The George Inn in West Street in Lacock Village, Wiltshire

London’s Great Hotels
Zoom Rental
Wednesday, November 27 | 12:00 p.m. ET

Before the 19th century, visitors to London had limited options for accommodation, primarily relying on gentlemen’s clubs, lodging houses, and coaching inns. Stephen Benton will unveil the fascinating history of London’s hotels through a digital walking tour, made for Royal Oak. Our journey will begin with the last surviving galleried coaching inn in London, the wonderful George Inn, now preserved by the National Trust. We will explore how the advent of the railway revolutionized travel and accommodation, leading to the establishment of hotels at many of London’s main stations, including the magnificent Gothic marvel at St Pancras. By the early 20th century, some of London’s most iconic hotels had been founded, such as Claridge’s, The Langham, The Ritz, and The Savoy, which was substantially rebuilt in the 1930s in a flamboyant Art Deco style. Between the World Wars, several grand aristocratic townhouses were demolished to make way for iconic hotels like The Dorchester and Grosvenor House. The 1960s introduced London’s first hotel tower, the Hilton, while the 1980s saw the rise of boutique hotels, often housed in repurposed historic buildings. Today, London boasts over 700 hotels with more than 120,000 rooms, ranging from the richly historic to the purely utilitarian. Join Stephen Benton for a captivating exploration of this diverse and ever-evolving landscape.

Tickets: $30 Members*; $40 Non-Members
*Membership discount applied automatically when logged into your Royal-Oak.org account