The Royal Horseguards Hotel sits on the banks of the River Thames, and has been a central part of the London scene for over 120 years. The structure was originally The National Liberal Club and its foundation stone was laid by William Gladstone so you can imagine the parade of famous political figures, thinkers, and power brokers who have passed through its doors in the course of its amazing history.

The hotel has been carefully restored to its full glory by the current owners, the Guoman Group of Hotels, and it boasts a 5 star rating with over 200 luxurious rooms from which to choose.

A hotel as atmospheric and expansive as The Royal Horseguards is bound to attract filmmakers, and over the years the establishment has had perhaps more than its fair share of movie appearances.

David Lynch filmed here when he was making his masterpiece The Elephant Man in 1980. The movie told the story of John Merrick (John Hurt) a severely disfigured man who was rescued from a freak show and taken in by a kindly doctor, Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins). The long dark corridors at the hotel were filmed as the hospital corridors and some of the doctor’s offices were filmed there as well.

One of the more recent films shot at the hotel was The Constant Gardener which came out in 2005. Based on the novel by John le Carré, the movie tells the story of Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a quiet British diplomat stationed in Kenya whose wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz) is found murdered.

He goes on a quest to find out the truth behind her murder which leads him into unexpected territory. Quayle’s meeting with the head of the Foreign Office in London was filmed at the hotel’s delightfully traditional Smoking Room.

The Royal Horseguards is a London landmark like no other.

Visiting The Royal Horseguards - A Guoman Hotel

Address: The Royal Horseguards - A Guoman Hotel, Whitehall Court, London, Westminster, SW1A2EJ

Telephone: 020 7437 4370

Photo courtesy: niai

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