Claridge’s, Maybourne

My business stay at Claridge’s in London on 01.02.26 went smoothly from start to finish. The calm, refined atmosphere and excellent facilities suited the trip well. My room was quiet, very comfortable, and beautifully presented, so I could relax and work easily. The hotel’s attention to detail lives up to its reputation for quality and elegance. The staff were courteous and attentive, and everything ran smoothly. From arrival onward, the service was professional, efficient, and genuinely welcoming. A thoroughly enjoyable stay. I’d gladly return and recommend Claridge’s for business or leisure in London.

I could take my time and actually finish everything for once. We even got a few sandwiches to take away in a stylish box, along with a little chocolate gift. Robert paid excellent attention to detail, thank you! I recently tried London’s top three afternoon tea spots, and this one was the best for both service and food. The chairs were beautiful, though less comfortable than at some other places. I’ll definitely be back.

The pianist and choir were a lovely festive touch, and the staff were lovely too, just clearly very busy. There was a queue to get into the foyer and the whole place felt hectic. It seemed the restaurant was serving afternoon tea, cooked breakfasts, a la carte, and Christmas dinner all at once, which may explain why the food quality was seriously lacking. Our festive menu starter and dessert were nice, but the turkey main was really poor: dry turkey, rubbery stuffing, burnt pigs in blankets, and potatoes that weren’t crispy. All three of us were disappointed and left about half the meal. The staff were so rushed they didn’t ask why we’d left so much. My husband and I booked Christmas lunch last weekend with our wedding planner, who had travelled from Norfolk. I’d emailed in advance to say I’d broken my foot and might use a wheelchair or crutches. They assured me crutches would be fine, but the marble floor was extremely slippery, with wet floor signs clearly indicating they knew about it. My crutches couldn’t grip and I nearly fell twice. My husband helped me, but no one from the hotel did. The experience didn’t feel luxurious, and I wouldn’t recommend Claridge’s. They emailed the next day asking for feedback, and I completed a detailed questionnaire. A week later I still hadn’t heard anything, which seems very poor for a hotel of their standing. I’d choose another hotel. Raffles at the OWO was far superior.

We didn’t stay at the hotel, but the afternoon tea was just what we’d hoped for. Jairo gave us exceptional, personal service. He knew when to chat and when to let us enjoy the food, tea, and surroundings. The tea was high quality, and the meal came with classic finger sandwiches, amazing scones with clotted cream and jam, and a lovely assortment of sweet pastries. Five stars!