St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano
The fabulous St Pancras Renaissance Hotel has to be one of the most surprising places I’ve ever stayed. I was surprised to be there at all – my friend Kirstie Pelling of The Family Adventure Project invited me to keep her company on a review trip – and even more surprised when I saw what a wonderfully unusual place it is.
I’d heard about the renovation of the 5-star St Pancras Renaissance but wasn’t prepared for how beautiful the place would be. Outside, the hotel looks a softer version of the Houses of Parliament. Once inside, the hotel lobby is vast and cathedral-like with high, vaulted ceilings and ornate pillars. A member of staff told us that this was originally the area where taxis waited outside the hotel. Now it’s a stunning hotel lobby and would be a great place to meet for coffee or a drink even if you’re not staying at the hotel.
The hotel’s story began in 1865 when Midland Railway ran a competition to design a 150-bed hotel for St Pancras station. Architect George Gilbert Scott created the winning design which eventually cost the equivalent of £438 million in today’s money to build. When it opened in 1873 it was one of London’s leading and most expensive hotels and after its complete renovation and 2011 reopening the Grade I listed building is now considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Britain.
In order to bring the hotel into the 21st century while retaining it’s character and history hundreds of expert painters and craftspeople and conservators worked on the restoration project with the support and advice of English Heritage. The result is an extraordinary and beautiful space which feels very English.
We stayed in a luxurious room in the Chambers Club, the most exclusive part of the hotel. Our room was beautifully grand yet comfortable with floor-to ceiling windows looking out onto the Eurostar platform:
View from our Chambers room, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Our room was very swish but with one point which could be improved: I thought the sides of the bath were quite high. The shower is above the bath and I slipped and bruised my leg on the side of the bath getting out of the shower.
The building was designed to let in as much natural light as possible because it was created in a time of gas lights. So it has huge rooms with vast windows, fanlights above every door and beautifully arched stairwells. The most impressive of these is the Grand Staircase which you may recognise from the Spice Girls Wannabe video:
Grand Staircase. Image courtesy of St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.
The building has been used for various film and TV shoots including Batman Begins and Bridget Jones’ Diary.
Guests in the Chambers rooms can use the luxurious Chambers Club rooms and have complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea there. The hotel also has a spa, gym and pool as well as a Marcus Wareing restaurant. There’s also a place called the Ladies Smoking Room which I’d like to see – it was booked out when we were there. There are some family rooms available so this could be an amazing and unusual place to stay on a family trip to London – you can even take your dog along to stay at the hotel with you.
The lowdown
Chambers rooms at the St Pancras Renaissance cost from £400 a night.
Wow, just breathtaking. That view is incredible. Oh well, I can but dream!
Janie recently posted…The writing of Simon Hoggart
Nice post Gretta. Let’s do it again! Fresh looking new site too. Loving the revamp.
Kirstie recently posted…In Search of Spontaneity on an Edinburgh Scooternany
Thanks Kirstie – we should definitely do it again!
Lovely to read about the hotel itself. I organised a work christmas outing at the gilbert scott restaurant there. So beautiful, and amazing food. A couples break there would be heavenly.
jenni recently posted…Living Arrows 1/52
What a lovely place for a work outing. I agree that it would be a great place for a couples’ break too.
Wow how beautiful and love how you can see the trains from your view – my boys would love that. Is that £400 for a family or single occupancy?
Pinkoddy recently posted…No Excuses #MotivationalMonday
I think that price is for a double room.
Oh my God the photos are jaw dropping and breath-taking in equal measure. IF I had any money I would be doing an online booking RIGHT NOW, as I am sure others will.
WOW just WOW.
Liska xx
liska recently posted…It’s All About Thomas The Tank Engine Baby
Wow is definitely the word for it!
Truly breathtaking. I am quite green with envy x
Emily @amummytoo recently posted…Red cookie kisses. A cute Valentine’s cookie recipe
It really is a wonderful place – sorry!
I worked on a massive scale arts installation there when I was a student about 12 years ago and it was an unused building. It looks amazing now! Anna J.
How interesting – it seems like the building has had many incarnations.
What a stunning hotel – I love the staircase especially! I was thinking of arranging a surprise night away for Papasaurus – will look into this one!
Mammasaurus recently posted…Eat: Salted Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge
You’ll both love it, it’s great.
That looks beautiful – would love to visit!
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…Money Makeover – Sort out your spending….
It really is lovely.
Oh my gosh how stunning! When I first saw the first pic I thought it was a cathedral. I adore the arcitecture in older built churches and cathedrals. I would never leave my room if I stayed in a hotel like this. The view over the train station – wow! The staircase is sooo stunning. I
‘m imagining sacheting down it in a floating ballgown. To bad wheelchairs and stairs don’t mix. Still, I love the vicharious thrill of reading this – thank you for sharing x
Vicky recently posted…Spring into cleaning: time to declutter – motivational monday
Do you know, I didn’t go up the stairs at all I just stood at the bottom looking up at it? It’s a beautiful place to see.
Wow what an amazing hotel, you need to make sure you’re decent before standing infront of the window though!! :-0
Hellie’s Corner recently posted…Heading off skiing or just wanting to wrap up warm for the winter?
Good point – I didn’t think of that!
Wow! This looks amazing! I would love to stay here one night with my husband, it would be such a treat (a very expensive one). I’m hoping to be hopping on the Eurostar soonish so can’t wait to pop my head in and take a peek x
Lori recently posted…WHO NEEDS BLUE MONDAY
That’s a great idea, you could even go and eat there before catching your train.
What a beautiful place to stay and what a view!
Mummy of Two recently posted…Fancy dress #whatsthestory
I love to hear about the history of hotels – it often helps me in my choice if I know somewhere has an interesting past.
Hope you enjoyed bunking up with Kirsty 😉
Trish – Mum’s Gone To recently posted…Buffering
It’s very interesting and I think you can also go on a guided tour of the hotel to find out all the details. It always great to see Kirstie!
Wow just stunning – love that photo of the grand staircase especially. It’s funny I know very little about London hotels having lived there for 20 years – apart from the ones we’ve had tea in! Probably appreciate them more now we’re in Surrey. Looks like a fabulous place to stay 🙂
Charly Dove recently posted…Waitomo glowworm caves
Well this one would definitely be a lovely place for tea, even if you don’t need a place to stay.
woweee! I’d love to go! looks amazing! x
Fritha recently posted…Living Arrows
It’s a very special place, full of character.
oh wow, I would love to stay there! I go past all the time but had never seen the inside and didn’t realise spice girls and bridget jones was filmed there
anna recently posted…4 Top Tips for Decorating Kids Rooms
It is an amazing building.
That looks gorgeous! Have I mentioned how lucky you are to get these great opportunities? Jealous 😉
Niki recently posted…Preparing Ethan to Move to a New House!
I know I’m lucky and I really do appreciate it!
We stayed there with our two children last summer and we absolutely loved it!
Jenny recently posted…Three Kings, a craft for Epiphany
I did think it would be a brilliant family place to stay.
Oh that looks like a fabulous hotel!!
Foz recently posted…We Can Cook – Kofta’s
It’s really great, definitely somewhere I’d like to go back to.
I have always wanted to stay here, it looks amazing!
mellissa williams recently posted…Restaurant Review – Tuttons Covent Garden
I’d definitely recommend it, it’s a lovely place.
Expensive, but stunning. Perfect for train spotters and I am envious you got to spend time with the fab Kirsty!
I know, isn’t she lovely?!
It looks amazing. The stair case is astounding. I have a thing for them, a staircase at Windsor Castle actually bought tears to my eyes!
Louisa recently posted…Discontinuation syndrome fears
I’ve never been to Windsor Castle but would love to go, especially now you’ve mentioned the staircase.