Beautifully
restored Victorian railway hotel with stunning period decor
Connected
to King’s Cross railway station, close to tourist attractions
Rooms have Loewe's flat-screen TVs and minibars; some have roll-top tubs
Rooms come with entertainment packages, including movies, audiobooks, and playlists
Michelin-star Plum + Spilt Milk restaurant, with innovative menus
Grand Art
Deco-style railway bar, plus more intimate Snug Bar
Pantries on
every floor, with free tea, coffee, cakes, and reading materials
Traditional British breakfasts served a la carte
Business center with PCs and printers
Free gym
and pool access off-site at Nuffield Bloomsbury fitness center
Free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout
Not all rooms have great views, and some are small
Breakfast
included only in some room packages
No connecting rooms
Fitness center a 15-minute walk away
The Great Northern Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio property is a boutique luxury property that first opened in 1854, during the golden age of steam and railway travel. Located 82 feet (25 meters) from the Eurostar terminus at King's Cross and St. Pancras stations, the property has been meticulously renovated, retaining many of its original features. The 91 rooms, with sash windows and vintage Farrow & Bell Shades, are elegant and contemporary, and a few of the bathrooms have roll-top bathtubs. Tiny Couchette Rooms with leather banquette beds pay quirky homage to the classic rail-car sleeper. Michelin-star chef Mark Sargeant heads the Plum & Spilt Milk restaurant, and there's a Belle Epoque-style bar, and the more intimate Mezzanine Snug Bar. Travelers might want to also check out the St. Pancras Renaissance London
Hotel, which has comparable rates and an on-site spa.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A luxuriously restored railway hotel drawing heavily on its heritage
The Great
Northern Hotel makes the most of its railway history. Constructed in 1854 by Lewis Cubitt, the architect behind King’s Cross station, this stunning six-story Victorian-era brick building
retains its original curved structure. The intimate lobby has cream-colored padded
retro sofas in wood-paneled recesses. The narrow space feels timeless, with sash
windows, gorgeous lighting, and polished hardwood floors. Hallways have all-white
trim, and modern paintings on loan from the British Museum hang on the cream walls. Iron banisters in baby blue and framed
theater posters add to the vintage look. Pantries on each floor, with baby-blue cabinets and dark-wood countertops, are downright adorable, and add a homey, almost country touch. Plum + Spilt Milk, the elegant on-site restaurant led by a Michelin-star chef, combines classic parquet wood flooring with modern twists like bunches of
suspended hand-blown light bulbs. The GNH Bar’s pewter-topped marble
counter, checkered flooring, and grand chandeliers evoke the
classic railway bar, combining Belle Epoque and Art Deco styles.
Location
Connected to King's Cross railway station, at the intersection of six London Underground lines
It’s
difficult to imagine a more convenient location than that of the Great
Northern Hotel. It's connected to King’s Cross railway station’s western
concourse, and is directly across from St. Pancras international railway
station. Six lines serve the tube station, which runs beneath the hotel, and there are
plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance. The British Library is a three-minute walk away, while Big Ben, the British Museum, Oxford
Street, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Bond Street are all within a
10-minute tube ride or a 20-minute drive. Buckingham Palace, Borough Market,
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Knightsbridge, and the London Eye are all less than 20 minutes
away by public transportation or taxi. Trains from King’s Cross run to northern
England and Scotland. Trains also operate from King’s Cross station to all
three of London’s main airports -- it's about a 35-minute drive or 38-minute
trip on public transportation to Heathrow Airport, and about 45 minutes by train or about an hour's drive to Gatwick Airport, while London City Airport is a
32-minute drive or 38-minute trip on public transportation. International train
services from St. Pancras station connect to Paris, Brussels, and the south of
France.
Rooms
Soundproof rooms with elegant, contemporary style; some with roll-top tubs
The 91 elegant and contemporary rooms at the Great Northern Hotel all have sash windows with Farrow & Ball shades, custom Italian furniture, and Leffroy Brooks bathroom fixtures. Couchette Rooms, with leather-banquette beds, play fun homage to the classic railway sleeper carriages, although they're tiny. Cubitt Rooms, with high ceilings and olive-and-cream walls are named for the Great Northern's original architect. Top-floor Wainscot Rooms are built into the hotel’s eaves -- accentuated by elegant deep-purple walls and walnut-colored wood paneling, they have a cozy vibe. All rooms have retro sofas or
upholstered benches, and Junior Suites add separate living spaces. Huge mirrors and railway posters continue the locomotive theme,
but some rooms can be a bit dark. Views are of the railway stations' forecourts, or of the domed roof of King’s
Cross. Elegant but compact bathrooms have white subway-style tiling, stylish
free-standing white ceramic sinks, towel warmers, and toiletries by Malin + Goetz. Most have walk-in shower stalls with power
and rainfall showerheads. Wainscot Rooms have double cubicles,
while some Cubitt Rooms have gorgeous roll-top shower/bathtub combos. Robes, slippers, and hairdryers are tucked into every closet.All rooms come with free, high-speed Wi-Fi, USB
wall charger sockets, electronically controlled curtains, and large
flat-screen TVs with free on-demand movies, along with audiobooks and DJ-curated playlists. Safes, minibars with sparkling wine and free drinking water, and Nespresso coffeemakers are also included.
Be aware that the hotel does not have connecting rooms.
Features
Michelin-star restaurant, and help-yourself pantries that bring homey comforts to a luxury hotel
The Great
Northern brings the comforts of home to a luxurious venue. Its Michelin-star chef Mark Sargeant directs Plum + Spilt Milk, which has a modern twist on British cuisine. Both
the grand GNH Bar and the more intimate Mezzanine Snug Bar offer a long list of
wines, cocktails, and spirits, plus meals throughout the day. The Kiosk sandwich
counter faces the forecourt of King’s Cross station. Room service operates around the clock, and pantries with
Nespresso machines, teas, and homemade cakes are on every floor, and guests can help
themselves at no extra charge. The pantries also have fridges and sinks, plus a
selection of reading material for that extra-homey touch. Excellent, traditional English breakfasts are included in some room rates, or are otherwise available for an additional fee. Guests can use the gym, pool, sauna, steam
room, and take classes at the nearby Nuffield Bloomsbury fitness center, a
15-minute walk, or a nine-minute drive, from the hotel. There’s a business center with PCs and printing
facilities. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout.
