Twelve months have passed since the start of the pandemics. This time last year we were frightened but fairly confident that after a few months the life will return to normal. Even the biggest pessimists didn’t expect this scenario, and that life will be affected to a previously unimaginable extent. Many of us had to change our life habits, and find replacements for our hobbies online. Best UK online casinos are certainly a great replacement for the gamblers who spent a majority of their time in land-based casinos, but some of them are eager to return to their favorite casino in the neighborhood and throw a few spins at some of their slot machines.

Also, when we get to travel once again, visiting some of the biggest European and UK casinos is on the bucket list as well. If you are from the UK, the best place to start in London. There are many casinos in the city on the Thames, and some of them are among the best in whole Europe! In this article, we will talk about the top five London casinos in our opinion.

Maxim’s Casino

We start our list with one of the oldest and most impressive casinos in London, the Maxim’s. The building in which the casino is located has an even bigger tradition – it was constructed in 1862 for the famous John Forster, a close friend of Charles Dickens, and was dubbed “built for a gentleman by gentlemen”.

When you enter the site, you really feel like a gentleman, an English lord even, the place simply oozes class. The main gaming room of the casino used to be the drawing-room for Forster and the feeling of the 19th-century aristocrat room is fully restored.

Maxim’s used to work 24 hours a day, every day of the year apart from Christmas. You can get food and beverages there as well, in their exquisite lounge bar, where you can order some of the most premium wines or rare whisky from anywhere in the world! 

The Ritz Club

Ritz is one of the most famous casinos not only in London, but it is also famous all across the globe! Over the years, politicians, businessmen, actors, and other famous people sat in those chairs and gambled all night.

If you want to play for high stakes against the wealthiest people in the world, this is definitely the place to be. The casino was opened in 1978, and it is located in the former ballroom of the hotel. The decor reminds us of Amber Room in the Summer Palace in St Petersburg. Some would say it is decadent, but we think it is suitable for the casino of such class.

Among others, Prince Albert of Monaco, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Al Pacino, Johnny Depp lost and won thousands of pounds in only one night in Ritz.

The London Hippodrome

Another famous and huge casino is located in the hippodrome, which was actually opened as a music hall back in 1900. It is interesting that a young Charlie Chaplin was performing live that year, which was the first act at this venue!

After that, it was transformed into a nightclub that also hosted some musical legends such as Frank Sinatra or The Jackson 5. The casino was opened in 2012 at this site, but since the building is well preserved, you have a feeling that the casino itself has a way longer tradition than mere eight years.

The casino is large, one of the biggest in London. It spreads across all five floors, while the ground floor Grand Casino is a centerpiece. If you don’t like the buzz in the large room, you can find a more relaxed and private environment in the Craybourn Club on the upper floors.

The Empire Casino

Hippodrome is one of the biggest casinos in London, but the Empire Casino is definitely the largest one. It feels like someone took the piece of Las Vegas and planted it in Leicester Square. If you only take a look at the building, you will see that this casino is not from the old, aristocrat, special members club only – everyone is welcome here, and you can indeed find anyone sitting in the lobby, from millionaires to students taking one spin for twenty quid.

The building was previously a ballroom and a theatre, but it was transformed into a casino in 2007, by the powerful organization called Caesars Entertainment. The result – 127 slot machines and 50 table games, which would be worthy of the Las Vegas Strip.

If you get tired from gambling, you can take a break at one of the four bars: Icon Balcony, Shadow, Vapor, and Carlsberg Sports Bar, and you can also check out the FuLuShou, Pan Asian restaurant.

There is also a VIP Dragon Lounge, which is a sort of a club in a club, only for the wealthiest members. The customers are treated like royalty there. And they often are royalties.

Les Ambassadeurs

Last, but not least on our list, we have Les Ambassadeurs Casino. The older readers might remember the scene in the first Bond movie when Sean Connery appears in the casino and introduces himself with a now-legendary line: “Bond. James Bond.” That scene was shot in the Les Ambassadeurs, and that fact only is probably enough for anyone to visit this iconic casino.

This casino is staying true to its aristocratic roots. The building was first owned by Leopold de Rothschild, one of the wealthiest people in the world in the 19th century, who lived there in 1879. If you want to become a member, prepare to pay 1000 quid!

Les Ambassadeurs draws attention from the famous as well. Reportedly, some former Premier League stars, such as Teddy Sheringham and Nicklas Bendtner were regulars here, while Bruce (now Caitlyn) Jenner also visited.

Conclusion

Apart from these five casinos, London has more to offer. We would also like to mention Aspinall’s and Crockfords, which are among the most famous casinos in London as well. We just need to wait for this pandemic to pass, so we can return to our normal life.