LUXURY // HOTELS
Hotels With
HISTORY BY CHRIS JENKINS
Delivering the finest in hospitality and comfort, London’s grand hotels also offer an insight into the architectural heritage of the capital
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hether you are visiting your capital city for the first time, or travelling from abroad, nothing beats the excitement of a stay in a five-star London hotel. Surrounded by opportunities to enjoy the signs and sounds of centuries of history and culture, London’s grand hotels deliver comfort, luxury and premier service in the heart of one of the greatest international cities. But each of these hotels has its own tale to tell, so Arts & Collections presents a selection of the most fascinating background stories.
IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK; SOFITEL
♦ The Landmark London Situated opposite Marylebone Station, the Landmark London is most notable for its stunning eight-storey glass-roofed atrium, which contains the Winter Garden restaurant. Built as the proposed hub of a Channel Tunnel, the Hotel Great Central, as it then was, was designed by Col. Robert Eadis, whose previous work included the Prince of Wales’ ballroom at Sandringham. The hotel fell into decline with that of the railways, and served as a convalescent home during the Second World War, and later as the headquarters of the British Railways Board. Built around a central courtyard was a grand clock tower and two main entrances, it reopened as a hotel in 1993 as the Regent, and now as the Landmark London features 300 rooms over six floors, a Victorian-style Mirror Bar, a spa with a 15-metre heated pool, and eleven grand event spaces. www.landmarklondon.co.uk
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♦ Sofitel London St James Complementing the architecture of the master plan laid down by John Nash for Regent Street 100 years earlier, the design of this building by E. Keynes Purchase was completed in 1923 to house the headquarters of Cox’s & Company. Later taken over by Lloyd’s Bank, the building was transformed into a 125,000 sq ft luxury five-star hotel in 2002. The building’s past is still very much reflected in its decorative paintings, photographs and bank memorabilia, though a recent revamp by French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon added a contemporary style combining the best of French and British. The entrance hall balances old-world allure and modernism, including specially commissioned works by contemporary French and British artists. In the guest rooms, vibrant, edgy British design is conveyed through striking use of colours and playful pop-style artwork. Moments away from the iconic historical buildings of Westminster and cultural hotspots including the V&A, Tate and Saatchi Gallery, the Sofitel St James is truly at the heart of London’s history and culture. https://sofitelstjames.com
www.artsandcollections.com
06/12/2019 11:36