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On a recent jaunt to our nation’s capital (London!), we were very pleasantly surprised by the delight of a hotel, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel, part of the Hyatt Hotels group.
The very central Westminster location we knew to expect, 5* facilities a given; what we didn’t expect was impeccable and warm service and a wonderfully presented hotel, both gloriously proud of its past and oozing modern British style at the same time. Add a charming selection of places to eat and drink, and recommending this hotel became very easy indeed.
It is worth mentioning that Great Scotland Yard Hotel is the first UK hotel in Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, which means you can earn and burn World of Hyatt points and receive World of Hyatt status benefits at this hotel.
Location
This fabulously famous address, the original home of the Metropolitan Police (also known as Scotland Yard), is celebrated gloriously by the hotel that now makes use of this grand Grade II listed Edwardian building. The street itself, Great Scotland Yard, can be found steps from Trafalgar Square, connecting to both Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue. The River Thames is also mere steps away.
Should you be arriving into London Waterloo as many travelers based in the south of the UK do, it’s a lovely stroll across Embankment Bridge, which only took us 15 minutes, slowed somewhat due to the stunning views of the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. The nearest London Underground station is Westminster Tube Station.
Style & Character
The building itself is as impressive and grand as you would expect. When you enter, you find yourself in a vast wraparound lobby area with lots of seating areas from which the bars and restaurants are set.
The décor is luxurious and contemporary, very British, with a wonderful touch of humor. The lobby pays particular heed to the building’s past life as the home of the Met Police, and there are some genuinely fascinating historical artifacts to admire.
Yes, it’s themed, but it’s done with pure class and elegance, and you feel like you’re visiting one of London’s wonderful museums, albeit where you can also enjoy a tasty cocktail and put your feet up!
Rooms
There are 168 guest bedrooms, and the celebrations and reminders of the past inhabitants continue to be subtly reflected in the bedroom design, too!
The rooms are slick and stylish but very comfortable. Think of an art deco vibe with pale, neutral tones to create a feeling of space and light. And space there is! For a central London hotel, we were impressed with how spacious the rooms were.
The beds are super comfortable, and the private bathrooms feature large rain showers. There is fast Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines and minifridges in all the rooms, and lots of helpful tech to make your life easier: plenty of USB points and even a Chromecast option on the television so you can stream your own content.
Upgrade to a suite for a separate living room and, better still, in my humble opinion, gorgeous four-poster beds! There’s also the option of connecting rooms, which is great for families. For longer stays or special events, the hotel also has a 2-bed suite and a rather epic 2-bedroom Townhouse!
Service & Facilities
Great Scotland Yard Hotel boasts a fully equipped fitness center; there’s room service available 24/7, and the hotel is pet friendly; your pooch can even tuck into their own doggy afternoon tea!
While I didn’t look around, the lower floor is dedicated to event spaces, and they are reportedly rather quirky and offer a memorable location for your next event.
The service at Great Scotland Yard was simply exceptional. From the incredibly warm initial welcome, we received to the friendly greeting every time we returned to the efficient but sincere service we enjoyed at the various dining spots.
The lovely welcome that my children received must also be mentioned! When we arrived, they were presented with a mini passport to tick off items found around the very large lobby and welcome area. They explored with glee with the help of the many staff members!
When they returned triumphant, presenting their completed passports with delight, they were presented with their very own room key in the shape of a teddy bear! My only complaint here is why can’t the adults have these rather than the boring rectangular ones!
Food & Drink
On the ground floor of the hotel, as well as being home to the lobby, you will find a selection of dining establishments and bars. At the front, near the lift area, there’s a very exotic lounge space, The Parlour, where a traditional afternoon tea with a twist is served.
Further into the building, you find a very stylish bar named The 40 Elephants – after a gang of female thieves, the relevant references continue with a flourish! Here, you can stop for a quick coffee and natter, then return for a cocktail or local craft beer before or after your evening antics.
The hotel’s flagship restaurant is Ekstedt at The Yard, where you can dine throughout the day. We enjoyed the open kitchen concept and the rustic but comfortable furnishings.
Breakfast was my preferred combination of a generous buffet served across multiple stations around the room, ensuring none get too busy, and a hot selection to order from the menu. All was delicious and plentiful, and the coffee flowed as nicely as the conversation.
By evening, wood-fired ‘old Nordic’ cooking is served, fusing Scandinavian cooking techniques with the best seasonal British ingredients, truly celebrating that open kitchen.
Perhaps my favorite of their many food and drink venues, though, had to be the magnificent whiskey bar, Sibín, the entrance to which lies hidden behind a false bookcase!
It’s not just the fun gimmick either; a spacious, very welcoming speakeasy-style lounge awaits with an enviable whisky menu, and if you’re not such a fan of a straight whisky, the cocktails are absolutely not to be missed.
Conclusion
Great Scotland Yard Hotel should be all about the location, all about the blend of its fascinating past and today’s contemporary finish, and while we found both these things to be great pluses, it was the amazing welcome and service combined with the excellent food and drink options that really made this place stand out to us. We’ll look forward to returning.
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