The Ritz Hotel - London

Introduction: The Ritz Hotel London is located on Piccadilly which is between Green Park and Mayfair and is a central London location. Piccadilly is a busy main road and part of the A4 dual carriageway which gives direct road access out to Heathrow Airport. It also has some great shopping with famous stores such as Fortnum and Mason and places of interest such as the Royal Academy of Arts Museum, St James's Church and the Burlington Shopping Arcade. It leads down to Piccadilly Circus which can be thought of as the tourist centre of London (officially the centre is Charing Cross Station). Green Park on the Western side of the hotel forms part of the grounds of Buckingham Palace (home to the British monarchy). Just on the East side of the hotel is an area known as St James's. This leads down to Trafalgar Square and is an exclusive area in the same mould as Mayfair. Its home to famous roads such as Pall Mall, and places of interest such as St James's Palace and the RAC Club. Shoppers are spoilt for choice with established shopping areas all around such as Bond Street (0.15 miles), Regent Street (0.2 miles), Oxford Street (0.5 miles) and Knightsbridge (0.9 miles). Less than a half mile to the West is the wonderful 600 acres of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Other nearby places of interest include the Michael Faraday Museum (0.1 miles), Trocadero Centre (0.4 miles), Apsley House (0.5 miles) and the Queens Gallery (0.5 miles).

Hotel
First opened in 1906 the Ritz hotel can lay claim to be one of the best known hotels in the world, indeed considered the finest hotel in the world by many. Affectionately known as the 'The Princess of Piccadilly'. The hotel can be likened to the feel of French country house and has accommodated scores of the most famous personalities from across the globe. Over the years restoration work has brought back the original features and their Louis XVI style. Service is a key point of the hotel and is reflected in the ratio of two staff to each guest. Further every guest is greeted by name.

Each bedroom is individually decorated in an elegant English style with antique furnishings remaining true to the hotels original Louis XVI style and a decorative fireplace (in all rooms). Its also traditional at the hotel that all bedrooms are a combination of blue, peach, pink and yellow colours and make use of gold leaf.
In-room amenities include high speed internet access, triple glazed windows that can be opened, safe, central heating, air-conditioning, cable flatscreen TV with on-demand movies, Bose wave radio and CD player, USA and UK modem points, minibar, alarm clock, fax point, pillow menu, direct dial telephones with voice mail and dual voltage sockets.
The en-suite bathrooms come complete with bathrobes, hairdryer, slippers and luxury toiletries (Highgrove).
Extra services that set this hotel apart include help with packing and unpacking of your luggage and an evening turndown service.
Superior Queen: up to 20 sq meters.
Superior King: up to 24 sq meters. Overlook Arlington Street and Piccadilly.
Executive King: up to 30 sq meters. Have an extra large desk.
Deluxe King: up to 36 sq meters.
Junior Suites: up to 46 sq meters. Luxurious accommodation. Original fireplaces and silk ceilings.
Deluxe Suites: up to 74 sq meters. Marble halls and deep pile carpets. Height of opulence with full sized heavy curtains and antique works of art.
Room service is 24 hours. There are dedicated non-smoking floors. Fax machines and interconnecting rooms available on request. Each guest is escorted to their bedroom on allocation. Valet service between 07:00 and 23:00. Free Daily Telegraph delivered daily.

All restaurants and bars have a formal dress code. Men must wear a jacket and tie.
The Ritz Restaurant: A reputation as one of the most stunning of all restaurant environments with the best in service. Serves classical cuisine with modern influences, Includes a private terrace and Italian garden. On Fridays and Saturday evenings the Restaurant holds a traditional dinner and dance (called 'Live at The Ritz')  to the accompaniment of a four piece band. Elegant restaurant with a formal dress code.
Open: 07.00 till 10.30. (Sunday 08.00 till 10.30), 12.30 till 22.00 (Sunday 19.00 till 22.30)
Palm Court: This is where the most English of traditions, Afternoon Tea, is served. The restaurant offers 17 different types and blends of tea alongside the fresh scones, sandwiches, jams, clotted cream and pastries. This is often a place chosen to 'pop the question' by placing an engagement ring into a glass of Champagne. Two sittings daily at 15.30 and 17.00. Pre-booking advised.
Rivoli Bar: This ostentatious Art deco style bar was opened in 2001. A little out of the touch with the hotels general style the Rivoli Bar has a sophisticated and modern feel in an intimate setting with gold and glass fittings. Stunning and contemporary setting where the décor includes camphor wood, satinwood, alabaster, gold leaf and Lalique glass. Alonh with its range of frinks and cocktails the bar also serves alight lunch and dinner.
Open: 11.30 till midnight (Sunday noon till 22.00).

The 7th floor is where you'll find the Ritz salon. This is a spa offering a range of beauty treatments such as massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and reflexology. There is also a hairdressing salon and a gymnasium with sate-of-the-art fitness equipment. Personal trainer on hand.
The Ritz hotel has a family friendly policy and to this aim they have the KIDZ@THERITZ club. The hotel gives each child their very own membership card which can be used to receive their very own Welcome goodie bag. The club has its own Teen Concierge. Other benefits include free ice cream in the restaurants, kid sized robes and slippers, Milk and cookies on turndown. The hotel additionally offers a baby sitting service.
The Ritz hotel has a computer with internet access for guest use and printer, fax and scanner can be requested.
As well as extensive conference and banqueting facilities the hotel also has the Burlington Room which is ideal for smaller meetings of up to 27 guests. A large central table has connections for 6 laptops along with high tech audio visual equipment.
As you would except from such a highly rated hotel the porter and concierge team is on hand 24 hours. Currency exchange is available 24/7. All parts of the Ritz hotel have full air-conditioning.
Additional service include free shoe shine, Valet between 06.00 and 23.00, gift shop, luggage storage facilities and a dedicated 24 hour security team. Safety deposit boxes available.
During your stay you will receive temporary membership for 'Ritz Club', located in the former banqueting hall it offers The Clubs Restaurant, Bar and Gaming Room.

Notable as one of the few hotels in London to incorporate a casino, the Ritz casino. >More casino hotels.

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Room Numbers: 133 / 7 floors
Check-in: 14.00 (2pm)
Check-out: 12.00 noon

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Hotel Awards:

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Background: The Ritz hotel first opened on the 24th May 1906 and was the creation of César Ritz and the design of architects Charles Mewès and Arthur Davis. The style was that of a French chateau. The site of the hotel has a long history of similar use and past establishments on the same spot include:
The Old White Horse Cellar coaching Inn
Bath Hotel
Walsingham House Hotel

At the time of its construction it was one of the few buildings to use a steel frame. The hotel is very much part of the UK's history having been a venue for meetings between Winston Churchill, Charles De Gaulle and President Eisenhower during the second world war.

Purchased in 1995 by Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay's Ellerman Investments. Following the purchase the hotel underwent a massive restoration program which last a full 10 years at a cost of £50 million pounds.
In May 2007 the hotel targeted its card gift vouchers as a potential area to grow its revenue take and to this end it hired gift voucher firm 'SK Chase'.
In July 2010 Anthony Lee was jailed for five years for attempting to fraudently sell the Ritz hotel for £250 million and actually receiving a £1 million pound deposit. He had no actual connection with the hotel.

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