When it comes to finding the right hotel, celebrities are just like us. After all, picking the right home away from home for a few days can make or break an entire vacation. As part of our Celeb Check-In interview series, we’ve been asking stars across all fields what their favorite hotel in the world is.
Benedict Cumberbatch rattled off New York’s Greenwich Hotel , England’s Heckfield Place , and Mallorca’s Son Bunyola , all of which he said were stunning experiences. Naomi Watts gushed about her “boutique and cozy” stay at Le Pavillon de la Reine in Paris. And to no one’s surprise, Patrick Schwarzenegger honed in on Four Seasons Koh Samui , where he worked and played while filming the third season of The White Lotus , raving that “the experience I had at that hotel is unlike anything else I’ve ever had.”
But there’s one particular property that three celebrities have called their top choice: Claridge's in London .
Named one of Travel + Leisure readers’ favorite hotels in London as part of the 2025 World's Best Awards, the five-star hotel is constantly winning prestigious honors, even earning three keys in the Michelin Guide’s new hotel ratings , released last October.
The 269-room property in the heart of the capital's posh Mayfair neighborhood was the first that comedian John Mulaney , who is touring the U.S., U.K., and Ireland this month on his Mister Whatever tour , called out when we talked to him last fall. Likewise, ahead of his upcoming film " The Death of Robin Hood," Hugh Jackman mentioned the same hotel as his sole favorite in the world. And when we interviewed fashion designer and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Rachel Zoe , she also named the historic property as a top pick.
All three celebs have traveled around the world for work and fun, typically staying at top-notch properties along the way. So the fact that Claridge’s popped into all three of their heads during the rapid-fire questions of our interview is a testament to just how special the London mainstay is.
Claridge’s footprint can be traced back to 1812, when businessman James Mivart opened a hotel in a house at 51 Brook Street. William and Marianne Claridge added five adjoining buildings by 1854, and Claridge's was officially rebranded in 1856.
It wasn’t long before big names were drawn to the property, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visiting in 1860, establishing the property as a favorite for European royalty and heads of state.
Hollywood came calling in the 1950s, as Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and Bing Crosby all checked in for stays, and Oscar winner Spencer Tracy even said that he would prefer to “go to Claridge’s than heaven” after he died.
For the celebrity crowd, Claridge’s grew into more than a hotel—it became a special nook in London to call their own . Queen Elizabeth used to have lunch in the royal suite, while Anna Wintour often makes it her home during fashion weeks.
As the hotel itself says, every visit is “a rich symphony of experience." The rooms span the eras; some lean into the Victorian period, while others are distinctly Art Deco. Still others are all about modern elegance. Among its most storied offerings are afternoon tea in The Foyer and vintage Champagne at Claridge’s Bar.
Despite its long history, the property managed by Maybourne is constantly reinventing itself. Its most recent addition is Claridge’s Bakery, which opened in January, helmed by renowned Richard Hart, best known for his Copenhagen bakery, Hart Bageri. The British menu includes a range of baked goods, including Hart’s famous sourdough breads, malt loaves, Marmite cheese straws, Bakewell tarts, and fruit turnovers.
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