A Victorian mansion block just around the corner from Westminster, the St Ermin's is a Grade II-listed hotel that has been a great deal more than just a place to sleep in its lifetime... Notable moments include Winston Churchill convening a wartime meeting that gave birth to the Special Operations Executive and the Cambridge Five plotting over drinks in the Caxton Bar. And, rumour has it, a tunnel runs directly to the Houses of Parliament. Inside, intricate Rococo plasterwork and a theatrical double staircase set the scene from the moment you walk in, and whilst the rooms are a little more understated, they are incredibly comfortable and well-appointed. Oh, and the afternoon tea, served with honey produced by the resident bees on the third floor, is very, very good.
Upstairs, the operatic lobby gives way to something a tad more restful and all rooms and suites are modern and comfortable. Suites lean into old-money eccentricity: leather-wrapped wardrobes with mother-of-pearl inlays, two-poster beds in crisp cotton, and squishy armchairs to sink into after a long day pounding the capital's streets. The rooms are calmer in palette with warm neutrals and pretty soft furnishings, and range from Standard (20 to 23 square metres) to Executive (24 to 28 square metres). In the evening, you'll find small bee-shaped chocolates on your pillow in a nod to the active hives.
The rooftop 'Bee & Bee' insect hotel. Over 300,000 Buckfast bees live in hives on the third-floor terrace and the honey often ends up in the cocktails and on your scones at tea time.
The Caxton Bar's cocktail menu is dedicated to the notorious Cambridge Five spy ring and each spy has a drink, named for their codename, of course!
There are over 300 rooms and the hotel can feel a little more conference-y than boutique bolthole. If you're looking for intimacy, book a suite and treat the bar as your own.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
St Ermin's Hotel can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made UK trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended UK trips featuring St Ermin's Hotel or get advice and suggestions from one of our UK specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at St Ermin's Hotel start from around $190, or US$190, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
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With a borough for every possible mood and sightseeing for days, London has genuinely never been better.
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