The newly restored, original garden courtyard entrance to the St Ermin’s Hotel, St James’s Park, London. Photo: Tim Fordham-Moss / CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED.
St. Ermin’s Hotel is a historic luxury hotel in central London, located in the Westminster area near St. James’ Park and Buckingham Palace. The hotel was built as a mansion block in 1889 and converted into a hotel in 1899, with a distinctive red-brick Queen Anne-style exterior and a lavish interior designed by theatre designer J.P. Briggs.
The hotel has a rich and fascinating history, dating back to the 15th century when it was the site of a chapel dedicated to St. Ermin, a Breton saint who was associated with bees and honey. The chapel was later demolished and replaced by a series of private residences, until the architect Edwin T. Hall designed St. Ermin’s Mansions, a horseshoe-shaped apartment block that offered luxurious living with modern amenities.
In 1896, the mansion block was bought by a group of investors who decided to turn it into a hotel. They hired J.P. Briggs, a renowned theatre designer, to transform the interior into a stunning spectacle of plasterwork, marble, and crystal. Briggs created a grand lobby with an undulating balcony, a sweeping staircase, and a rococo plasterwork ceiling. He also designed the ballroom, the tea lounge, and the Caxton Grill, which still retain their original features today.
The hotel soon became a popular destination for high society and political figures, as well as a hub for espionage and intelligence activities. During the 1930s and the Second World War, the hotel was used by officers of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6) to meet agents, recruit spies, train operatives and plan covert operations against Nazi Germany. The hotel’s upper floors became the headquarters of Section D, a department of SIS that specialized in sabotage and subversion, and later the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret organization that conducted sabotage, guerrilla warfare and resistance movements in occupied Europe.
Some of the most famous and infamous figures of British intelligence worked or stayed at St. Ermin’s Hotel, such as Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, Kim Philby and Guy Burgess, members of the Cambridge Five spy ring who defected to the Soviet Union, and Laurence Grand, the head of SOE’s French section who was executed by the Gestapo. The hotel also has a rumored secret tunnel that connects it to the Houses of Parliament, allowing quick access for members of Parliament who were involved in intelligence matters.
One of the most remarkable facts about St. Ermin’s Hotel during World War II is that it housed a large stockpile of explosives under its floorboards, which were used by SOE agents for their sabotage missions. The explosives were hidden in a secret compartment between the floorboards and the ceiling of the rooms below, where unsuspecting guests slept, unaware of the danger they were in. The explosives were also stored near a gas main, which could have caused a massive explosion if it had been hit by a bomb or a fire. Fortunately, the hotel survived the war without any major damage or casualties.
After the war, the hotel continued to be a meeting place for politicians, diplomats, and spies. It also hosted many celebrities and royalty, such as Agatha Christie, Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, David Bowie, and Tom Cruise. The hotel underwent several renovations and changes of ownership over the years, until it was acquired by Marriott Hotels’ Autograph Collection in 2011. The hotel underwent a £30 million refurbishment that restored its original splendor and added modern comforts.
Today, St. Ermin’s Hotel is a four-star hotel that offers 331 rooms and 41 suites with contemporary amenities. Guests can enjoy delicious British cuisine at the Caxton Grill, sip creative cocktails at the Caxton Bar or indulge in afternoon tea at the Tea Lounge. The hotel also features a fitness center, a ballroom and a courtyard garden with a bee colony.
St. Ermin’s Hotel is an ideal destination for travelers who want to experience the historic essence and modern comfort of London, as well as its fascinating connection to the world of spies and secrets. The hotel is part of Marriott Hotels’ Autograph Collection, which means it offers unique design and personalized service. The hotel also has a display of original SOE equipment from the 1940s.
The exhibition features rare artifacts from the London Clandestine Warfare Collection, including hidden weapons, escape and evasion aids, and communication devices ranging from concealed radios to messenger pigeons. Visitors can also see an original uniform of the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), a women-only group that was established in 1907 and played a vital role in both nursing and intelligence during the two world wars. Guests can also learn more about the hotel’s espionage history from its book House of Spies by Peter Matthews or from its “top-secret spy packet” for kids.
St. Ermin’s Hotel is also conveniently located near many tourist attractions in London. Within walking distance are some of the most iconic landmarks of the city, such as Buckingham Palace, where guests can witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony or visit the State Rooms during summer; Westminster Abbey, where guests can admire the Gothic architecture and see the tombs of monarchs and famous historical figures; Houses of Parliament, where guests can watch debates or take guided tours of the Big Ben clock tower; St. James’s Park, where guests can enjoy scenic views of nature and wildlife; The British Museum, where guests can explore one of the largest collections of art and artifacts from around the world; and Trafalgar Square, where guests can see Nelson’s Column and visit the National Gallery.
Source
St. Ermin’s Hotel
Mariott.com
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