The very first auction houses, Sotheby's and Christie's, got their start in London in the 1800s, quickly transforming the city into the antiques capital of Europe. Today, London and its surroundings surpass every other destination in the volume of priceless art and vintage treasures that are bought and sold each year.
Some of the best hunting grounds for antique treasures are a short tube ride or brisk walk from The Landmark London, one of the most iconic hotels in town, with its own legacy of antiques. Originally the Great Central Hotel, which opened in 1899, The Landmark London was one of the last great Victorian railway hotels, built for guests who would travel to Marylebone Station on the Great Central Railway.
Today, its amenities reflect the modern comforts of the 21st century, but remnants of the hotel’s glamorous origins remain intact: original stained glass windows, art deco furniture, and photographs and documents that depict the Great Central Hotel’s Golden Age.
The Landmark London provides guests with an insider's guide to antiques and the chance to rummage alongside a local expert.
All of this history and heritage is sure to whet the appetite for an antiquing adventure. How to unearth hidden gems tucked away and navigate London's world of heirlooms and artifacts like a pro?
The Landmark London provides guests with an insider's guide to antiques and the chance to rummage alongside an expert inside Alfies, London's largest indoor antiques market, and for those so inclined, a gold mine of vintage fashion. The covered labyrinth of stalls, spread across four floors where 75 dealers buy and sell their wares, has its own storied past. It is the site of the former Edwardian department store that began in 1885 as Richard Jordan's Pawnbrokers, then became Jordan's Department Store, an icon on Church Street.
After the three-hour shopping spree, which includes a private tour throughout the market with a local expert and a member of the Alfies antiques team, guests return to hotel to toast their treasures over a Champagne tea inside the luxurious Winter Garden restaurant.
The guided journey through yesteryear takes place over three hours, Tuesday through Friday, and is available exclusively through The Landmark London. To learn more about hotel or to reserve the Insider's Guide To Antiques experience during your upcoming reservation with The Leading Hotels of the World, contact reservations@lhw.com.
