The John Lennon hotel in Montreal is Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, at 900 René-Lévesque Boulevard West. John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their Bed-In for Peace in Suite 1742 from May 26 to June 2, 1969, and recorded Give Peace a Chance there on June 1. Renovated in 2017, the suite can be booked like any hotel room, but it is not open to the public for visits.
I had the privilege of visiting the suite and, even though I did not stay overnight, I had plenty of time to explore this historic room in detail. In this guide, I tell you its story, give you my review and share all the practical information you need to know.
The Montreal Bed-In: what happened in Suite 1742
In the spring of 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono had just gotten married. Instead of hiding from the cameras, they decided to use their honeymoon to send a message of peace, in the middle of the Vietnam War. After a first Bed-In at the Amsterdam Hilton in March, they looked for a place close to the United States to reach the American public.
Why Montreal?
In fact, US authorities refused to let the couple into the country because of Lennon’s 1968 conviction for cannabis possession. They first tried the Bahamas, but it was too hot and too far from the media. So they landed in Montreal on May 26, 1969, welcomed by hundreds of young fans.
They then settled on the 17th floor of the Queen Elizabeth. For eight days, they welcomed journalists, artists and activists from their bed, with their “Hair Peace” and “Bed Peace” signs taped to the window.
Visitors included Timothy Leary, poet Allen Ginsberg, comedian Tommy Smothers and singer Petula Clark. Cartoonist Al Capp even came to confront the couple, and the exchange turned sour in front of the cameras.
Give Peace a Chance, recorded in the room
On June 1, 1969, everyone in the suite sang along. Montreal sound engineer André Perry recorded the song with four microphones and a four-track tape recorder, while Tommy Smothers played guitar with Lennon.
Released in July 1969, Give Peace a Chance reached number 2 in the UK and number 14 in the US. Since then, it has become one of the most famous peace anthems in the world.
What the John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite looks like today
The hotel used its major $140 million renovation, between 2016 and 2017, to completely transform the suite. Rather than recreating the room exactly, the Fairmont mixed period replicas with artwork inspired by the couple’s life. The result is a successful blend of intimate museum and luxury suite, about 1,370 sq. ft.
What you will find inside
- A large mural of John and Yoko around the entrance door, right in the hallway.
- The “Hair Peace” and “Bed Peace” decals on the window, just like in 1969, with a view of Mary Queen of the World Cathedral.
- A wall of filing cabinet drawers that open onto archival photos, documents, interview clips and music excerpts.
- A green rotary phone: pick it up, and you will hear clips of John and Yoko talking with journalists.
- A vintage TV, a reel-to-reel tape recorder, a guitar, and the chorus of Give Peace a Chance written on the wood panelling.
- Works by Canadian artists, including a large cyanotype by Karen Tam and a transparent sculpture by Jannick Deslauriers.
My review of the John Lennon Suite
The experience starts in the hallway
The experience begins before you even open the door. In the hallway, a large mural of John Lennon and Yoko Ono frames the entrance to the suite. At that moment, you know you are about to step into a legendary place, full of history.
Once inside, it is all about the details. The vintage TV, the objects placed around the room and the green phone really take you back to what happened in this room in 1969. When you pick up the receiver and hear the exchanges with journalists, the effect is instant.
My favorite part: the archive drawers
For me, the real highlight of the visit was the archive drawers. Each drawer hides something: photos, documents and, above all, interview clips with journalists and music excerpts. Opening them one by one is the best way to understand the atmosphere of those eight days of the Bed-In.
My tip
Do not just look at the view and the bed. Take the time to open every drawer and listen to the audio clips: that is when the suite becomes much more than a beautiful hotel room.
Is it worth it?
For a John Lennon, Yoko Ono or Beatles fan, I completely understand travelling all the way to Montreal for this suite. It is a one-of-a-kind place in the world: the room where a song as famous as Give Peace a Chance was recorded, with its story told with so much care.
Can you visit John Lennon's room in Montreal?
The suite is a real hotel room, booked by guests for much of the year. So it is not open to the public for walk-in visits. The Fairmont occasionally offers guided tours on special occasions, such as the 50th anniversary of the Bed-In in 2019, but not on a regular basis.
If you really want to see it, the easiest way is to stay there. Otherwise, contact the hotel directly, especially around the Bed-In anniversary in late May.
Booking the John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite
The suite has two bedrooms with king beds, a living room, a dining area, a kitchenette and two bathrooms, one with a freestanding tub. It sleeps up to four people, and breakfast is included.
Budget-wise, expect several thousand dollars per night. When it reopened in 2017, the hotel listed it at $1,969 a night, a nod to the year of the Bed-In, before raising it to around $3,500. Since rates vary by date, check them directly on the official suite page.
Good to know: if you share the suite with four people, the price per person becomes much more reasonable. And for a birthday or a proposal, it is hard to find a more meaningful room in Montreal.
Practical information
- Address: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, 900 René-Lévesque Blvd W, Montreal
- Getting there: above Central Station, a few minutes’ walk from Bonaventure and McGill metro stations
- Room: Suite 1742, on the 17th floor
- Capacity: up to 4 guests, breakfast included
- Booking: on the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth website
Frequently asked questions
Which hotel did John Lennon stay at in Montreal?
John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, now Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, at 900 René-Lévesque Boulevard West in downtown Montreal. Their room was Suite 1742, on the 17th floor.
Can you visit the John Lennon suite without staying there?
Not on a walk-in basis, since it is a room booked by hotel guests. The hotel occasionally offers guided tours during special events, such as the 50th anniversary of the Bed-In in 2019.
Is the John Lennon suite worth it?
Yes, especially if you are a John Lennon or Beatles fan. During my visit, the archive drawers, with their interview clips and music excerpts, and the phone playing exchanges with journalists really took me back to 1969. It is a one-of-a-kind place.
How much does a night in the John Lennon suite cost?
Expect several thousand dollars per night, depending on the dates. Breakfast is included and the suite sleeps up to four people. Check the current rate on the Fairmont website.
When was the John Lennon and Yoko Ono Bed-In in Montreal?
From May 26 to June 2, 1969. It was their second Bed-In for Peace, after the one in Amsterdam in March 1969.
Where was Give Peace a Chance recorded?
In Suite 1742 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, on June 1, 1969, by Montreal sound engineer André Perry.
In short
Suite 1742 at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is a piece of music history right in downtown Montreal. From the hallway mural to the archive drawers, every detail takes you back to the 1969 Bed-In. Even if you cannot just walk in, it is a must for every Beatles, John Lennon and Yoko Ono fan.
