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Sofitel London St James
London, United Kingdom · Sofitel · Core Luxury
E. Keynes Purchase and Durward Brown finished this Grade II neoclassical pile in 1923 as Cox & Company army bankers' headquarters on Waterloo Place. After Cox & Kings and Lloyds Bank years, Sofitel converted it to a hotel in 2002 with Pierre-Yves Rochon interiors nodding to 1960s London pop. Wild Honey St James later brought a Michelin star into the former banking halls off John Nash's ceremonial plaza.
- 183 rooms
- Opened 1923
- Neighborhood: St James's
- Architect: E. Keynes Purchase; Durward Brown
- Interiors: Pierre-Yves Rochon
About Sofitel London St James
- E. Keynes Purchase and Durward Brown finished the Grade II pile in 1923 as Cox & Company army bankers' headquarters on Waterloo Place.
- Cox & Kings and then Lloyds Bank occupied the building before Sofitel's 2002 conversion, with Pierre-Yves Rochon interiors nodding to 1960s London pop.
- Wild Honey St James brought a Michelin star into the former banking halls off John Nash's ceremonial plaza.
- Sofitel launched the So SPA by Sofitel concept here in July 2009, alongside Marseille Vieux Port.
- Waterloo Place is the ceremonial southern end of Nash's Regent Street axis toward St James's Park and the palace.
History
Sofitel London St James occupies a Grade II-listed neoclassical building designed by E. Keynes Purchase and Durward Brown, originally built in 1923 as the headquarters of Cox & Company, a distinguished army banking agency. The building was conceived as part of John Nash's grand vision for the Regent Street area of London. After serving as a bank under Cox & Kings and then Lloyds Bank for decades, Sofitel transformed the building into a luxury hotel in 2002. Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon created interiors fusing French elegance with references to 1960s London pop art. The hotel houses the Michelin-starred restaurant Wild Honey St James.
The setting
Sofitel London St James stands at 6 Waterloo Place, the broad memorial plaza that John Nash conceived in the 1820s as the ceremonial southern terminus of Regent Street — a Beaux-Arts stage flanked by the Athenaeum Club and framed by Carlton House Terrace. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery are four minutes' walk south, and Buckingham Palace fifteen minutes via St James's Park. Waterloo Place is lined with statues of Crimean heroes, polar explorers, and royalty, making it one of the most richly commemorated open spaces in London and an address that conveys civic gravitas matched by few other sites in the capital.
Restaurants and bars
- Wild Honey St James — Restaurant · Classic French techniques with seasonal British produce · One MICHELIN Star
- Bistrot at Wild Honey — Restaurant · Bistro · Chef Anthony Demetre
- St James Bar — Restaurant
- The Rose Lounge — Café · Afternoon tea
Experiences
- Sofitel Spa — Exclusive treatments by facialist Su-Man, award-winning HydraFacials, restorative massages by Sothys, a jacuzzi and a serene relaxation space.
- Sofitel FIT — Fitness sanctuary for guests with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, modern cardio facilities and the multi-sensorial Sha Chair.
- Rose Lounge afternoon tea — Afternoon tea with exclusive teas and Champagne, including the Phantom of the Opera afternoon tea.
Amenities
- Spa
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
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