[3] The hotel was designed by Francis Thompson for the North Midland Railway and built by Thomas Jackson of Pimlico.

It opened in 1841 as the Midland Hotel and Posting House and is today a grade II listed building.

[4][5][6] On 28 September 1849, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Royal Family stayed overnight in the hotel whilst travelling back from Balmoral Castle to Osborne House.

[5] The original building is of red brick construction with a rectangular plan, three storeys high with seven bays at the front.

The main entrance, originally on the Midland Road side, was moved to face the station during the 1930s expansion.