LUXURY HOTELS WESTMINSTER

Raffles

Location: Westminster, London

Price: ££££

Address: 57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX, United Kingdom

Best for: guests who want the Corner Suite or above.

Raffles sits near Whitehall, close to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, which is either exactly what you want or a reason to look elsewhere. If you’re after the classic Mayfair or Knightsbridge feel, this isn’t it. If you like the idea of stepping out into actual London history rather than another stretch of designer shopfronts, it works in the hotel’s favour. The building itself dates back to 1906, and it shows in the best way. We loved the ornate stonework and grand arches.

Now the part that matters most: the rooms aren’t consistent. The signature suites and the Corner Suite in particular are excellent, genuinely some of the best in London. Book anything below that and the room quality drops off noticeably, which is strange for a hotel that clearly didn’t hold back on the rest of the property. Choose your room category carefully here, because it changes the entire experience. 

Food is where Raffles goes all in. Nine restaurants and three bars is the official count, though a couple of those sit in the courtyard and aren’t technically part of the hotel experience, so the real number is smaller but still generous by any standard. Pillars Kitchen covers the healthy, grab-and-go end. Saison handles breakfast and dinner with a solid menu. The Drawing Room does afternoon tea. Quality varies a bit across the lineup.

Downstairs, the spa and 20-metre pool are a highlight, especially with the fireplaces lit. The gym is on the smaller side but well equipped. Weekend pool hours get crowded fast, so early mornings are the move if you want it quiet.

Service is where Raffles pulls ahead of nearly everyone. It’s consistently ranked among the best in the city for this alone.

Rates for the Corner Suite sit around £4,500 a night, which is quite reasonable for what you get at this level. The top-tier Heritage Suites run into five figures.