St Martins Lane London is a five-star, design-led hotel in Covent Garden where Philippe Starck’s theatrical interiors meet a roster of celebrity guests that includes Kate Middleton, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift. This article draws on official property listings, guest review platforms, and travel industry data to give you a grounded look at what staying here actually involves—from room amenities and dining options to location logistics and value perception.
Last checked: 2026-07-02
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Location: Covent Garden, London’s West End theatre district · Design: Philippe Starck interior with gold‑teeth seating and life‑sized chess pieces · Dining: EllaMia café, The Restaurant, and a speakeasy bar · Signature Suite: Penthouse with panoramic London Eye view
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-02.
Sources reviewed: The official Morgans Originals website, Accor ALL listing, TripAdvisor, Michelin Guide, Travel Weekly, American Express Travel, and independent review blogs.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, and no anonymous booking test were conducted for this article.
St Martins Lane at a glance
- 45 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4HX, a three-minute walk from Leicester Square tube station (Accor)
- Interiors designed by Philippe Starck; hotel is part of Morgans Originals, now within the Accor ALL portfolio (Morgans Originals)
- Fitness centre, restaurant, speakeasy bar, EllaMia café, meeting rooms, pet-friendly policy (TripAdvisor)
- Accor scores: location 9.8/10, service 8.8/10, value 5.1/10 (Accor)
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Covent Garden, London’s West End theatre district |
| Design | Philippe Starck interior with gold-teeth seating and life-sized chess pieces |
| Dining | EllaMia café, The Restaurant, and a speakeasy bar |
| Signature Suite | Penthouse with panoramic London Eye view |
| Address | 45 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4HX |
| Star rating | 5-star |
| Number of floors | 6 |
| Check-in / Check-out | 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM |
| Non-smoking | 100% non-smoking property |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair accessible rooms and facilities, elevator access |
| Pet policy | Dog-friendly (specific policies vary by room type) |
| Group/operator | Morgans Originals, part of Accor ALL |
What amenities does St Martins Lane hotel offer?
The hotel provides a fitness centre, a restaurant called The Restaurant (also known as St Martins Lane Kitchen), a cocktail bar with a speakeasy-style hidden bar, and the EllaMia café (Dis-loyalty). Meeting rooms, evening entertainment, board games and puzzles, highchairs for families, and valet or paid parking are also listed among property amenities (TripAdvisor).
The hotel does not have a swimming pool, which is noted explicitly in third-party overviews and guest FAQs (Trivago).
What to watch
The absence of a pool may be a meaningful drawback for some travelers at this price point. Guests expecting full resort-style spa facilities should check the specifics before booking.
What dining options are available?
On-site dining breaks into three distinct outlets. EllaMia café serves coffee and light fare during the day. The Restaurant / St Martins Lane Kitchen offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A separate speakeasy-style bar provides cocktails and evening drinks (Dis-loyalty). The Michelin Guide listing notes that the hotel’s location in Covent Garden places guests within walking distance of dozens of additional dining options (Michelin Guide).
What wellness facilities are on site?
The hotel has a fitness centre with exercise equipment. No spa, steam room, or swimming pool is listed on either the Accor official page or third-party platforms (Accor).
How many rooms does the St Martins Lane hotel have?
While the exact room count varies slightly across sources, the hotel operates across six floors and offers queen, double, and king rooms as base categories, plus studios, suites, apartments, and penthouses (Trivago). All rooms have ensuite bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, minibars, air conditioning, and high-speed internet access.
American Express Travel’s listing particularly notes leopard-print carpets, floor-to-ceiling windows, and adjustable LED mood lighting as signature in-room features (American Express Travel). Some suites include a kitchen and separate dining area, which is unusual for a central London boutique hotel.
A 2023–2024 YouTube review described the rooms as spacious for London, with very comfortable beds, in-room espresso machines, strong shower pressure, and high cleanliness (YouTube individual reviewer). The reviewer also praised the plentiful breakfast with gluten-free options.
The trade-off
Independent review site BoardingGroup.One highlights design flair and comfortable beds but notes that minor maintenance or detail issues, particularly with bathroom fittings, sometimes detract from a true five-star experience (BoardingGroup.One).
Where is St Martins Lane hotel located?
The hotel sits at 45 St Martin’s Lane in London’s West End, within the Covent Garden district. Leicester Square tube station (serving the Northern and Piccadilly lines) is a three-minute walk away (Accor). Charing Cross mainline station is also within a short walk.
Guest reviews frequently praise the central location for walkability to theatres, restaurants, and major attractions including Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden Market, and Leicester Square (Michelin Guide).
Which famous celebrities have stayed at St Martins Lane hotel?
St Martins Lane London has built a reputation as a celebrity crash pad in Covent Garden. Kate Middleton, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift are among the high-profile guests who have stayed at the property, according to travel media coverage. Two travellers writing on Tablet Hotels summarised the vibe as “cool decor and smells amazing, a chilled vibe with friendly professional staff” (Tablet Hotels guest review summary).
Two additional London hotels share similar celebrity-friendly positioning: The Ned in the City of London and The Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone. Where St Martins Lane distinguishes itself is through its Philippe Starck-designed interiors and the speakeasy bar, which create an atmosphere that appeals to guests seeking privacy and design flair simultaneously.
The Morgans Originals brand page describes the property as a “luxury West End hotel with Philippe Starck-designed rooms & suites, speakeasy bar, and theatre district location” (Morgans Originals).
What other celebrity-favorite hotels are in London?
For travellers specifically interested in celebrity hotspots, The Savoy, The Ritz, and Claridge’s are traditional luxury alternatives in central London. However, St Martins Lane occupies a different niche—it is a boutique lifestyle hotel rather than a grand dame, and its lower room count and design-forward aesthetic attract a younger, entertainment-industry clientele.
Pros & cons of St Martins Lane London
Pros
- Exceptional West End location near Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and Tube access
- Distinctive Philippe Starck design with unique features like leopard-print carpets and LED mood lighting
- Celebrity appeal and speakeasy bar create a lively, boutique atmosphere
- Pet-friendly policy and family amenities (highchairs, board games)
- Some suites include kitchen and dining area for extended stays
Cons
- No swimming pool or spa on site
- Guest value perception low (Accor scores it 5.1/10) given high nightly rates
- Minor maintenance issues reported in some guest reviews
- Published rates typically $380–$1,500 per night, placing it firmly in upscale territory
- Some guests feel bathroom fittings and detail work fall short of true five-star standards
Best for
- Celebrity enthusiasts who want to stay where Kate Middleton, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift have stayed. The design and speakeasy bar create a nightlife atmosphere that appeals to the entertainment crowd.
- Theatre-goers visiting the West End. Covent Garden and Leicester Square are within a three-minute walk, and dozens of theatres are within a 10-minute radius.
- Luxury hotel seekers who prioritise location and design over resort amenities like pools and spas. The 9.8/10 location score from Accor reflects the property’s central advantage.
- Design & architecture fans interested in Philippe Starck’s work. The gold-teeth seating and life-sized chess pieces are gallery-worthy talking points.
Pricing band
Typical published nightly rates for a standard room at St Martins Lane London range from approximately US$380 to US$1,500, with suites often listed from roughly US$660 to US$1,000 (Travel Weekly). These rates place the hotel firmly in the upscale-to-luxury segment of the London market.
Accor’s own value rating of 5.1/10 suggests that some guests perceive the pricing as high relative to the amenities and service received. The location and service scores (9.8/10 and 8.8/10 respectively) indicate that what you’re paying for is primarily the West End location and the boutique design experience, not resort-style facilities (Accor).
Location & getting there
St Martins Lane London is at 45 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4HX. The nearest tube station is Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines), a three-minute walk. Charing Cross mainline station is a five-minute walk. Covent Garden Market and Trafalgar Square are each within a five-minute walk (Accor).
Heathrow Airport is accessible via the Piccadilly line directly from Leicester Square (approximately 50 minutes). Gatwick Airport requires a change at London Victoria or London Bridge (approximately 70 minutes total).
The hotel offers valet parking, but rates and availability should be confirmed at booking. Street parking in Covent Garden is limited and expensive.
Alternatives to consider
For travellers who prioritise a swimming pool or full spa, similar-priced competitors include The Corinthia London (with a large spa and indoor pool) and The Rosewood London (with a spa and pool). Both are within a 10- to 20-minute walk or short cab ride from Covent Garden.
For a quieter, less design-focused experience at a similar price point, The Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell or The Hoxton in Holborn offer boutique stays without the celebrity-nightlife atmosphere.
Travellers specifically looking for a Philippe Starck-designed hotel in London should note that St Martins Lane is the only such property in the city; no other London hotel carries his full interior design.
Our pick: who should book St Martins Lane London
For a first-time London visitor after celebrity buzz or a couple seeking a romantic weekend in the West End, St Martins Lane London delivers exactly what it promises: a design-forward, centrally located boutique hotel with celebrity cachet and a lively bar scene. The lack of a pool is not a deal-breaker for those who plan to spend their days exploring Covent Garden, the West End, and central London attractions.
However, travellers who want a traditional five-star experience with a spa, pool, and impeccable service standards may find better value at a property like The Corinthia or The Savoy. St Martins Lane is a lifestyle hotel first, and its value proposition is rooted in location and design, not amenity breadth.
““Luxury West End hotel with Philippe Starck-designed rooms & suites, speakeasy bar, and theatre district location.””
– Morgans Originals, Official brand description
““Design flair in Covent Garden, but details fall short of five stars.””
– BoardingGroup.One, Independent hotel reviewer
classicvacations.com, chasetherainbows.com, us.trip.com, luxlifelondon.com
Frequently asked questions about St Martins Lane London
What dining options are available at St Martins Lane hotel?
Three on-site options: EllaMia café (coffee and light fare), The Restaurant / St Martins Lane Kitchen (all-day dining including breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and a speakeasy-style cocktail bar (Dis-loyalty).
What is the signature design feature of the hotel?
Philippe Starck’s interior design includes gold-teeth seating, leopard-print carpets, life-sized chess pieces, and adjustable LED mood lighting throughout rooms and public areas (Morgans Originals).
What is the view from the St Martins Lane Penthouse?
The penthouse suite offers a panoramic view that includes the London Eye. It is the hotel’s most requested room type for special occasions (American Express Travel).
What hotel group manages St Martins Lane?
It is managed under the Morgans Originals brand and is part of the Accor ALL hotel loyalty portfolio (Accor).
How far is St Martins Lane from Covent Garden market?
Covent Garden Market is a five-minute walk from the hotel. Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, and dozens of theatres are also within a five-minute walk (Michelin Guide).