London walk · Stop 10 of 12
The original Berkeley Hotel — Van Helsing’s London base
The corner of Berkeley Street and Piccadilly marks the original Berkeley Hotel, where Van Helsing stays and where the hunters exchange information in Dracula.
This is the hotel site to associate with the novel. The Berkeley moved to Knightsbridge in 1972, so a visit to today’s hotel would take you away from the fictional-era address.
Historic England preserves a photograph of the original hotel’s reception room taken on 17 June 1897, shortly after Dracula appeared. Open the archive record to compare the hotel world of the story with the modern corner.
View from public paths and pavements; use marked crossings and respect private entrances.
View the original Berkeley Hotel reception room, 1897 ↗