miss b's quote

'I haven't been everywhere yet but it's on my list' Susan Sontag

Thursday 20 February 2014

miss b loves .... St Ermin's.... a very special London hotel


Visitors to London are often overwhelmed by the vast choice of hotels but I can certainly recommend St Ermin's which far exceeded our expectations a couple of weeks ago ..... 


St Ermin's Hotel is an elegant Grade II listed Victorian building, located in a surprisingly tranquil spot in central London. It's just a couple of minutes from St James's Park tube station and close to Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Set back from the road, as you enter the grand tree-lined courtyard you sense that this is a hotel full of history.....and I love to stay somewhere with a story to tell! 


St Ermin's was originally a mansion block (serviced appartments) built for wealthy Londoners in 1889 on the site of a 15th century chapel(dedicated to St Ermin). Ten years later it was converted into a hotel by JP Briggs, a Victorian theatre architect and designer. 

The lobby is glamorous and theatrical with the original curved balcony and rich plasterwork from 1899.........



I was intrigued by the hotel's dramatic and fascinating history involving wartime spies! In the 1930s and through the Second World War it was the meeting place of the British Intelligence Services.


On the left, a silk(donated by a former coder)used by agents to send messages. The silk would have been sewn inside a jacket.

It was here in 1940 that Winston Churchill held a meeting to form the Special Operations Executive. An entire floor of the hotel became their headquarters where they carried out covert operations during World War II and two floors up MI6 had their base.

Our room was stylish with soft furnishings in lovely textures and patterns.....in gorgeous chartreuse and cranberry .....and toiletries from The White Company (a very good choice!) 



So many thoughtful touches.......including a bank of international sockets and fresh milk available .....



I was impressed with the complimentary home-made biscuits which arrived with the milk too! 



The staff throughout the hotel know how to make guests feel welcome and special too.

Breakfast was impressive with so much choice (I can never resist a full English breakfast when I'm away from home!) but in the lobby there are handy 'Wake and Take' bags for those in a hurry!




This cute corner seat and cushion in the lobby caught my eye....


Unfortunately we didn't have time to sample the St Ermin's Afternoon Tea .... I've heard that it's a very special treat - maybe next time!

Before checking out, we went up to the third floor to see the resident bees from the safety of a viewing window! The hotel is home to 200,000 Buckfast beesThe honey produced is used in various dishes in the hotel and we were able to sample it at breakfast. Now that's what you call 'locally sourced produce!'



via

I'm sure you will agree that St Ermin's is certainly so much more than just a place to stay in London - a very special and memorable hotel!



PS Next door to the hotel is the former Caxton Hall, now appartments but once famous as a meeting place for the Sufragettes and during the Second World War Winston Churchill gave press conferences here.. 



For years it was Westminster Town Hall and a popular venue for many celebrity civil marriages including Roger Moore, Barry Gibb Ringo Starr and Elizabeth Taylor........ 

via

Finally, speaking of weddings and romance.....I hope you enjoyed a few Valentine's Day treats last week!



* Heart tea light holder and confetti
 (Waitrose)
* Chocolates 
 (Hotel Chocolat) 
* Vanilla and strawberry cupcake
 (Yummy Cupcake Company)
* Cupcake stand
 (Marks & Spencer)


53 comments:

  1. That spot of the city reminds me of the atmospheres of the Forsyte Saga by Galsworthy. I have loved that book which has made me love London and some kind of Londoners.
    have a great day
    laura

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  2. Full of history indeed. The building and the interior are very nice. The honey must taste so good. I will check out this Hotel.

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  3. Such a nice hotel! It's always exciting to stay at places of this kind especially when they have history and... home made honey! Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed this post and it even made me dream of visiting the hotel one day.

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  4. Morning Miss B, it sounds and looks like a really special and gorgeous hotel where to stay. I visited the site and everything caught my eye. The fact it is also historic made it even more luxurious. I like the care they put in everything, the homemade biscuit and the breakfast seems very good. Im very greedy of honey, so cool they have bees :) Kisses, hope you are having a great week! xo

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  5. Miss B you can be my tourguide anytime! What a find!

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  6. Looks charming. The bees and honey are lovely! XO

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  7. Lovely, will have to pop by and check it out!!

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  8. Very elegant place!!! nice post!!
    Have a wonderful weekend!!! and my g+ for you!!!:)))

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  9. Gorgeous hotel....I must keep it in mind if we visit:) Have a lovely weekend!
    ~Anne

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  10. It looks very cool... thanks for the suggestion... next time in London...
    greetings from ttbdivas.blogspot.com

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  11. What a lovely hotel! Thanks for sharing, Miss B! xoxo

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  12. C'est certain, c'est un très bel hôtel. J'ai garde un très mauvais souvenir de notre dernier hôtel à Londres l'été dernier. J'ai été piquée par des punaises de lit...horrible !

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  13. This hotel sounds amazing and looks so beautiful. I definitely wouldn't mind spending a vacation at this lovely place.

    Tracy @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights

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  14. I always enjoy these classic hotels. BEAUTIFUL lobby and that chandelier is amazing. Nice touches in the room:) Don't you wish the walls could talk? Lots of history there. The biscuits and milk are a nice touch and I'll bet the honey is delicious. xxleslie

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  15. What a treasure Miss B! St. Ermins is rich in history. I think everything in London is. HAHAHA I love how the hotel sits back and the designers did a remarkable job converting it into a hotel. Fabulous indeed! Those biscuits look so good! What a treat. Love the robes and that sofa (ah-mazing)! You visit the most fabulous places. I swear someone needs to give you a tv show. The places you visit are divine.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  16. St. Ermin's sounds like a beautiful place to stay. So much history, and like you, I love places with history. It makes it all the more interesting. I love the white stairway, and the corner seat in the lobby is so cute. Wow, they serve homemade biscuits too. How delightful that it is a home for the Buckfast bees. The honey looks so good.

    I am lovin' these Valentine treats, especially the cupcake with pink frosting.

    Love,
    ~Sheri

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  17. A wonderful hotel, our family friends first told us about this hotel. So glad that you experienced it and shared with us. I love places with such interesting history. Happy weekend! xx/Madison

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  18. Looks beautiful! Thank you for the review and photos. Will definitely keep it in mind. x

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  19. A very charming hotel indeed! I love the fact that they produce their own honey. I love tracking down locally produced ones, and you're right, St Ermin's couldn't be any more local. Details such as the fresh milk and international sockets are proof that the hotel's management know how to anticipate their clients' needs. I'd love to stay there also, or recommend it to anyone visiting who wants to stay in the centre of town but still be away from everything touristy.

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  20. ohhh so lovely - this hotel ! I shall be in London in spring and might pay a visit for high tea! X

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  21. Ooh, everything about this place is so enchanting - I want to stay here!!

    xx

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  22. Such an elegant place to stay and I love that they have thought even about their own honey from their own bees. That is uber cool.

    xoxo Ra

    http://www.ramona-strikeapose.blogspot.ie/

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  23. St Ermins sounds like a wonderful and relaxing experience, its a beautiful hotel, great history and design. I like the idea of the wake and take bags, so handy and cute. This post makes me feel like going on a trip to a fabulous hotel now, lol. Hope you had a wonderful Vday too babe.I enjoyed reading your thoughts on my last post...Good wishes for the weekend!

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  24. Simply stunning . Wake and take bags are a great idea. Have a fun weekend travelling to somewhere nice

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  25. Great pictures and wonderful place! Lovely history sweetie!

    Feel free to visit my blog as well! You will find useful tips on fashion, beauty, style, health, personal growth and more!

    Diana
    www.ManhattanImageandStyle.com
    New Blog Post: [Beauty &Style] How To Look Well Rested

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  26. ça a l'air trop beau!!!

    http://clothespaper.com/

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  27. Staying here looks like it would be quite the special experience. The facade is gorgeous and all the little touches are so nice! I'll have to remember this hotel for the next time I'm in London. Thanks for the introduction!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  28. Such beautifully historical architecture! I've always wanted to visit London, for it's sites, the shopping, and the rich history around every corner! Great post!

    Have an awesome weekend!

    xo-Julie
    Peace. Love. LOL!

    Haute Khuuture Blog

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  29. Hello Miss B,
    What a gorgeous post this is an I'm loving all the little touches you mentioned. I believe British hotels are set apart from other international hotels in this way. I adore the fact that they process their own honey. Here in Barbados we have many hotels that carry the tradition of afternoon tea. as you might know Barbados was once a part of the British Colony.

    Thank you so much for finding me and following my blog. I have done the same, take care and have a wonderful weekend.

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  30. I love the fact that there is so much history linked to this hotel. It just adds something very special and exciting to the experience. Thanks for presenting this amazing place on your blog.

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  31. Wow, this looks gorgeous, I've never heard of this hotel before. I am wondering what you do to travel so much, its really impressive!!

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  32. What a beautiful hotel! I'm sure you had a wonderful time!
    xx
    www.JuneWantsItAll.com

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  33. Very nice hotel . Ahh i hope i can visit london one days ♥ .

    theanotherpartofme.blogspot.com

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  34. Isn't it lovely when you find a gem in an unexpected place. I lived in London for three years and never stumbled across this hotel. It does look beautiful and steeped in history as most London sites are I suppose. What a lovely touch to have your own resident bees and be able to produce local honey for the guests. I'd definitely consider this place on my next visit although I have so many places on my list already!

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  35. I have to KIV St Ermin's if I ever revisit London. I like it when a place is full of rich history. I can imagine walking the very same aisle, stairs and corridors that famous people once walked. Being served biscuits together with the milk is really suitable for the very greedy me. I love surprises like this. Home-made honey? Yummy! And I really love the wake and take bags. I've never seen anything like this before.

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  36. Oh Miss B, thank you for sharing with us your luxurious experience. Fresh milk for me too please!!
    Happy Sunday!
    Love,
    Coco
    Coco et La vie en rose
    Coco et La vie en rose on Bloglovin
    Coco et La vie en rose on Facebook

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  37. Thanks a lot for sharing this lovely hotel here! The idea with the international sockets is examplary and I like also the possibility to take away some of the breakfast for such a less price. I can imagine that you really enjoyed the time there.

    xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena

    www.dressedwithsoul.blogspot.de

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  38. It looks so lovely, would definitely take your advice and stay here. Good enough excuse for me to plan a trip I say!

    Krissie x - http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com.au

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  39. This hotel looks like a perfect spot for enjoying all that Lovely London has to offer. You always show us the best places to visit.
    xx, Heather

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  40. Finding the perfect hotel in London is always incredibly overwhelming, I find - and with the exchange rate, can be an expensive endeavour that often leaves relatively lovely hotels seeming a bit disappointing. I can tell that would never be the case with St. Ermins, and I'm so glad you've introduced me to it. I shall keep it in my on our next visit to the city!
    xox,
    Cee

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  41. England is full of History. Where ever you go there is something special. The hotel looks nice. Is it very pricy though? Like to bookmark places when bloggers recommend as when we travel I like to check them out.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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    1. St Ermin's is not one of the very expensive London hotels. If you click on my link you will see that it's reasonably priced for its location and standard of accommodation. We like to visit hotels which have been recommended too!

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  42. omg yes! i stayed there ONE night once! now i'm missing london all over again!

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  43. I love when an old building (be it a home or something else) is converted into a hotel-- they are always filled with such character and make the destination all the more special. Love the corner seat!

    ~Alexis Grace of North On Harper

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  44. Looks really nice, was just talking with my hubby the other day that we never made it to London together, he's been a few times with work. One day!

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  45. quel bel endroit! l'intérieur en jette!



    http://letiziabarcelona.com

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  46. I stayed here last year, it's fabulous!

    xo Mary Jo
    http://MagicalMined.blogspot.com

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  47. Looks beautiful! I love the chandelier.
    Aesthetic Lounge

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  48. Particularly love the old world splendor! Want to visit when I hit town!

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  49. Thank you for all your comments.

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  50. Miss b. I found St Ermins when I was looking for our London Hotel last summer. It was so charming and quaint. Unfortunately they were booked. I love that you went there. It's just my kind of hotel. Nice they have treats and nice breakfast.What a gorgeous building and cozy feel. I hope I can get there next trip! Thanks for sharing your stay!
    xo Kim

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    1. What a shame that they were booked up, Kim. I hope you manage to experience St Ermin's the next time you visit London. I'm sure you would enjoy it.

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  51. I like the corner seating and all the well thought of details in a hotel fascinate me.

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Thank you for taking the time to write a comment on my blog. I really do appreciate it. miss b

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