Fascinating then and now images show how this swanky London hotel has been Instagrammble since the 19th CENTURY
- The Landmark London with its palm-tree festooned atrium is one of the capital’s most Instagrammed hotels
- The historic images of the five-star hotel, located in Marylebone, were all shot at the end of the 19th century
- The railway hotel opened on July 1, 1899, as the Great Central Hotel and was the first of its kind in London
The Landmark London with its iconic atrium featuring towering palm trees is one of the most Instagrammed hotels in the capital.
And if these fascinating vintage photos are anything to go by it would have been just as worthy of a spot on the grid 120 years ago.
The historic images of the glamorous hotel, located in Marylebone, were all shot at the end of the 19th century, shortly after the hotel opened in 1899.
Then and now: The historic images of the glamorous hotel, located in Marylebone, were all shot at the end of the 19th century shortly after the hotel opened in 1899. Pictured (left) is a vintage photo of the grand atrium and how it looks today (right)
The Winter Gardens, shown above at the end of the 19th century, is now one of London’s most sought-after places for afternoon tea
Oasis of luxury: The Landmark London with its iconic atrium featuring towering palm trees is one of the most Instagrammed hotels in the capital
One photo shows the eight-storey atrium, which remains the centre of the hotel, with its stunning glass ceiling and ornate architecture.
This area is known as the Winter Garden and is now one of London’s most sought-after places for afternoon tea.
Another photo captures the elegance of the hotel’s Grand Ballroom, featuring high ceilings, marble columns and huge chandeliers.
The photo on the left captures the elegance of the hotel’s Grand Ballroom, featuring high ceilings, marble columns and huge chandeliers. It is now used as a spectacular venue for weddings (pictured, right)
The historic railway hotel opened on July 1, 1899, as the Great Central Hotel and was the first of its kind in London to showcase such opulence and luxury.
It was founded by the formidable Sir Edward Watkin, the ‘Last King of the Railways’. He founded the Great Central Railway and built the hotel to service the passengers arriving and departing at Marylebone station.
The hotel’s illustrious history includes a wealth of guests and significant events. Its opening ceremony was attended by members of the Royal Family; it hosted a ‘Welcome Back from Prison’ breakfast for the Suffragettes and the M19 debriefing of legendary British Lieutenant Airey Neave and was even purchased, for a time, by a Japanese popstar in the 1980s.
The hotel was founded by the formidable Sir Edward Watkin, the ‘Last King of the Railways’. In 1995 the hotel was bought by the Lancaster London Hotel Company and renamed the Landmark London Hotel
The historic railway hotel was the first of its kind in London to showcase such opulence and luxury. Pictured is a vintage shot of the grand drawing room (left) and how it looks today (right)
In 1993, the hotel reopened as The Regent London, part of the Four Seasons Group. Two years later, the hotel was bought by the Lancaster London Hotel Company and renamed the Landmark London Hotel in 1995.
The hotel achieved ‘Investors in People’ Platinum Level Accreditation in 2018, the first and only hotel in the world to be awarded this level by achieving the highest score in accommodation business sector globally.
More recently, it was named the AA Hotel of The Year London 2019-2020, with the judges wowed by the property’s ‘spectacular’ naturally lit central atrium, ‘luxurious’ air-conditioned bedrooms and ‘large, stylish’ bathrooms.
Luxury: Ornate architecture, marble columns and huge chandeliers are a key feature of the five-star hotel. Pictured is a retro image of the dining room
The hotel’s illustrious history includes a wealth of guests and significant events. Its opening ceremony was attended by members of the Royal Family and it hosted a ‘Welcome Back from Prison’ breakfast for the Suffragettes. Pictured is a vintage photo of guests dining in one of the hotel’s event spaces
The five-star hotel has recently undergone multi-million-pound refurbishment of its 291 bedrooms and selected suites as part of its 120th anniversary. The above photo documents the time it was known as Hotel Great Central
As part of its 120th anniversary, the five-star hotel has undergone multi-million-pound refurbishment of its 291 bedrooms and selected suites.
Each of the redesigned, luxurious guest rooms feature new beds and furnishings, including carpets, curtains and bedside lights, along with Smart TVs with Sky, telephones and upgraded complimentary Wi-Fi. The bathrooms have also been installed with Italian marble to capture the hotel’s all-encompassing classic style and grandeur.
This latest design builds on the hotel’s history and heritage to celebrate the iconic building. The aesthetic utilises an elegant colour palette, old limestone floors have been renovated, the stone and oak panelling in the main lobby has been rejuvenated and walls and ceilings in the two main ballrooms were repainted to preserve the 1900 ornate architecture and reflect the ‘hotel’s timelessness’.
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