03-07-2025
Inside 'Switzerland's grandest hotel' where England's Lionesses will reside during the Euros - including 'press for champagne' buttons and a high-tech spa
The Euros 2025 tournament kicked off in Switzerland to great fanfare on Wednesday night - and England's Lionesses are in residence at their very luxurious home for the next few weeks.
The 23-woman squad has checked into the five-star Dolder Grand in Zurich ahead of their first tough match against France on Saturday.
And England's footballing stars are currently enjoying getting acquainted with some very swish amenities, including a 4,000-square-metre high-tech spa, Japanese restaurant and, should they need it, a personal butler service.
The defending Euros champions are likely to find their Swiss sojourn a cut above the the four-star stay in South West London ahead of their history-making win two years ago at Wembley.
Rooms at the historic Dolder Grand come in at around £640 a night, just over £500 more than a bed at The Lensbury in Twickenham, which hosted the squad in 2022 and where rooms currently cost around £130 a night.
Previous guests at the turreted Swiss lakeside property, which first opened its doors in 1899, include Nelson Mandela, The Rolling Stones and Karl Lagerfeld.
The hotel may be 19th century but it's a state-of-the-art affair, with guests having the option to pay in bitcoin should they so wish.
The Lionesses - including Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Beth Mead - are training at the nearby Sportanlage Au facility, normally home to FC Glattbrugg in the city of Opfikon.
The players will spend much of their downtime enjoying the hotel though - although they'll probably have to avoid the Krug Lounge X bar, where guests can push gold-plated buttons to request glasses of champagne to their table.
The belle époque hotel, which boasts two modern annexes designed by Lord Norman Foster, is considered one of Switzerland's most luxurious places to reside, with rooms enjoying Lake Zurich and forest views.
It's thought an area of the hotel will be decorated with England flags to make the squad feel welcome - with the hotel management team describing it as an 'honour' to stay at the hotel.
And should things go their way, the team might enjoy a tipple in the hotel's Canvas bar and lounge, where there's DJ sets and mixologists on hand to make 'Dolder Negronis'.
The 19th century hotel has steel and glass annex buildings that were designed by Lord Norman Foster, left. Right: A music themed area of the hotel, which has been a home-from-home for The Rolling Stones in Switzerland
The squad will be able to reside in understated luxury, with many rooms having forest and lake views
Exactly how long the Lionesses will be able to enjoy the Dolder Grand will unfold in the coming weeks, England have been drawn in a 'group of death' alongside 2017 Euros champions the Netherlands and heavyweights France.
Back in 2022, the Lionesses had never won a major tournament and the then £118-a-night four-star Lensbury, which sits on the banks of the Thames at Teddington, close to Twickenham, was considered the right fit.
The South West London hotel sits on a 25-acre site and boasts a state-of-the-art gym, two heated indoor pools, a sauna, work-out studios, 22 tennis courts and two full-sized sports pitches in its grounds.
After the squad's victory in the Euros final at Wembley, the hotel doubled up as a party palace for the squad and their friends and family.
