The station is one of the main rail termini in London and the final stop for international trains departing to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and other destinations in mainland Europe.

The east wing opened on 5 May 1873,[9] with the Midland Railway appointing Herr Etzensberger (formerly of the Victoria Hotel, Venice) as general manager.

[3] The hotel was taken over by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1922 before closing in 1935, by which time its utilities were outdated and too costly to maintain, such as the armies of servants needed to carry chamber pots, tubs, bowls and spittoons.

[3] After closing as a hotel, the building was renamed St Pancras Chambers and used as railway offices, eventually for British Rail.

The former driveway for taxis entering St. Pancras station, passing under the main tower of the building, was converted into the hotel's lobby.

In order to cater for the more modern expectations of guests, a new bedroom wing was constructed on the western side of the Barlow train shed.

[15][16] The exterior and interior of the hotel were used as locations in the 1995 film Richard III starring Ian McKellen, serving as King Edward's Palace.

[17] The 1988 Douglas Adams novel The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul uses the derelict Midland Grand as the real world alternative to the Norse Gods' Valhalla.

[18] He described it as a "huge, dark Gothic fantasy of a building which stands, empty and desolate… its roof line a vast assortment of wild turrets, gnarled spires and pinnacles which seemed to prod at and goad the night sky".