Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United Kingdom / London / Trafalgar St. James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, The
Trafalgar St. James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, The
London, United Kingdom · Curio Collection · High Luxury
On the south side of Trafalgar Square, this Curio hotel occupies a former Cunard Steamship Company building whose boardroom appeared in both Dr. No and The Ipcress File. Opened in 2001 as The Trafalgar London, it was Hilton's first unbranded property, later The Trafalgar Hilton, then reborn as The Trafalgar St. James in August 2017 after an SHH Architecture refurbishment that pushed the room count to 131. The Rooftop and Rockwell Bistro keep the Spring Gardens address humming two minutes from the National Gallery.
- 137 rooms
- Opened 2001
- Neighborhood: Mayfair
- Architect: Argent Design; Whinney McKay Lewis; Morrisons Designs Ltd
- Interiors: DLSM Studio
About Trafalgar St. James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, The
- The historic structure once housed the Cunard Steamship Company, and its boardroom was used as a film location for Dr. No and The Ipcress File.
- Opened in 2001 as The Trafalgar London, it was Hilton's first unbranded property: no blue Hilton sign, just a clock and Union Jacks on Spring Gardens.
- SHH Architecture and Interior Design led the August 2017 rebrand to The Trafalgar St. James London, increasing rooms to 131.
- A 2025 refresh added six Spring Gardens Suites and renovated all public areas on the Trafalgar Square south frontage.
- Unused basement floors became the Spring Garden Suites, lit by LED lightwells that mimic daylight for circadian rhythm in a subterranean setting.
- Reception lost its wraparound ramp and staircase in favour of a retractable marble stair lift, opening the arrival hall.
History
The hotel opened in 2001 as The Trafalgar London on the south side of Trafalgar Square and was described by Wikipedia as Hilton’s first unbranded property. Wikipedia says it was later renamed The Trafalgar Hilton and then rebranded The Trafalgar St. James London in August 2017 after a refurbishment by SHH Architecture and Interior Design. The property is a six-floor contemporary boutique hotel, and Wikipedia notes that the historic structure was once used by the Cunard Steamship Company and that its boardroom appeared in the films Dr. No and The Ipcress File. Hilton currently lists the hotel as part of Curio Collection by Hilton and shows 137 rooms. The hotel’s dining page identifies The Rooftop and Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar as its dining venues.
The setting
Trafalgar St. James London opens on 2 Spring Gardens, a short dead-end that has abutted the Admiralty and the Mall since the reign of Elizabeth I — when a fountain here was set in motion by unsuspecting passersby. Trafalgar Square is a two-minute walk, and the National Gallery three minutes on foot. The hotel sits at the convergence of Whitehall, the West End, and St James's Park, placing guests within walking distance of Buckingham Palace and the theatres of the Haymarket. This micro-location, governed by Crown land and flanked by the National Portrait Gallery, has no equal as a cultural crossroads in London. Overlooks Trafalgar Square is half a mile from Big Ben.
Restaurants and bars
- The Rooftop — Restaurant
- Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar — Bar
- The Rockwell Bar and Restaurant — Bar
Awards
- International Hotel & Property Awards — Hotel Design - UK (2025)
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