Demolition

Lit by the fading sun the demolition site is a place of beauty.  The staircase all that remains of the previous building.  Once all the rubble has been removed the developers will begin work on yet another hotel along the Ealing High Street. 

Stay in Style

If you fancy rubbing shoulders with movie stars then book a room at the luxury Athenaeum Hotel in Mayfair.  Just down the road from the Palace.

Rumour has it that when it was the home of the Duke of Newcastle had to sell it to pay off his gambling debts.  The house then enjoyed a spell of being a gentlemen's club favoured by MP's and Lords before finally becoming a luxury hotel favoured by the Beverley Hills set.

A Victorian Beauty

The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel will open its doors to the public 5 May 2011.
Originally the Midland Grand Hotel opened by Queen Victoria 5 May 1873, this stunning Gothic building was nearly demolished several times.
Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman led a protest in the 1960's to save the building. A statue of him stands in the Eurostar rail station next door.

Following a £150 million refurbish it has now been beautifully restored to its Victorian glamour. This is one of the smaller staircases. The grand staircase is regarded as the most majestic in England.
I'll bring you more in the weeks to come.