Tuning into the sounds of the city

Right now, The Standard, London hotel in the central King’s Cross district makes a serious claim that when it comes to immersing a guest in the sonic culture of the city, it can match any dedicated music venue. A typical evening might see you starting off in the main bar with a discreet soundtrack of ambient and downtempo—before moving through to the Library Lounge, where you’ll find an eclectic mix of broken beat and upfront electronica played through vintage Tannoy speakers, and selected by the kind of DJs who’ve done serious time behind the counters of the capital’s best independent record stores.

And as the night pushes on, a move up to the hotel’s late-night club space, Sweeties, brings special guests and bigger-than-should-be-here names to play through the club’s custom-built Funktion-One sound system (an Instagram-worthy attraction in its own right). 

The Standard, London’s deep commitment to music culture was evidenced by its opening party in July 2019, when Mark Ronson and Q-Tip played back to back. But rather than just go route one with big-name headliners, the hotel has entrusted the programming to real purists, slowly building the hotel’s sonic credibility. This has paid dividends with the likes of underground Detroit legend Moodymann, R&B innovator Kelela, and your-favorite-DJ’s-favorite-DJ Benji B all showing up here, a lineup that seems unlikely at any other comparable hotel. 

Right now, over 70 DJs a month appear across the hotel’s five spaces, ensuring that whenever you check in, you’ll be greeted by the perfect soundtrack. “Music is an integral part of our brand DNA,” says Stephane Vacher, executive vice president of culture and entertainment, adding that he personally starts curating the ever-evolving playlists long before the hotels even open their doors. “Our programs are designed to be in harmony with the location, design, and overall concept of each venue to create an immersive and holistic experience for our guests,” he says. “It’s a powerful representation of the culture and environments we strive to create.”  

The bigger picture

What guests say

Loved the decor throughout the hotel. Offers a fabulous choice of drinking/dining areas—especially impressed by the live music in the ground-floor bar and amazing views from the rooftop. Outstanding customer service from every member of staff.
Greg, 1-night business trip 


What a fun place to stay. So much character in a hotel. Super close and convenient to King’s Cross St. Pancras station so it made it easy to get to most anywhere in London. If you want to be in central London, this is a great option.
Daisy, 4-night family trip  


The staff was great, the hotel was clean, and it is in a great location. Really cool vibe in the hotel—one of the most fun rooms that I’ve ever stayed in!
Steven, 2-night romance trip