Opened on April 1, 1852 at a cost of £2,500. It was designed by architect Henry Goddard. Its ownership at the time was linked with that of the Great Northern Railway (GNR).

In 1857 the American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne stayed at the hotel. In 1893 the author Charles Dickens visited the hotel. In 1904 the Prince and Princess of Prussia had breakfast at the hotel.

The hotel was closed to the public during the war and occupied by staff from the railway company's King's Cross office and the two main bedroom wings are thought to have been reserved for VIPs. The hotel reopened in November 1949.

In 1952 Laurel and Hardy stayed at the hotel for 2 weeks at the start of their UK tour. In 1953 Ernie Wise had his wedding at the hotel. There are photos of these events in the restaurant.

The hotel was sold by British Rail in 1982 as part of the denationalisation process.

The front bar is now called the "Sleeper's" after the railway tracks, not drinkers who have imbibed too much, and the restaurant is open to non-residents.