There is no hotel in the world quite like Claridge's. A byword for luxury, exclusivity and grandeur, it has, from its inception in 1812, showcased the finest traditions of British hospitality while continually demonstrating a flair for innovation and renewal. In this official biography historian Martin Williams invites readers to check in at the world's most storied hotel and immerse themselves in its colourful past - from its origins as Mivart's Hotel in the early nineteenth century, through two world wars and a century of radical change, to the present day. He evokes the glamour and drama of each chapter in Claridge's unfolding story, taking us behind the scenes while bringing to life the extraordinary cast of crowned heads, film stars, politicians and celebrities who have made it their home. Claridge's: Queen of Hotels, Hotel of Kings is a lavish book for a lavish hotel - a British institution thrown open for all to explore.