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The expansion of the railroads and improved comfort in train journeys
offered people the unprecedented opportunity to travel for pleasure
Numerous hotels popped up near train stations
but very few could compare with the grandeur of railway hotels in London
As the number of leisure travelers grew
railway companies competed to attract passengers with unique and upscale accommodations
They built lavish hotels next to their own terminals often as a status symbol
and the most magnificent example was the Midland Grand Hotel at St. Pancras station
Opening to the public in 1873, this gothic masterpiece had hydraulic lifts, revolving doors
and a stunning grand staircase standing three stories high under a lavishly decorated vaulted ceiling
a backdrop adored by Hollywood and has appeared in movies like Batman, Harry Potter and this music video
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ {Spice Girls - Wannabe} ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
by Britain’s very own Spice Girls ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
{loud alarm}
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Ok, back to the past ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
Railway travel for the wealthy was most definitely a glamorous occasion
maybe with one exception the hotel guests had to share bathrooms
It may sound inconvenient to us now
but in those days it was quite normal for hotel guests to share bathing and toilet facilities
At the Midland Grand, there were 300 rooms and just five bathrooms and a lot of chamber pots
Then came The Savoy
Opened in 1889, this new hotel offered en-suite bathrooms to almost every room
along with modern conveniences such as constant running hot and cold water
electric lights and 24-hour room service
It was quickly hailed as Britain’s first luxury hotel and set the standards for comfort, service and cuisine
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Over the next century London saw a continuous development of hotels
even through the world wars and economic downturns 31 00:02:34,746 --> 00:02:34,638 Hotels of different sizes, budgets and concepts thrived and coexisted
but it would take a boat on the edge to fully embody the romantic essence of this city
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