By Constance Tyne
Want to stay in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world at a centuries old chapel-turned-spy-headquarters -turned-hotel? Look no further than St. Ermin’s, a design-focused hotel centrally located in London, which offers everything anyone could wish for. We recently had the pleasure of staying at this five-star hotel (Read our complete London Travel Guide here) and wanted to share how amazing our stay is with readers since the hotel delivered on every major measure: location, luxury, service and hospitality.
First, a little history. This luxury hotel, originally built in Westminster on the site of a 15th-century chapel dedicated to St. Ermin, was later used as a location for the British secret service during World War II. Now, towering above the city, this unique building demands a certain reverence and awe.
From the second our Uber pulled up to the hotel and we walked into its gated secret garden and through the lobby, we were impressed. The facade is stately and covered in hanging ivy, making it look other-worldly. Overlaid in red brick, trimmed with white fencing, and lined with perfectly manicured trees, it gives an air of rich, old-English aristocracy and sophistication.
Once you walk through the front doors, you are facing beautiful white spiral staircases straight out of a period piece. The common areas are just beautifully appointed, setting the tone for a great stay. Great chandeliers overlook spiraling white staircases. The lobby is warmly lit and welcoming, with earth tones, making visitors feel immediately at home.
We checked in bright and early to drop off our bags before exploring, and we loved how easy it was to get around London from St. Ermin’s. It truly is in the perfect location to make your hub for a trip to London being that the tube station is just around the corner. It stands less than a mile from Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliment, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St. James’ Park and the London Eye, and less than five miles from St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Natural History Museum and the Imperial War museum.
Its location plays a role in history: Situated next to the London branch of the Government Communications Headquarters, the hotel was quickly noticed and became a secret political hub. Espionage writer Mark Birdsall stated “Even those who work in the closed world of secrets must have a base of operations, and what better place to hide in plain sight than the iconic and elegant St. Ermin’s Hotel…I hesitate to guess the number of people connected to intelligence and covert activities that have passed through the foyer of the hotel through the years, or walked its secret corridors on to the streets of London.” It was at St. Ermin’s in 1940 that Winston Churchill held a historic meeting and asked a group of remarkable people to join him in ‘Setting Europe Ablaze.’ It was also in St. Ermin that Guy Burgess infamously handed over papers to his Russian counterpart, right in the hotel bar. It is fitting, then, that St. Ermin’s is advertised, “As guests walk up St. Ermin’s Hotel’s tree-line courtyard, they are not just entering a luxury hotel they are revisiting history.”
Despite its historic charm, St. Ermin’s offers every modern comfort. Our room was large and cozy, featuring two King-size beds and his and hers bathrooms each equipped with a full-sized soaking tub perfect to unwind in after a day of sightseeing. The bed was cozy and had great pillows and there was plenty of space for all of our luggage and various shopping bags.
One of our highlights from our stay was experiencing a proper English high tea in St. Ermin’s beautiful Tea Lounge. High tea is everything you could ever wish for in a tea party and the tea parlor is straight out of central casting for a Victorian English ladies in waiting drama. (Think flower-printed upholstered oversized chairs, lavish crown molding along the walls and beautiful tea stands). We had a variety of beautiful finger sandwiches as well as pastries, tiny cakes fit for Alice in wonderland, scones with jam and clotted cream, and, of course, personal tea pots filled with fragrant tea. The setting and the rich food felt so indulgent, but we totally gave into the treat yo’self vibe and let ourselves indulge.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at St. Ermin’s and will absolutely be back on our next trip to London. Five-star stay through and through.
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