Criterion has stood at the heart of Piccadilly Circus as one of London’s most opulent restaurants for nearly 150 years. Now a Grade II listed building, Criterion’s spectacular neo-Byzantine interior, gold mosaic ceiling, and marbled walls have dazzled diners for generations.

History of Criterion

Criterion was the result of an architectural competition held by 19th-century caterers and hoteliers, Felix Spiers and Christopher Pond, who hoped to create something special when merging buildings on Piccadilly and Jermyn Street. The winner, Thomas Verity, devised a five-storey establishment with two dining rooms, a basement theatre, a ballroom, and what might just be Britain’s first American-style cocktail bar. Built in 1873, Criterion was an immediate success.

Early on, the venue hosted events such as the First Annual Dinner of the Royal College of Science, then chaired by H.G Wells. Lunch clubs were also popular with influential guest speakers including Edgar Wallace, Sir Hugh Walpole, and Bertrand Russell.

In 1909, Criterion held meetings for the Women’s Social and Political Union, organised by Christabel Pankhurst, as the movement for women’s suffrage gained support. A decade on, many of David Lloyd George’s discussions on how to extend the wartime coalition government into a new political party took place at Criterion, with Winston Churchill famously delivering a memorable speech to the New Members’ Group there.

After featuring in 19th and 20th century in literature – in G.K Chesterton’s The Flying Inn and P. G Wodehouse’s Indian Summer of an Uncle, and notoriously as the place Doctor Watson first hears of Sherlock Holmes in A Study In Scarlet – Criterion took on a new guise as a setting for television and cinema, notably Downton Abbey and The Dark Knight.

Criterion today

Criterion has endured many changes of ownership, appearance and menu, particularly in recent years, but the architectural beauty and decorative charm remains, and so a visit to this historic location is recommended.

Many regard the French Renaissance-influenced stone front to be Verity’s best surviving work, while the gilded interior complete with deep red furnishings and jewel-encrusted wall coverings ensures the spirit of lavishness lives on.

Getting to Criterion

Criterion is right next to Piccadilly Circus underground station which can be reached via the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines. It’s also a five-minute walk from Leicester Square which you can access on the Northern and Piccadilly lines.

History of Dukes London

The site that Dukes London now occupies – on St James’s Place – has held a wide variety of venues over the centuries. In 1532 Henry VIII built St James’s Palace on the site, which was formerly occupied by a hospital for treating leprosy. The palace was part-hunting lodge, part-escape from court life for Henry, while apparently also acting as a secret meeting place for the king and Anne Boleyn before she became his second wife.

Before Dukes London opened in 1908, nearby townhouses in St James’s Place hosted the likes of Oscar Wilde, Lord Byron, composer Frédéric Chopin (who lived in one of the houses shortly before his final London performance) and composer Edward Elgar, who was also a regular guest at Dukes in its early years.

Famous faces have been a regular occurrence at Dukes ever since, whether in the hotel, restaurant, bar or all three. Princess Diana and the Queen Mother are both rumoured to have visited Dukes London, for example. Outside of royal figures, one of the most well-known visitors was British author Ian Fleming, creator of the world’s most famous fictional spy, James Bond. Fleming was a regular at Dukes Bar, and after seeing its elegant, lavish interior, it seems like the ideal place for 007 (and his similarly stylish creator) to enjoy a drink.

There are various tales attached to Fleming’s time at Dukes Bar, some stating that it was the venue in which he created the iconic Vesper Martini (composed of several measures of gin, one of vodka and half a measure of French liqueur Lillet) that Bond orders in both the novel and film version of Casino Royale. Other stories claim the bar inspired him to coin Bond’s ‘shaken, not stirred’ catchphrase, in reference to how he prefers his martinis.

Dukes London today

Dukes Bar is still known for its martinis, and the bar, hotel and restaurant are still a favourite haunt of those wanting a truly luxurious break. And if martinis aren’t your thing, there’s always the champagne afternoon tea for those after a different take on quintessentially British indulgence.

Getting to Dukes London

Dukes London is a five-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, the Queen of England’s London residence. Many more of London’s most famous sights and attractions are also within easy reach of Dukes, including Westminster Abbey and the National Gallery.

Green Park Tube station is a short walk from Dukes, and other tube stations (and numerous bus stops) are also nearby.

History of Kettner’s Townhouse

Kettner’s was opened in 1867 by August Kettner, a German chef rumoured to have been directly employed by Napoleon III. Located in a part of Soho of fairly low repute at the time, the restaurant was expected to have a short-lived existence until an 1879 letter published in The Times extolled the virtues of Kettner’s cooking, swinging the tide of public support.

However, it was the visits of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward – later King Edward VII – around 1890 that really began to draw in the crowds. Edward is said to have taken mistress Lillie Langtry to Kettner’s. rumours even suggest there a secret tunnel that connected the restaurant and the Palace Theatre where Langtry performed, to facilitate intermission rendezvouses.

From there, Kettner’s developed a risqué reputation as a great place to have an affair. Oscar Wilde was not only a regular, but so fond of Kettner’s it was believed to be his venue of choice. Other famous former patrons include Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie, Bing Crosby, and Margaret Thatcher.

Kettner’s Townhouse today

Kettner’s famously spent 28 years as a Pizza Express between 1980 and 2008. Now, under the stewardship of the Soho House group, the renamed Kettner’s Townhouse has been respectfully restored, with the original French menu referenced, and artwork inspired by lost murals found during the renovation.

With three more townhouses added to the original four, the 33-room hotel now includes Grade II-listed bars, and a suite with private entrance. While the Champagne Bar is the only part now open to the public, booking a stay at this historic London establishment, and experiencing its enticing allure, is surely money well spent.

Getting to Kettner’s Townhouse

Located in the heart of Soho, Kettner’s Townhouse is within a five-minute walk of both Piccadilly Circus and Tottenham Court Road tube stations, and just three minutes from Leicester Square.

History of Rules

During its 200 year history, the restaurant has only had 3 owners and has served some of the most famous writers, artists, politicians, film stars, and royalty in the world.  It has been a popular dining spot for literary giants such as Charles Dickens with the private dining room of the restaurant named after the author.

There is also a dining room named after Graham Greene which the novelist used when he visited London and which featured in his novel ‘The End of the Affair’. It has also been featured in books written by Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, John Le Carré, Dick Francis, and Claire Rayner.

Due to its proximity to the West End theatre scene of London, it has been a popular dining spot for those in the entertainment world such as Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Joan Collins, and Harrison Ford. Edward VII, then still the Prince of Wales, had his own private dining room that he used to discreetly romance the actress Lily Langtry.

The restaurant is also a popular location for film and television, most recently being used in the series ‘Downton Abbey’ and the James Bond film ‘Spectre’. The restaurant’s proximity to Whitehall has seen British politicians such as Michael Heseltine, William Hague, and Ken Clarke often walk through its doors.

Rules today

The restaurant specialises in serving British food such as pies and puddings as well as classic game cookery. Each year Rules serves some 18,000 game birds, more than any other restaurant in Britain. The interior still retains much of its original style and various photos, cartoons, and paintings from British cultural and political history adorn the walls throughout the restaurant.

Getting to Rules

The restaurant is a five minute walk from the tube stations Covent Garden or Charing Cross Station.

History of Simpson’s Tavern

Thomas Simpson had been a restauranteur for 34 years when, in 1757, his father gifted him a site down a central London alley. There, Simpson’s Tavern has proudly remained for over 260 years, with its signature catchphrase ‘Do you want a sausage with that?’ still being repeated daily.

Now based in London’s financial district, Simpson’s Tavern was originally at the heart of the capital’s food trading area at Cornhill – then literally a hill where corn was sold. Similarly, nearby Bread Street, Poultry, Honey Lane, and Milk Street reveal aspects of London’s commercial history.

Simpson’s Tavern is connected through labyrinthine alleys to other iconic establishments. London’s first coffeeshop, The Jamaica Wine House, stands opposite while a short walk takes you to The George and Vulture, a famed chophouse referenced in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers.

Many consider Simpson’s Tavern to be the “usual melancholy tavern” Ebenezer Scrooge visits in A Christmas Carol. Dickens spent many an hour in the taverns of Cornhill: the streets, the people inspired the author, Dickens in turn bestowed their legacy. Other eminent former patrons include author William Thackeray and diarist Samuel Pepys.

Simpson’s Tavern today

Having survived the Victorian era street-widening policies, Simpson’s Tavern and its surrounding courtyard remain relatively untouched, at least structurally. If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of Dickens’ immortalised London of cobbled streets and quaint windowfronts, this is the place for you.

Inside, dark wooden panels still adorn the walls, House of Commons green benches still stretch from connect tables inviting conversation, brass hat stands still punctuate the booths where diners continue to enjoy their hearty, boozy respite from city life.

Getting to Simpson’s Tavern

Simpson’s Tavern is a three-minute walk from Bank and Monument tube stops. The real fun however is finding the right alleyway.

While Simpson’s Tavern gives its address as 38 ½ Cornhill, it’s actually in Ball Court. Stroll down Cornhill, take in the history, and keep your eyes out for the semi-secret path to this hidden gem.

History of Simpson’s in the Strand

Simpson’s in the Strand opened in 1848 but the site was an 18th-century meeting place for the Kit-Cat Club, a group of influential Whigs that included Sir Robert Walpole, John Locke, and the Duke of Somerset.

In 1828, Samuel Reiss opened Grand Cigar Divan, a smoking room and coffeehouse which quickly became the epicentre of British chess. In 1848, a merger with caterer John Simpson enabled Reiss to expand the premises and establish a restaurant, John Simpson’s Cigar Divan.

To avoid interrupting legendary chess players such as Wilhelm Steinitz, Emanuel Lasker, and Paul Morphy, plus revered regulars like Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli, and William Gladstone, servers would push hefty, silver trolleys of roasted meat around the dining hall, and carve at the table. This pioneering approach remains central to the Simpson’s experience today.

In 1903, five years into the Savoy Hotel’s ownership, all original furniture was sold in a refurbishment, including 265 chairs, the largest mahogany table then in existence, and 60 other dining tables. A year later, the rebranded Simpson’s in the Strand, Grand Divan Tavern finally permitted men and women to share the same room.

Simpson’s in the Strand has featured prominently in popular culture, notably David Niven’s Guns of Navarone, Alfred Hitchcock’s Sabotage, several of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlocks Holmes stories, P.G. Wodehouse’s Something New and Cocktail Time, and E.M Forster’s Howard’s End.

Simpson’s in the Strand today

After another refurbishment in 2020, the restaurant now has an ostentatious glamour. Leather banquettes and chandeliers complement high ceilings to produce an aura of decadence.

Chess has departed from the halls though hints remain in the décor, and the iconic signage out front, while carving meat at the table remains a fixture of London’s most historic roast dinner.

Getting to Simpson’s in the Strand

Simpson’s in the Strand’s central location means there are many nearby underground stations. Covent Garden, Embankment, and Charing Cross are all within a five-minute walk, while mainline trains also stop at Charing Cross.

History of The Old House 1147

This public house dates back to 1147. In addition to being the oldest pub in South Wales, it claims to be the third oldest restaurant in the world. The basis of this historical claim lies with the building’s ‘cwtch’ (a Welsh word that has several meanings, but in this context refers to a storage space or large cupboard), which dates back to the 12th century. The cwtch is now refurbished but still boasts some original features, such as flagstone floors and wooden beams.

The village of Llangynwyd, in which the pub is set, was a literary centre of Glamorgan during the Middle Ages up until the 17th century, in particular, with connections to ancient Welsh bardic poets. During the 18th century the area was connected to Wil Hopcyn, a poet and author of the work that became the basis of the Welsh traditional love song ‘Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn’. In more recent years famous faces including David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton are reputed to have visited the pub.

The Old House 1147 today

The pub still retains historical elements, including a thatched roof. Its restaurant boasts stunning views across the Llynfi Valley, and was extensively revamped in 2015. It has since become a hugely popular local wedding venue and award-winning gastropub.

Getting to The Old House 1147

The nearest town to the village of Llangynwyd is Maesteg, two miles to the north. The pub is around 25 miles from the Welsh capital, Cardiff, which is a 45 minute drive. It’s accessible from the M4 by car, and the nearest train station is Garth, which is 1 mile away.

History of Wiltons

The forties were definitive decades in Wiltons’ almost three centuries of service. In 1742, George William Wilton stocked his barrow with oysters at the Haymarket for the first time. In 1840, a beer and wine licence facilitated the creation of a fully-fledged seafood restaurant. And in 1942, a Luftwaffe bomb came close to destroying it.

The nearby demolition of St. James’ Church, Piccadilly, is said to have prompted then owner Bessie Leal to remove her apron, proclaim she would no longer live in London during the war, and ask regular Olaf Hambro if he knew anyone who would purchase Wiltons. Hambro, chairman of Hambros Bank at the time and ancestor of the current owners, calmly asked Leal to add the restaurant to his bill. Leal obliged, leaving for Cornwall the next morning.

Such was Wiltons’ early reputation that after just a few years as a restaurant, it earned a Royal Warrant as Purveyor of Oysters to Queen Victoria. That superior standing has sustained, particularly when it enjoyed unofficial exemption from World War II rationing which limited the price of three-course meals to five shillings. Devoted regular Winston Churchill may well have had a say in that.

Wiltons today

In 1984, Wiltons moved to Jermyn Street, its current location – a renowned London street which at different times had housed eminent historical figures such as Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Walter Scott, William Gladstone, and W.M Thackeray. Now associated with high-end fashion, haberdasheries, and restaurants, the move to Jermyn Street ensured Wiltons’ clientele remained exclusive, and its menu expensive.

The interior remains relatively untouched – the private gentlemen’s club aesthetic of green velvet banquettes, pale golden walls, and private booths has been retained. Nowadays, the restaurant is considered an ideal location for high level business meetings. The £7bn merger between Boots and Alliance Unichem apparently took place after several days’ discussions over courses at Wiltons.

Getting to Wiltons

Wiltons is less than a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus tube station on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines, or Green Park on the Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines. The restaurant is also a 10-minute walk from Leicester Square.