Great Northern Hotel

The Scene

Unquestionably desirable for travelers looking to stay near the Eurostar hub, the long-ignored King’s Cross and St Pancras is surging back after the massive redevelopment project (that also helped the Great Northern Hotel revamp itself). Now convenient for more than the Great Northern Line, the GNH is a mere 25 meters from the Eurostar entrance at St Pancras and less than a stone’s throw from King’s Cross. In part thanks to the hotel itself, the social scene is coming back to King’s Cross---you won’t have to try very hard to find a great bar, restaurant, or even cultural sights like the British Library.

The Concept

Master builder Lewis Cubitt’s grand dame has been reborn as an equally stylish getaway for its time. Downstairs restaurant Plum + Spilt Milk echoes the heritage of the railways, naming itself after the venerable dining car of the Flying Scotsman---and serving up creative yet recognizable British fare in equal glamour as its namesake. The GNH Bar glitters with ostentatious design and a fun, almost furtive atmosphere where late-night liaisons seem to be taking place constantly. But travelers are always on the brain at this hotel. The accurately named Hypnos beds are sinfully comfortable, sweeping us off our feet and giving us the best night’s sleep in ages. Speaking of quiet, Great Northern Hotel got around its historic preservation codes preventing double glazed windows from being put in by adding a sash window for the ultimate in sweet, sweet silence. The pantry is a perennial favorite of travelers, stocked by Plum + Spilt Milk with fresh treats, tea, and coffee daily (do not miss it!). The cherry on top of everything is certainly the blazingly fast Wi-Fi---free for guests.

The Look

Where the downstairs GNH Bar and Plum + Spilt Milk are glitzy, the actual rooms are quite cozy and refined. There are three room classes, all with bespoke furniture and thoroughly contemporary design: Couchette, Wainscot, Cubitt. Couchette is without question the smallest, its design heavily inspired by sleeper cars---but the space is exquisitely laid out to maximize comfort (our favorite feature is the airy feel thanks to light colors and large windows). Wainscot (predictably) features American walnut wainscotting halfway up the wall paired with rich, soothing tones and an upgrade in space from the petite Couchette. Cubitt pays homage to the master builder of the hotel with a luxurious amount of space.

In Short

Great Northern Hotel makes travel feel glamorous again. Without resorting to bland or over-the-top design, GNH soundly rides the middle road of contemporary and cozy style. We for one welcome the new renaissance of the grand railway hotels (especially when they look and feel this good).