The Clermont at Charing Cross [Old London]

The Clermont Hotel on the Strand, which I am old enough to still think of as the Charing Cross Hotel, must certainly count as Old London, since it has its own page on Historic England's National List of protected buildings. Built in the 1860s - "an ebullient design in the French Renaissance style", according to… Continue reading The Clermont at Charing Cross [Old London]

Haxells Strand Palace [Old London]

At first sight, the modern, if Art Deco influenced, ambience of Haxells restaurant, within the Strand Palace Hotel, does not suggest Old London. But there is an interesting backstory. The hotel itself dates back to 1909, but took its present form in the 1920s, with a redesign in Art Deco style. The expanded hotel incorporated… Continue reading Haxells Strand Palace [Old London]

Simpsons-in-the-Strand [Old London]

Amid the churn and hype of the London restaurant scene, there are some places that qualify as Old London for their longevity as the same kind of restaurant on the same site. Among these, on the same spot since 1828, is Simpsons-in-the-Strand (yes, for the pedants among you, it's 'in', not 'on', the Strand). Aiming… Continue reading Simpsons-in-the-Strand [Old London]