St. Ermin’s Hotel, Autograph Collection hotel video tour by Rosie Bell

1) The backstory

Steeped in history, St. Ermin’s Hotel’s London story dates back to the late 1800s. Once a relatively nondescript mansion block, the hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and it has undergone a breathtaking transformation, courtesy of its discerning North American proprietors who invested a substantial £30 million to breathe new life into it.

Its captivating architecture, featuring ornate detailing and Rococo plasterwork, serves as a glimpse into its storied past. Britain’s most notorious secret service officers, such as Ian Fleming (of James Bond fame), walked these walls during World War II, and double agents like Guy Burgess and Kim Philby used it as their meeting place during the Cold War. Today, a now-locked door in the center of the lobby staircase reportedly leads straight to Parliament.

Photo credit: Booking.com

2) The rooms

Each room at St. Ermin’s Hotel is equipped with generously sized high-definition televisions and seamlessly integrated international power outlets, and the bathrooms have anti-frost mirrors and White Company toiletries. Rooms have minibars stocked with chocolate and water bottles that are replaced daily at no cost.

Photo credit: Booking.com

My room, 315, felt on the smaller side for two people, but there are more generous suites and family rooms with two double beds and two bathrooms, as well as an extra sofa bed. A single desk for working makes this suitable for business travelers or digital nomads.

I slept like a baby on my plush queen-sized bed and started my morning with English breakfast tea that I picked out of a wooden box next to the Nespresso machine. When the weather is nippy, you’ll enjoy slipping on the soft-to-the-touch branded robes hanging in the closet.

Photo credit: Booking.com

St. Ermin’s Hotel is Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant and has a handful of ground-floor wheelchair rooms with low-level sinks and wide doors. The building also has a disability lift that provides access to the Crystal Ballroom.

3) Food & drink

The Caxton Grill is an elegant spot with a 72-seat restaurant and an intimate private dining room for ten guests. The kitchen sources fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs directly from the hotel’s Roof Kitchen Garden, offering guests a unique city-to-table dining experience. Breakfast is continental and served in Caxton Grill, which has entrances within the hotel and from the street (it’s also open to non-guests).

Caxton Bar has a tempting selection of whiskies, wines, and a yummy cocktail list. During the warmer months, you have the license to chill on the first-floor outdoor terrace, where you should certainly order something shaken and stirred with St. Ermin’s London dry gin.

Guests enjoy putting their pinkies up during a posh afternoon tea at the first-floor Tea Lounge at St. Ermin’s. During this elegant affair, diners are spoilt for choice with an extensive tea menu alongside the typical afternoon tea bells and whistles — corner-cut sandwiches, sweet treats, and a glass of bubbly. Honey retrieved from the hotel’s apiary upstairs further sweetens the deal.

4) Services & amenities

The hotel has a 24-hour concierge who is at your service for all your needs. One of the most delightful amenities is the apiary on the third floor, where more than 350,000 bees reside, and they can be safely viewed from behind glass.

Being a Grade II-listed property, St. Ermin’s Hotel expectedly had to contend with certain planning limitations, which means that some of the elevators are quite narrow.

Photo credit: Booking.com

Photo credit: Booking.com

5) Style, decor & character

Classic and modern elements coexist beautifully at St. Ermin’s Hotel. The main two-sided staircase, crowned by a grand chandelier,r is visually striking, and Snow-White walls abound. 

Speaking about the color palette, Powerstrip Studio, the boutique design firm which was tasked with the reimagining, remarks that “the tiered lobby is recast in fresh white and layered with intense peashoot, delicate pink and vibrant plum—colors that a stately country house in the city can wear.”

Photo credit: Booking.com

6) Location & nearby sights

For those who like to stretch their legs, St. Ermin’s Hotel enjoys a prime location within easy reach of some of London’s most iconic landmarks. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, New Scotland Yard, and the London Eye are all within walking distance, making it an ideal base for visitors eager to immerse themselves in the city’s rich history and culture without the need for public transportation.

For travelers who do wish to acquaint themselves with London’s iconic underground system, St. Ermin’s Hotel is a five-minute walk from St. James Park tube on the Circle and District lines, which serve the likes of Aldgate, Embankment, and South Kensington for concerts at Royal Albert Hall. The hotel is also 11 minutes to Westminster (Jubilee Line) and a 13-minute stroll to Victoria Station.

7) Who it’s right for & what to pack

St. Ermin’s Hotel appeals to Anglophiles who adore the idea of having royals for neighbors and are tickled by a traditional bowler hat greeting when entering an establishment. Business professionals in search of a comfortable Central London respite will similarly take to it, as will tourists eager to explore London’s wonders in a building embedded in history.

Don comfortable walking shoes to explore the aforementioned nearby attractions, and don’t forget to pack layers of clothing for London’s ever-changing weather.