Hotels near Dartmouth House

Dartmouth House is the international headquarters of the ESU (English-Speaking Union), which is represented in more than 50 countries worldwide. Over 40,000 people use the building each year, many without realising that Dartmouth House is an important heritage building, sumptuously remodelled and refurbished in the 1890s by Lord Revelstoke, who created a grand town mansion in the Anglo-French style. Purchased by the ESU in 1926, it is one of the most notable properties in Mayfair and was recently upgraded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to Grade II* and is scheduled as a building of national importance. Inevitably old buildings need major repair and restoration and in 1997 an international appeal was launched to restore the building and refurbish it to a level appropriate to the 21st Century. The funds raised from a variety of generous donors helped us to undergo a programme of urgent restoration and modernisation.
This included renovating the roof, the courtyard paving and outdated electrical services. The superb painted ceiling by Pierre Victor Galland is above the grand staircase at Dartmouth House. All the appeal monies raised were put towards the costs, supplemented by a loan. This has ensured the survival of Dartmouth House and its key role in ESU activities worldwide.