Less than twelve hours after leaving Kentucky, The Cheshire made our first Midwest road-trip overnight feel like part of the adventure.
The Cheshire St. Louis: How We Escaped to Europe Without Leaving St. Louis
A British-inspired boutique hotel, literary details, a James Bond novelty suite and easy access to Forest Park turned our first overnight stop into much more than a place to sleep.
My takeaway: I booked the James Bond Suite expecting the room to be the highlight. I left talking about the character of the entire hotel.
Is The Cheshire St. Louis Worth Staying At?
Yes—especially if you want a hotel with personality rather than a generic overnight stay.
The Cheshire combines British-inspired architecture and décor, literary-themed rooms, unusual novelty suites, distinctive public spaces and a convenient location near Forest Park.
During our stay, the hotel felt like part of our St. Louis experience rather than simply somewhere we returned to at night.
We arrived after Day 1 of our Midwest road trip, after a full day of Route 66 attractions and roadside discoveries in Illinois.
About This Stay
Our stay at The Cheshire St. Louis was hosted as part of my Midwest road-trip coverage.
Hosted stays never guarantee positive coverage. The observations, photographs and recommendations in this article reflect my firsthand experience at the property.
I would happily stay at The Cheshire again, and that conclusion is based on the hotel experience itself—not the partnership.
The Cheshire St. Louis at a Glance
These details combine my June 2026 hosted stay with current planning information published by The Cheshire.
Hotel policies, fees and amenities can change. Check The Cheshire’s official website before booking.
From Route 66 to a British-Inspired Hotel
Less than twelve hours after leaving Richmond, Kentucky, I found myself feeling as though I had somehow returned to London.
I hadn’t crossed the Atlantic again.
We had simply checked into The Cheshire St. Louis.
Only weeks earlier, I had been photographing London architecture, parks and historic details. Walking into a hotel in Missouri that intentionally embraced a British aesthetic immediately brought some of those memories back.
I expected the themed room to be entertaining.
What surprised me was how completely the hotel itself became part of our St. Louis story.
The Cheshire became our home base for the St. Louis portion of the Midwest road trip.
Comfortable public spaces and British-inspired details immediately gave the hotel a distinctive identity.
A Hotel That Didn’t Feel Like a Chain
The lobby immediately pulled me in with comfortable seating areas, rich wood finishes, stained-glass details and British-inspired décor.
A traditional guard figure near the entrance reinforced the theme without making the space feel like an amusement attraction.
What worked for me was the balance.
The hotel had personality, but the design still felt like a place where guests could relax rather than a collection of themed props.
Before we ever reached the James Bond Suite, I was already photographing the lobby and public spaces.
The Public Spaces Became Part of the Stay
The Cheshire is the kind of hotel that rewards wandering.
Quiet corners, sitting areas, woodwork, stained glass and decorative details repeatedly gave me another reason to stop and look around.
Rather than treating the lobby as a space to hurry through, I found myself wanting to slow down.
As a photographer, that mattered.
I took nearly 80 photographs during our stay and could easily have taken more.
For travelers who appreciate architecture and interior details, the hotel offers much more visual interest than a conventional overnight property.
The hotel’s sitting rooms encouraged us to slow down rather than treat the property as simply somewhere to sleep.
The British details felt especially familiar after my recent trip to London.
Why the British Theme Worked for Me
Having recently returned from London, I probably noticed details here that might have blended into the background for another traveler.
The Tudor-inspired architecture, British references, dark wood and literary atmosphere repeatedly reminded me of places I had just visited overseas.
It wasn’t London, of course.
What I appreciated was that The Cheshire created its own interpretation of British character without feeling as though it was trying to reproduce one specific place.
The result felt playful, comfortable and memorable.
Inside the James Bond Novelty Suite
I knew we were staying in the James Bond Suite. What surprised me most was how spacious and comfortable it felt.
The suite was larger than I expected and gave us plenty of room to spread out after a full day on the road.
Rather than filling every inch with movie memorabilia, the James Bond theme appeared through artwork, colors and distinctive furnishings.
That restraint kept the room fun without making it feel overly themed.
The separate sitting space was especially useful after long sightseeing days when I wanted to sit down, review photographs and plan the next part of the trip.
The James Bond Suite offered a spacious sitting area in addition to its themed bedroom.
The Bond references added personality without overwhelming the room.
A Novelty Suite That Still Felt Like a Hotel Room
The nostalgic artwork and vintage-inspired design became some of my favorite details.
What worked particularly well was that the room still functioned as comfortable lodging.
A themed suite can easily become more entertaining than practical, but our space gave us room to relax while still delivering the sense of fun I hoped for when booking it.
Even travelers who are only casual James Bond fans can appreciate the novelty of staying somewhere different.
Then There Was the Red Chair
Every themed hotel room needs at least one feature that becomes a conversation piece.
In the James Bond Suite, that was the red chair.
Part furniture, part art and part movie-set personality, it immediately stood out from everything else in the room.
It was quirky, memorable and completely appropriate for a Bond-themed suite.
The red chair might have been the most memorable individual design element in the suite.
The seasonal pool gave us a chance to stop sightseeing and actually enjoy the hotel.
A Relaxing Afternoon by the Pool
Craig and I spent about an hour and a half enjoying the hotel’s outdoor pool during our stay.
The atmosphere felt relaxed and family-friendly without being overly crowded.
After several busy travel days, simply staying at the hotel for part of an afternoon felt like a luxury.
The Cheshire currently lists its seasonal outdoor pool as open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily when in season.
The Cabana Made It Feel More Like a Resort Stay
Having a private cabana elevated our pool afternoon considerably.
The shaded space gave us somewhere to relax between swims and helped separate the experience from the constant movement of the road trip.
It was a useful reminder that a hotel can be part of the itinerary rather than simply the place you leave every morning.
The Cheshire continues to offer poolside cabana options, although availability and pricing should be confirmed directly with the hotel.
Our private cabana gave us a shaded space to relax during an afternoon at the pool.
Fox & Hounds continues the British character of the hotel with wood finishes and a cozy English-pub atmosphere.
Fox & Hounds Tavern
I didn’t have a meal at Fox & Hounds during our visit, but I did spend time exploring and photographing the space.
Rather than feeling like a generic hotel bar, the room continued the English-country atmosphere established throughout the property.
Rich wood, comfortable seating and the large stone fireplace created a warm environment that felt connected to the hotel rather than added as an afterthought.
The hotel currently lists Fox & Hounds among several on-site dining options, along with Basso and Starbucks.
A Hotel That Rewards Looking Closely
I photographed nearly 80 images during our stay.
The attraction wasn’t one dramatic view. It was the number of smaller details spread throughout the property.
Stained glass, woodwork, vintage-style furniture, themed rooms, architectural details and cozy gathering areas continually created new compositions.
For travel photographers, boutique hotels like The Cheshire can be especially interesting because the story extends beyond the guest room.
Photo tip: Don’t limit yourself to the novelty suite. Some of my favorite details were in the lobby, sitting rooms, hallways and exterior spaces.
Stained glass and architectural details provided some of my favorite hotel photographs.
The Cheshire’s location near Forest Park made it a useful base for our St. Louis stay.
A Convenient Base Near Forest Park
One of The Cheshire’s strongest practical advantages is its location.
Forest Park is only a short drive away, placing major St. Louis attractions within easy reach of the hotel.
During our stay, we took a brief drive through the park after arriving and immediately realized it deserved far more time than we could give it that evening.
The property is also near Washington University and positioned for exploring other parts of the city.
For our road trip, that location allowed us to enjoy a distinctive hotel without feeling disconnected from the St. Louis experiences we had planned.
This Hotel Is Best for Travelers Who Want Personality
The Cheshire will appeal most to travelers who consider their hotel part of the destination rather than simply a bed for the night.
Boutique-Hotel Travelers
If you’d rather stay somewhere with a strong identity than in a standardized hotel room, The Cheshire delivers plenty of character.
Architecture & Photography Fans
The Tudor-inspired exterior, stained glass, woodwork and interior details offer plenty to notice and photograph.
Novelty-Suite Fans
The James Bond Suite gave us a memorable room experience, and the property offers additional literary and themed accommodations.
Forest Park Visitors
The hotel’s location makes it particularly useful for travelers planning to spend time around Forest Park and nearby attractions.
Travelers Who Need a Break
A pool, comfortable sitting areas and on-site amenities made it easy for us to spend part of a day enjoying the property itself.
Travelers Wanting Something Memorable
The hotel’s personality works for different types of travelers as long as they appreciate character over a minimalist chain-hotel aesthetic.
Current Cheshire Planning Information
These details reflect information currently published by the hotel and may change after this article is updated.
Check-In & Checkout
The Cheshire currently lists check-in at 4:00 p.m. and checkout at 11:00 a.m.
Complimentary Breakfast
Breakfast is currently listed as complimentary for hotel guests and available daily from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Parking
Parking was complimentary during our 2026 stay, but that has changed. The hotel’s current FAQ lists self-parking at $10. The underground garage has a published clearance of 6 feet 6 inches.
Seasonal Pool
The outdoor pool is currently listed as open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily during its operating season.
Fitness
The hotel currently lists a 24-hour fitness center for guests.
Verify Before Booking
Fees, room categories, amenities and policies can change. Review the official Cheshire FAQ before finalizing your stay.
Would I Stay at The Cheshire Again?
Absolutely.
In fact, I’d be interested in returning specifically to experience a different themed suite.
The James Bond Suite was fun, but the larger reason I would return is the personality of the hotel itself.
I enjoyed having public spaces worth exploring, a convenient location for sightseeing and enough character that the hotel remained memorable after the road trip ended.
The Cheshire wasn’t simply where we slept in St. Louis.
It became one of the places we experienced.
The hotel’s character—not only the James Bond Suite—is the main reason I would return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Cheshire St. Louis worth staying at?
Yes, particularly for travelers who enjoy boutique hotels, themed accommodations and properties with more character than a standard chain hotel. I would stay there again.
Where is The Cheshire located?
The Cheshire is located at 6300 Clayton Road in St. Louis, Missouri, near Forest Park and Washington University.
Does The Cheshire offer complimentary breakfast?
Yes. The hotel’s current FAQ lists complimentary breakfast daily from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Is parking free at The Cheshire St. Louis?
Not currently. Parking was complimentary during our 2026 stay, but the hotel’s current FAQ lists self-parking at $10. Check the hotel directly for the latest fee before arrival.
Does The Cheshire have themed rooms?
Yes. The hotel offers literary-inspired rooms and several distinctive novelty and specialty suites. We stayed in the James Bond Novelty Suite.
Is The Cheshire close to Forest Park?
Yes. Forest Park is a short drive from the hotel, making The Cheshire a convenient base for exploring the park and several major St. Louis attractions.
Explore More of Our St. Louis Story
The Cheshire was our first overnight stop, but it was only the beginning of what we experienced in St. Louis.
Back to Day 1
See the Route 66 attractions, murals and roadside discoveries that brought us from Kentucky to St. Louis.
Explore City Museum
Our St. Louis adventures continued inside one of the most unusual attractions I’ve ever visited.
See the Complete Road Trip
Follow the full nine-day journey through eight states, from Route 66 and St. Louis to Wichita, Oklahoma City and Little Rock.
About Angela
Angela Addington is the travel photographer and writer behind Lenses & Latitudes. She shares firsthand destination guidance and practical photography advice for independent and solo travelers, women over 50, road-trippers and weekend explorers. Learn more about Angela.
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