The Ritz Hotel in London has a long history as one of the finest hotels in the city. The hotel was founded in 1906 by Cesar Ritz, a man that Edward VII called “hotelier to Kings and King of hoteliers”.

The Ritz was built in a French chateau style, and the interior was fitted out in the most elaborate version of Louis XVI décor. Recently the interiors have been updated to offer state of the art technology without sacrificing style; the original décor has been preserved and restored to its full splendour.

It is a setting fit for a queen or at least a princess, and it was an inspired choice for filming the 1999 hit movie Notting Hill. Judging by the nearly universal popularity of the Notting Hill movie with viewers, it has clearly struck a chord.

It is a sort of fairy tale; quiet Notting Hill bookseller William Thacker (Hugh Grant) has a chance meeting with American movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) which leads to a tentative romance complicated by her celebrity status.

Will she leave her movie star boyfriend for him? Will he get up the nerve to really tell her how he feels? We all know how this feel good film should end, and happily, it does not disappoint.

The Ritz Hotel is where Anna stays while in London, and in an amusing scene she asks William to come visit her there, saying that she will be staying under the name “Wilma Flintstone”. He arrives to find that her suite is full of press doing interviews, and ends having to pretend to be a reporter from Horse and Hound in order to get a chance to talk with Anna again.

The Ritz was a very good choice for filming such a scene, as it’s elegance has long made it a celebrity favourite.

Visiting The Ritz Hotel

Address: The Ritz Hotel, 150 Piccadilly, St James's, W1J 9BR

Telephone: 020 7493 8181

Photo courtesy: stevecadman

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