5 Luxury Hotels in London That Were Once Secret Spy Locales
London is home to some of the fanciest hotels in the world with the most famous histories. Yet, many of them have hidden backstories as well. From World War I until the early 2000s, central London hotels have been used by spies and other intelligence agents to discreetly carry out their work, as well as provide cover for the royal family and other high-ranking officials across the continent. Whether you’d like to sip martinis in the very bar where James Bond’s famous “shaken, not stirred” drink was first crafted, discover hidden tunnels to royal palaces, or get tangled up in modern-day Russian espionage, these are London’s most intriguing spy hotels.
Photo: Courtesy of St. Ermin’s Hotel1/5St. Ermin’s Hotel
During the 1950s, St. Ermin’s in Westminster was a frequent home to English intelligence who met with Russian spies at the hotel’s posh bar to trade information. The hotel was also used by MI6, the British secret service, as a safe house for informants. One popular legend, yet to be debunked, is the existence of a hidden tunnel leading from the hotel to nearby Palace of Westminster. Rooms start at around $255; sterminshotel.co.uk/
Photo: Courtesy of Corinthia Hotel2/5Corinthia Hotel
This hotel, in Whitehall, was taken over by the British government during both World Wars—it was a base for Winston Churchill himself. When the hotel underwent a renovation in 2008, the secret tunnels leading to other nearby government spaces were securely filled in. Rooms start at around $665; corinthia.com/en
Photo: Courtesy of Dukes Hotel3/5Dukes Hotel
The bar at this legendary hotel in St. James’s is best known as the birthplace of James Bond’s famous “shaken, not stirred” line—author Ian Fleming was a regular. It’s also home to Bond’s favorite tipple: the Vesper martini, natch. You can even still enjoy a Vesper today, hand-crafted by Alessandro Palazzi, Dukes’ famed barman, and live a bit of the spy lifestyle yourself. Rooms start at around $670; dukeshotel.com/
Photo: Courtesy of The Royal Horseguards4/5The Royal Horseguards
Located just a stone’s throw from the Corinthia Hotel, the Royal Horseguards was the home for the country’s Secret Intelligence Service, having taken over the entire eighth floor during World War I. From secret doors to sliding bookshelves, all the classic spy tropes were in play here, and luckily, many of them are still around for guests to see today. The hotel’s restaurant, 1212, is named for the original address of Scotland Yard. Rooms start at around $282; guoman.com/en/
Photo: Courtesy of London Mayfair5/5Millennium Hotel London Mayfair
Some hotels are still hotspots for espionage. In 2006, former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, then working for British intelligence, met with two fellow Russians at this hotel in London’s upscale Mayfair. After having tea with the men, Litvinenko fell ill and was admitted to a local hospital, where he died of radiation poisoning days later. Authorities later found large amounts of radioactive material in a cup of tea found at the hotel. Rooms start at around $253; millenniumhotels.com/en/
