Housed in what was once the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel is just a stone’s throw from some of the capital’s most visited landmarks. It’s now part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, offering 5-star accommodation in the heart of Westminster.
The exterior of the Great Scotland Yard Hotel is both beautiful and unassuming. The large lamps at each side of the entrance, reminiscent of those seen outside Victorian police stations, give a firm nod to the building’s judicial roots.
As you enter, be sure to look up and take in an artwork entitled ‘Exploding Clock’, alluding to the hotel’s theme of unlocking secrets as you explore its storied past.
It’s a few steps down to the lobby, where you’ll find an eclectic collection of art and artefacts related to the building’s history. Reception is tucked around the corner, where you’re greeted warmly and offered a comfortable seat and a glass of cool water or hot coffee while the usual check-in paperwork is completed.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel rooms and suites
After checking into the 151-room hotel, we headed off to find our home for the night. We stayed in the Sherlock suite, which comprises just over 40 sqm of space in the lounge, bedroom, and bathroom — around twice the size of a standard room and about a quarter of the size of the hotel’s largest suite.
The lounge area was a good size, with a comfortable sofa and chair arranged to face the large TV over the marble fireplace, a small table and chairs, a wooden cabinet housing the tea and coffee-making facilities, and a complimentary mini-bar.
The bedroom was a little more compact but still well-proportioned for an old central London building. The bed — a modern-styled four-poster — was large and comfortable, with nightstands to each side. While a surprising number of quality hotels don’t have plug sockets that are easily accessible, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel has gone above and beyond, with UK, EU, and USB sockets on both sides of the bed just above the nightstands — perfection!
What was lacking in the bedroom was storage space for your clothes and suitcases. A rather lovely, old-fashioned clothes stand was provided, allowing one guest to hang their clothes for the next day, but the tight proportions of the room meant that the rest of the storage space was in the entrance area, between the door and the lounge. A minor point for a brief stay, but it could become frustrating if you’re there for a few nights.
The bathroom was a fabulous size, with double sinks set in a sizeable art-deco-style unit with a black marble top, which suited the room well. There was a full-sized bath in the main bathroom and also a separate walk-in shower behind a frosted glass door. The toilet was in its own little room, too, and, somewhat surprisingly for a suite with such historically-set roots, it was a modern Japanese-style loo.
The bars and restaurants
There are several food and drink options at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel. The flagship restaurant, Ekstedt at The Yard, marries British seasonal foods with Scandinavian cooking techniques. Chef Niklas Ekstedt’s original restaurant in Stockholm has won a coveted Michelin star, and the hotel hopes for the same in London. Unfortunately, we stayed on a Monday, which is the one night of the week when the restaurant is closed, but the silver lining is that we’ll need to come back again to try the food…
Hidden behind a bookcase, the Síbín Speakeasy feels like a well-kept secret, all low lighting and plush corners — the kind of place you’d imagine a 1920s detective quietly nursing a whisky. It serves drinks, cocktails and snacks from Thursday to Saturday, with Jazz Nights undoubtedly adding to the period setting.
During our stay, we dined at The 40 Elephants — a bar named after an all-female gang of notorious thieves who ran amok in London during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The menu here isn’t extensive, mostly comprising nibbles and entrees and just two main courses, followed by a selection of desserts.
We decided to order the three dishes from the nibbles section and share them as a starter, and we were not disappointed. The olives and sourdough parmesan crackers were plentiful, the porcini mushroom and saffron arancini sprinkled with 36-month-aged parmesan were absolutely delightful, and we could have eaten several plates more of the chicken karaage with furikake and spicy mayo.
The main dishes on the menu were dry-aged beef burgers with bacon, cheddar, and house dressing and chicken paillard burgers with cheddar and house dressing. With the nibbles having hit the spot in terms of flavour and quality, we had high hopes for the burgers. They looked promising when they arrived at our table, but the beef burger was a little disappointing.
Stacked tall, it was the classic story of too much filling and a brioche bun, which, in my experience, can be an unfortunate combination. The overstuffed bun was almost impossible to pick up and eat, as the brioche began disintegrating. The burger was decent enough, but a bun with more structural integrity would have been preferable.
The chicken paillard burger had less filling to disrupt the bun and was all the better for it. The combination of poultry and cheese was rather lovely, and it was moist and tasty.
The 40 Elephants was pretty quiet during our Monday night stay, and with fewer guests to service, the staff were a little less attentive than I would have expected for the level of hotel. Having finished our main courses, our plates were eventually cleared, but there was no offer to look at the dessert menu. With empty glasses on the table, we were offered more water but had to ask for the cocktail menu.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel: The verdict
The Great Scotland Yard Hotel is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a touch of luxury in a great location, close to the buzzing heart of London. Some rooms are relatively compact, but such a great location and an old building will often mean compromises. Still, they strike an impressive balance between rich heritage and modern luxury, and our suite felt plush and quietly indulgent. Every room is well-appointed and has some lovely touches — like the perfectly placed bedside sockets and the welcoming service at check-in — that make you feel at home.
The hotel has a pleasant, vibrant atmosphere, and, our dinner experience aside, the staff are attentive and helpful. There’s enough personality throughout the building to make it far more memorable than your average five-star stay.
Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a culture-filled city break, sampling some cuisine from a Michelin-starred chef, or just fancy a cocktail behind a bookcase, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel delivers with style and a sense of occasion.
Where: Great Scotland Yard Hotel
, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
How much: Around £345 per night; Sherlock Suite as reviewed, around £630
Average Janes Rating: ★★★★☆
