Claridge's: The Art of British Glamour

Claridge’s: The Art of British Glamour

Claridge’s has the unusual quality of feeling both deeply rooted in London and constantly renewed. The present building opened in 1898, designed by C. W. Stephens, while the hotel’s defining Art Deco identity emerged during the 1920s through the work of designers including Oswald Milne and Basil Ionides. Today, Victorian grandeur and Art Deco elegance remain side by side, creating an interior that feels less like a preserved monument and more like a living collection of British design.

The Beauty of Art Deco

Few interiors capture London’s interpretation of Art Deco quite like Claridge’s. Geometric details, mirrored surfaces, polished metals, rich woods and elaborate decorative work appear throughout the public spaces, particularly around the entrance, foyer and ballroom. Many of these original elements have been carefully preserved, allowing the character of the 1920s to remain visible rather than being replaced by a contemporary interpretation. The effect is glamorous without feeling disconnected from the building’s earlier Victorian identity.

Suites with Their Own Identity

The rooms and suites continue the hotel’s layered approach to design. Rather than imposing one visual language across every space, Claridge’s has worked with designers including David Linley, Diane von Furstenberg and other creative names to create interiors with distinct personalities. Bespoke furniture, marble bathrooms, original architectural details and carefully selected fabrics allow each suite to feel individual while remaining connected to the larger character of the hotel.

The Linley Interpretation

David Linley’s work at Claridge’s offers a particularly thoughtful example of how heritage can be reinterpreted. His suites were divided between traditional and Art Deco schemes, with original fireplaces, wall lights, clocks and decorative features restored rather than concealed. Contemporary bespoke pieces were then designed around them, while historic carpet patterns by Marion Dorn were researched and recreated. The approach respects what was already there while allowing the rooms to feel unmistakably contemporary.

A World of Details

Some of Claridge’s most memorable interiors are found in the spaces between its grand rooms. The Map Room, for example, transforms the romance of 1920s travel into a dark and richly detailed interior, centred around an enormous bespoke marquetry map created from Macassar ebony and walnut. Silver detailing, red fabrics and polished surfaces reinforce the atmosphere of old world travel, turning what could have been a simple lounge into a fully imagined interior world.

The Art of Reinvention

What makes Claridge’s enduringly fascinating is its ability to evolve without losing its visual memory. New interventions are expected to work within a building where the past is not merely decoration but part of the architecture itself. The result is a hotel where restored Art Deco details, contemporary design, bespoke craftsmanship and historic furniture coexist naturally. Claridge’s does not need to recreate its glamour because the design itself continues to carry it forward.