As soon as you turn into Savoy Court, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of The Strand, you are whisked back into an age of elegance. Doormen dressed in top hats and tails give the warmest of welcomes, as cars pass by on the right-hand side in a nod to the ladies who would sit behind their driver when chauffeured in a horse-drawn carriage. Step inside and marvel at glittering chandeliers that hang from the high ceilings, the beautiful orchids that flood the hotel with colour and the black-and-white checkerboard floor that stretches its way across the lobby. If you are staying overnight, you may notice this pattern in many of the marble bathrooms that adjoin the 268 lavishly appointed rooms and suites, all of which have been decorated in either Edwardian or Art Deco style and many that afford breath-taking views across the Thames. For a truly pampered stay, suites also benefit from The Savoy’s dedicated Butler Service, while indulgent spa treatments, a 24-hour gym and a private pool are also available. Built in 1889, The Savoy is one of London’s favourite and most famous meeting places. Black tie balls, grand weddings and corporate events are elevated to a new level, while afternoon tea at The Savoy is a British institution. Set in the Thames Foyer, where natural light pours in through a stunning glass dome, guests can gorge on artisan teas, finger sandwiches and scones smothered with clotted cream and jam, or sample the wonderful creations of Executive Pastry Chef, Ludwig Hely. Between the hotel’s seven restaurants, there is plenty to delight food lovers, from the informal surroundings of Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill to the gastronomical wonders of Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill. Cocktail connoisseurs can sit back and sip timeless classics or try innovative new concoctions in the stylish American Bar, which is widely regarded as one of the world's best hotel bars.