The Ritz London opened in 1906 and remains the reference point for grand-hotel service in Britain. It stands at 150 Piccadilly, on the corner of Green Park, behind the Parisian-style arcade that runs along the pavement. Inside, the language is consistent and unashamedly classical: Louis XVI interiors, gilding, chandeliers, marble and long-serving staff who remember returning guests.
It suits three quite different trips. A private celebration — anniversary, proposal, milestone birthday — where the setting is the point. An agency booking that needs a name the client already trusts, with service to match. And a corporate stay or private dinner where the address itself carries weight. Britatlas books all three.
Location: Piccadilly, Green Park and Mayfair on foot
- Green Park underground: around two minutes' walk (Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee lines).
- Green Park itself: directly across the road — the quietest way to walk to Buckingham Palace.
- Bond Street, Jermyn Street and the Burlington Arcade: 5-10 minutes on foot.
- Royal Academy and Fortnum & Mason: 2-5 minutes along Piccadilly.
- West End theatres and Covent Garden: 10-20 minutes' walk.
- Heathrow (LHR): 45-75 minutes by private car depending on traffic.
- Gatwick (LGW): 70-100 minutes by car, or Gatwick Express to Victoria plus a short transfer.
The practical value of this address is that a first-time visitor can cover the palaces, parks, shopping and theatre almost entirely on foot, with a car needed only for airports and out-of-town days such as Windsor, Oxford, Bath or Highclere.
Rooms and suites
There are roughly 136 rooms and suites. The decorative style is consistent throughout — hand-gilded plasterwork, antique-style furniture, silk and marble bathrooms — so the meaningful differences are size, ceiling height, floor level and outlook:
- Superior Queen and Superior King — the entry categories; beautifully finished but genuinely compact, as is normal in an Edwardian building.
- Deluxe King — noticeably more space and a better bathroom; our default recommendation for a first stay.
- Executive rooms and Junior Suites — separate seating, good for longer stays and small in-room meetings.
- Park-facing rooms — the view over Green Park is the upgrade most guests actually notice; request it explicitly.
- Named prestige suites — including the Prince of Wales and Trafalgar suites, with drawing rooms, dining areas and butler service.
- Connecting and twin configurations — limited in number; must be requested at enquiry stage rather than at check-in.
If a park view, a high floor, a twin set-up or a bath rather than a shower matters, say so in the first enquiry. In a hotel this size these are granted by availability, not by budget.
Afternoon Tea in the Palm Court
Afternoon Tea at The Ritz is the hotel's most famous ritual and, for many guests, the reason for the visit. It is served in the Palm Court — pink marble, gilded trellis, a resident pianist and, traditionally, several sittings a day.
- What is served: finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and preserves, pastries and a long loose-leaf tea list; Champagne tea is the usual upgrade.
- How far ahead to book: 8-12 weeks for weekends and December; weekday early or late sittings are the easiest to secure.
- Dress code: jacket and tie for gentlemen; no jeans, shorts, sportswear or trainers. This is enforced at the door.
- Best sittings: the earliest sitting is calmest; later sittings feel more festive, especially with the piano.
- Children: welcome, and a children's tea is normally available — but the dress code still applies.
If tea is the centrepiece of a trip, book it before fixing flights. Britatlas can frequently secure Palm Court tables — including at short notice — for guests whose rooms, dining or itineraries we are arranging.
Dining and the Rivoli Bar
- The Ritz Restaurant — widely described as the most beautiful dining room in London, with a Michelin-starred kitchen serving classical British and French cooking, trolley service and live music and dancing on selected evenings.
- The Rivoli Bar — Art Deco, intimate, and one of the best hotel cocktail bars in the city; a good pre-theatre stop.
- The Ritz Garden — seasonal terrace dining beside the hotel, weather permitting.
- Breakfast — served in the restaurant; confirm whether it is included in your rate, because it materially changes the real nightly cost.
- Private dining — historic salons for board dinners, celebrations and small groups.
- In-room dining — 24 hours, useful after late Heathrow arrivals.
Dinner in The Ritz Restaurant, and particularly the live-music evenings, books out weeks ahead. We reserve dining with the room rather than leaving it to arrival day.
Private events, meetings and weddings
- William Kent House — Georgian salons and a ballroom adjoining the hotel, used for receptions, gala dinners and weddings.
- Capacities run from intimate boardroom set-ups of 10-20 to receptions of around 250, depending on the room and layout.
- Board meetings, investor days, private client dinners and press launches where the address matters.
- Standard AV, screens and reliable Wi-Fi; hybrid set-ups on request.
- Room blocks with rooming lists, realistic release dates and clear cancellation terms.
- Off-site add-ons nearby: Mayfair gallery visits, Savile Row appointments, Royal Opera House boxes and private museum openings.
Spa, wellbeing and services
- The Ritz Salon and wellbeing rooms — treatments, hairdressing and grooming; bookable in advance, and worth doing before an event.
- Fitness — a compact gym rather than a large club; this is a historic city hotel, not a resort.
- Concierge — one of the strongest teams in London for theatre, restaurants, tailoring and last-minute problem solving.
- Butler service — in the suite categories.
- Family travel — welcoming, with connecting rooms and children's teas, but expect a formal atmosphere throughout.
When to travel and what to expect on rates
- January-February: the quietest weeks and the best value of the year; cold but atmospheric.
- March-June: strong demand; Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot and the summer season push rates up sharply.
- July-August: peak leisure season; long days, and park-facing rooms at their best.
- September-October: busy again with corporate travel and fashion weeks; book 2-4 months ahead.
- November-December: festive decorations, Christmas tea and New Year — the hardest period of all to book, and worth securing 4-6 months out.
Honest advice before you book
- Entry-level rooms are small. If space matters, book Deluxe or above rather than hoping for an upgrade.
- The formality is real. If your party wants a relaxed, informal London stay, a Mayfair contemporary hotel will suit better — we are happy to suggest alternatives.
- A park view costs more and is genuinely worth it for a celebration stay.
- Book Afternoon Tea and restaurant tables before flights, not after.
- Confirm breakfast, service charges and cancellation terms in writing — they decide the true nightly cost.
- Allow generous time for Heathrow transfers at peak hours; Piccadilly traffic is unpredictable.
Sample two-night London stay
- Day one: chauffeured meet-and-greet at Heathrow, check in to a park-facing Deluxe King, cocktails in the Rivoli Bar, dinner in The Ritz Restaurant.
- Day two: private guided morning through St James's and Westminster, shopping on Bond and Jermyn Street, Afternoon Tea in the Palm Court, West End theatre with pre-booked seats.
- Day three: late breakfast, day trip by private car to Windsor or Oxford, or late check-out and departure transfer.
Rates and bookings via Britatlas
Britatlas arranges stays, dining, transfers, events and experiences at The Ritz London and worldwide — for private travellers, travel agencies and companies alike. We typically put together:
- Preferential and agency rates with clearly stated inclusions.
- Category and suite upgrades where availability allows.
- Park-view, high-floor, twin and connecting room requests.
- Afternoon Tea and restaurant reservations, including hard-to-book sittings.
- Private dining, board meetings and receptions in William Kent House.
- Chauffeured Heathrow and Gatwick transfers, city cars and guided day trips with English-speaking guides.
- Theatre, opera, sport and event tickets, plus shopping and tailoring appointments.
- Multi-city itineraries linking London with Edinburgh, Paris, Zürich or the Côte d'Azur.
Send us your dates, party size, preferred room category and any tea, dining, event or transfer requirements below. We reply within one business day with a tailored proposal for The Ritz London.
Images are illustrative of the property and its London setting. Room counts, categories, outlets, capacities and inclusions are indicative and confirmed at the time of quotation.