From the outside, St. Ermin’s Hotel looks like a classic British hotel with its red brick exterior and tree-lined courtyard. But step inside and you’ll see white sinuous rococo plasterwork curving throughout the lobby. Take a seat in the deep-purple chesterfield sofa covered in velvet or walk around to see the collection of teapots, carved wooden chairs from Scandinavia and the modern sculptures.
While the décor is striking, there’s more than meets the eye at this London hotel — it has a covert past. Winston Churchill formed the Special Operations Executive at St. Ermin’s, and the secret group took up one of the floors for its headquarters during World War II. British intelligence agency M16 also set up camp at the hotel, and there’s supposedly a secret tunnel that connects the lobby to the Palace of Westminster.
Even if you aren’t a James Bond-like secret agent reporting for duty, you’ll find plenty of other reasons to visit this luxurious London hotel.
While the décor is striking, there’s more than meets the eye at this London hotel — it has a covert past. Winston Churchill formed the Special Operations Executive at St. Ermin’s, and the secret group took up one of the floors for its headquarters during World War II. British intelligence agency M16 also set up camp at the hotel, and there’s supposedly a secret tunnel that connects the lobby to the Palace of Westminster.
Even if you aren’t a James Bond-like secret agent reporting for duty, you’ll find plenty of other reasons to visit this luxurious London hotel.
Our Inspector's Highlights
• You can enjoy in-room dining 24 hours a day, with delicious options ranging from hearty English breakfasts to lunchtime Thai green curries to late-night housemade pizzas.
• While there’s only one restaurant on the premises, Caxton Grill, it offers a great continental breakfast spread, a terrace for alfresco dining with courtyard views and afternoon tea in the library.
• Situated near St. James's Park, the hotel is ideally located in London's city center and close to attractions like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
• The London hotel has a dedicated business center with 15 separate meeting and event spaces — from large boardrooms to intimate offices — all of which boast state-of-the-art technology.
• The historic property keeps a surprise on the roof—its own colony of bees that provide the hotel with honey for breakfast and afternoon tea.
• While there’s only one restaurant on the premises, Caxton Grill, it offers a great continental breakfast spread, a terrace for alfresco dining with courtyard views and afternoon tea in the library.
• Situated near St. James's Park, the hotel is ideally located in London's city center and close to attractions like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
• The London hotel has a dedicated business center with 15 separate meeting and event spaces — from large boardrooms to intimate offices — all of which boast state-of-the-art technology.
• The historic property keeps a surprise on the roof—its own colony of bees that provide the hotel with honey for breakfast and afternoon tea.
Things to Know
• Although there's a nearby street called St. Ermin's Hill, and some maps seem to indicate it's at the end of this, the hotel is in fact accessible (though set back) from Caxton Street.
• While there is complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the London hotel, the signal is stronger in some rooms than others — and sometimes can drop off completely if you're in the wrong place.
• Although it isn't particularly advertised, and is difficult to find — indiscreetly hidden away beside room 264 — the gym at the luxury hotel is wonderful. Accessible with your room key 24 hours a day, the air-conditioned suite includes Precor treadmills and bikes (with built-in TVs), cross-trainers and a wealth of free weights.
• While there is complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the London hotel, the signal is stronger in some rooms than others — and sometimes can drop off completely if you're in the wrong place.
• Although it isn't particularly advertised, and is difficult to find — indiscreetly hidden away beside room 264 — the gym at the luxury hotel is wonderful. Accessible with your room key 24 hours a day, the air-conditioned suite includes Precor treadmills and bikes (with built-in TVs), cross-trainers and a wealth of free weights.
The Rooms
• In each of the hotel's accommodations, from the Superior Room through to the View Deluxe Suite, you'll find a state-of-the-art LG Pro:Centric 37-inch LCD wide-screen television. You’ll want to stay in just to watch it.
• The Westminster hotel sources all its beautiful bath products from The White Company, a homeware and fragrance firm based in London. It's a real taste of local luxury.
• The rooms at St. Ermin's include a large kettle with a good selection of teas, and a coffeemaker with freshly ground beans.
• The neutral rooms feature pops of leaf green and tomato red in mismatched but fun complementary patterns.
• The Westminster hotel sources all its beautiful bath products from The White Company, a homeware and fragrance firm based in London. It's a real taste of local luxury.
• The rooms at St. Ermin's include a large kettle with a good selection of teas, and a coffeemaker with freshly ground beans.
• The neutral rooms feature pops of leaf green and tomato red in mismatched but fun complementary patterns.
The Look
• The hotel was born out of a late-19th-century mansion, with a conversion undertaken from 1899 by the renowned Victorian theater designer J.P. Briggs, resulting in a dramatic set of reception rooms boasting intricately crafted white “theatrical” plasterwork with a rococo flavor.
• Even today, this design heritage is clearly apparent in the London hotel’s 331 spacious rooms and suites, decorated with global textures and calming colors to help you feel at home.
• The lobby offers time-honored grandeur with lofty ceilings and fine chandeliers, along with the gorgeous elaborate plasterwork.
• Caxton Grill restaurant offers a fresh, contemporary and light interior, and the conference rooms range from historic ballrooms to modern workspaces.
• Even today, this design heritage is clearly apparent in the London hotel’s 331 spacious rooms and suites, decorated with global textures and calming colors to help you feel at home.
• The lobby offers time-honored grandeur with lofty ceilings and fine chandeliers, along with the gorgeous elaborate plasterwork.
• Caxton Grill restaurant offers a fresh, contemporary and light interior, and the conference rooms range from historic ballrooms to modern workspaces.
Getting There
Stories
