London’s Iconic Savoy Reveals a Quiet Glow-Up
Dating back to the 19th century, London’s first luxury hotel has unveiled a new design for its Edwardian rooms, with the remaining art deco rooms set to be revealed this summer.
Claude Monet painted river views from its rooms. Winston Churchill dined here fortnightly. Princess Diana danced at the ball. Since opening in 1889, the iconic Savoy hotel has been part of London’s cultural fabric.
Now, almost a century and a half later, the Thames-side grande dame is entering its next chapter with a refurbishment unfolding over multiple years—a phased approach designed to allow the hotel to largely remain open with minimal impact on guests. Following a major facelift in 2024 (which included the launch of the lobby-adjacent gallery, the glowy, Gatsby-glam all-day dining venue, and two new boutiques), the first collection of Edwardian-style rooms has now been revealed. The next phase will introduce the art deco rooms, on the Strand-facing side of the hotel, later this summer.
Led by London-based design studio GA—with a portfolio that includes landmark projects such as the new Rosewood Schloss Fuschl in Austria, the art deco styling of London’s Harrods Beauty Hall, and the buzzy Atlantis The Royal, Dubai—the new rooms and suites prioritize aristocratic atmosphere and, above all, Britishness.
“We interpreted this concept [of Britishness] through craft, restraint, and refinement rather than overt references,” says Wing Tam, associate at GA. “The focus was on moments, materiality, and attention to detail—celebrating quality, proportion, and heritage without being literal. It’s expressed through subtle design decisions, layered textures, and a quiet confidence rooted in The Savoy’s theatrical and architectural legacy rather than through pastiche or obvious symbolism.”
Within the whisper-quiet rooms, pale-silver walls, cocooning silk, and antique brass establish a luminous base that feels lighter, less old-fashioned, and quite frankly less boring than the previous version, while accents of Hermès-adjacent orange and amber hint at glamour without heaviness. Abstract art against panelled walls underscore the whole modern classic aesthetic, and black-and-white bathrooms have been spiffed up but retain original marble. Other key historic architectural details—fireplaces, cornices, and mouldings—have been carefully refreshed rather than replaced, and 50 original chandeliers were preserved during the refurbishment.
“As a Grade II–listed building, every design intervention required a high level of sensitivity,” Tam says. The Savoy’s irregular room layouts and concealed structural surprises demanded flexibility and close collaboration between designers, contractors, and conservation specialists. Of course, modern touches have been integrated, including more intuitive control panels for lighting, wireless bedside charging stations, and colour-adjustable vanity mirrors.
In the River View Suites, new window seating has been introduced to frame the Thames, the same stretch of river that inspired Monet during his stays between 1899 and 1901. The Savoy is still the only five-star hotel in the city with such spectacular river views, and this new seating acts as a clever reminder. Also in the guest rooms, new drinks cabinets in glossy warm wood form part of what the design team refers to as “Savoy Moments,” allowing the mood of the rooms to shift from daytime retreats to evening cocktail dens.
“The creation of the Savoy Moments stands out, particularly the bespoke drinks cabinets that transition the room from morning to evening,” Tam says. “These elements capture the theatrical rhythm of the hotel, creating moments for guests to pause and indulge within their rooms. They blend function with emotion and reflect the wider design philosophy of enhancing the guest experience through thoughtful, beautifully crafted details.”
The Savoy has always been a generational hotel. So for returning guests—many of whom have been staying at The Savoy for decades—emotional continuity was a central concern. The goal was not to surprise but to assure. “The intention was never to create a dramatic shift, but a reassuring evolution,” Tam says. “We wanted long-standing guests to immediately recognize the spirit of The Savoy … its elegance, glamour, and sense of occasion, while experiencing a renewed sense of refinement and comfort. The refurbishment is deliberately subtle, honouring the hotel’s legacy and celebrating it so returning guests feel both at home and quietly surprised by the elevation of familiar spaces.”
