London - The Cadogan
Hotel and Restaurant
Address: 75 Sloane Street
Zip Code: SW1X 9SG
City: London
Country: UK
Tel: +44 207 235 7141
Fax: +44 207 245 0994
Url: http://www.cadogan.comThe Cadogan Hotel is an elegant late Victorian
terracotta brick
building located on Sloane Street in Knightsbridge. It is the epitome
of discreet distinction and combines every comfort with an atmosphere
still characteristic of the late Victorian age when it was built. The
Cadogan was once the home of Lillie Langtry who entertained her
friends, King Edward VII and Oscar Wilde behind its discreet portals.
Today, and for the past 100 years, it has
been a welcoming haven for
discerning visitors. The Cadogan enjoys a desirable location within
easy walking distance of Harrods and Harvey Nichols, Hyde Park and The
Victoria and Albert Museum.
Soon after The Cadogan was built in
1887-1888 it became linked with two
of the most fascinating personalities of the age, both at the centre of
London's social and artistic life - Lillie Langtry and Oscar Wilde.
The hotel was built by the well-known and
high quality builder, William
Willett. The style of The Cadogan is similar to that of the whole area,
and was described by Osbert Lancaster as "Pont Street Dutch".
Originally, the hotel consisted of the
corner of the building, which
includes the present entrance, but gradually, over the next forty
years, almost all of the rest of the building was added, including
number 21 Pont Street, the former home of Lillie Langtry.
Lilly Langtry, famous actress, great
beauty and close friend of Edward
VII, lived at 21 Pont Street from 1892 to 1897. She was the daughter of
the Dean of Jersey, which explains her nickname of "The Jersey Lily".
Charming and cultivated, as well as beautiful, she was much painted by
the best-known and most fashionable artists of the day, including Frank
Miles, Sir John Millais and Sir Edward Poynter. Her drawing room and
dining room are still to be seen in the hotel today, and their
plasterwork decoration includes Prince of Wales' feathers. Long after
she had sold the house, she still used to stay in her old bedroom, by
then part of the hotel.
During the height of her fame, one of her
admirers was the famous wit,
aesthete and dramatist, Oscar Wilde, whose association with The Cadogan
was ultimately, for him, a less happy one. During the early 1890s he
formed a close friendship with Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the choleric
Eights Marquess of Queensberry. The friendship enraged his father who
pursued Wilde who, in turn, unwisely sued him for libel. The loss of
this civil action led to his arrest in room 118 of The Cadogan on 5th
April 1895.
A criminal court action for offences
against young men, and a term of
imprisonment of two years with hard labour followed. After his release,
bankrupt, in ill-health and separated from his family, Wilde went
abroad and died in Paris, aged 46, on 30th November 1900.
Since those days, The Cadogan has settled
down to a long and
distinguished career as a discreet and traditional hotel of high
quality.
The Cadogan is well known for its
comfortable, luxurious atmosphere and
the hotel's individual guest rooms are no exception.
The comfortable and fully equipped
bedrooms, are each decorated
individually and designed for comfort and tranquillity. The Cadogan
features single or double rooms, Luxury Doubles, The Oscar Wilde Room,
as well as studios and suites. Access is available for hotel guests to
Cadogan place, a private garden with tennis courts and children's
playground.
The Cadogan is proud to provide its
guests with the highest level of
service that they would expect from a world-class hotel.
The Cadogan has been sympathetically
decorated by Historic House Hotels
Limited. In addition to handsome guestrooms and suites, the house also
boasts a variety of historic public rooms for enjoyment by guests.
The Drawing Room is a calm and
sumptuously decorated room, and is a
very popular venue for afternoon tea. In addition, The Cadogan features
Lillie Langtry's drawing room and dining rooms, decorated with the
Prince of Wales' feathers in the plasterwork. The public rooms at the
Cadogan are the ideal setting for drinks, private luncheons or dinner
parties and small meetings.
Across the street from The Cadogan, is a
hidden oasis - that of the
private park and gardens of Cadogan Square. A small gate opens out to a
beautifully manicured lawn, herbaceous borders and a well-kept rose
garden. It is the ideal place to go and relax after a long day in the
capital city.
These gardens are only accessible to the
residents living around the
square and guests staying at The Cadogan.
The Cadogan is situated half way down
Sloane Street between
Knightsbridge and Sloane Square in SW1. This is a fashionable shopping
area and Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Peter Jones are all within walking
distance. Most of the world's most famous designers including Gucci,
Chanel, Armani and Yves St Laurent have boutiques in Sloane Street.
Nearest Underground stations are
Knightsbridge and Sloane Square and
buses pass the door. The hotel is accessible from all main line
stations and Heathrow Airport is about one hour by taxi. Gatwick
Airport can be reached by train from Victoria Station in less than one
hour. Waterloo station and the Eurostar are twenty minutes away by
taxi.
Parking is available on meters or in a
nearby car park. The hotel
offers valet parking. Guests have access to Cadogan Place, a leafy
private garden square just opposite the hotel. Tennis courts may be
reserved. |
