London Buildings West End Savoy HotelThe Savoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a five-star hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London that opened on 6 August 1889. 
The hotel, called "London's most famous hotel", remains one of London's most prestigious and opulent, with panoramic views across the River Thames.
The Savoy Hotel was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte, the owner of the adjacent Savoy Theatre, and designed by architect Thomas Edward Collcutt, who also designed the Wigmore Hall. Carte chose the name "Savoy" as a memorial to the Savoy Palace, a very large and elegant palace, which formerly existed on the site. Carte originally bought part of the property to build the Savoy Theatre (1881) specifically for the production of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, of which he was the producer.
The construction of the Savoy Hotel took five years and was mainly financed by the profits from producing The Mikado. It was the first hotel lit by electric lights and the first with electric elevators.The hotel's first manager was César Ritz, who later became the founder of The Ritz Hotel. Ritz hired 
chef Auguste Escoffier ("King of chefs and chef of Kings") the celebrated architect of 'Nouvelle Cuisine'.
The hotel continued to attract celebrities including Caruso, Chaplin and Groucho Marx. During World War II, Winston Churchill often took his cabinet to lunch at the hotel, and Princess Elizabeth was first seen in public with Prince Philip at a Savoy reception.
Kaspar, a 3-foot high black alabaster cat sculpted by Basil Ionides, is used as an extra guest when thirteen dine. This is to stave off bad luck, after a close friend of Winston Churchill's died in a plane crash, directly following 13 place settings at dinner. He resides in the Churchill private room and is always served a full meal at the Savoy's expense.
The Savoy, which closed for extensive refurbishment taking several years, has now re-opened.
The Savoy Hotel, Strand, WC2R 0EU.
Nearest Tube: Charing Cross, Embankment or Temple.
