Location The Savoy, The Strand
For more than 100 years vehicles, horse drawn or mechanical, have entered and left ‘Savoy Court’ on the right-hand side of the road. This is due to the construction of the ‘court’. When approaching and leaving the hotel it is easier to do so while driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Savoy Court is a privately owned property and is not a public thoroughfare as it leads only to the hotel itself. Therefore driving on the right-hand side of the road does not contravene British traffic regulations. Apparently, when being chauffeured in a horse-drawn carriage the lady or dignitary would traditionally sit behind the driver. By approaching the hotel on the right-hand side of the road, either the chauffeur or the hotel’s doorman was able to open the door without walking around the carriage. This would allow the lady to alight from the carriage and walk straight into the hotel. The same applies to passengers in cars and taxis today.
For more strange and wonderful stories about our capital city, do have a look at my Curious guide to London – available in book shops and the dreaded Amazon