Midland Hotel

The Midland Hotel stands on Morecambe’s seafront as a fine example of Streamline Moderne architecture. Built in 1933 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, it was designed by Oliver Hill with sculptures by Eric Gill and murals by Eric Ravilious. The curved building faces the sea with a circular tower at its centre, while a café occupies the northern end. Two Art Deco seahorses decorate the front, visible from the rooftop terrace. The hotel replaced an earlier Midland Hotel from 1871 and a failed Heysham hotel converted from a private house. During the Second World War the hotel became a station hospital for RAF Morecambe, treating thousands of patients. By June 1941 it had handled 3,700 cases, including 160 major operations, and provided spectacles for over 1,000 airmen. Princess Mary visited in 1941 alongside Air Vice-Marshal William Tyrrell. After the war the building passed through railway and state hands before falling into disrepair. A major restoration by Urban Splash and Union North reopened it in 2008. Inside, guests find streamlined public rooms and original Art Deco details. The circular entrance hall leads to a spiral staircase in the central tower. Outside, the curved façade follows the promenade’s line, offering wide views across the North West coast. The nearby former Morecambe Promenade railway station links the building to its railway origins. Films like The Entertainer and episodes of Poirot have used the hotel as a backdrop, adding to its cultural presence.