Quiet and Luxurious

Quietness: ★★★★★

Great Northern Hotel (GNH) has been my favorite hotel in London for my business travels. Located directly above the King’s Cross Station, it is one of the city’s oldest railroad hotels, with a history dating back to 1854! This hidden gem has earned an honorable mention on the Hotels in London Wikipedia page and was formerly featured in the Michelin hotel guide.

Like many early London hotels, GNH only offers compact rooms: the largest, the Victorian Room, measures just under 250 sq. ft., while the Couchette Room is a cozy 183 sq. ft. Despite their modest size, the rooms feel comfortable and refined, never sacrificing a sense of luxury. My personal favorite is the Edwardian Room on the top floor, tucked under the eaves with slanted ceilings. The walnut paneling lends a dark academia vibe and fulfills my dream of staying in a London attic apartment.

Quietness: The soundproofing here is exceptional. You’d never guess you’re staying directly above one of London’s busiest train stations. In fact, this is one of the quietest hotels I’ve found in the city. For the lightest sleepers, I recommend requesting an inward-facing room. You will get a room with a boring view overlooking the roof of the station, but rest assured, you won’t hear a thing.

I have always loved their Rails restaurant where they serve excellent English breakfast. My fond memory is sitting in the dining room filled with sunrise rays, watching the city slowly wake up and sipping my latte at the same time.

Interestingly, in the recent years, GNH has experienced several changes in ownership. As I was writing this post, GNH just finished the formal transition to the Turkish Kaya Tourism Group, and was rebranded as the Kaya Great Northern Hotel.

In conclusion, GNH is an excellent choice for business travelers who like the closeness to the train station and a quiet night’s sleep—so long as you don’t mind London-sized rooms.