Kimpton Fitzroy London’s ground floor just got a rethink, its bespoke furniture, antiques and layered textures replace the usual lobby, making it a spot where you’d actually want to linger…
The Bloomsbury icon Kimpton Fitzroy London has unveiled its glamorous redesign of its ground floor, spanning the Lobby and reception through to Fitz’s Brasserie, The Parlour, The Snug and seasonal Summer Terrace.
The transformation brings a new energy to the hotel’s already iconic interiors, evolving the lobby into a destination in its own right. Alongside the landmarks 19th-century tiled zodiac floor, guests and visitors can now discover intimate seating nooks surrounding the grand staircase, designed for pause, conversation, informal working or simply a quiet moment with a great book.
The redesign reflects a wider shift within hospitality towards hotels as ‘third spaces’: destinations that sit between home and work, where guests and locals can come together to work, meet, dine and socialise throughout the day.
Image credit: Kimpton Fitzroy London
Inspired by the building’s historic architecture and Bloomsbury’s creative heritage, the revamp introduces bespoke furniture, banquette seating, antiques and layered materials that bring warmth and tactility to the hotel’s public spaces.
Garreth Walsh, General Manager, said: “This redesign is about creating a series of connected spaces that feel more open, more flexible and more human; somewhere guests and locals can naturally move between moments of work, relaxation and socialising. It’s about making the hotel feel more lived-in, more welcoming, and more relevant to how people use urban hotels today, while still celebrating the building’s incredible heritage.”
Interior designer Emily Gunning added: “The overall vision was to create a feeling of relaxed luxury throughout the ground floor. “The building itself was the starting point. With a hotel like Kimpton Fitzroy London, it was important to let the history and architecture guide the design, so the scheme feels as though it belongs rather than competes with it. Bloomsbury’s creative history was also a key reference, particularly the spirit of the Bloomsbury Group; layered, eclectic and lived-in. The furniture draws on Art Deco and Mid-Century influences, with curved upholstery, dark timber, brass detailing and rich fabrics helping the spaces feel rooted in the building, while still feeling fresh and contemporary.”
Image credit: Kimpton Fitzroy London
The refurbishment is supported by a new full-day service across the ground floor, extending beyond traditional dining into a more informal, all-day offer. Guests can now enjoy a relaxed menu anywhere on the ground floor, with service extending beyond Fitz’s Brasserie and into The Parlour and the Lobby itself.
Materiality and colour are used to define each space. The Entrance Lobby features warm reds, yellows and greens, alongside mohair, distressed brass, rich timber and softly shaped upholstery. The Snug uses deeper reds, rich timbers and textured upholstery, creating a more intimate, residential atmosphere rooted in the building’s original character.
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- Image credit: Kimpton Fitzroy
The redesign of Fitz’s Brasserie is inspired by one of the building’s most fascinating historical connections. Kimpton Fitzroy London’s architect, Charles Fitzroy Doll, was also commissioned to design the First Class dining room aboard the RMS Titanic, which is said to have been an exact replica of the dining room found within the hotel. The redesigned space pays homage to this remarkable heritage, blending the grandeur of the original interiors with a fresh contemporary feel. Rich colours, elegant detailing and carefully chosen finishes celebrate the building’s past while ensuring the space feels just as relevant today as it did over a century ago.
The result is a contemporary interpretation of luxury hospitality that respects the grandeur of one of London’s most iconic hotels, while reflecting how people increasingly use hotels today: as places to gather, work, socialise and spend time. Kimpton Fitzroy London’s redesigned ground floor is now open to guests, visitors and Bloomsbury locals.
> Since you’re here, why not check out more hotel lobby design ideas?
Main image credit: Kimpton Fitzroy London
