The Imperial Bloomsbury has officially reopened today, 14 August, following a major transformation more than a decade in the making.
The reopening marks the beginning of what Imperial London Hotels describes as the property’s third chapter and introduces the family-owned group’s first lifestyle hotel.
Overlooking Russell Square, the reimagined hotel comprises 357 guestrooms and suites alongside new food and beverage, wellness and guest spaces.
The Imperial’s history in Bloomsbury dates back to 1905, when the original neo-Gothic hotel was designed by architect Charles Fitzroy Doll.
That original building was demolished in 1966 before The Imperial returned in its current Modernist form around 1969–70, designed by Charles Lovett Gill. The 2026 transformation retains elements of that architectural identity while repositioning the property for a new generation of guests.
Accommodation ranges from Bay Rooms, characterised by the building’s angular windows and views across Russell Square, to Hideaway rooms with private outdoor terraces and standalone bathtubs.
The Nest is among the hotel’s largest accommodation options and includes a mezzanine lounge with an 86-inch screen and L-shaped sofa.
Premium-room guests will also have access to The Bell Room & Terrace, a dedicated space incorporating all-day refreshments and outdoor seating.
The hotel’s wider public areas include Edit Bar & Lounge, positioned as an all-day space for dining, drinks, meetings and informal socialising.
On the tenth floor, Arcus forms one of the principal additions to the transformed property.
The 324-seat rooftop bar and restaurant offers panoramic views across London and has been developed around a season-led food and drinks offer. Imperial London Hotels describes the space as a rooftop destination influenced by London’s changing weather, with a private dining area also incorporated into the venue.
The reopening follows a wider effort to retain references to the property’s past throughout its new interiors.
Imperial London Hotels said the colour palette draws inspiration from stained glass used in the original 1905 building, while five historic bells remain in the courtyard. Artwork throughout the hotel also references the Modernist period associated with its late-1960s reconstruction.
The transformation represents the latest stage in Imperial London Hotels’ long association with Bloomsbury.
The family-owned business has operated in the neighbourhood since the 19th century and today has a portfolio of hotels including the Royal National, President, Bedford, Tavistock, Morton and City Sleeper alongside The Imperial.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Cherie Anne Stephenson, who joined Imperial London Hotels as a receptionist in 1981 before progressing to a group-wide role within Central Reservations.
Her involvement in the ceremony was intended to reflect the continuity between the hotel’s history and its latest redevelopment.
The reopening also follows the appointment of a new leadership team headed by General Manager Remus Obertelli.
H&C News previously reported in July that Obertelli would lead the hotel alongside a senior team spanning operations, food and beverage, sales, people and culinary leadership ahead of its 14 August opening.
The Imperial is now open to guests as Imperial London Hotels looks to establish its first lifestyle property as a destination for both visitors and the surrounding Bloomsbury community.
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