Take A Tour Of St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

M@
By M@ Last edited 153 months ago
Take A Tour Of St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

One of London's most eye-tickling buildings, the Gothic hotel fronting St Pancras station, is just as striking on the inside.

Sir George Gilbert Scott's masterpiece reopened earlier this year as the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, part of the Marriott chain. You can now book on tours around the Victorian treasure, and see the magnificent interiors for yourself.

Tour guide Royden Stock knows his stuff, namedropping Victorians like a walking Dictionary of National Biography, and pointing out marbles and paving like a veteran stonemason.

His tours take in the generously portioned corridors, meeting rooms and bedrooms of the hotel, all restored to the sumptuous standards the Victorians and Edwardians enjoyed (with the added bonus of iPod dock, espresso machine and giant TV).

The highlight has to be the grand staircase, familiar from countless movies and, famously, the Spice Girls' video for debut single Wannabe.

Booking details for Royden's tours can be found on the hotel's website (PDF). They're priced at £20 per person, and include refreshments.

Lee Jackson of Victorian London website also took the tour and has more details. You can also find out more by clicking through our gallery below.

An event space continues the colour scheme of the main station.
An event space continues the colour scheme of the main station.
At the foot of the grand staircase. Spice girls woz ere.
At the foot of the grand staircase. Spice girls woz ere.
A bamboozling view up the staircase.
A bamboozling view up the staircase.
Close up of the new carpet and restored tiling on the grand staircase.
Close up of the new carpet and restored tiling on the grand staircase.
Looking down on the grand staircase.
Looking down on the grand staircase.
Restored meeting room.
Restored meeting room.
A giant canvas on the first floor.
A giant canvas on the first floor.
Looking into the dining area.
Looking into the dining area.
Looking out into the forecourt.
Looking out into the forecourt.
No other hotel has a view quite like this.
No other hotel has a view quite like this.
One of the bedrooms. All are different.
One of the bedrooms. All are different.
Guide Royden Stock at the foot of the grand staircase.
Guide Royden Stock at the foot of the grand staircase.
Ceiling at the top of the grand staircase.
Ceiling at the top of the grand staircase.
The upper gallery.
The upper gallery.
A corridor after restoration.
A corridor after restoration.
Sir George Gilbert Scott Suite
Sir George Gilbert Scott Suite
A corridor before restoration.
A corridor before restoration.
A corridor before restoration.
A corridor before restoration.
The grand staircase before restoration.
The grand staircase before restoration.
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Main image by avail in the Londonist Flickr pool.

Last Updated 17 June 2011