Claridge’s First Book Shows How It Became the Grand Dame of London Hotels

The famed London property—one of our greatest hotels on Earth last year—has just announced its first authorized biography, which is heading to bookshelves this fall. The tome will show how Claridge’s, located in London’s Mayfair, transformed into a beloved retreat for royalty, A-listers, and more cognoscenti.

Published by publishing house Hodder & Stoughton, Claridge’s: Queen of Hotels, Hotel of Kings will give readers a glimpse into the beloved hotel’s past, starting from its debut in 1812 until the modern day. Throughout that journey, you’ll get to discover how exactly Claridge’s became synonymous with luxe British hospitality and glamour throughout the decades, while adding new details into its storied halls, too—with help from the recently opened Dante Mayfair, for example. The biography will also show how it became a popular haunt for everyone from the late Queen Elizabeth II to Mick Jagger, showing off a who’s who of guests that have stayed in its rooms since its inception.

To bring Claridge’s history to the page, it turned to Martin Williams. The London-based author, public speaker, and historian has worked at the likes of Christie’s, Bonhams, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Now, Williams writes full time; his first book, The King Is Dead, Long Live the King! was released back in 2023, focusing on the social and cultural impacts of King Edward VII’s death in 1910. Now, of course, he has focused his attention on all things Claridge’s. When creating the tome, Williams got unprecedented access to the hotel’s never-before-seen archives, allowing him to dive deep into the property’s history.

“From architecture, interior design, and haute cuisine to royalty, politics, and high society, so many fascinating elements and personalities have combined to imbue Claridge’s with its unrivaled heritage and unique character,” Williams said in a press statement. “Since its earliest days at the height of the Regency, luminaries as diverse as Empress Eugénie, Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill, and Gordon Ramsay have passed through its doors, each leaving an indelible mark behind them. It’s been a privilege to be granted the opportunity to tell, for the first time ever, the complete history of Claridge’s—truly a hotel like no other.”

Claridge’s: Queen of Hotels, Hotel of Kings will officially make its debut in hardback, audiobook, and ebook on October 8. 

By Nicole Hoey