We’ve all been guilty of sneaking a tiny hotel shampoo or soap into our suitcase—but at The Savoy, it seems the guests dream a little bigger.
On Channel 5’s The Savoy: Great Hotels Through Time, narrated by Fay Ripley, viewers were treated to a whirlwind journey through the luxury, the legends, and the occasional chaos that defines this iconic London hotel.
This isn’t just about plush duvets and fancy chandeliers—this place has seen everything from royal heartbreak to Hollywood glamour to full-blown scandal.
And apparently, a mattress worth £17,000.
Celebs, Scandals, and Seriously Pricey Beds
Apparently, standard turndown service just doesn’t cut it when you’re a Hollywood legend.
Both Alfred Hitchcock and Katharine Hepburn loved their Savoy mattresses so much, they requested to have them sent home.
Yes, really. These bespoke beds—made with horsehair, wool, and cashmere—aren’t just comfy; they’re collectible, if you’ve got a spare £17k lying around.
And that’s just the start. The documentary tries to juggle awe and outrage, painting The Savoy as a place where luxury met drama—sometimes within the same suite.
When Royals Checked In for More Than Just Rest
Princess Diana was a regular at The Savoy during the painful days of her divorce.
The hotel staff, clearly devoted to her, once filled her entire suite with 15,000 balloons for her birthday.
It’s one of those bittersweet stories that makes you pause and smile—then wonder how long it took to clean up.
Marilyn, Oscar, and a Touch of Midriff
Marilyn Monroe brought her Hollywood dazzle to The Savoy too—famously showing up in a figure-hugging number nicknamed the “wiggle dress.”
And long before that, Oscar Wilde was a frequent guest, though his stays weren’t without controversy.
In the 1890s, Wilde was accused of entertaining male escorts in his room—a scandal amplified by the hotel’s very modern (at the time) feature: electric lighting throughout.
Wilde, ever the romantic, apparently found the brightness a bit much.
“Candlelight was more flattering,” one imagines him saying.
The Drama They Left Out
While the documentary teased some jaw-dropping tales, critic Christopher Stevens made a cheeky point: if producers really wanted the dirt, they should’ve dived into the Daily Mail’s own archives.
For instance, there was the explosive divorce trial of Edwin and Grace Bratt in the late 1800s.
Grace, it turned out, was juggling not one, but four lovers—and the Savoy’s bedrooms were often her chosen hideaway.
When Edwin discovered that one of her suitors had gifted her racy underwear, he beat her with his cane so viciously that it snapped. That story alone could fill an entire episode.
Rockstars and Infamous Romances
Fast forward 80 years, and The Savoy was still playing host to secret trysts.
Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall were regulars, even while Mick was still married to Bianca.
It seems luxury doesn’t just attract celebrities—it also fuels their most private dramas.
Lady Docker’s Public Meltdown
Then there’s the unforgettable Lady Norah Docker.
A former nightclub dancer who married Bernard Docker, the chairman of BSA, she turned outrageous behavior into a brand.
In the 1950s, during dinner at the Savoy Grill, she launched into a racist tirade about someone not even present.
One American diner, Mr. L. Schwartzchild, and his group were so disgusted, a woman from their party stood up and threw a glass of water in Lady Docker’s face.
Dripping wet, Docker reportedly muttered, “I suppose I deserved that,” and stormed off.
The American party was escorted out through the kitchen—though if that happened today, they’d probably get a standing ovation.
A Hotel Steeped in Grandeur and Gossip
The Savoy: Great Hotels Through Time may have focused more on elegance than edge, but one thing’s for sure—this hotel’s walls have heard it all.
From royalty to rockstars, secret affairs to stolen mattresses, the Savoy is less a hotel and more a living museum of glitz, drama, and jaw-dropping moments.
And maybe next time you check out, think twice before pocketing that little bar of soap—you’re walking in some pretty wild footsteps.