In July 1940 Winston Churchill ordered an amalgam of two existing clandestine units known as SOE (Special Operations Executive) to “set Europe ablaze” through the use of sabotage and subversion, most notably in western Europe.

That organisation was initially headquartered on the fourth floor of the St Ermin's Hotel, which carries an intriguing and glamorous history of espionage, double agents and WWII sabotage and which now has a display of original SOE equipment from the 1940s. The items, on loan from the London Clandestine Warfare Collection,  include hidden weaponry, escape and evasion aids, ordnance and communications, from concealed radios to carrier pigeons. An original FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) uniform, an all-female organisation originally formed in 1907 and active in both nursing and intelligence in both world wars, is also on show.

With its intriguing and glamorous past, eclectic styling, gorgeous rooms and suites, the enigmatic Caxton Bar and Terrace plus award winning signature restaurant, The Caxton Grill, the four-star deluxe St. Ermin's Hotel in London's St James's Park is a distinctly individual, contemporary and welcoming offering. The hotel is child and dog-friendly and the welcome even extends to bees with the opening of London's only 'Bee & Bee' hotel alongside the hotel's resident Buckfast bee hives on the third floor wildflower terrace.

The hotel is the only publicly accessible establishment in London closely associated with the history of espionage, particularly the British intelligence services through WWII and the Cold War.

For further information, visuals or review requests please contact

WixHill on + 44 (0) 1483 203992 / +44 7710 491788

Tim Fordham – Moss e: tim@wixhill.co.uk

- Ends -

2021

Notes to Editors:

2021 lead in prices, room only Inc. VAT: Double room £212.

Covid cleanliness is a priority for the hotel for all guests, visitors, staff and suppliers at this time - https://stermins.info/rest-assured

St Ermin's Hotel Property Highlights:

• Excellent location – around the corner from St James' Park tube – minutes from Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament
• Interesting history of involvement with the UK intelligence services from WWI to the present day
• Award winning restaurant Caxton Grill on site
• Third floor terrace Bee Hives – home to over 300,000 Buckfast Bees and London's only Bee & Bee hotel, with urban beekeeping workshops available.
• Fantastic family stay packages including 'Budding Bond' spy kits, 'A Bedtime Story' book stays and kids afternoon teas.
• Beautiful selection of Afternoon Teas, served in one of London's prettiest Tea Lounges
• Stunning ballroom and event spaces, showcasing dazzling chandeliers and magnificent plasterwork
• State of the art meetings facilities and private rooms
• Special wedding packages and wedding party events
• Fantastic range of rooms and suites
• Member of the Considerate Hoteliers Association
• Voted a 'Top London Hotel' in Condé Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards
• Four AA Red Stars 2022
• Winner of a Tripadvisor 2021 Travellers Choice Award

About Autograph Collection Hotels:

Autograph Collection Hotels celebrates individuality by curating one-of-a-kind travel experiences at more than 90 luxury lifestyle hotels found in the world's most desirable destinations. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel has been hand selected for its distinction as an iconic landmark, for its remarkable design or for its best-in-class resort amenities. For more information please visit www.autographhotels.com, and explore our social media channels to learn more about championing the independent spirit that is #ExactlyLikeNothingElse.  Instagram  Twitter  Facebook.