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London Art Deco Tours
After the highly ornate and curved style of the Art Nouveau movement in the early part of the Twentieth Century, there followed a more streamlined and geometric approach to design, which reflected an era that revelled in the machine. The style became known as Art Deco, the roots of which many say can be traced back to the 1925 exhibition in Paris 'Exposition des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes'. Art Deco was reflected in the arts, cinema, music (in the form of Jazz) and most interestingly architechture. Some excellent and varied examples of Art Deco buildings can be found sprinkled round the Capital. Our London Art Deco Tours have been designed to visit some of the most luxurious and besplendent. London Art Deco ArchitectureIt would be impossible to explore the wealth of Art Deco architecture in the London area in just one day, so we will design a tour especially for you which will take in to account your pick up and drop off points and other attractions you may wish to visit along the way. Here's just a taster of what's out there! Daily Telegraph Buiding
Battersea Power Station
The Hoover Building
Eltham Palace
You will be astounded immediately. Pass through the fantastic entrance hall designed by Swedish designer Rolf Engstromer and lit through a wonderful glass dome. Gaze at the adjacent Dining Room with its Art Deco aluminium leaf ceiling and maple walls. Veneered lacquered wall and onyx bathroom reflect the interiors of the great ocean liners of the period. Move outside and sample the delights of the gardens designe by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld. A rose garden, loggia an pergola ring the remains of the original medieval palace. Nearby attractions include; The Cutty Sark clipper ship, The National Maritime Museum, Chislehurst Caves and The Royal Artillery Museum. After your chosen Art Deco feast we will deliver you to your place of stay. We suggest the following hotels for their sheer Art Deco splendour. The SavoyThe archetypel London hotel with a perfect West End location. Located in the famous Strand, the Savoy is the epitome of Art Deco and luxury. You must sample a mouth watering cocktail in the Savoy’s American Bar. In the 1920’s this establishment became the first bar in Town to serve cocktails inspired by the American barman Harry Craddock. Try a Plymouth Gin or Martini cocktail – well sampled in this neck of the woods! Sip cocktails, enjoy a light snack all to the pleasurable background tones of popular piano jazz. Other unmissable treats can be sampled in the Savoy Grill, the River Restaurant (overlooking the Thames) and the Thames Foyer for afternoon tea. Visit the Savoy Theatre with its splendid Art Deco interiors. Claridge'sArt Deco chic is evident throughout the famous Brook Street hotel of London's Claridge's. The exhilarating front entrance ,built in 1930, and foyer with Lalique glass base supporting a strong Art Deco foliage sculpture, leads to the magnificent entrance hall and tearoom. The hotel was refurbished in the Art Deco style in the 1920s and further tasteful enhancements were made in 1930 by Oswald Milne. The tearoom, bar and restaurant are well worth a visit and many of the rooms are still maintained in the original Deco styling. Claridge's is within easy reach of Bond Street, Regent Street, Berkeley Square, Grosvenor Square and Hyde Park, so you could never be at a loss for exciting things to do. Sheraton Park Lane HotelThis Park Lane hotel, designed by Kenneth Anns and architect Henry Tanner, displays some of the most spectacular Art Deco interiors in London. Opened in 1927, the superb lounge is the ideal setting for afternoon tea and the magnificent basement ballroom boasts stunning Deco murals. The hotel overlooks London's Green Park, and Buckingham Palace is also visble from some of the rooms. The entrance hall is dominated by a wonderful mural and the fittings and features are not to be missed. You can enjoy excellent Mediterranean cuisine at the Citrus restaurant and morning coffee and evening cocktails in the Palm Court Bar. Other London Art Deco structuresDepending on the duration of your tour, you may also like to visit some of the following examples of London Art Deco architecture; The OXO Tower (Bargehouse Street SE1), Broadcasting House (Portland Place W1), Shell Mex House (80 Strand WC2), London Underground Headquarters (55 Broadway SW1), Marks & Spencer (Oxford Street). Museums for Art Deco in LondonThe following museums have an Art Deco component and all are well worth a visit. Please check the Art Deco exhibits are stil being displayed before attending. The London Transport Museum at Covent Garden is a definate must solely for its collection of 20s and 30s posters and tube station designs - which were ground breaking in terms of advertising and marketing. Some great Deco influenced buses as well. The Tate Modern, Bankside and Tate Britain, Pimlico. Mainly at Tate Modern's level 5 concourse is a display of architechtural carvings from Eric Gill. A few more at Tate Britain. The Geffrye Museum in London's Kingsland Road E2 has a super 1930s style room, tastefully decorated in period furniture and fittings in the style of Art Deco. |
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A superb Art Deco residence attached to the Great Hall of a medieval royal palace – the dream of millionaire Stephen Coultard. Constructed in 1933 it exhibits some ground breaking features all designed in the Art Deco styling of the time including concealed electric lighting, centralised vacuum cleaning and a loudspeaker system.