Norton & Sons has more than two centuries behind it. Walter Norton opened on the Strand in 1821, his son James was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 1859, and the firm moved to Mayfair in the 1860s. It made its name with sporting and country clothes and, by its own account, held royal warrants to four successive British monarchs and to the royal households of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Prussia, Spain and Portugal. In the second half of the 20th century it absorbed Hammond & Co, E. Tautz & Sons, J. Hoare & Co and Todhouse Reynard.
Its recent history is about ownership. Designer Patrick Grant bought the struggling firm in 2005 and, by his account, had tripled its size a decade later. In 2023 James Sleater, owner of Cad & the Dandy, bought a majority stake and became director. Since then the firm has added women's made-to-measure, launched in July 2024, reworked No. 16 so that the workshop is visible from the shop floor, and opened a showroom on West 57th Street in New York.
The cut is quieter than its sporting past suggests: a softer shoulder, a close-fitting chest, a nipped waist, a gentle skirt and a high armhole. Prices are published, which is rare on the Row: suits from $8,700 including VAT, jackets from $6,400, trousers from $2,300 and shirts from $480, with no minimum order. Allow 12 to 15 weeks and two to four fittings for a first order. Made-to-measure, from $3,700 for a suit, is a quicker, cheaper route with fewer fittings.
Choose Norton & Sons for classic city and country tailoring, shooting clothes or formalwear, and for knowing the price before the first fitting. It is softer than Huntsman or Dege & Skinner and more fitted than Anderson & Sheppard.
TailorGuide score
Each test is scored out of 10 and weighted. Scores set the order within London; they are not compared across cities.
- CutCut and construction35%
- 9/10
- FitFit and fittings30%
- 8/10
- ReputationReputation over time20%
- 9/10
- ServiceService15%
- 7/10
- Founded
- 1821
- House style
- Soft shoulder, close chest, nipped waist
- Best for
- Classic English tailoring with prices published up front
- What they make
- Bespoke suits, jackets and overcoats, fieldsports clothing, wedding and formal wear, women's tailoring, made-to-measure
- Bespoke suit
- From $8,700 · Including VAT
- Bespoke jacket
- From $6,400 · Including VAT
- Bespoke trousers
- From $2,300 · Including VAT
- Bespoke shirt
- From $480 · No minimum order
- Made-to-measure suit
- From $3,700 · Including VAT
- Made-to-measure jacket
- From $2,600 · Including VAT
- Made-to-measure trousers
- From $1,100 · Including VAT
Prices are approximate and change with the fabric and customizations you choose. Confirm the price and the number of fittings before you order.
History
- 1821Walter Norton opens on the Strand
- 1860sMoves to Mayfair and joins Savile Row's tailors
- 2005Patrick Grant buys the firm and revives its bespoke business
- 2021Marks 200 years of tailoring
- 2023James Sleater, owner of Cad & the Dandy, takes a majority stake and becomes director
- 2024Launches made-to-measure tailoring for women
Clients named in published sources include King Edward VII, Winston Churchill, Lord Carnarvon, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby and Anthony J. Drexel Biddle.
Questions
How much does a Norton & Sons bespoke suit cost?
Bespoke suits start at $8,700 including VAT, jackets at $6,400 and trousers at $2,300. The final price depends on the fabric. Made-to-measure suits start at $3,700.
How long does a Norton & Sons bespoke suit take?
About 12 to 15 weeks, including the consultation and fittings. First-time clients usually need two to four fittings; returning clients often need fewer, because their pattern is kept on file.
Who owns Norton & Sons?
James Sleater, who also owns Cad & the Dandy, bought a majority stake in 2023 and is the firm's director. Designer Patrick Grant had owned and run it since 2005.
Does Norton & Sons make for women?
Yes. It offers women's bespoke and, since July 2024, a women's made-to-measure service, led by its head of womenswear.
Do I need an appointment at Norton & Sons?
Walk-ins are welcome, but booked clients are seen first, and fittings should be booked. The shop at 16 Savile Row is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm, and Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
By TailorGuide · Updated April 2026
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