Now Grosvenor Square is getting a jaw-dropping makeover! At the center of Mayfair, Grosvenor Square has seen it all—royalty, war, protests, and parties—and now, it’s stepping into a bold new chapter of luxury and transformation.
Old Embassy, New Energy
In the 20th century, Grosvenor Square became the home of the U.S. Embassy. In 1960, a bold, modern embassy building designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen opened on the west side of the square.
Surrounded by traditional Georgian façades, the embassy stood out with its fortress-like structure and an impressive gilded eagle perched on top.
For years, it was a hive of diplomatic activity, visa seekers, and election-night celebrations.
But things began to change in 2018 when the U.S. government moved its embassy south of the Thames to Nine Elms, into a glassy, high-security cube. The historic Grosvenor Square site was sold to investors from Qatar, who had bigger plans in mind.
A New Chapter in an Old Square
Today, that midcentury modern embassy has been reborn as The Chancery Rosewood, a five-star luxury hotel. Its transformation wasn’t just a matter of swapping desks for beds. Turning the old, secure embassy into a warm and stylish hotel took creativity and skill.
Architect David Chipperfield kept some of the building’s original features, like the concrete ceilings, and added modern touches such as a large atrium with hanging chandeliers and two luxury penthouses named after British royals.
The golden eagle still sits on top of the building, and the statues of Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan are back in place. But instead of feeling like a Cold War museum, the hotel mixes history with modern comfort, designed to appeal to today’s international guests, especially those from the Middle East.
Across from the hotel, Grosvenor Square itself is undergoing its own revival. Originally designed in the 1720s as a private garden for wealthy Londoners, the square featured oval lawns, low hedges, and even an equestrian statue of King George I.
After World War II, it opened to the public, but over time, the green space became somewhat tired and underused.
Now, a major 13-month renovation is breathing new life into the six-acre park. Grosvenor Property is leading the update, adding more plants, curving paths, and eco-friendly features to make the square greener and more like it was in the 1700s.
Some landmarks will remain untouched—especially those that speak to the square’s American legacy. A statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt, funded by donations from across Britain and unveiled in 1948, still stands proudly.
Nearby are memorials to U.S. pilots who flew in WWII, a piece of the Berlin Wall by Reagan’s statue, and a garden for British victims of 9/11.
But the square’s future is less about nostalgia and more about evolution. As the “special relationship” between the U.K. and U.S. ebbs and flows, the physical symbols of that alliance are being gently reimagined—not erased.
As James Raynor, CEO of Grosvenor, put it: “Will the park by itself change the diplomatic relationship between the countries? I doubt it. But it will allow us to recognize what the two countries have done for each other.”
In the end, Grosvenor Square remains what it has always been: a mirror reflecting the times.
Grosvenor Square has always changed with the times—from royal statues and war offices to embassy parties, protests, and now a luxury hotel. It’s still a place where history, politics, and everyday life come together.