How New Changes At The Savoy Capture Its Timeless Appeal

The Savoy may be one of the longest-standing luxury hotels in London, but that’s not to say it has ever rested on its laurels. Since opening its doors in 1889, as the first purpose-built deluxe hotel in the capital, it has gone through numerous reiterations and refurbishments which have championed change yet celebrated its rich history.

The latest tweaks, to be unveiled next month, include the new dining destination, Savoy Lounge. Set to replace the Thames Foyer—famous for its legendary afternoon tea service—the Savoy Lounge will still tap into the hotel’s lauded history, with London based design studio BradyWilliams spearheading the new look. The design focuses on modernising the space while remaining true to its heritage, with the glass atrium remaining as an impressive ceiling feature. Atmospheric chandelier lighting will see the dining spot seamlessly evolve throughout the day and into the night, while a new central walkway will allow guests to easily navigate the room. Black and white marble, synonymous with The Savoy, fluted glass, and gold embossed mirrors add a touch of drama, with leather and patterned upholstery, in soft pink, warm ochre, and heritage tan, create an aesthetic that is warm and inviting.

Remaining a crucial part of the dining destination is the afternoon tea service, which sees new innovative menus that will showcase traditional recipes yet give them a modern twist, and put locally sourced ingredients at their heart. Guests will also be able to enjoy breakfast, coffee, lunch, cocktail hour, and dinner here, giving a buzzy ambiance to the lounge area at all hours.

Also set to open next month, is a new floristry outlet, led by floral artist Belinda Bowles. The Florist at The Savoy will create stunning seasonal bouquets for guests to purchase as well as continue to supply the outstanding displays found throughout the hotel. Scoff, meanwhile, is a first for The Savoy. The new scone shop will offer both traditional and new scone creations for guests to enjoy with a tea or coffee, or to take home.

With the most recent major renovation at the hotel having completed in 2010 (the three year project cost some £220 million), The Savoy has now confirmed a new stage of refurbishment of rooms and suites, “as part of a continued commitment to invest in the property and to ensure the best experience for guests”. The first new rooms and suites will be revealed in August 2025.

Guests will no doubt welcome new changes but, it goes without saying, that most come here to tap into the heritage that seeps out of The Savoy’s walls: from the hotel’s instantly recognisable stainless steel Art Deco signage to its famous American Bar (the oldest surviving cocktail bar in the UK). Crossing the chequerboard floor of the Edwardian lobby, it is clear that Fairmont Hotels have remained true to this desire, with nods to the hotel’s past beautifully encapsulated throughout. One of the treats is taking the original ‘ascending room’—a glamourous red lacquered lift that dates from when the hotel first opened and which was the first electric lift in the UK. (Back then, it took seven minutes to climb seven floors. Thankfully, it is a lot speedier these days.)

For special occasions, you can’t beat one of the 26 Riverside Suites, with their jaw-dropping views along the river. If you can tear yourself away from the mesmerising scenes outside (they get even better as the skyline lights up at night), you’ll find that the rooms are meticulously put together—from a curated library of books detailing all things British to the well-stocked vanity of beauty items and the Dyson hairdryer (placed in the perfect location at a dressing table with a well-lit mirror—something that is frequently overlooked in even the newest luxury hotels).

Rooms are decorated in either an Art Deco or Edwardian style—although both lean heavily into a British sensibility with timeless appeal. Think: thick rugs, squidgy velvet sofas and marble bathrooms. Bathrooms have claw-foot tubs and thick towels, while suites are furnished with antique side tables, soft carpets and working fireplaces. This is the sort of hotel where doormen tip their hats to you as you enter, where British beauty stalwart, Penhaligon’s has created bespoke Savoy Steam products (wonderfully scented with Tunisian roses. pink pepper, rosemary and incense) and where you will drift off to sleep on an unbelievably comfy Savoir mattress.

Luxurious extras that elevate your stay abound throughout: the suites come with personal butlers and compliementary mini-bars, for instance, and, for those interested in the hotel’s history, you can book in for specialised tours with the hotel’s own archivist and learn more about events and how guests, such as Charlie Chapman, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, have been among the thousands of A-list guests to call the hotel their favourite place to rest their heads.

For an old-school supper like no other, head to Gordon Ramsay’s The Grill restaurant, where you can sit in the same booth as Winston Churchill (it is found in the corner with views across the entire room and close to a hidden exit). Perhaps one of London’s most iconic dining destinations, it is home to hundreds of years of Hollywood and history, with it being a restaurant of choice for famous faces, from Oscar Wilde to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The menu is confidently concise, riffing on The Savoy’s classics yet giving them a modern twist. The famous Arnold Bennett omelette (invented at the hotel), for example, has been reimagined into an elevated starter, as the Arnold Bennett Soufflé with smocked haddock and Mongomery cheddar cheese; while one of the signature main courses includes the Beef Wellington with confit Portobello mushroom, truffle and red wine jus. For dessert, the Grand Marnier flambéed crepes become a theatrical table-side experience.

Whether you pop in for the traditional afternoon tea in the new Savoy Lounge or a glass of bubbles in The American Bar, there’s no doubt that The Savoy’s appeal is found in its timelessness. When the world outside is moving apace, there is something reassuringly comforting about placing a foot in the past, even if the hotel’s face is looking towards the future.