Culture, Design & Evening Rhythms: A Lifestyle Guide to Staying at The Imperial

There are London stays built around seeing as much of the city as possible. Then there are those that leave room for getting a little lost in it.

At The Imperial, Russell Square and the wider neighbourhood of Bloomsbury set the pace. Mornings begin above the rooftops. Afternoons might disappear between bookshops, galleries and garden squares. Come evening, London looks different again from ten floors up at Arcus, before the night slows down over a final drink at Edit.

The Imperial takes its cues from the neighbourhood around it. Modernist architecture meets considered interiors, contemporary art and subtle references to Bloomsbury’s creative past. Rather than simply giving you somewhere to return to after a day in London, the hotel becomes part of the day itself.

For anyone looking for a hotel in central London with a little more personality, this is a place worth lingering in.

Set your own pace in the cultural heart of Bloomsbury.

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What Makes The Imperial a Different Kind of London Stay?

The Imperial has been part of Russell Square for generations, but its latest chapter looks firmly forward.

Its modernist architecture has been thoughtfully reimagined rather than disguised, with mid-century influences, contemporary artwork and carefully considered spaces bringing a new energy to a familiar Bloomsbury landmark. The building’s story still makes itself known, only now in quieter, more unexpected ways.

That approach carries through the hotel.

Bedrooms are designed with different kinds of stays in mind rather than following the same formula from door to door. Social spaces encourage you to settle in rather than simply pass through them. There is somewhere to stretch and reset on the Wellness Terrace, somewhere to pause over a drink at Edit, and an entirely different perspective waiting upstairs at Arcus.

The Studio and secluded outdoor Wellness Terrace have been created as spaces for working out, stretching and switching off, while The Bell Room & Terrace offers guests staying in premium rooms a quieter place to slow down. 

It means a stay here can move with you. Out into London when curiosity calls, back inside when you need a pause, and upstairs when the city lights begin to appear.

And through it all, Bloomsbury is never far away.

From Bloomsbury Mornings to Cosy London Evenings

Perhaps the best way to understand The Imperial is to spend a day here.

Start Slowly with Views Over Bloomsbury

Open the curtains before checking your phone.

London is already on the move below, but there is no need to join it just yet. Make coffee in your room, take in the view, then head upstairs for breakfast at Arcus.

Breakfast is served on the tenth floor from 7am to 11am, with the city stretching out beyond the windows. It is a rather good way to get your bearings. 

For a hotel in central London, there is something unexpectedly peaceful about starting the morning above it all. You can watch Bloomsbury wake up while deciding what, if anything, should make the day’s itinerary.

Sometimes the best London plans begin without much of a plan at all.

Spend the Day Exploring Bloomsbury’s Cultural Side

Step outside and the character of Bloomsbury reveals itself gradually.

Russell Square provides the greenery. Nearby streets lead towards bookshops, galleries and handsome Georgian squares. The British Museum sits within the neighbourhood, while Covent Garden and the theatres of the West End are close enough to become part of an afternoon wander rather than an expedition across the city.

But Bloomsbury rewards the spaces between the landmarks too.

There are quiet corners for coffee, bookshops worth emerging from much later than intended and streets where plaques, façades and old doorways hint at the generations of writers, artists and thinkers who have called the neighbourhood home.

That creative character feels particularly at ease with The Imperial. The hotel does not simply happen to have a Bloomsbury postcode. The neighbourhood has helped shape the experience within it.

Explore more: Discover our wider guides to Bloomsbury

Return for Some Downtime

London can be wonderfully distracting. Which makes knowing when to pause something of an art.

Come back to The Imperial in the afternoon and let the next few hours remain deliberately unplanned.

Perhaps that means a bath with the city framed beyond the window. Perhaps it is crisp air on a private terrace followed by the warmth of your room. Or perhaps you head to the Studio and Wellness Terrace for time to stretch, breathe and switch off. The hotel’s Studio opens directly onto its secluded outdoor Wellness Terrace.

There are quieter corners throughout the hotel too. The kind made for opening the book you bought earlier, having another coffee or simply watching the afternoon move along without you.

No sightseeing required.

Watch London Change After Dark

Then follow the lift upwards.

Ten floors above Bloomsbury, Arcus Rooftop Bar & Restaurant turns the London skyline into part of the evening.

The 324-seat rooftop is inspired by one of London’s less predictable characters: the weather. As daylight fades, its mood shifts with it. Golden-hour light gives way to illuminated windows and city silhouettes, cocktails arrive at the table and somewhere below, London’s evening rush carries on. 

Stay for dinner, choose a seasonal cocktail or simply watch the skyline change. Arcus is open from morning until late, with breakfast, brunch and all-day dining giving hotel guests plenty of opportunities to experience the rooftop without crossing the city. Some nights are better without another Tube journey.

End the Night at Edit

Back at ground level, Edit Bar & Lounge offers a quieter ending.

Set beside the lobby at the heart of The Imperial’s open-plan ground floor, Edit moves easily between coffee, dining, impromptu drinks and post-dinner pours. 

After the openness of the rooftop, its atmosphere feels more intimate. Find a corner. Order the nightcap. Return to the conversation you hadn’t quite finished upstairs. There is nowhere else you need to be.

Find Your Room at The Imperial

Choosing a room at The Imperial is less about working your way up a list of categories and more about deciding how you want your stay to feel.

Hideaway: For Private Terrace Time

For guests who like a little privacy with their London view, Hideaway gives you something increasingly rare in central London: your own outdoor space.

Step onto the private terrace and take in the city from the standalone outdoor tub. In the cooler months, that might mean crisp air outside for as long as you fancy before retreating into the warmth. In summer, the terrace becomes somewhere to slow down long after you have returned from the city. Either way, Hideaway gives you another reason not to rush back out.

Horizon: For Soaking Up the View

Some London views are made for looking at. Horizon encourages you to settle in and stay a while. With the bath positioned beside the window, the room turns downtime into part of the experience. Run the water, watch the city outside and let your evening begin slowly. It is particularly suited to couples, weekend stays and anyone who believes the room should be more than somewhere to leave a suitcase.

Beacon: For Space to Settle In

Beacon is for stays that deserve a little breathing room.

On the ninth floor, the Beacon Suite offers 57 square metres of space with panoramic views across London, alongside a separate dining and lounge area, walk-in wardrobe and a bathtub with a view. For longer stays, celebrations or simply travellers who enjoy having room to settle in properly, it gives you somewhere that feels good to return to.

Sometimes space is the real luxury.

Room comparison module

• Hideaway | Best for: Private terrace time
• Horizon | Best for: Bath-with-a-view moments
• Beacon | Best for: Longer stays and more space

Why Bloomsbury Suits a Culture-Led London Break

There is a reason Bloomsbury has long attracted curious minds. Its literary and artistic history is well documented, but it is the way that history sits alongside everyday London that makes the neighbourhood so easy to spend time in.

Grand Georgian terraces meet leafy garden squares. Independent bookshops sit alongside cafés. Museums and galleries offer an easy answer to a rainy afternoon. And despite being remarkably central, there are streets here where the pace feels a little removed from London’s busiest shopping districts.

The British Museum provides one of the neighbourhood’s great cultural anchors, while Covent Garden and the West End lie beyond Bloomsbury’s southern edge. Russell Square Underground station also makes it easy to explore further afield. Stay at The Imperial and that contrast becomes part of the experience.

You can join London when you want to. Then step back into Bloomsbury when you don’t.

A Stay for Every Kind of London Escape

No two London weekends look quite the same. The Imperial leaves room for that.

For couples:
Choose a room where staying in feels just as considered as going out. Add rooftop drinks, dinner overlooking London and a slower final drink at Edit.

For design-conscious travellers:
Look a little closer. The Imperial’s modernist architecture, mid-century influences, contemporary artwork and individual room concepts reward curiosity.

For culture-led city breaks:
Start with Bloomsbury. The British Museum, garden squares and bookshops are nearby, with Covent Garden and the West End ready when you feel like venturing further.

For returning London visitors:
Skip the race between landmarks. Take your time with a neighbourhood, find a new favourite café and see a more local side of central London.

For special occasions:
Choose a room with a little more space, linger over dinner and finish the evening above the skyline at Arcus.

When The Imperial Really Comes Into Its Own

London becomes particularly good at persuading you indoors once the temperature drops.

In autumn, Bloomsbury’s garden squares change colour and evenings arrive a little earlier, making warm rooms and rooftop sunsets all the more inviting.

November and December bring a different rhythm. The surrounding streets glow with festive lights, theatres fill up for the season and London’s winter traditions return.

January offers the opposite pleasure: quieter streets, museum afternoons and crisp walks around Russell Square. By February, a bath overlooking London, dinner upstairs and nowhere particular to rush afterwards make a compelling case for a weekend away.

The weather may change. The plan doesn’t have to.

Planning Your Stay at The Imperial

Once you’ve pictured the stay, here are a few practical details worth knowing.

Where is The Imperial?
The Imperial is at 61–66 Russell Square in Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5BB. 

Which room should I choose?
Consider what matters most to your trip. Hideaway works beautifully if private outdoor space is part of the appeal, Horizon puts the view at the centre of your downtime, while Beacon offers considerably more room to settle in.

For a particular room experience, we recommend booking the specific category rather than leaving the room type open.

Do I need restaurant reservations?
Hotel guests do not need reservations for Edit Bar & Lounge. Reservations are recommended for Arcus and strongly encouraged for Bancone.

Can hotel guests visit Arcus?
Yes. Arcus sits on The Imperial’s tenth floor and welcomes guests from breakfast onwards. Walk-ins are accepted subject to availability, although booking ahead is recommended. 

Does The Imperial have wellness facilities?
Yes. The Studio features Technogym equipment and opens directly onto the secluded outdoor Wellness Terrace, which is designed for working out, stretching and switching off. 

What time are check-in and check-out?
Check the latest times when booking or before arrival, as these practical details can change.

Make The Imperial Part of Your London Story

Come for Bloomsbury. Stay for the parts you did not plan.

A morning above the rooftops. A bookshop discovered on the way somewhere else. An afternoon spent doing very little. Cocktails as London changes colour beneath you, followed by one last drink downstairs.

The Imperial is a central London hotel, but the best stays here aren’t really about being in the centre of everything. They’re about finding your own rhythm within it.

FAQs

When do the leaves change colour in London?

London’s autumn colour usually begins to emerge from late September, with October and early November often bringing richer seasonal shades. Bloomsbury’s garden squares and tree-lined streets make this a particularly lovely time to explore the area on foot.

Is Bloomsbury a good area to explore on foot?

Yes. Bloomsbury is particularly walkable, with garden squares, museums, bookshops and cafés woven through relatively compact streets. Staying around Russell Square also places you within walking distance of areas including Covent Garden and the West End.

What can you do in Bloomsbury on a rainy day?

Start with the British Museum, then make the weather an excuse to explore Bloomsbury’s bookshops, galleries and cafés. And if the rain decides to settle in for the day, returning to The Imperial for a slow afternoon means you don’t need to force the itinerary.

How long do you need to explore Bloomsbury?

You can see some of Bloomsbury’s best-known landmarks in half a day, but the neighbourhood is better when you give it time. A full day leaves room for the British Museum, its garden squares, bookshops and a few unplanned stops along the way.

Is Bloomsbury close to Covent Garden and the West End?

Yes. Bloomsbury sits just north of Covent Garden and the West End, making it easy to combine quieter neighbourhood exploring with shopping, dining and an evening at the theatre.