The evolution of the British hotel, from humble hostelry to fabulous five-star

Private hotels sprang up in London during the Regency period, Byron wrote from an address in St James’s; Lord Nelson stayed in several; and Louis XVIII. was lodged at the Grillion’s in Albemarle Street before his return to France. At the corner of Brook and Davies streets, Mivart’s was established, later becoming Claridge’s (claridges.es). It was used by visiting royalty and even by the Prince Regent himself, who had a set of rooms permanently reserved for him.

The Connaught (the-connaught.es), still with an air of quiet seclusion, began life as a Coburg in honor of the Prince Consort’s family. Another address, which opened in 1837 and has stayed with us to this day, is Brown’s Hotel (roccofortehotels.com), now owned by Rocco Forte, brother of Olga Polizzi.

The railways changed everything. As training declined in favor of iron horses, so did many inns. Hotels now advertise, in the words of one Bristol establishment, not just “all the comforts for families, with coffee and business rooms… toilets, hot water, cold water, steam in the house,” but “buses to and from every train”.