The Ned

Once the global headquarters of a bank (and arguably the most magnificent), the Ned keeps all its historic trimmings without cutting back on modern-day bells and whistles.

Property Details

When you step into The Ned, you are suddenly taken back to the glamorous 1920s and 1930s. The massive former bank is listed by the British Historical Society which means any renovations had to be given their green light first. What’s left are original windows, bank counters updated with glossy marble, and thick Verdite columns (there are 92) rising up to the tall ceilings.

In the center of the action-the former information desk has been transformed into a stage topped with a piano. The lobby is ground zero of The Ned’s daily live music affairs drawing not only the professional crowd pouring out of the area’s financial institutions (this area of town is called Bank after all), but it’s also the hot spot for those who want to see and be seen.

If you are staying at The Ned, you aren’t just looking for a place to rest your head: you are searching for an experience.

London is a foodie’s dream with cuisine from all around the world and The Ned sticks to its city’s ethos by serving up a delectable variety of options in its eight restaurants and many bars set among hundreds of walnut tellers’ counters. There’s Millie’s Lounge if you fancy afternoon tea, Cecconi’s for Italian, and the Library Bar for a dirty martini. Pull up a leather-topped, brass bar stool and order some Asian, Parisian, or New York-style deli sandwich. The choices are seemingly endless.

The Ned is named after the prominent architect of the time who brought this elegant property to life. Sir Edwin Lutyens’ nickname was Ned.

Even the rooms remain faithful to the style of the era. Former bank offices are now rooms, which means each one is unique in size and style. A bottle of vermouth awaits in your smokey mirrored mini bar. No details were spared. The telephone looks like it was plucked out of a black and white film. Roberts radios add another a touch of vintage. Apply some rouge lipstick of red nail polish at your vanity table. Black and white tiled bathrooms with free standing sinks outfitted with two faucets feel right at home at The Ned. Then there’s the heavy wood paneling (a sign of seniority) and original fireplace in the director’s office. You can just imagine him in there, puffing on a cigar. A clawfoot bathtub sits at the foot of a sumptuous four poster bed. Antique mirrors curated from auction houses reflect the tasseled lamp shades and jacquard drapery.

In the belly of the building, the bank’s vault is now one of the prettiest gym’s you will ever see. The heavy circular door sits ajar leading to a private member’s club with 3,800 safety deposit boxes glistening like bars of gold within. The Art Deco Italian veria marble lined indoor pool is something the Great Gatsby would have in his over-the-top mansion.

The Ned’s goal is to make you feel like you clicked your heels three times and voila you have suddenly gone back in time-which is something London does awfully well to begin with. The giant dome of Saint Paul’s cathedral thankfully missed by the Germans in World War II is only a short stroll away.