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Home / Type of trip / City / St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London

January 6, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 44 Comments

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

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

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.

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.



 

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Related

Categories: City, London, Luxury, Room reports
Tags: Luxury hotels, St Pancras Renaissance hotel

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Janie says

    January 11, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Wow, just breathtaking. That view is incredible. Oh well, I can but dream!
    Janie recently posted…The writing of Simon HoggartMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Kirstie says

    January 8, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    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 ScooternanyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 8, 2014 at 10:23 pm

      Thanks Kirstie – we should definitely do it again!

      Reply
  3. jenni says

    January 7, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    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 1/52My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 7, 2014 at 5:06 pm

      What a lovely place for a work outing. I agree that it would be a great place for a couples’ break too.

      Reply
  4. Pinkoddy says

    January 7, 2014 at 10:50 am

    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 #MotivationalMondayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 7, 2014 at 5:07 pm

      I think that price is for a double room.

      Reply
  5. liska says

    January 7, 2014 at 12:23 am

    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 BabyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 7, 2014 at 5:08 pm

      Wow is definitely the word for it!

      Reply
  6. Emily @amummytoo says

    January 7, 2014 at 12:10 am

    Truly breathtaking. I am quite green with envy x
    Emily @amummytoo recently posted…Red cookie kisses. A cute Valentine’s cookie recipeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 7, 2014 at 5:08 pm

      It really is a wonderful place – sorry!

      Reply
  7. Anna J says

    January 6, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 7, 2014 at 5:09 pm

      How interesting – it seems like the building has had many incarnations.

      Reply
  8. Mammasaurus says

    January 6, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    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 FudgeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      You’ll both love it, it’s great.

      Reply
  9. Cass@frugalfamily says

    January 6, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    That looks beautiful – would love to visit!
    Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…Money Makeover – Sort out your spending….My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      It really is lovely.

      Reply
  10. Vicky says

    January 6, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    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 mondayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 8:45 pm

      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.

      Reply
  11. Hellie's Corner says

    January 6, 2014 at 8:14 pm

    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?My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 8:36 pm

      Good point – I didn’t think of that!

      Reply
  12. Lori says

    January 6, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    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 MONDAYMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 8:37 pm

      That’s a great idea, you could even go and eat there before catching your train.

      Reply
  13. Mummy of Two says

    January 6, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    What a beautiful place to stay and what a view!
    Mummy of Two recently posted…Fancy dress #whatsthestoryMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Trish - Mum's Gone To says

    January 6, 2014 at 6:41 pm

    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…BufferingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 8:43 pm

      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!

      Reply
  15. Charly Dove says

    January 6, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    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 cavesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:51 pm

      Well this one would definitely be a lovely place for tea, even if you don’t need a place to stay.

      Reply
  16. Fritha says

    January 6, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    woweee! I’d love to go! looks amazing! x
    Fritha recently posted…Living ArrowsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      It’s a very special place, full of character.

      Reply
  17. anna says

    January 6, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    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 RoomsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      It is an amazing building.

      Reply
  18. Niki says

    January 6, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    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!My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      I know I’m lucky and I really do appreciate it!

      Reply
  19. Jenny says

    January 6, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    We stayed there with our two children last summer and we absolutely loved it!
    Jenny recently posted…Three Kings, a craft for EpiphanyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      I did think it would be a brilliant family place to stay.

      Reply
  20. Foz says

    January 6, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Oh that looks like a fabulous hotel!!
    Foz recently posted…We Can Cook – Kofta’sMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:13 pm

      It’s really great, definitely somewhere I’d like to go back to.

      Reply
  21. mellissa williams says

    January 6, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    I have always wanted to stay here, it looks amazing!
    mellissa williams recently posted…Restaurant Review – Tuttons Covent GardenMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:16 pm

      I’d definitely recommend it, it’s a lovely place.

      Reply
  22. Jen Walshaw (@Mum_TheMadHouse) says

    January 6, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    Expensive, but stunning. Perfect for train spotters and I am envious you got to spend time with the fab Kirsty!

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:19 pm

      I know, isn’t she lovely?!

      Reply
  23. Louisa says

    January 6, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    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 fearsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      I’ve never been to Windsor Castle but would love to go, especially now you’ve mentioned the staircase.

      Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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