I’ll be honest – I walked past St. Ermin’s Hotel probably a dozen times before I actually noticed it, tucked away on this quiet little street behind Westminster. But once you step inside, you realize this place has been hiding something pretty spectacular. The lobby hits you with this grand Victorian elegance that feels authentic, not like someone’s trying-too-hard recreation of old London. I mean, the hotel’s been around since 1899, so they’ve had plenty of time to get the atmosphere right.
What really gets me about this place is how it manages to feel both historic and completely livable. The rooms are genuinely spacious – and I’m talking proper London spacious, not the shoebox situation you get at most hotels around Westminster. The beds are those deep, sink-into-them types that make you want to order room service and never leave. Actually, speaking of room service, their restaurant situation is solid. Caxton Grill does this modern British thing without being pretentious about it, and honestly, after a long day of tourist stuff, that’s exactly what you want.
Here’s what nobody tells you about staying in Westminster – you’re literally a five-minute walk from St. James’s Park, which is perfect for those early morning runs or late evening strolls when the tourists have cleared out. And you know what’s brilliant? You can walk to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, all that iconic stuff without dealing with the Tube during rush hour. The location is actually genius because Caxton Street is quiet enough that you’re not dealing with constant traffic noise, but you’re still right in the thick of everything. I’ve stayed here during both summer tourist season and quieter winter months, and the staff consistently knows their stuff – they’ll point you toward the good pub around the corner (The Red Lion’s decent, but locals will tell you The Speaker is where MPs actually drink) or help you figure out the quickest route to avoid the crowds at Parliament Square. The Wi-Fi actually works, the showers have proper water pressure, and they don’t make check-in feel like a interrogation. Sometimes it’s the simple things that make a place memorable, you know?