Welcome
The Clifton Hotel is around 200 years old and was initially a hunting lodge until the merchant owner became fed up with giving all his booze away free to his friends! So, once he had obtained an ale licence, he started charging them and the Clifton became a pub, rather than a hunting lodge.
In those days royalty was not allowed to visit pubs, only hotels. When King Edward VII used to meet Lily Langtree at the pub he had its name changed to The Clifton Hotel and it has remained so ever since.
Even today the pub is certainly the best kept secret in St. John’s Wood and it is commonly said that most people have to be lost in order to find us!
The Clifton is much loved by so many people – especially its unspoilt ambience, which is helped by walls which aren’t exactly straight and various nooks and crannies!
So, if you are ever walking along Abbey Road, try to get lost and then you’ll probably be lucky enough to stumble on us !