Designed in 1864 by Victorian architect E.M. Barrie, the Charing Cross hotel is housed in an imposing station building with an ornate brown stone exterior. Inside, key features such as the domed ceiling in the Betjeman Room (named after the poet John Betjeman) have been beautifully restored. The spacious lobby features a marble floor and an expansive wood-panelled reception desk. The 239 guestrooms are decorated either in a modern style, with pine furnishings and Art Deco lamps, or in a traditional style, with floral fabrics, dark-wood furnishings, and faux-candle wall lights. Regardless of their design, all rooms feature etchings that depict Victorian London. They are also clean and well maintained, as are the tiled en suite bathrooms. The hotel offers a variety of dining options. The small “Co Motion Restaurant” serves British cuisine and offers good views of the river. The Strand Bar & Lounge, with its large marble fireplace and four crystal chandeliers, serves light fare, cocktails and afternoon tea, while the Strand Terrace offers a global menu in a candlelit ambience. Guests can also enjoy a generous hot and cold buffet breakfast in the Betjeman Room.