Corinthia Hotel London

The Corinthia Hotel London stands at the corner of Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall Place in the City of Westminster. It occupies a triangular site between Trafalgar Square and the Thames Embankment. Originally opened in 1885 as the Metropole Hotel, it was built on land once used for the Charing Cross Terminus. The hotel’s location made it convenient for visitors arriving from Dover and Folkestone. Its guests included ladies and families visiting the West End during the Season. Officers attending levees at St James’s also stayed there, along with colonial and American visitors. The hotel’s history reflects its importance in national life. During the First World War it was requisitioned to house government staff. On the eve of the British Expeditionary Force’s departure in August 1914, Field Marshals John French and Douglas Haig stayed in the building. In 1936 the England Rugby Union team celebrated their historic 13–0 victory over New Zealand at the Metropole. The hotel’s ballroom hosted the Midnight Follies cabaret, where Bert Firman became the youngest bandleader in the world at sixteen. Today the Corinthia Hotel blends its past with modern luxury. The restored building retains its grand ballroom and Royal Suite, once used by King Edward VII. The spa run by Espa occupies part of the adjoining 10 Whitehall Place. The hotel has hosted press conferences for James Bond films and film premieres. An artist-in-residence programme brings writers and performers to the hotel each year. Guests can still see the bow-fronted windows that once framed views of Whitehall Place.