The Savoy

The Savoy has been at the centre of London life since 1889, when it became the city's first truly modern luxury hotel, with electric lights and its own power station. It still splits neatly into two personalities: Edwardian grandeur on the river side, cool Art Deco on the Strand.

The American Bar is the star turn, one of the oldest and most celebrated cocktail bars in the world, and the location could hardly be better for the theatres, restaurants and galleries of the West End. River-view rooms are the ones to book.

Where it can feel busy

The Savoy is a working landmark with restaurants, bars, celebrations and a constant stream of non-residents. The theatrical public life gives the hotel energy, but it also means the lobby rarely behaves as a private drawing room. Room orientation affects noise and view; a Thames-facing category is the meaningful splurge.

The Edwardian and Art Deco styles vary across the building, so guests should state a preference rather than assume every published image represents every room. The hotel's age is character when maintained perfectly and inconvenience when it is not.

Who it is for

Choose The Savoy for London history, river views and the pleasure of moving between the American Bar, theatreland and the Strand. Travellers seeking a small, residential hotel should look to Mayfair or Belgravia. This is a grand hotel in the literal sense: public, ceremonial and at its best when the guest enjoys the show.

Two architectural languages

The Savoy's rooms divide broadly between Edwardian theatricality and Art Deco geometry, a distinction more useful than a ladder of generic luxury adjectives. River-facing suites add the Thames, London Eye and bridges; courtyard and city rooms can be quieter but lose the view that makes the Strand address emotionally legible. Ask which style, outlook and renovation period apply to the exact room.

The hotel sits between theatreland and the river, with Covent Garden, the National Gallery and South Bank within walking range. Cars approach via Savoy Court, famously driving on the right. That arrival is delightful and the surrounding Strand traffic is not. Rail and walking often beat taxis when the evening curtain time matters.

A drinking hotel with serious restaurants

The American Bar is London's longest-surviving cocktail bar and still treats a menu like cultural history, with live music and reservations increasingly important. The black-and-gold Beaufort Bar is darker and more nocturnal. One drink in each reveals more of the hotel than an attempt to rank them; the real pleasure is watching bartenders adapt classics to the guest rather than the other way around.

Dining now includes Gallery for all-day meals and tea, Savoy Grill, the seafood-focused River Restaurant and intimate Restaurant 1890, with Simpson's returning in 2026 under a new chapter. This abundance can turn the lobby into a destination crowd. Residents should reserve key tables before arrival and keep one night free for Soho or Covent Garden.

The grande dame as working machine

A naturally lit pool, sauna, steam room, treatment rooms and 24-hour gym sit below the historical spectacle and become invaluable after rain or a long flight. Service must coordinate theatre diners, bar visitors, events and hotel guests without allowing the latter to feel peripheral. At its best, the operation converts enormous complexity into charm; at peak moments, the public rooms can feel more station than salon.

The Savoy suits travellers who want London history with wit rather than hushed Mayfair formality. Entry rooms can seem costly for their size and river categories escalate quickly. Pay for the view if mornings in the room matter; otherwise spend on a memorable bar and use the location. The building is most alive when treated as part hotel, part stage.

The Verdict

A glamorous, superbly located London institution with a bar worth crossing town for. For a theatre-and-cocktails weekend in the capital, it's hard to beat.