The Best Hotels Near the British Library, London

The British Library is right on the doorstep of the Pullman. Once you’re done browsing the shelves, check out nearby Granary Square, Camden Market or London Zoo. The hotel has 312 modern rooms and suites, all with rainfall showers, super comfy beds and fantastic views across London. Gin lovers will enjoy the 50 tastes of gin at the bar.

Whizz up the outside of the Standard in the quirky, red-pill lift to try chef Peter Sanchez-Igelsias’ live fire cooking at Decimo restaurant, which merges Spanish and Mexican cuisines. The vibrant hotel also has a sound studio, a cool rooftop bar and outdoor bathtubs in terraced suites which overlook St Pancras station. Don’t miss the bottomless Sunday brunch and Aperol spritz slushies in Double Standard, the street-facing bar.

Set in a row of Victorian townhouses in Camden, the Gyle is anything but ordinary. No two rooms are alike and the B&B – booze and breakfast – lounge is a surreal but fun place to hang out. Keep an eye on the pantry as the cook will often leave a random dish there for guests to try. The rooms all have quirky details such as lion-head knockers, coffee tables made from Victorian coal hole covers and airline trolley toiletry holders.

Stepping out of St Pancras station, you can’t fail to notice the Megaro Hotel, which is covered by a colourful mural. The eye-popping colours run into the rooms, which pay homage to the rich musical heritage and pop culture of London – with nods to everything from acid house raves and punk rock to Harry Potter and Andy Warhol. If you need to relax, the top-to-toe massage in the wellness suite is divine.

For a more traditional vibe, try the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, which oozes Victorian splendour. There are a variety of rooms and suites plus a spa, gym and indoor pool. The Hansom restaurant and the Booking Office – the latter was once the St Pancras station ticket hall – host weekly live music sessions, while the roof garden serves wood-fired pizzas, which you can enjoy while listening to a live DJ set.

Sister hotel to the Megaro and the Gyle, the California is just steps from Kings Cross St Pancras station, making it the perfect base to explore central London. And if you don’t fancy navigating the underground system, then Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are a five-minute taxi ride away. The rooms themselves are trendy and modern, and some have specially designed floating beds.

Built in 1854 as one of the original railway hotels, the Great Northern has been designed to reflect the golden age of the railways. The Edwardian rooms have the walnut panelling of the railway carriages of old, while the couchette rooms pay homage to the classic continental sleeper trains. Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the Plum and Spilt Milk restaurant, named after the colours of the dining carriages in the first Great Northern railway trains.

Feel like Virginia Woolf when you stay in this hotel in the heart of her beloved Bloomsbury. Sip a negroni cocktail under the giant disco ball in Fitz’s cocktail bar or enjoy a cuppa under the spectacular glass ceiling of Palm Court. The rooms are dripping in 20th-century glamour, but there’s a complimentary sweet and savoury tuck box to help you feel at home. There’s also an in-room yoga mat so you can start your day feeling great.