Housed in a striking Brutalist landmark, The Standard, London has transformed a former civic building into a vibrant destination where design, dining, culture and entertainment come together. This October, we take a closer look at the venue as our Hotel of the Month.
Occupying the former Camden Town Hall Annex in King’s Cross, The Standard, London is a hotel that has made a virtue of its setting, combining a distinctly 1970s Brutalist structure with the playful, design-led identity for which The Standard brand is known. Meticulously restored, the building became the brand’s first hotel outside the United States, bringing a new energy to a neighbourhood already established as one of London’s most dynamic destinations.
The 266-room property spans everything from Standard King Interior Rooms through to expansive terraced suites, with the latter offering one of the hotel’s most memorable features: outdoor bathtubs with views towards the imposing façade of St Pancras Station. The approach to accommodation is deliberately eclectic, balancing the character of the original building with The Standard’s irreverent, contemporary aesthetic.
Public spaces are central to the hotel’s proposition. On the ground floor, Double Standard operates as both a street-facing bar and restaurant, blending American diner classics with British pub favourites. It provides a deliberately informal entry point to the property, while next door The Library Lounge offers a quieter environment, with its collection of books paying homage to the building’s former civic use.
Music and culture are similarly embedded into the operation. Sounds Studio, located alongside The Library Lounge, provides a dedicated home for live radio shows and podcasts, extending the hotel’s role beyond accommodation and into London’s wider creative scene. It is an approach that reflects The Standard’s longstanding ambition to operate as a social and cultural hub rather than simply a place for guests to stay.
Food and beverage is particularly prominent across the property. Isla offers a seasonal menu designed to be approachable and contemporary, supported by a refreshed wine and cocktail list. At the other end of the scale, Decimo occupies the hotel’s 10th floor, where Chef Paola Arenas’ live-fire cooking takes centre stage. The restaurant is reached via The Standard’s distinctive exterior red pill lift and, once upstairs, diners are rewarded with 360-degree views across London.
The rooftop provides another layer to the hotel’s F&B and leisure offer, operating as a seasonal destination for drinks, food and music. During the summer months, it becomes a natural extension of the hotel’s social spaces, reinforcing the property’s ability to attract both residents and the local community.
For hoteliers, The Standard, London offers a useful example of how a hotel can create a compelling proposition by treating the building, its neighbourhood and its public spaces as integral parts of the guest experience. Rather than separating accommodation, food and beverage, culture and entertainment into distinct offers, the property brings them together under one recognisable identity. The brand has also continued to strengthen its leadership, recently appointing Murray Scott as General Manager.
The result is a hotel that feels rooted in its location while remaining unmistakably The Standard. From a Brutalist civic building given a new lease of life to a rooftop designed around the rhythms of summer, its success lies in creating multiple reasons to visit – whether staying overnight, meeting for a drink, listening to a broadcast, dining around a fire or simply taking in the London skyline.