Some places are worth staying in simply because of where they are. Others are worth staying in because of what they once were. The latter often come with details you would not find in a hotel built from scratch. A staircase worn smooth over the years, tall classroom windows, old wooden doors or a grand hall can give you a sense of the lives that came before.
Around the world, former schools have been transformed into intimate hotels and luxury stays, while retaining details of their academic pasts. For travellers who enjoy hotels with character, these properties offer more than a place to stay. Their architecture and histories are part of the experience.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, Kyoto
Set in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu occupies a former school building overlooking one of the city's most historic neighbourhoods. Its 48 rooms have been created from the old classrooms, with contemporary interiors sitting alongside details such as long wooden corridors, arched windows, tiled stairways and the original Spanish roof tiles.
The former playground is now a landscaped courtyard, while the old school auditorium has become the Restaurant Library, a dining space lined with more than 1,100 books. A rooftop bar adds another reason to linger, with views across Higashiyama. The property has also been recognised with a One MICHELIN Key and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
From Community School To Kyoto Stay
The story of the school dates to 1869, when it was established as a community-funded bangumi elementary school. These schools emerged before Japan introduced a national education system and were supported by local communities. The present structure was relocated and rebuilt on its current hillside site in 1933.
Kiyomizu Elementary School continued to operate here until 2011. Almost a decade later, the building reopened as a hotel after a careful renovation led by Aoyama Nomura Design. Rather than removing its past, the restoration kept many of the school's original architectural features and incorporated them into the new hotel.
The Information
Address: 2-204-2 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-city, Kyoto
Tariff: From approximately ¥150,000 (around INR 91,000) per night; rates may vary depending on season and availability.
Contact: +81 75-532-1111
Website: princehotels.com/seiryu-kiyomizu
The LaLiT London, London
Near Tower Bridge, The LaLiT London is housed in a striking Victorian red-brick building where the architecture is almost as much a part of the stay as the rooms. The 70-room hotel combines the property's historic character with contemporary interiors and touches of Indian hospitality, creating a setting that feels quite different from a conventional luxury hotel.
The former Great Assembly Hall is now home to Baluchi, where Indian flavours meet contemporary techniques. The restaurant retains the hall's original dark wood panelling and gallery balconies. Elsewhere, the building's brickwork, vaulted ceilings and oak doors have been preserved, while the rooms bring in modern comforts.
A Victorian-Era Legacy
Designed by Victorian architect Edward Mountford, the building opened in 1893 as St Olave's Grammar School for Boys. It was an important local institution for generations before the school eventually moved away from the building, leaving behind one of Southwark's distinctive Victorian structures.
Its transformation into a hotel took five years, with restoration work focused on protecting the building's original details. The old assembly hall, offices and architectural features were incorporated rather than stripped away. Today, guests can dine in a space where students once gathered and stay within a building that has moved from education to hospitality.
The Information
Address: 181 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2JR, United Kingdom
Tariff: From approximately £320 (around INR 40,000) per night; rates may vary depending on season and availability.
Contact: +44 (0)20 3765 0000; london@thelalit.com
Website: thelalit.co.uk
Ballyfin Demesne, County Laois
Spread across 614 acres in County Laois, Ballyfin Demesne feels more like a private country estate than a conventional hotel. There are just 21 rooms, giving the property an intimate atmosphere, while the interiors bring together antiques, period details and original fireplaces. Much of the experience is about having time and space to explore the estate.
The grounds include landscaped gardens, woodland and a private lake, with experiences ranging from boating to falconry. Inside, an extensive library adds to the country-house atmosphere. The restoration has kept the sense of a grand Irish estate, while the small number of rooms makes the property feel particularly private.
The Years As Ballyfin College
Ballyfin was originally built in the 1820s as a Regency mansion for the Coote family. In 1928, the estate was sold to the Patrician Brothers and took on a completely different role as Ballyfin College. It operated as a boarding school for nearly 80 years.
After the school closed, the estate underwent a nine-year restoration to bring back much of its earlier grandeur. Institutional additions were removed and the historic interiors and grounds were carefully restored. The result is a country-house hotel that carries traces of both its aristocratic origins and its long academic chapter.
The Information
Address: Ballyfin, County Laois, R32 X5X8, Ireland
Tariff: From approximately €1360 (around INR 1,47,000) per night; rates may vary depending on season and availability.
Contact: +353 (0)57 875 5866; info@ballyfin.com
Website: ballyfin.com
Washington School House Hotel, Park City
In Park City's historic district, Washington School House Hotel is an intimate 12-suite property built around the character of its original limestone structure. Inside, the former schoolhouse has been redesigned as an alpine luxury hotel, with spacious rooms, high ceilings and large windows that make the most of the building's proportions.
The interiors combine the old structure with contemporary touches, including a striking crystal chandelier. Outside, a heated pool has been carved into the hillside, while a dedicated ski valet caters to guests visiting Park City's slopes. Its small size also gives the hotel a quieter feel than many larger mountain resorts.
Park City’s Old Schoolhouse
Built in 1889, the building was one of Park City's early public schoolhouses and served children from the local mining community. Constructed from local limestone, it was part of the town's early architectural landscape and remained in use long after its days as a school ended.
The building later became a veterans' hall before eventually standing vacant. Its conversion into a hotel retained the historic limestone shell while reworking the interiors around the original 16-foot ceilings and large windows. Today, the building's schoolhouse character remains an important part of its identity.
The Information
Address: 543 Park Avenue, Park City, Utah 84060, USA
Tariff: From approximately USD 650 (around INR 62,000) per night; rates may vary depending on season and availability.
Contact: +1 435-649-3800; info@washingtonschoolhouse.com
Website: washingtonschoolhouse.com
Il Salviatino, Tuscany
On the hills of Fiesole overlooking Florence, Il Salviatino offers a good alternative to staying in the city centre. The historic villa is surrounded by manicured gardens and offers views towards the Duomo, while its rooms and public spaces combine Renaissance architecture with the comforts of a luxury hotel.
The estate's gardens and Tuscan setting are central to the experience, with dining that draws from local and estate-grown produce. Frescoes and period details remain visible throughout the property. It is close enough to Florence for exploring the city but removed enough to feel like a countryside retreat.
A Villa With An Academic Past
Il Salviatino began as a Renaissance villa built for Florentine aristocrats. Centuries later, it took on a very different role when it became home to Stanford University's Stanford in Italy programme. From 1973 to 1987, the estate served as an overseas campus, with spaces used for classrooms, academic activities and student accommodation.
During its restoration, hidden 19th-century frescoes were discovered beneath later layers and carefully brought back to life. The property has since returned to a very different kind of hospitality, but its academic chapter remains part of its layered history. Today, Renaissance heritage, university history and contemporary luxury coexist within the same estate.
The Information
Address: Via del Salviatino 21, 50137 Firenze, Italy
Tariff: From approximately €700 (around INR 75,000) per night; rates may vary depending on season and availability.
Contact: +39 055 9041111; reservations@salviatino.com
Website: salviatino.com
FAQs
Q1. Which hotels around the world were once schools?
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, The LaLiT London, Ballyfin Demesne, Washington School House Hotel and Il Salviatino are five former educational properties featured in this story.
Q2. Which hotel in Kyoto was once a school?
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu occupies the former Kiyomizu Elementary School building in Kyoto's Higashiyama district.
Q3. Was The LaLiT London originally a school?
Yes. The building opened in 1893 as St Olave's Grammar School for Boys and was later transformed into The LaLiT London.
Q4. Was Ballyfin Demesne a school?
Yes. The estate became Ballyfin College in 1928 after being acquired by the Patrician Brothers and operated as a boarding school for nearly 80 years.
Q5. What was Washington School House Hotel before it became a hotel?
The building was constructed in 1889 as one of Park City's early public schoolhouses. It later served as a veterans' hall before being converted into a hotel.
