Could a Fancy Hotel Replace the US Embassy in London?
London’s fairly full of luxury (and expensive) hotels already, but there’s speculation this week that there might be room for one more. With the announcement that the United States Embassy is going to move out of its glamorous Grosvenor Square, Mayfair location, there’s suddenly the potential of a luxury hotel snapping up the building. Many are speculating that a hotel is the obvious new owner. Apparently it’s a building that’s worth about £200 million (US$350 million) although there’s also a bit of gossip that it might get heritage-listed and then the development potential wouldn’t be too good. The US Embassy is moving to more defendable territory on the south bank of the Thames and the move won’t take place overnight, so don’t start dreaming of booking a hotel room there yet–it could take a few years to get everything sorted.
