The History Of The Ritz In 1 Minute

Nothing can ever prepare you for when you step into The Ritz London for the first time. Or even the time after that. Located in the bustling borough of Mayfair, London’s most iconic hotel stands tall and proud, welcoming you into a warm, golden glow accompanied by the sound of grand pianos. Renowned for their quintessentially British afternoon tea, this hotel is synonymous with luxury.
The building originally opened on 24 May 1906. Owned by the renowned hotelier César Ritz, The Ritz was rebuilt on the site that was once the Bath Hotel. In the early 20th century this was a very unique hotel, not only for its architecture, but because each guest-room had their own bathroom, the rooms featured double glazing, and the beds were made of brass (instead of wood). This was a big step in, what was clearly, the right direction.

This building featured an architectural design – created by Frenchman Charles Mewés and Englishman Arthur Davis who formed a partnership in 1900 – that made it the first steel framed building of any significance in London. The detail and articulation that has gone into building this structure is remarkable, right down to the fine chimneys and large copper lions standing high up on the roof.

Inspired by the French chateau style architecture and featuring Louis XVI décor and antique furnishings, the interior of The Ritz is just as impressive as the exterior, boasting a unique colour palette: salmon pink, rose pink, yellow and blue. Chandeliers are hung high from every ceiling, neo-classical décor is mixed with contemporary technology and the views overlook Royal Green Park or Piccadilly.

The Ritz has always attracted the famous and the fashionable. The Prince of Wales has visited, the Russian Prima Ballerina Pavlova danced here, in 1921 Charlie Chaplin required 40 policemen to escort him into the hotel, and the talented Nöel Coward wrote songs within the walls of this building. Honouring its high calibre of visitors and service, in January 2002, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales awarded The Ritz with the prestigious ‘Royal Warrant for Banqueting and Catering Services’ – making it the first and only hotel with this honour.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.