In a striking 1820s, Grade II listed building just behind London’s famous Whitehall, away from prying tourist eyes, yet still in the heart of the action, stands one of the city’s most famous addresses: Scotland Yard. The Hyatt Group has transformed the iconic former headquarters of the Metropolitan Police into a boutique hotel fit for celebrities and politicians (and history-loving travel writers). Designed with impossible attention to detail, from the carefully curated art installation featuring portraits of famous faces in the lobby to original artworks by currently serving prisoners, the longer you stay at Great Scotland Yard Hotel, the more you discover.

Psst… you may also be interested in our guide to fun things to do in London for art and history buffs.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Review of Great Scotland Yard Hotel

History and design

Great Scotland Yard Hotel lobby
The lobby sets the tone with its wall of art that shines a light on noted criminals and the people who caught them (or at least tried)

Before even getting onto the stunning Edwardian hotel itself, we can’t forget to mention its newest addition,  Great Scotland Yard Townhouse, a detached private residence once home to HRH the King of Scotland. This is accessed via a secret corridor within the hotel, which is just one of many hidden rooms and passages that add to the history and mystery of the building.

In the 1800s, the main site became a local haunt for famous authors including Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle, who used it as a setting in many of his novels, while the 1900s saw it taken over by the Ministry of Defence and used to recruit soldiers during both world wars. These hundreds of years of history and legendary figures have been artfully included in the design, giving the hotel a modern twist while retaining its fascinating roots.

After arriving in front of the elegant brick façade, the hotel’s art installation ‘The Service’ greets you in the lobby. Consisting of thirty portraits of police officials, criminals, and literary figures that tell the story of the site’s rich past, it’s been paired with moody lighting, original artefacts and quirky furniture that wouldn’t look out of place in an English country estate or royal palace – you’d never know you were just steps from London’s busiest neighbourhood.

The room

Great Scotland Yard Hotel London bedroom
Get comfy in the spacious rooms

The 151 rooms and seven suites at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel are all unique, and we were simply spoiled in our elegant 6th-floor room. The king-sized bed, marble fireplace, and flat-screen TV are all impressive, but the devil is in the detail here. From the storage cupboard hidden behind a faux bookshelf to the mini fridge in a chest of drawers, coat hooks shaped like moustaches and stylish matchbox artwork by Andy Malone, the interiors offer a subtle nod to the hotel’s heritage everywhere you look.

While passing through the corridors, you’ll also spot quirky pieces of art, such as Beefeaters and tea-sipping policemen, and the rooms are self-proclaimed ‘micro galleries’ featuring an array of fun art and sculptures.

Our favourite part, however, was the beautifully designed bathroom, which combines a triple-mirrored vanity with a spacious walk-in rainshower covered top-to-toe in pretty turquoise tiling, along with a futuristic Japanese toilet that even has a heated seat. Before nodding off, we also discovered we could phone the hotel’s Sleep Master – choose from cool, orthopaedic, and even anti-snore pillows for a dreamy night’s sleep.

Drinking and dining

Taking pride of place at GSY is the hotel’s main restaurant, Ekstedt at the Yard, where Michelin-starred Chef Niklas Ekstedt uses signature wood-fired cooking techniques to create delicious Nordic dishes. The entire menu, from the smoked Wagyu beef to the smoked aubergine, is made with fire – even the delicate meringues with fermented strawberries are artfully torched and unsurprisingly, melt in the mouth.

The other daytime dining option is The Parlour, where a dainty afternoon tea just as fit for the 18th Century as the 21st is served. Created with famous perfumery Floris London, the cakes and sandwiches aren’t the usual smoked salmon and cucumber, but inspired by florals and signature scents.

Sadly London’s weather meant we couldn’t enjoy a glass of bubbly on the hotel’s gorgeous champagne terrace – decked out in signature Veuve Cliquot yellow, serving a selection of tipples and with skyline views; we were slightly disappointed until we saw our alternative.

Great SCotland Yard Hotel 40 Elephants Bar
Dark and moody is the order of the day at 40 Elephants Bar

The ground floor 40 Elephants Bar, named after the UK’s first all-female gang, is an all-day bar and eatery where everything sparkles, from the central chandelier to the hundreds of bottles glistening on the wall. After a fun Suspicious Ladies cocktail involving tequila, Grand Marnier and agave syrup, we went to check out Síbín, a secret whiskey bar hidden behind a false bookcase, which feels like stepping into a designer James Bond lair.

With Whitehall, the Thames, and Trafalgar Square on the doorstep, yet strategically hidden away from the madding crowds, Great Scotland Yard Hotel is simply the best of British architecture, history, dining, and hospitality, all under one roof.

Discover more about Great Scotland Yard Hotel or Book through Booking.com

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