You could soon be having a snooze in one of the most historically significant buildings in the city, as plans to transform London’s legendary Custom House into a luxury hotel were officially approved by the City of London Corporation on September 9.
Perched on the north bank of the River Thames, the Grade I listed building played a pivotal role in London’s global trading network, having been originally built as a centre of custom duty collection. Custom House was most recently occupied by HMRC, but has been left empty since 2021. But now, plans to give the landmark a new luxurious lease of life have been confirmed. Having been purchased in 2023 by real estate firm, Jastar Capital, the beloved building will soon be turned into a riverside hotel, boasting 179 rooms, a restaurant, a café, and a spa.
A similar(ish) application was rejected in 2022, as concerns about the potential harm that could be caused to the building were raised by heritage groups. The new plans that were submitted back in April, however, were carefully drawn-up alongside heritage groups. Investigations into the building’s history and construction were completed to ensure that the refurbishment is as sensitive as possible, and that all building work will compliment Custom House’s original architecture. The new, improved, and thus approved plans reduced the number of hotel rooms and scrapped the idea of adding two extra storeys to the top of the building.
What do the recently approved plans involve?
The plans include 179 hotel rooms being built in the east and west wings, and a spa being constructed in the basement (complete with swimming pool, sauna and steam room, of course). The redevelopment will also provide public access to key historical spaces within the building. There will be a new public ground-floor route into the former King’s Warehouse (which will house both permanent and changing exhibitions and artworks), a carefully-curated historical library in the former Tide Waiter’s Room, and a new alfresco riverside plaza created in the currently disused space outside Custom House. This public outdoor area will boast a cafe, room to hold events and markets throughout the year, and plenty of space for Londoners to stroll, cycle, and sit by the river.
Historic England (who have been working with the City of London Corporation to ensure that the refurb respects the history of the site) said: “Custom House has long been a sleeping giant of a building, its potential as a new destination for London lying untapped. The decision to approve the proposals will enable a really exciting transformation of one of London’s most impressive Georgian buildings, giving it a new lease of life while also respecting its significance as a Grade I-listed building.”
You can read more about the proposed hotel plans for Custom House and the next steps here.
