One of Bloomsbury's most recognisable hotel buildings has just had its public spaces quietly transformed. Kimpton Fitzroy London — the grand terracotta landmark that fronts Russell Square — has completed a full redesign of its ground floor, covering the lobby, reception, Fitz's Brasserie, The Parlour, The Snug and the seasonal Summer Terrace.
The centrepiece remains the hotel's famous 19th-century tiled zodiac floor, but the revolve around it has changed. Intimate seating nooks now cluster by the grand staircase, turning the lobby into somewhere to linger rather than just pass through. It's part of a broader shift in hospitality towards hotels acting as 'third spaces' — places that work as a café, lounge or meeting spot whether you're a guest or not.
Interior designer Emily Gunning led the scheme, which leans on the building itself for direction. The palette runs to warm reds, yellows and greens, with mohair, distressed brass, rich timber and curved Art Deco and Mid-Century furniture. The Snug goes moodier, with deep reds and textured upholstery for a more residential feel, while the influences of the Bloomsbury Group — layered, eclectic, lived-in — inform the whole approach.
The best backstory sits in Fitz's Brasserie. The hotel's architect, Charles Fitzroy Doll, was also commissioned to design the First Class dining room aboard the RMS Titanic — reputedly an exact replica of the dining room here. The refreshed brasserie nods to that connection, pairing the grandeur of the original interiors with contemporary finishes and detailing. So yes, you can eat dinner in the land-based twin of the most famous dining room at sea.
For travellers, this matters in a practical way. Kimpton Fitzroy occupies a brilliant position for a London stay: steps from Russell Square tube, walkable to the British Museum, and in the middle of Bloomsbury's literary and university quarter. A hotel whose lobby, snug and terrace are genuinely pleasant places to spend time — not just corridors to your room — makes it a stronger pick for solo travellers, remote workers and anyone who likes a proper hotel-bar evening without leaving the building. If you're planning a London trip and want character and history without boutique-hotel prices, the refreshed ground floor gives this one a fresh argument.