64 Baker Street: Inside the Headquarters of the SOE

Location and Identity

64 Baker Street is a commercial property located in central London [1]. While now known primarily for its retail use, the building holds significant historical importance as the former world headquarters of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War [1, 4].

Wartime Function

The building became the headquarters of the SOE in September 1940 [1]. It served as the central hub for an organization created under the direct instruction of Winston Churchill to coordinate subversion and sabotage against enemy forces overseas [2, 4]. From this location, the SOE managed the complex logistics of helping local resistance movements in enemy-held territories, overseeing espionage operations, and planning the infiltration of agents into occupied Europe [4].

The headquarters functioned as the nerve center for the SOE’s global operations until 1946 [4]. It was here that high-level strategic decisions were made and where the leadership of the organization—including Brigadier (later Major-General) Colin Gubbins, who headed the SOE from 1943 and was known by the initial ‘M’—operated [4].

Associated People

Among the notable figures associated with the building was Margaret Jackson MBE, who served as the Personal Assistant to Colin Gubbins [4]. Joining the organization in 1940 at the age of 23, Jackson was positioned at the heart of the SOE’s administrative and operational command [1]. Her connection to the site was formally recognized in May 2010, when she unveiled a commemorative plaque on the building’s face [4].

Changes After the War

Following the dissolution of the SOE’s activities at the site in 1946, the property transitioned back to commercial and governmental use. For a period, the building was occupied by EMI Classics [1]. Eventually, the property was converted for retail use [1].

What Exists Today

The physical remnants of the SOE’s tenure at 64 Baker Street are minimal. By 2025, it was reported that virtually nothing of the wartime interior remained, with the exception of the basement and one original staircase [3, 4]. The interior had been completely modernized years prior to the current era [3].

A green plaque remains on the building’s face, providing details of its former inhabitants and its role as the SOE headquarters [1, 3]. However, the building’s future is uncertain; planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of 38-70 Baker Street, which involves the demolition of 64 Baker Street [3]. As part of the planning approval, a condition was established to ensure the retention of the SOE heritage plaque on the new structure [3].