Situated on the banks of Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the Fairmont Empress Hotel is one of Vancouver Island’s main attractions. The 460-room hotel is famous for Afternoon Tea which is served to over 100,000 visitors every year. Originally designed by Francis Rattenbury and named for Queen Victoria, Empress of India, the hotel, built in Edwardian style, first opened in 1908. Recently restored to reflect its original grandeur, The Empress is now decorated antique furniture and early 1900’s decor.