It is located at 252 High Holborn in the Covent Garden neighbourhood of the West End.

The central block was designed by C. Newman and built between 1912 and 1919, while the east block (including Scarfes Bar, named for Gerald Scarfe) was designed by P. Moncton and built between 1929 and 1930.

The south-east extension was designed by Bates & Sinning and built between 1954 and 1956, while the west block (including the Holborn Dining Room) was designed by Bates & Sinning and built between 1959 and 1960.

[6] The hotel's previous fine-dining restaurant, Pearl, played host to the finale of Masterchef: The Professionals (2010).

[7] The 1883 segment of the 2005 Doctor Who online adventure game, "Attack of the Graske", takes place on High Holborn in front of the address at which the hotel would later be constructed.