This is a virtual tour conducted live hosted via Zoom video conferencing where your guide will show slides and give a talk to accompany them. There will be the opportunity for questions both during and after the talk.

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Before the 19th century, visitors to London had limited options for accommodation, primarily relying on gentlemen’s clubs, lodging houses, and coaching inns. And then came the purpose built hotel. Join Stephen to expore the fascinating history of London’s hotels through a digital walking tour.

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 super luxurious. Join Stephen for a captivating exploration of this diverse and ever-evolving landscape.