The Ritz Annual Ball

Experience a night of elegance and enjoyment

at the much-anticipated Ritz Annual Ball.

The Ritz Blue Plaque Tour

Make your stay that little bit more special with The Ritz Blue Plaque tour; a famous history walk in London around St James’s & Mayfair. Explore here.

Ritz exterior with doorman

Our local neighbourhood surrounding The Ritz is an area rich with history. A stay at The Ritz wouldn’t be complete without a London history tour of the Blue Plaques in St James’s and Mayfair, commemorating the many philosophers, artists, scientists, writers, politicians and even royalty who lived and worked just a hop and a skip from 150 Piccadilly. Let’s go!

Sir Henry Pelham

You don’t have to travel far to reach the first stop on our tour. Former Prime Minister Sir Henry Pelham hired architect, William Kent, in 1743 to build his residence at 22 Arlington Street, St James’s, which is now, William Kent House, which adjoins The Ritz.

Henry Pelham Blue Plaque

Frédéric Chopin

Polish composer and pianist, Frédéric Chopin lived just around the corner at 4 St James’s Place. During his time living here he gave his very last public performance at a gala benefit at Guildhall in the City for the Friends of Poland.

Frederic Chopin Blue Plaque

Field Marshal Horatio Herbert, Earl Kitchener of Khartoum

Best known for the appearing on the emblematic ‘Your country needs you’ poster of the First World War, Army Officer and Secretary of State, Lord Kitchener, lived at 2 Carlton Gardens, St James’s.

Lord Kitchener Propaganda poster

General Charles de Gaulle

Just a couple of doors down, French Army Officer and Former President of France, General Charles de Gaulle, set up the Headquarters of the Free French Forces government‑in‑exile in June 1940 at 4 Carlton Gardens, St James’s after the Fall of France in World War II.

Charles de Gaulle Radio Address

Thomas Gainsborough

English portrait painter and landscape artist, Thomas Gainsborough, lived at 82 Pall Mall, St James’s. Gainsborough was also a founding member of the Royal Academy, located a moment from The Ritz on Piccadilly.

Thomas Gainsborough Self Portrait

Sir Isaac Newton

Mathematician, physicist, astronomer and philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton lived at 87 Jermyn Street. Newton came to Jermyn Street in 1696, having been appointed as Master of the Mint, a position he held until his death. He originally lived at number 88 until 1700, before moving next door to 87, where he remained until autumn 1709.

Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton

Lady Nancy Astor

Politician and the first female MP to sit in parliament, Lady Nancy Astor lived at 4 St James’s Square when she wasn’t at her country residence, Cliveden House, in Buckinghamshire.

Lady Nancy Astor

Sir Joshua Reynolds

Portrait Painter, Former President of the Royal Academy and rival of Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Joshua Reynolds, lived at 47 Leicester Square. Moving to Leicester Square at just 17 years old, Reynolds built an extension on the house of studios and a gallery. A descendant noted that ‘Everybody in the house painted . . . the coachman and the man servant Ralph and his daughter, all painted, copied and talked about pictures’.

Sir Joshua Reynolds Portrait

Sir Henry Irving

Strolling over to Mayfair, English stage actor and the first actor to receive a knighthood, Sir Henry Irving lived at 15a Grafton Street. Irving spent the most prosperous years of his career in Grafton Street, where his dining room overlooked the boutiques of Bond Street.

Boutiques on Bond Street

Jean Muir

Fashion Designer and Dressmaker, Jean Muir had a grand showroom and office on the first floor of 22 Bruton Street, Mayfair from the inception of her company Jean Muir Ltd in 1966. Here she hosted house model and muse, Joanna Lumley, and esteemed clients including Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench.

Joanna Lumley unveils Jen Muir plaque

Charles X

Charles X, the last Bourbon King of France, resided at 72 South Audley Street, Mayfair whilst in exile between 1805 and 1814 during the French revolutionary wars.

Charles X of France Portrait

Caroline Norton

Champion of legal rights for women who were separated from their husbands, Caroline Norton was instrumental in the passing of the 1839 Custody of Infants Act, also known as the first piece of feminist legislation. Norton was also a highly regarded writer during her lifetime. Her blue plaque at 3 Chesterfield Street, Mayfair marks the house she lived in for over 30 years and the final stop on our tour.

Back to The Ritz

The Ritz Restaurant dining room

There you have it! Luckily, it’s just a short walk back to The Ritz as our historical Blue Plaque tour is sure to have worked up an appetite for a well‑deserved spot of afternoon tea or lunch in The Ritz Restaurant.

LIMITED EDITION THE RITZ LONDON MONOPOLY

This special edition of the classic board game transports you through Mayfair and St. James’s and immerses you in the luxurious atmosphere of The Ritz London.

Immerse yourself in the world of The Ritz

150 PICCADILLY, LONDON W1J 9BR
TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 20 7493 8181

THE RITZ HOTEL (LONDON) LTD
REGISTERED IN ENGLAND NO.64203
VAT REGISTRATION 773 8638 79

150 PICCADILLY, LONDON W1J 9BR
TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 20 7493 8181

THE RITZ HOTEL (LONDON) LTD
REGISTERED IN ENGLAND NO.64203
VAT REGISTRATION 773 8638 79

150 PICCADILLY, LONDON W1J 9BR
TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 20 7493 8181

THE RITZ HOTEL (LONDON) LTD
REGISTERED IN ENGLAND NO.64203 VAT
REGISTRATION 773 8638 79

THE RITZ HOTEL (LONDON) LTD
REGISTERED IN ENGLAND NO.64203
VAT REGISTRATION 773 8638 79