Clermont Victoria, London – Hotel Review
By Roger Crow, August 2026
As another birthday rolls around, my ongoing quest to stay in some of the best hostelries in the Smoke becomes an itch I have to scratch. The latest hotel on my list is the Clermont Victoria.
The good news is that it’s pretty much on the doorstep of Victoria Tube and railway stations, where, in the summer of 2026, it looks as though most of the world has descended.
Back in 1862, James Thomas Knowles’ architectural masterpiece opened as the Grosvenor Hotel. It later traded as Thistle Victoria and Amba Hotel Grosvenor before eventually adopting the Clermont name in 2021.
With 348 rooms and (stunning) French Renaissance and Baroque architecture, this four-star property is a feast for the senses, boasting soaring ceilings, sweeping staircases, chandeliers, richly carved stonework and an early French pavilion roof. Take a deep breath before entering the lobby, because the sight may well take it away.
“Prime location”
Faris at the front desk checks us in with a minimum of fuss, and we soon have a couple of the hotel’s trademark wooden door cards. I love these things so much that I have a few from previous hotel stays tucked away in my wallet.
Such a prime location and such high-end décor and furnishings do not come cheap. You can expect to pay north of £220 per night. So, is it worth it?
Our room on the fourth floor is a delight, as are the complimentary minibar and welcome arrangement of edible goodies. There’s a wardrobe complete with an iron and ironing board. There may have been the wrong sort of water in said iron, which proceeded to bubble like an old geyser.
This ‘mature’ geezer loved the comfy sofa, super-comfy bed, flat-screen TV and posh coffee maker from the brand that has kept George Clooney smiling all the way to the bank over the years.
“Lovely touches”
Naturally, there are a few coffee pods to wet your whistle and a great selection of teas, along with the usual milk pods, sweeteners and sugar.
The room is spotless, which is obviously a crucial factor for any hotel, and there are some lovely touches. The old-school telephone is a delight, though I wonder what younger guests will make of such a design classic. The bathroom has everything you need, including a great waterfall power shower with easy-to-use controls, not always a given in some hostelries.
After a well-deserved rest, it’s time to sample some of the facilities. Down in the lobby, there’s access to The Soak, a terrific bar which does a rather good margarita and is described as ‘London’s hottest drinking, dining and lounge destination’. Given the sort of record-breaking temperatures reminiscent of the summer of ’76, it’s hard to argue.
“Super comfy”
We don’t stop for a bite, instead opting to race across town via that handy Tube station. After the eye-popping musical Moulin Rouge, it’s back to our temporary home for a chunk of The Spy Who Loved Me on TV and a much-needed cuppa. You can buy a Starbucks in the lobby, which may be one of the reasons there are so few coffee pods in our room.
After a seven-mile walk, we call it a night because tomorrow I have a plan.
At 5am, the alarm goes off. We roll out of that super comfy bed; dress and, after soaking up a mostly empty lobby, walk half a mile to Buckingham Palace. I half-expect to find it swarming with tourists, but mercifully it’s just us. After half an hour of selfies, we’re back at the hotel by 6am.
Breakfast starts at 6.30am, so there’s time to freshen up and wake up before we enjoy the buffet. Though the mushrooms and hash browns could have done with more heat, the rest of the breakfast is spot on. There is cereal, should you want it, but I opt for an alliterative feast of bangers, bacon, beans and black pudding, along with toast, a perfectly fried egg and some scrambled eggs.
“Splendid”
Checkout is at 11am, so we make a last-minute decision to take a tour of Parliament. We leave our bags at reception and race across town to marvel at the jaw-dropping home of UK politics. By chance, we’re back at the Clermont Victoria dead on 11am and, with heavy hearts, say our goodbyes.
The staff are superb, while the décor and facilities are outstanding. I might even have visited the gym had I not walked more in 24 hours than I usually do in a month. Maybe next time.
James Thomas Knowles may have long since left one of his greatest creations in the hands of later generations, but I get the feeling he would share our Cheshire Cat grins at the splendid condition of this jewel in London’s hostelry crown in 2026. It is a 24-carat treat, fit even for its best-known neighbours. I do know that we were treated like royalty, and wouldn’t need much of an excuse to return one day.
The Clermont Victoria, 101 Buckingham Palace Rd, London, SW1W 0SJ
Prices start at £280 per night for a standard double based on two sharing
theclermont.co.uk/victoria/
Adopted Yorkshireman Roger Crow developed a passion for film and TV in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been a published film and TV reviewer since the 1990s; a world travel and restaurant critic since the noughties, and for the past decade has assessed the pros and cons of live gigs and theatre productions around the UK. His ideal day would involve reviewing a performance of Bat Out of Hell, followed by a Pad Thai while being serenaded by Texas on a cruise around Europe.
crowsfeat.com; nostalgiahhh film podcast
