Claridge's

I've noticed Claridge's losing some of its personal magic lately — it feels like it's sliding toward a more corporate norm.

Compared to how it used to feel, I think the personal touches that once defined a Claridge's stay have faded unless you're someone whose name carries weight. It's a minority view among what I've seen, but it stuck with me enough to mention. Still one of the best addresses in London, just not quite the same magic as before in my opinion.

I've actually found Claridge's excellent with personal touches — not the corporate experience some describe.

Pushing back on the idea that Claridge's has lost its warmth, my own experience has been the opposite — genuine personal attention throughout. I think expectations in this community can sometimes outpace reality, but Claridge's has consistently delivered for me.

I got to see the new Brook Suite at Claridge's and honestly, I'm obsessed with the layout and decor.

The flow of the space and the design details in this new suite really stood out to me compared to other high-end London suites I've toured. It's a strong addition to the hotel's already excellent suite portfolio.

For the quintessential afternoon-tea experience, I don't think you can beat this grande dame hotel.

The finger sandwiches are perfect and the scones come with huge, rich dollops of cream that set the standard for the genre. It's the kind of ritual that feels essential to any proper London visit.

For me, this is simply one of the best hotels on earth — there's nothing else quite like it.

The storied grandeur combined with the stylish Art Deco detailing makes this hotel the stuff of legend in a way that competitors can't replicate. It's become the benchmark against which other grand London hotels are measured.

I took my wife here for her birthday and the attention to detail started the second we stepped out of the car.

From arrival onward, everything about the weekend felt considered and elevated — nothing else I've experienced compares. The hardest part was checking out, honestly. We're already planning our return.

My spa treatment here with Bandara was one of the best I've ever had.

Bandara was extremely professional and attentive, taking real time to understand what I needed before the treatment even began. I left feeling completely refreshed. I'd recommend him specifically to anyone booking the spa here.

We stay three days every Christmas and it's become our dream trip — nothing else compares.

From the staff to the overall quality, everything astonishes us every single year. To us this is genuinely the best hotel in the world, a real gift of architecture matched with service that feels like a seven-star experience. We adore the staff and always leave counting down to next Christmas.

The André Fu-designed spa here, opened in 2022, brought a serene new pool and steam rooms three floors below ground.

This subterranean wellness addition modernized the hotel's offering considerably, giving guests sauna and steam facilities that didn't previously exist at this level. It's a meaningful upgrade to the property's amenities without disrupting its historic character above ground.

I toured The Residence, Claridge's second-top suite designed by André Fu, and at roughly $20,000 a night the whole idea of 'value' just goes out the window.

This is a two-bedroom, two-floor glass suite over 3,000 square feet, with a rooftop terrace and jacuzzi looking out over the city — genuinely one of the most striking hotel spaces I've filmed. The main living room felt a bit overwhelming in person with all the glass, but the bedrooms with their warm wood floors were much more inviting. Whatever you think of the price, it's an extraordinary space to see even if you'll never book it.

I tried three of London's top afternoon teas recently and Claridge's came out on top for both service and food.

This was the first time I actually finished an entire afternoon tea without feeling rushed, which says a lot about the pacing here. Robert took care of us with real attention to detail, and we even left with sandwiches packed in a stylish box plus a chocolate gift. My only gripe was the chairs — beautiful but not the most comfortable for a long sitting.

Staying in Mayfair, I couldn't have asked for a better base — Claridge's put us steps from the best shopping in London.

The location alone made this trip easy, with Hyde Park a pleasant walk and the shopping streets practically at the door. Every staff member made us feel genuinely cared for, and afternoon tea was a beautiful, relaxed affair with excellent pastries. The gym impressed me more than almost any hotel gym I've used, kitted out with premium equipment — my only real complaint was the pool, which is fine for a dip but too small for real laps.

We had a rocky start to our stay, but the way Claridge's handled the mistake turned it into one of our most memorable visits.

There was a blip early on, but the recovery was genuinely exceptional — we were upgraded and looked after with real care afterward. Tony the night duty manager, Pierpaolo the Director of Rooms, and Tayyab at reception all went well beyond what I expected to make things right. We left with entirely positive memories and are already looking forward to returning.

Checking in for a twin room that wasn't set up right led to an hour of staff redoing our bedding when we'd already said it was fine.

Most of the staff here were second to none, but this particular stay had some frustrating friction — six people cycling through our room to fix bedding we didn't need fixed, being asked to vacate the lobby while eating pastries from the hotel's own bakery, and a delivery mixup involving super glue to the wrong room. It felt like politeness without real accommodation. I'd have expected a smoother, more attentive experience from a hotel of this caliber.

I booked afternoon tea as a treat and it fell a little flat compared to what I expected from such a British institution.

The setting and staff were lovely — the doormen polite, the room gliding with elegance, the cocktails packing a punch. But the food itself disappointed: thick sandwiches, no cake stand, and cakes that looked fine but lacked any real showiness or theatre. We also had a server change mid-tea and ended up shortchanged on our tea refills. I'd still go back, but I'll explore other options first.

I've done many high teas around London, including the Ritz and Landmark, and Claridge's beats them all on food and service quality.

We were celebrating my friend's birthday and they even accommodated her two-year-old daughter without a hitch, adjusting the children's menu to fit her needs. From the moment we walked in, the staff were warm and accommodating, and the room itself is as beautiful as its reputation suggests, right down to the restrooms. Genuinely the best afternoon tea I've had in the city.

We usually stay at The Connaught, but a two-night stay at Claridge's for a friend's birthday won us over as a new favorite.

Our room was spacious with a great bathroom and freestanding tub, plus nice touches like a steamer and Dyson dryer. The mezzanine location was a little tricky to find but rewarded us with real quiet. We enjoyed both lobby bars and breakfast, and the Mayfair location put every shop and restaurant we wanted within easy reach.

I was blocked from my own room over a billing error that turned out to be entirely the hotel's mistake, and the way it was handled was genuinely humiliating.

I showed them proof of payment and they still refused to believe me, only apologizing once I pushed hard, then denying they'd blocked me at all. Being told I might 'run away' without paying was insulting given I'd already settled the bill. Another guest even privately warned me they'd had money taken from them too, which was alarming to hear from inside the hotel. This experience felt like the opposite of luxury service.

After staying at 17 hotels across London, I can say Claridge's rooms are anything but cookie-cutter.

With 269 rooms and suites spread across 26 distinct categories, ranging from the Superior Room up to the new palatial Penthouse, there's a genuine range of experiences on offer here rather than a single templated product. That variety, paired with the hotel's Art Deco identity, is part of what sets it apart from newer competitors.