Long-adored by an abundance of authors, London certainly isn’t lacking in the literary links department. But one of the capital city’s most impressive bookish brags comes in the form of Flemings in Mayfair. This luxury locale is widely believed to be the inspiration behind the setting for Agatha Christie’s novel ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’ – and seeing as the historic hotspot will soon be celebrating its 175th anniversary, we thought we’d take it upon ourselves to tell you a little bit more about it.
The history of Flemings
Created from thirteen adjoining Georgian townhouses on Mayfair‘s Half Moon Street, the architecture itself dates all the way back to the 1700s, but Flemings was officially established as a hotel in 1851 by Robert Fleming. It’s one of the very few London hotels that remains to be family-owned and independently run, making it feel really rather special. Its historic structure has been seamlessly blending with striking Art Deco interiors, and each of its 129 rooms and suites is pretty darn gorgeous.
The rather enchanting establishment was a popular hangout for many artists and authors in the 1930s, and the hotel’s creative past remains woven into its atmosphere to this very day. Flemings is home to Manetta’s Bar, a surreptitious, stylish, and oh-so sophisticated 1930s-inspired cocktail bar and also boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, Ormer Mayfair.
Based on some correspondence between Agatha Christie and her literary agent, Flemings is thought to be the inspiration behind Bertram’s Hotel – the homebase of a criminal gang in the aforementioned Miss Marple mystery, ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’. Pretty impressive, hey?
Find out more and plan your visit here.
📍You’ll find Flemings at 7–12 Half Moon Street, Mayfair, W1J 7BH.
🚇 The nearest station is Green Park.
