Styles of Hotels in London

The Greater London area has over 100,000 hotel rooms, and the city states that there are over 70,000 hotels ranging from 3 to 5 stars within 10 kilometers of Central London. We do not need to be rocket scientists to see that that is a whopping lot of hotels. With that many establishments spanning a history that goes way back, it is interesting to note that these hotels have different styles that reflect their times.

Some reports indicate that, since the mid-1990s, there has been rapid hotel expansion in the city. In recent years alone, there have been over 1000 hotel rooms that opened in London. Still, modern hotels started popping up since the early 19th century. Before that, some smaller types of hotels were prevalent in the city to serve travelers.

That is why, to this day, London's hotels remain a mix of different and similar styles, with each one being influenced by some encompassing architectural or artistic movement. In the Victorian period, where the Victorian architectural style predominantly used in the era showed the face off between Gothic and Classical styles.

A prime example of such a hotel fashioned in Victorian trappings is the Langham Hotel, currently one of the best known grand hotels in the traditional style. Back when it opened in 1865, the hotel was considered the largest hotel in the city-and also the most modern. While the hotel has undergone some extensive renovations over the years, it remains one of the most iconic structures in the London hotel scene.

Other iconic grand hotels remain in service in London, not the least of which are the following: the luxurious Ritz, the Savoy, and the London Hilton. The London Hilton was built with modern design influences, on top of being the tallest hotel in the city.

The Ritz hotel needs no introduction to most people. Synonymous with grandeur and luxury, this building with French chateau styling is similar to it's sister, the Hotel Ritz Paris. Charles Mewes, who also worked on the Hotel Ritz Paris, was co-architect with Arthur Davis.

The equally-luxurious Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, which was opened back in 1931, has an art deco exterior that complements its rooms that are heavily influenced by Georgian country houses. Art deco revolves around concepts such as stepped forms and curves that highlight the streamlined designs.

With many old hotels, there have been numerous renovations that serve practicality as well as aesthetics. There have also been hotels that were converted from office buildings constructed back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Franklin Hotel in Knightsbridge is styled in English country house style. The Draycott Hotel in Chelsea, in contrast, is formed by three houses built in the 1890s. There are also hotels that are built from Victorian era houses, such as the Baglioni Hotel in South Kensington.

With so many hotels covering a long period of time, it is only natural that London's establishments also depict a great many styles in terms of overall design and architecture. It is a beauty to look at, seeing as the hotels themselves become mirrors of the rich culture and history of the United Kingdom capital of London.

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