Review: St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London

How did it strike you on arrival?
This is not your average train-station hotel—or your average Marriott-owned property, come to think of it. Looming over St. Pancras station (handy for the Eurostar, as well as trips up to York and Scotland), it looks more like a fairytale castle than a hotel. If those Gothic spires and candy-striped window arches look familiar, it's probably because Harry and Ron flew a car over them in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The hotel gravitates towards the central grand staircase, with its fleur-de-lys wallpaper and a dome sprinkled with stars.

What’s the crowd like?
The location, next to the station in newly regenerated Kings Cross, means that the visitors are usually here for a short stay, stopping over on the way into or out of the city. Because it’s Marriott-owned, the place sees its fair share of business travelers, too—Google and Facebook have headquarters nearby.

The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
The hotel is split into two halves—the new half and the old half (the oldest part of the building dates back to 1873). There are just 38 suites in the old part, with gorgeous Victorian features—ornate cornicing, marble fireplaces, and vast bathrooms. The downside? The Chambers suites are expensive (from $618), whereas the rooms in the new part are boxy and bland, but, as consolation, much cheaper.

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?
Guests staying in the Chambers suites get access to the Chambers Club, with free breakfast, evening canapés, and Champagne.

Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
Free.

Room service: Worth it?
In-room dining is reasonable—$17 for eggs Benedict—but unless you’re in a Chambers suite, there are more inspiring places to eat than your room.

Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
Make sure you sample the posh pub grub in the Booking Office—what used to be the ticket hall is now an exceedingly atmospheric spot for a snack under dramatic vaulted ceilings and carved wood paneling. The high-end option is the Gilbert Scott restaurant, where celebrity chef, Marcus Waring, has revamped meaty British classics such as venison haunch with roasted parsley root and black pudding. The Sunday Lunch is legendary. (The set menu costs $37 for three courses.) There’s a spa in what used to be the steam kitchens and a 36-foot-long pool surrounded by carefully restored burgundy tiles.

What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
The new wing doesn’t live up to the old.

Bottom line: worth it, and why?
For the combination of convenience and atmosphere, St. Pancras Renaissance is difficult to beat.