I am a hotel historian specialising in the history of London’s luxury hotels.
My work brings together original research, writing, talks and guided walks to explore how these hotels developed, and the role they have played in the social, cultural and architectural life of the capital.
Many well-known stories about London’s great hotels have been repeated without question. This site presents a more careful account, based on original sources and a close reading of the historical record.
Hotel histories also offer unusual vantage points on the lives of well-known figures, seen through their encounters with hotels.
Featured research: Brown’s Hotel
My research into this hotel, located in London’s Mayfair district, revealed that the original opening date of Brown’s Hotel was 1832 – not 1837. This has led to the development of the ‘rule of three’: a simple framework for assessing which hotel can genuinely claim to be London’s oldest.
While Agatha Christie and Stephen King both stayed at this London address, tales about Queen Victoria dropping by for tea or Winston Churchill propping up the bar are not true.
Brown’s Hotel: A History of Rulers, Writers & Rascals is available on Amazon.
London’s hotels in context
Luxury hotels do not exist in isolation. Their development is closely tied to the growth of railways and international travel, changing patterns of dining and social life, and the evolution of London itself.
The articles on this site explore these wider themes, offering context for how and why the capital’s grand hotels emerged and flourished. Read more.
Beyond London
While the primary focus is on London, selected projects extend to other historic hotels in the UK, reflecting the wider development of luxury hospitality.
You can begin with the history of Brown’s Hotel, explore the ‘rule of three’ or browse articles on the wider history of travel and luxury culture.
Each offers a way to look more closely at places that are often familiar – but not always fully understood.
Hotel History Expert 