Inside the Savoy – London’s first-ever luxury hotel

The Savoy Hotel is a luxury hotel on the Strand in central London. It was built by impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and opened in 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants, which were owned by his family for over a century.

As Britain’s first luxury hotel when it opened, the Savoy offered such luxuries as electric lights throughout the building, as well as electric lifts, bathrooms in most of the lavishly-furnished rooms, constant hot and cold running water, and many other innovations.

D’Oyly Carte hired manager César Ritz and French chef Auguste Escoffier, who established the highest quality in service, entertainment and dining. Soon, the hotel was attracting royalty and the upper crust, and prime minister Winston Churchill frequently took his cabinet to lunch at the hotel.

Other famous guests have included Edward VII, Oscar Wilde, Enrico Caruso, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Truman, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Babe Ruth, Laurence Olivier, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and numerous others.

Today, the Savoy is still one of London’s most prestigious and opulent hotels, with 268 rooms and panoramic views of the River Thames across Savoy Place and the Thames Embankment.

View the original video here.