St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel
A reborn London rail hotel
The St. Pancras Renaissance is easily one of London’s most recognizable hotels. The massive Gothic red brick façade with signature soaring spires was originally opened in 1873 as the Midland Grand Hotel, and was built alongside the St. Pancras train station. The hotel closed its doors in 1935 and sat vacant until a $250 million renovation saw the property modernized and reopened in 2011.
Many of the historic features of the hotel were retained or reimagined, with the booking office converted into an expansive bar and restaurant and the carriage arrivals bay transformed into a lobby area complete with a soaring atrium ceiling.
The hotel is still connected to St. Pancras train station—simply stroll through the Booking Office restaurant to access the Eurostar platform. In addition to several bars and restaurants, the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel also features a full service spa, indoor pool, fitness center and a dazzling amount of Victorian handiwork throughout.
Many of the historic features of the hotel were retained or reimagined, with the booking office converted into an expansive bar and restaurant and the carriage arrivals bay transformed into a lobby area complete with a soaring atrium ceiling.
The hotel is still connected to St. Pancras train station—simply stroll through the Booking Office restaurant to access the Eurostar platform. In addition to several bars and restaurants, the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel also features a full service spa, indoor pool, fitness center and a dazzling amount of Victorian handiwork throughout.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel embraces its ties to the trains in fun and unexpected ways that you’ll continuously be discovering during your stay.
- At every turn in the restored portion of the hotel you’ll run across impeccable craftsmanship and dramatic Victorian details that will leave you in awe and transport you to the golden age of train travel.
- Prepare for a long train journey — or recover from one — at the St. Pancras spa. Six treatment rooms offer an array of services, and you’ll also have access to the Moroccan pool.
- Whether you’re stumped by a simple question or have more elaborate desires, the concierge staff is exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable, especially when it comes to train-related information.
- The centerpiece of the property is the grand stone staircase, and it is not to be missed. The hotel’s original architect Gilbert Scott designed the staircase, and it often plays host to photo shoots and magazine spreads.
Things to Know
- Enjoy the whimsical train touches throughout the property—yes, the uniforms on the staff look strikingly like conductor’s uniforms. And indeed, the one-time booking office of the train station has been converted into a bar.
- If you’re traveling from London on the Eurostar train, there’s no place closer to the train station than the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, since it’s literally attached.
- If you’re a fan of history, be sure to opt for a tour of the hotel. Learn all about the St. Pancras Renaissance from a tour guide who knows all the intriguing stories and secrets.
The Rooms
- There are two types of guest rooms at the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel: those that are in the new addition called the Barlow House, and those that are situated in the original Chambers section of the hotel.
- The Chambers rooms sport 18-foot ceilings, enormous windows and unique suite features like fireplaces, stand-alone porcelain bathtubs and views of St. Pancras Station.
- Opting for top-of-the-line rooms like the Grand Staircase Suite or the Royal Suite can net you multiple bedrooms or a bi-level space with a sweeping staircase of your own.
- The Barlow House rooms are considerably more staid in comparison, with a more expected modern hotel style and limited views.
The Look
- This building originally opened as a hotel back in 1873 and has been restored to showcase its Victorian-era pedigree with dramatic staircases and endless brickwork throughout.
- The exterior of the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel is a dramatic Gothic Victorian style with huge spires and red brickwork that stand out in the King’s Cross area of London.
- Inside, the same grand style has been preserved in the lobby and Chambers section of the hotel, where grand staircases, arched windows and cast-iron columns are the glamorous norm.
- One look at the dramatic wraparound staircase and giant two-story atrium-style lobby, not to mention the doorman’s classy bowler hat, and you’ll feel the elegance wash over you.
Getting There
