurant called Fera at Claridge's took its place.

Fera is led by chef Simon Rogan. He has earned a special award called a Michelin star. This award means his cooking is excellent. In March 2015, Fera was named one of the top new places for food by the Guardian newspaper. Fera earned a Michelin star in 2015. It was one of only 14 restaurants in the UK to get this award that year.

Afternoon Tea and Bars

Claridge's is also very famous for its afternoon tea. The Tea Guild has even given it a special approval. This means it's one of the best places to enjoy traditional afternoon tea.

The hotel has two bars on the ground floor. There is a main bar for drinks. There used to be a special bar for cigars called The Fumoir. However, because of the smoking ban in England, The Fumoir no longer sells cigars.

Claridge's Christmas Tree Display

Claridge's is well-known for its amazing Christmas tree displays. Almost every year, a famous person from the fashion world designs and decorates the tree.

For example, John Galliano (from Dior) and Kally Ellis (from McQueens) have designed trees. In 2013, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana from Dolce & Gabbana decorated a huge 22-foot Christmas tree in the lobby.

In 2012, Kally Ellis, who started McQueens, created the tree. The 2011 tree featured a family of puppets in a Christmas scene. It was decorated by Lanvin.

In 2015, Christopher Bailey from Burberry designed the tree. This modern tree was made from about 100 umbrellas. It had 77,000 lights that lit up when people walked by.

Images for kids

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  Drawing of Claridge's, published in 1897, the year before the hotel reopened.

See also

In Spanish: Claridge's para niños