Location, location, location. If you’re seeking a central London hotel that combines a coveted postcode with plush escapism within, it’s time to discover a stay at five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel
Elegant, luxurious and full of hedonistic detail, the Hyatt-owned Great Scotland Yard Hotel is a hidden gem, nestled down a side street just a few minutes’ walk from Trafalgar Square. Opened in 2019 just before C Who Must Not Be Named, the hotel is housed within a 1820’s Grade II listed building with Edwardian and Victorian architecture, featuring 152 rooms and suites.
Sumptuous to the core, even check-in feels like a more personalised experience – after all, it’s not very often there’s a little stool awaiting specially for your handbag when scribbling through various forms.
Unlike some older buildings of London, Great Scotland Yard Hotel is anything but creaky and outdated. This is classic luxury at its best, where the decadent furnishings and swish artwork will have you peering around the endless corridors as you wander through. Even the bedroom doors are something to admire, featuring dark blue hues and incredibly intricate centrepieces that seem better suited to a row of townhouses than simple keycard swipes.
Within strolling distance of many a sightsee, the Palace of Westminster awaits down one end of the main street, with Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery on the other. Buckingham Palace is a mere 15-minute stroll away, with the lure of Regent Street’s shopping a further twenty. Put simply, if you’re here to play tourist, you’ve certainly struck gold.
The Room
I stay in a Premium Room, which is large enough to feel more like a suite thanks to the elongated hallway between bedroom and huge bathroom. The latter is a dream in itself, featuring a temple-like teal brick shower that requires opening another door to step into. It has just enough personality to feel fun and not gaudy, with the right dose of calm to create a sanctuary from the outside bustle.
As well as a vast kingsize bed, there’s marble galore – marble sinks, marble floors and marble tables are found throughout the space – with white interiors that add to the peaceful ambience. My room is on the sixth floor, which means the windows peer out over rooftops and surrounding myriad of historic buildings – reminding me what an impossibly intricate city London is.
Like all wonderful things, it all boils down to the detail. An array of switches located by the bedside table allow individual lights to be flicked on and off with ease – from the ceiling to the entire space. A Nespresso machine beckons my name for the following morning, whilst arriving back to the hotel post-turndown service reveals a little Charbonnel et Walker chocolate bar awaiting by the bed, which I wolf down with greedy delight.
The Food & Drink
Ideal for fine dining fans, the hotel’s flagship restaurant brings Michelin starred chef Niklas Ekstedt’s signature style of wood fired ‘old Nordic’ cooking to the UK for the very first time. Ekstedt at The Yard focuses on Scandinavian cooking techniques using the very best seasonal British ingredients.
In the morning, the vibrant space is transformed for breakfast sittings, where a double-sided menu of avocado toast, porridge, hot plates and healthy smoothies can be ordered at leisure.
My ears pick up many an American accent whilst I sip my first cappuccino of the day, with a mix of business and leisure guests dining around me. The restaurant team’s hospitable nature can’t be faulted – everyone is only too happy to help here, which makes turning down an excessive dose of caffeine before 10am all the more difficult.
The 40 Elephants, open until late, serves up an array of signature cocktails, and local craft beers – plus a tempting selection of fusion cuisines for those feeling peckish. And if it’s the quintessential experience you’re after, head to The Parlour for afternoon tea, where the Floris No.89 Bond Afternoon Tea has been created in partnership with Floris Perfumier to celebrate 60 years of Bond and all things Ian Fleming.
The Wordrobe Verdict
Location, location, location. If you’re seeking a central London hotel that combines a coveted postcode with plush escapism within, it’s time to discover a stay at five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel. Luxurious to the core, this intriguing hotel will leave you feeling both rested and rejuvenated – whilst fully ready to take on a day of London adventures.
Make it happen
Where: 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London, England, United Kingdom, SW1A 2HN
How: Find out more and make a booking via hyatt.com
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
