The Landmark London facts for kids
| The Landmark London | |
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | 222 Marylebone Road, City of Westminster, London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°31′18.12″N 0°9′46.08″W / 51.5217000°N 0.1628000°W |
| Opening date | 1899 |
The Landmark London is a fancy five-star hotel located in central London, England. You can find it on Marylebone Road in the City of Westminster. This grand building first opened its doors in 1899. It was originally known as the Hotel Great Central.
The hotel was built by a railway company. It was one of many "railway hotels" in London. These hotels were made for people traveling by train. After cars became popular, fewer people used trains. This meant the hotel was not as busy. During Second World War, it became a place for soldiers to get better. Later, it was used as an office building. In 1993, it opened again as a hotel.
Contents
The Hotel's Story
How It Began
The Landmark London started as the Hotel Great Central. It was built during the Victorian era, a time when Queen Victoria ruled Britain. This was a period of big changes and grand buildings.
A man named Sir Edward Watkin first thought of building the hotel. He worked for the Great Central Railway. He wanted Marylebone station to be a huge train hub. He even dreamed of a tunnel under the English Channel! But his plans were too big. The railway company had money problems.
So, the land was sold to Sir John Blundell Maple. He owned a furniture company. He opened the hotel in 1899.
A Grand Design
Even though Marylebone station is one of London's smaller train stations, its hotel was very grand. It had a tall clock tower. The hotel was built around a large open space in the middle. This space is now a beautiful winter garden.
The hotel had two main entrances. One faced the train station. The other faced Marylebone Road. The architect, or designer, was Colonel Sir Robert William Edis. He made the hotel look very rich and detailed. It was a truly impressive building.
Changes Over Time
In the 1920s, the central courtyard became a "winter garden." This is a glass-covered area where plants can grow all year. But the hotel's first time as a hotel was ending.
As more people started using cars, fewer people traveled by train. This meant railway hotels like the Great Central were not as popular. The hotel stopped being used for guests for over 40 years.
During the Second World War, it helped soldiers heal. After the war, it became an office building for the British Railways Board. Some railway workers even called it "The Kremlin."
Becoming The Landmark London
Later, London needed more luxury hotels. So, many old railway hotels were brought back to life. This happened to the Great Central too.
A Japanese company bought the building in 1986. They fixed it up and reopened it in 1993. It was called The Regent, London then.
In 1995, a company from Thailand bought the hotel. They renamed it The Landmark London. This company owns several other hotels in London. Today, The Landmark London has 300 rooms and suites for guests.
