· Open -

1837 the same year Queen Victoria ascended the throne aged 18

· 1st Owners -

James and Sarah Brown. Lord Byron's butler and his wife's maid. Lady Byron's helped them out financially to get it up and running

· Stars - *****

· View -

Albermarle Street, Mayfair

· AKA -

The Family friendly Hotel

· Guests -

Charles Brooke Rajah of Sarawak / Theodore Roosevelt (when he got married here) / Alexander Graham Bell / Mark Twain / Antony Eden / David Lloyd George / Charles Lindbergh / Joseph Conrad / King of Greece / Haillie Sellasse / Rudyard Kipling / Jacques Cousteau / William Faulkner / Orson Welles / Evelyn Waugh / Robert Redford / Mia Farrow / JRR Tolkien / Cecil Rhodes/ Agatha Christie / King Zog of Albania / Don Carlos the Pretender / Stephen King

· History -

The hotel expanded and shifted about many times during its early years. It hosted many royals from around Europe.

The hotel stayed open during both world wars and hosted numerous weddings.

It has been the site of many dinners, launches, meetings, press events etc with many famous visitors including George Orwell / Laurence Olivier / David Lean / Somerset Maugham / Pete Townsend / Kurt Vonnegut Jr / Prince Charles and Princess Diana / Maggie Smith / John Hurt / Arthur C Clark / Ray Bradbury / Norman Mailer / Oscar Wilde / Arthur Conan Doyle / Robert Louis Stevenson / JM Barrie and Bram Stoker

It had a 24 million pound refurbishment in 2004

· Signature -

Sunday Roast

· Rooms -

33 luxury suites and 82 hotel rooms @ $752 - $6,750

· Tales -

W K Vanderbilt scandalously secretly married during a stay here in 1903.

Rudyard Kipling spent his last days here before taking ill and being rushed to hospital where he died 6 days later

Christopher Robin son of A A Mine had his wedding reception here

Winston Churchill liked to stop by for a tipple. You can have a Churchill Martini in Donavons

· Claim to Fame -

Site of the first telephone call made by Alexander Graham Bell. He rang the current owners the Ford family's London residence from the hotel. At 2am!!

London's oldest 5***** hotel

The Dutch government declared war on Japan at the hotel

Kipling wrote the Jungle Book here and now the most prestigious suite is name in his honour

Agatha Christie wrote her 1965 novel At Bertrams Hotel here. Based on the hotel of course.

Stephen King came here looking for inspiration. He found it in Kipling's chair and wrote Misery.

It has won numerous awards for best hotel in London, England and UK

· Innovations -

Welcomed women

Electricity and bathrooms

Bomb-proof facilities - the “latest design of air raid shelter, gas proof and fitted with bunks and seating”

· Feature -

Chauffeured Bentley Mulsanne / Mini Cooper Tours / Horse riding in Hyde Park / Private viewing of the Crown Jewels / Discreet entrance

· High Tea -

Queen Victoria was a regular visitor at the Drawing Room which does the best Afternoon Tea in London.

One of the oldest traditional Tea Rooms in London

Can include bespoke flower arranging.

· Facilities -

Weddings / Spa / Gym

· Unique -

Upon check-out, rooms are deep-cleaned and treated with an Ozone machine, before being sealed – unoccupied – for at least 24 hours, in anticipation of the next guests’ arrival.

· Restaurant -

Charlie's - seasonal menu with local produce, British dishes with European influences

· Bar -

The Donavon Bar - named after photographer Terence Donavon whose work decorates the walls

Signature Cocktails are a feature. Have one in the naughty corner.

Live Jazz / Cocktail Masterclass

· Sights -

Luxury shopping in Mayfair - Saville Row, Bond Street, Royal Arcade / Mayfair Art galleries / Buckingham Palace / Big Ben / Hyde Park/ Westminster Abbey / Downing Street / Imperial War Museum / London Eye / Piccadilly Circus / Trafalgar Square / Carnaby Street