The British Museum is free to visit and open every day, and most people underestimate it. More than 60 galleries, from Egyptian antiquities to Asian art, across a building you can’t get round in an afternoon.
That’s the argument for staying nearby. If you can walk back to your room for an hour and return later, you see more of it and enjoy it more.
Bloomsbury Palace Hotel is on Gower Street, five minutes’ walk away.
Five Minutes From the Museum, and From a Lot Else
From our front door, you’re about five minutes from the British Museum, the Dominion Theatre and Russell Square Gardens. That’s the real benefit of Gower Street: you’re central without being in the middle of the noise.
Tottenham Court Road station is close by, which puts the Elizabeth line within easy reach, and most of the major bus routes run down Gower Street itself. The West End theatres are around ten minutes on foot, Oxford Street about fifteen. Goodge Street station is a few minutes away.
Gower Street has kept its Georgian facades, so the walk itself is a pleasant one, quieter and more characterful than the main roads a couple of streets over.
Refurbished, Completed December 2025
We finished a full refurbishment of the hotel on 31 December 2025. Every room was done.
Here’s what actually changed. Furnishings were completely refreshed, with new beds, updated storage and better-quality fixtures throughout. Lighting was improved across the hotel. The colour scheme moved to greens, blues and warm gold accents.
The original fireplaces in the rooms were kept and are now a feature rather than something to work around. They’re genuine, not replicas, though they’re blocked off under London’s smoke laws, so they’re decorative.
We also overhauled the lobby: a refreshed colour scheme, a new seating area, a statement chandelier, and a redesigned front desk that makes check-in smoother.
You can read the full detail of what changed in our Bloomsbury Palace Hotel refurbishment update.
Rooms and Breakfast
All rooms are en-suite, with a TV and complimentary toiletries. A free Continental breakfast is included in your room rate, which is worth knowing if you’re planning an early start at the Museum, it opens at 10am, and the first hour is the quietest.
There are five room types, all refurbished to the same standard:
- Small Single, a garden view, en-suite
- Single, for solo travellers
- Queen Double, compact, en-suite
- Double, our standard double
- Triple, our largest, suited to groups or three sharing
Rooms in a Georgian building vary in size and shape, and some are on the smaller side. You’re paying for the location and a properly refurbished room, not for square footage.
Making the Most of the Museum
A few things worth knowing before you go. Entry to the permanent collection is free. The British Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and stays open until 8.30pm on Fridays, a Friday evening is one of the calmer times to visit. Free timed tickets can be booked in advance, and we’d recommend it in busy periods.
Don’t try to do it all in one go. Pick two or three collections, spend real time with them, come back for a break, and go out again. That’s much easier to do when you’re five minutes away, and it’s the main practical reason to stay in Bloomsbury rather than across town.
Other Crown Hotels in Bloomsbury
We have three hotels on and around Gower Street, so it’s worth knowing the difference.
Bloomsbury Palace Hotel is our most recently refurbished, with breakfast included and five room types including a triple.
Hotel Cavendish and Arran House Hotel are also within a few minutes of the British Museum, with their own layouts and room options.
All three put you in the same part of London. If you’d rather be in the City near Liverpool Street, Great St Helen Hotel is the one to look at. For Farringdon and Clerkenwell, Hatton Garden Hotel is one stop from King’s Cross on the Circle line. For King’s Cross and Eurostar arrivals, Mabledon Court Hotel is eight minutes from St Pancras on foot.
Read how we handle guest feedback for a realistic picture from previous guests, and the behind-the-scenes look at a day in housekeeping for a sense of the standard we work to. For more on Crown Group, we’ve written about who we are.
Check special offers before you book. Book your stay at Bloomsbury Palace Hotel or contact us if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Bloomsbury Palace Hotel from the British Museum? Five minutes on foot. The main entrance on Great Russell Street is a straightforward walk from the hotel on Gower Street.
Is the British Museum free to visit? Yes. Entry to the permanent collection is free. Some temporary exhibitions have a ticket price. Free timed entry slots can be booked in advance at britishmuseum.org.
What time does the British Museum open? 10am to 5pm daily. Fridays until 8.30pm. Check britishmuseum.org for current hours and any changes during public holidays.
What tube station is nearest to Bloomsbury Palace Hotel? Goodge Street on the Northern line is the closest, a few minutes’ walk. Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth, Northern and Central lines) is also nearby. Full journey planning at tfl.gov.uk.
Is breakfast included at Bloomsbury Palace Hotel? Yes. A Continental breakfast is included in the room rate.
Was the hotel recently refurbished? Yes. The refurbishment was completed in December 2025. Every room was done. Full details in our refurbishment update.
Last updated: 28 September 2026
