The Ritz London stands on Piccadilly, at the edge of Green Park and a short stroll from Mayfair and St James's. Opened in 1906 by the Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz, it was among the first steel-framed buildings in London and remains the byword for Edwardian grandeur. For the visitor, it is far more than a place to stay. It is a piece of living London history, a landmark whose Parisian-inspired arcades, gilded interiors and Louis XVI styling have shaped the very idea of the grand hotel for more than a century.
Why visit The Ritz London
Visit The Ritz to experience one of the most storied and architecturally significant hotels in Britain, a building so synonymous with luxury that its name entered the English language. Its Piccadilly facade, French chateau interiors and place at the heart of London society make it a destination in its own right, well worth seeking out even if you never step through the doors.
The hotel was the creation of Cesar Ritz, the legendary hotelier who had already given Paris its own Ritz, working with the architects Charles Mewes and Arthur Davis. Their building drew openly on French neoclassical design, with an arcaded ground floor echoing the Rue de Rivoli and interiors finished in the manner of Louis XVI. For anyone interested in design, social history or the golden age of travel, The Ritz is a textbook of Belle Epoque ambition rendered in Norwegian granite and Portland stone.
Over its long life the hotel has welcomed royalty, heads of state, writers and film stars, and it has appeared throughout literature and on screen as shorthand for the height of metropolitan elegance. To stand before it is to connect with a particular chapter of London life, one that reaches from the Edwardian era through the wartime years and into the present.
Highlights and what to see
The pleasures of The Ritz are as much architectural as social. Even from the pavement, the building rewards a careful look, and those who venture inside encounter a sequence of richly decorated rooms that have changed remarkably little in spirit since 1906.
- The Piccadilly arcade, a covered colonnade running along the building's frontage, inspired by the arcades of Paris and a rare survival of Edwardian street design in London.
- The Long Gallery, a grand corridor lined with chandeliers, mirrors and gilded detailing that forms the social spine of the hotel.
- The Palm Court, the celebrated oval salon at the heart of the building, famous for its marble, mirrors and ornate plasterwork.
- The Rivoli Bar, an Art Deco jewel box added later in the hotel's life, glittering with glass and gold leaf.
- The hotel's exterior on Piccadilly, with its arcaded ground floor, mansard roof and the famous Ritz lettering, best appreciated from across the road.
- Views towards Green Park, which the hotel overlooks, linking the building to one of central London's royal parks.
How to visit
The Ritz London occupies 150 Piccadilly, in the heart of the West End. The nearest Underground station is Green Park, served by the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines and only a few steps from the door. Piccadilly Circus station, on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines, is also within easy walking distance, as is Hyde Park Corner on the Piccadilly line.
As a working luxury hotel rather than a public attraction, access to the interior is generally reserved for guests and for those with a reservation in its bars and dining rooms, where a smart dress code applies. The exterior, the arcade and the surrounding streets can be enjoyed freely at any time. Because offerings, dress codes and reservation arrangements change, visitors should consult the official website for current information before planning a visit.
What's nearby
The Ritz sits among some of the most rewarding ground in central London. Green Park lies directly opposite, offering a quiet path through to Buckingham Palace and The Mall. A short walk east along Piccadilly brings you to the Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington House and the historic Burlington Arcade, while Fortnum and Mason, the celebrated grocer, stands almost next door.
To the north lie the galleries, tailors and townhouses of Mayfair, and to the south the clubland streets of St James's, with Piccadilly Circus and the theatres of the West End only a few minutes further on. Few hotels are so well placed for exploring the city on foot.
The Ritz London FAQ
Where is The Ritz London?
The Ritz stands at 150 Piccadilly in the West End, overlooking Green Park and bordering the districts of Mayfair and St James's. It is one of the most recognisable buildings on Piccadilly, with its arcaded frontage and famous signage. The nearest Underground station is Green Park, just a few steps away.
When did The Ritz open?
The hotel opened in 1906, founded by the Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz and designed by the architects Charles Mewes and Arthur Davis. It was one of the earliest steel-framed buildings in London, a structural innovation hidden behind a facade of Norwegian granite and Portland stone in the grand French neoclassical style.
Can you visit The Ritz without staying there?
The interior is a working hotel, so access is generally for guests and for those holding a reservation in its bars or dining rooms, where a smart dress code applies. The exterior and the Piccadilly arcade can be admired freely. Check the official website for current arrangements before you go.
What is The Ritz known for?
The Ritz is known as a byword for Edwardian grandeur and luxury, so much so that its name gave English the word ritzy. It is celebrated for its French-inspired architecture, its gilded interiors such as the Palm Court and Long Gallery, and its long association with royalty, society and the arts.
Plan your visit
For more grand and historic places to stay, browse our guide to London's finest hotels. To make the most of the surrounding area, see our overview of central London neighbourhoods, and pair your visit with the galleries and landmarks in our pick of London's leading attractions.
