Sofitel So SPA

This building was once a Lloyds Bank subsidiary and owned by The Crown Estate, so the layout of the spa is anything but what you would expect. The ceiling in the reception area, where there is also a long marble table to sit at with a glass of Kir Royale, is impossibly high, and above you can see the stuccoed ceiling that has been retained. Sofitel So SPA is all about the personal experience – everything is about treatments, but in a way you have never seen before.

There is no pool, and the gym is in a separate part of the hotel, but there are treatment rooms over three floors offering different experiences; there is one with a hot tub, one for dual treatments, and a plethora of therapies using Carita, Cinq Mondes, and Mama Mio products.

From the outside, Sofitel St James looks like any other English heritage site that the city has to offer, but inside there is a distinctly Parisian vibe, combining grandeur (gilt chairs, high ceilings, jewel tones) with temporary art installations. The hotel is also ideally located in central London, just close enough to Piccadilly Circus to be convenient, but set back just enough that there isn’t a flashing billboard in sight.

Continuing the French theme, The Balcon brasserie serves French-British cuisine created by Head Chef Vincent Menager, across several distinct areas, the custom-made charcuterie bar, the Champagne Balcony, the tasting table, and a private dining room.