Staying At St Ermin’s Spy Hotel In London
Spying tonight!
A London hotel who’s history links it to the British Secret Service, espionage and spies of the 1930’s 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
St Ermin’s Hotel on the edge of Westminster but was very much at the centre of spies and spying in the city.
Tea time or spy time the St Ermin’s Hotel is great for both.
Staying there or visiting you are in the only publicly accessible building in London so closely associated with the history of British espionage and spying.
House of Spies an excellent book about the St Ermin’s Hotel by Peter Matthews.
The place where in World War II the ‘SOE’ or Special Operations Executive was formed by Sir Winston Churchill.
Cold War spies and traitors like Guy Burgess and Kim Philby worked and visited.
On the far left the former entrance into 21 St Anne’s Gate into MI6.
The SIS or Special Intelligence Service back in the 1930’s were located nearby and what became MI6 was at Broadway who’s offices backed onto Queen Anne’s Gate and was used as a discrete entrance by some of the senior officers working there.
Guerrilla Warfare Courses Run From St Ermin’s Spy Hotel
At the beginning of the war the hotel was also the venue for ‘guerrilla warfare’ classes, run partly by MI6.
Even unlikely people such as Noel Coward worked there. And, art expert to the Queen, Anthony Blunt, a notorious member of the Cambridge Five spy ring was also part of it.
Spy Hotel St Ermin’s London.
In its day it was called the ‘Statistical Research Department’ in order to maintain its cover.
During 1940 Sir Winston Churchill who often enjoyed champagne at St Ermin’s. He asked a group of very special individuals to meet at the hotel to “set Europe ablaze”.
A mass produced throw away pistol on display in the lobby exhibition.
And it was that group that became SOE (Special Operations Executive).
The aim of SOE was to often work behind enemy lines. Disrupting and disabling enemy facilities and transport links across Europe. Training and operating spies to work with local resistance organisations.
A biscuit tin radio.
They initially took over an entire floor of the hotel. Churchill held some key press conferences during World War II next door at Caxton Hall. One can imagine no better place to take a relaxing drink after such speeches than the hotel?
A hairbrush dagger given to female agents of which there were many.
Once SOE was established people like James Bond author Ian Fleming worked there. As did Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Laurence Grand, H. Montgomery Hyde and Eric Maschwitz. These were among the famous to have worked from offices in or around nearby buildings.
Hotel Surrounded By The Spying Community
St Ermin’s was almost an anchor point for the covert and spying community. Being surrounded by other secret organizations. Including the Communications Headquarters in Palmer Street, MI9 also in Caxton Street.
Spy Hotel St ErminÕs London.
The SIS Chief’s office was at 21 Queen Anne’s Gate. Offices of SIS were also in Artillery Mansions on Victoria Street. MI8 was a covert listening post on the roof of the former Passport Office in Petty France now demolished but is now offices for the Ministry of Justice.
Former MI6 offices in Broadway close to St Ermin’s Hotel .
In the book ‘SNOW’ by Madoc Roberts he wrote of meetings in the Caxton Bar. Also, SIS interviewed prospective employees in the hotel, usually carried out by the organization’s ace recruiter, Marjorie Maxse.
In the spies autobiography ‘My Silent War’ by Kim Philby he wrote of meetings within the hotel.
The hotel’s bar was used regularly by many different members of the security community from units such as SIS, MI5 and Naval Intelligence Division. Here case officers could meet with their agents.
Into the 1950’s and 1960s St Ermin’s was again at the heart of spies and spying, this time for the Russians during the Cold War.
Guy Burgess, double agent, Diplomat and eventual defector often met his Russian contact in the Caxton Bar to hand over top-secret government files.
Not only a safe house but a comfy one too!
In its time the hotel has also been used as an MI5 safe house.
Perfect Location For Tourism Too!
And still today the hotel’s exceptional location is near to the seat of government and Whitehall. It’s a few hundred metres north of Parliament Square. Plus, it’s still within easy reach of the new headquarters of the British secret service MI6 just over the river at Vauxhall.
Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, London.
As well as having a series of cocktails named after the Cambridge Five in the bar. Located in the hotel lobby is a varied and interesting display from the London Clandestine Warfare Collection. These are genuine items that were used by the spies during World War II.
Tony cocktail in the Caxton Bar named after Anthony Blunt.
Situated so close to Parliament a voting or Division Bell is still located in the hotel. This was once used to tell MP’s to return to vote. They had 8 minutes. However, after a few drinks I am fairly sure that not many would have made it in time!
Division bell still at the hotel.
As you check in you may want to ask the question. Do spies still use the hotel? The question was answered by Tim Fordham-Moss the PR Director said ” We would expect so. But to be honest if they were any good? We would not know!”
St Ermin’s Hotel as a holiday base.
Although it has this spying background it’s perfect for visitors and tourists to spy out the area for themselves.
Trafalgar Square statue Admiral Lord Nelson.
Within easy walking distance are a whole series of very popular tourist attractions.
St James’s Park very near to the hotel.
The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square and the Royal Parks of Green Park and St James’s Park.
Links:
The Houses of Parliament https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/
Westminster Abbey https://www.westminster-abbey.org/
Buckingham Palace https://www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace
St James Park https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st-jamess-park
