Raffles London at The OWO: London’s Most Ambitious Luxury Hotel Opening

Inside a building where Winston Churchill once walked the corridors of power, one of the world’s most legendary hotel brands has found its first British home — and the result is unlike anything else in London.

Raffles London at The OWO opened in September 2023 as the UK’s first Raffles hotel, occupying the Grade II* listed Old War Office on Whitehall. This isn’t a hotel that simply happens to be in a historic building. The history is the hotel. The soaring Edwardian corridors, the carved stone facades, the rooms that once hummed with the decisions of empire — all of it has been meticulously preserved and, somehow, made to feel like the most natural setting in the world for a five-star luxury experience.

The scale of the development is genuinely staggering. Under one roof: 120 individually designed guest rooms and suites, nine restaurants, three bars, the Guerlain Spa (Guerlain’s first London outpost), the Pillar Wellbeing centre, and 85 private residences. It is, by any measure, the most ambitious single hospitality project London has seen in a generation.

Quick Reference — Raffles London at The OWO

• Address: Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX
• Phone: +44 (0)20 3907 7500
• Email: London@Raffles.com
• Website: raffles.com/london
• Rooms from: Approximately £800–£1,000+ per night (rates vary by season and availability)
• Check-in: 3:00 PM | Check-out: 12:00 PM
• Loyalty Programme: ALL – Accor Live Limitless
• Nearest Stations: Westminster (District/Circle/Jubilee), Charing Cross (Bakerloo/National Rail), Embankment (District/Circle/Bakerloo)

7 Reasons to Visit Raffles London at The OWO

For readers who want the highlights before diving deeper, here are the seven most compelling reasons to visit:

1. The only five-star hotel in a former UK government building of this scale and significance — no other luxury hotel in London carries this kind of institutional history
2. Nine restaurants including Mauro Colagreco’s London debut — the world’s top-ranked chef brings his seasonal, ingredient-led cooking to Whitehall for the first time
3. The Guerlain Spa — Guerlain’s first London spa — the iconic French house’s signature skincare rituals in an architecturally extraordinary setting
4. Heritage tours of spaces closed to the public for over a century — an exclusive perspective on one of Britain’s most historically significant buildings
5. The Spy Bar — one of London’s most distinctive cocktail experiences — rooted in the building’s genuine intelligence and espionage history
6. An unbeatable Whitehall location — Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and St James’s Park all within a five-minute walk
7. Afternoon tea in an Edwardian masterpiece — available to non-guests, making it one of the most memorable ways to experience The OWO without staying

This guide covers everything you need to know — history, rooms, dining, spa, experiences, residences, practical visitor information, sustainability credentials and how Raffles London stacks up against London’s other great luxury hotels. Whether you’re planning a stay, a special occasion dinner, a spa day or simply trying to decide if this is the right hotel for you, you’ll find the answers here.

The History and Heritage of The Old War Office

The building now known as The OWO has a claim to historical significance that very few hotels anywhere in the world can match. Completed in 1906 on the site of the ancient Whitehall Palace — the principal residence of English monarchs from the 1530s until it burned down in 1698 — the Old War Office served as the nerve centre of British military and intelligence operations for most of the 20th century.

This is where decisions were made that shaped the modern world. The building was operational during both World Wars, witness to the planning of campaigns, the management of intelligence networks, and the quiet, consequential conversations that history rarely records in full.

Notable Figures Who Shaped History Here: Churchill, Haldane and T.E. Lawrence

Winston Churchill served as Secretary of State for War and Air in this building from 1919 to 1921. Richard Burdon Haldane — arguably the most significant reformer in British military history — ran the War Office from these rooms in the years before the First World War, transforming the British Army into the force that would be mobilised in 1914. T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, worked here. The roll call of names associated with the Old War Office reads like a précis of 20th-century British history.

The building’s intelligence connections are equally significant. Ian Fleming — creator of James Bond — worked in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War, and the Old War Office’s proximity to the intelligence establishment has long fuelled speculation about its role in Britain’s espionage history. The Spy Bar, one of the hotel’s three bars, is a direct nod to all of this.

The Six-Year Transformation: Restoring an Edwardian Masterpiece

Transforming a Grade II* listed government building into a luxury hotel is not a straightforward proposition. The restoration took six years and involved hundreds of specialist artisans working on everything from the original Portland stone facades to the ornate plasterwork ceilings, the grand marble staircases and the elaborate ironwork details that characterise the building’s Edwardian Baroque style.

The Grade II* listing — one step below the highest level of protection in England — imposed significant constraints on what could be altered and how. Every intervention had to be approved, every original detail preserved where possible, and new elements introduced with the kind of sensitivity that only the most skilled heritage specialists can provide. The result is a building that feels genuinely, unmistakably historic, rather than one that has been stripped and relined with luxury finishes in the way that lesser conversion projects often are.

The Hinduja Group and Onex Holding: The Vision Behind the Revival

The project was spearheaded by the Hinduja Group, one of the world’s largest conglomerates, in partnership with Onex Holding. Their decision to bring Raffles — a brand with its own extraordinary heritage, founded in Singapore in 1887 — to this particular building was not accidental. The pairing of two institutions with deep, storied histories feels intentional in the best possible way.

The heritage narrative isn’t just a marketing device here. It’s genuinely central to the guest experience, from the art collection that references the building’s past to the heritage tours that take visitors through spaces that were, until very recently, closed to the public for over a century.

Raffles London at The OWO: An Overview

Raffles has been one of the world’s most recognisable luxury hotel brands for well over a century. The original Raffles Hotel in Singapore — opened in 1887 — is practically a national institution, famous for the Singapore Sling, its colonial grandeur and a guest list that has included Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham and Michael Jackson. The brand has since expanded to properties in Paris, Istanbul, Warsaw and beyond. But Raffles London is the brand’s first UK property, and that matters.

It means that for the first time, British travellers and London visitors can experience the Raffles service philosophy — described by the brand as ‘genuine and heartfelt’ — without leaving the country. And it means that Raffles has had to bring its very best to a city that has extremely high expectations.

Location: Whitehall, SW1A — At the Heart of Historic London

The location is extraordinary. Whitehall, SW1A 2BX, puts you at the geographic and symbolic heart of British public life. Downing Street is steps away. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are a short walk along the Embankment. St James’s Park — one of London’s most beautiful royal parks — is practically next door. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery are a few minutes on foot.

This is a neighbourhood that most Londoners walk through rather than stay in, which gives Raffles London a genuinely distinctive character. It’s not Mayfair. It’s not Belgravia. It’s Whitehall — and that’s a far more interesting address than either.

Interior Design: Thierry Despont’s Vision Meets British Heritage

The interiors were created in collaboration with Thierry Despont, the acclaimed New York-based architect and designer responsible for some of the world’s most celebrated interior spaces, including the restoration of the Statue of Liberty’s interior and the Aga Khan’s Geneva estate. His work at The OWO is characterised by a confident restraint — he hasn’t tried to impose a single decorative vision on a building with this much personality of its own. Instead, the interiors work with the architecture, amplifying the grandeur of the original spaces while introducing contemporary luxury in a way that feels organic rather than imposed.

What Guests and Critics Are Saying About Raffles London

Since opening in September 2023, Raffles London has attracted sustained critical attention and broadly enthusiastic guest response. The Times described the hotel as ‘a triumph of sensitive restoration and genuine luxury ambition’, noting that the building’s history elevates the experience beyond what any purpose-built hotel could achieve. Condé Nast Traveller has cited Raffles London among the most significant new hotel openings in Europe, praising the dining collection’s ambition and the Guerlain Spa as a standout addition to London’s wellness scene. Forbes Travel Guide has recognised the property’s exceptional service standards, consistent with the Raffles brand’s global reputation.

Guest sentiment, as reflected across travel platforms and concierge feedback, consistently highlights three themes: the heritage atmosphere — specifically the way the building’s original architecture and history are woven into the everyday guest experience — the quality and breadth of the dining offering, and the attentiveness of the Raffles service team. The most frequently noted caveat is predictable: rates reflect the hotel’s ultra-luxury positioning, and Raffles London is not a hotel for those seeking value. It is a hotel for those seeking excellence — and on that measure, the consensus is that it delivers.

For those considering a stay, the combination of independent press coverage and guest sentiment provides strong reassurance that the ambition of the project has translated into a genuine lived experience.

How Raffles London Differs from Other Luxury London Hotels

The difference is substantial, and it shows in almost every dimension that matters. Yes, other luxury London hotels have history. Yes, they have excellent restaurants and exceptional service. But no other five-star hotel in London occupies a former government building of this scale, significance and architectural drama. No other hotel in London has nine restaurants and three bars under one roof. And no other hotel in London combines a Guerlain Spa, active wellness programming, 85 private residences and a historic art collection with 120 rooms and suites.

Raffles London isn’t just a hotel. It’s a destination — and that distinction is worth understanding before you book.

Sustainability at Raffles London

For eco-conscious luxury travellers, Raffles London’s environmental credentials are worth knowing. Raffles, as part of the Accor Group, operates under the ‘Sustainability by Raffles’ programme — a commitment that spans responsible sourcing, energy efficiency, waste reduction and community engagement across all Raffles properties globally.

At The OWO specifically, the heritage building reuse is itself a significant sustainability act: restoring and repurposing an existing Grade II* listed structure avoids the embodied carbon cost of new construction and preserves irreplaceable architectural fabric. Across the nine restaurants, sourcing practices reflect a commitment to seasonal and responsible ingredients — a philosophy that runs particularly deep in Mauro Colagreco’s cooking, which has placed sustainability at its core since Mirazur became one of the world’s first three-Michelin-starred restaurants to receive the Michelin Green Star. Guerlain, the spa partner, has its own well-documented sustainability commitments, including responsible sourcing of ingredients and packaging reduction targets. Together, these credentials make Raffles London a more considered choice than its luxury positioning alone might suggest.

Rooms and Suites at Raffles London

Raffles London has 120 guest rooms and suites, each one individually designed within the original state rooms and offices of the Old War Office. That last point is worth dwelling on — these aren’t rooms that have been dropped into a neutral shell. They’ve been carved from spaces that had their own history, their own proportions, their own architectural character, and the design team has worked with those constraints rather than against them.

Room categories range from Classic Rooms through to Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites, up to the flagship Signature Suites. Rates for Classic Rooms typically start from around £800–£1,000 per night, rising significantly for suites. It’s not a hotel that pretends to be accessible on every budget — but within the context of London’s top-tier luxury market, pricing is broadly in line with comparable five-star properties.

The Haldane Suite and Westminster Suite: Flagship Accommodations

At the pinnacle of the room hierarchy sit the Haldane Suite and the Westminster Suite — the two flagship accommodations that represent Raffles London at its most spectacular. The Haldane Suite takes its name from Richard Burdon Haldane, the Secretary of State for War whose office once occupied this part of the building. The Westminster Suite offers what may be the most politically charged view in any hotel room in the world: a direct sightline to the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster.

Both suites offer the kind of scale and grandeur that’s simply not replicable in a purpose-built hotel — ceilings high enough to feel genuinely palatial, original architectural details that no amount of money can manufacture, and the particular quality of light that comes through windows designed for a building, not a hotel room.

Views and Outlook: Iconic London Landmarks from Your Window

Depending on your room’s orientation, views from Raffles London take in the Thames, St James’s Park, the Palace of Westminster and the rooftops of one of London’s most historically dense neighbourhoods. These aren’t views that require binoculars or a specific floor — they’re woven into the building’s position and the surrounding landscape in a way that feels almost cinematic.

Interior Design Details and In-Room Amenities

In-room amenities are delivered at the standard the price point demands — and then some. Bathrooms are finished in marble with bespoke joinery and feature Guerlain bathroom products, a natural extension of the hotel’s spa partnership and a genuinely luxurious touch that guests consistently note. Bedding is of the highest quality, with mattresses and linens selected to the standard Raffles maintains across its global portfolio.

Technology is integrated with discretion: smart room controls manage lighting, temperature and window treatments from a single interface, while streaming services and high-speed connectivity are available throughout. The design language throughout is one of restrained elegance — rich materials, carefully composed colour palettes, original architectural features treated as focal points rather than obscured by contemporary cladding. Rooms where original cornicing, fireplaces or period ironwork survive have been designed around those elements, making each of the 120 rooms genuinely distinct. The Raffles Butler service is available to suite guests, providing personalised support from arrival through to departure — packing and unpacking assistance, in-room dining coordination and bespoke experience planning among the services on offer.

How to Book: Rates, Availability and the ALL Loyalty Programme

Guests can book directly via raffles.com/london, by calling +44 (0)20 3907 7500, or by emailing London@Raffles.com. Direct booking is generally recommended — it gives you access to the best available rates and the ability to make specific room requests.

Members of the ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty programme can earn and redeem points on stays at Raffles London. The programme is free to join at accor.com or via the ALL app, and enrolment before your first stay is a straightforward way to add value. Points are earned on qualifying spend — rooms, dining and spa — and can be redeemed against future stays across the Accor portfolio worldwide. Elite tier members (Gold, Platinum and Diamond) access enhanced benefits at Raffles London specifically, including room upgrades subject to availability, a welcome amenity on arrival, and late check-out up to 4:00 PM for the highest tiers. If you stay frequently at Accor properties, Raffles London counts meaningfully towards tier qualification. Worth enrolling before you arrive rather than after.

Gift Raffles London: Gift cards covering stays, spa treatments and dining experiences are available, making them a genuinely premium option for birthdays, anniversaries and corporate gifting. Cards can be purchased via raffles.com/london or by contacting the concierge directly. For personalised gifting enquiries — including bespoke experience packages — contact London@Raffles.com. For those who know someone who has always wanted to experience Raffles, this is one of the more considered gifts available in the luxury market.

Dining at Raffles London: Nine Restaurants and Three Bars

Nine restaurants. Three bars. Under one roof, on Whitehall. It sounds improbable — and yet Raffles London has assembled a collection of dining concepts that would be remarkable in any city on earth, let alone in a single building. For food lovers, the dining proposition alone is reason enough to visit, whether or not you’re staying.

Mauro Colagreco and the Fine Dining Flagship

The anchor of the dining collection is the fine dining flagship helmed by Mauro Colagreco — the Argentine-Italian chef whose restaurant Mirazur in Menton, France, has held the number one position on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and earned three Michelin stars (including the Michelin Green Star for sustainability). Colagreco’s cooking is rooted in the gardens of the Côte d’Azur, deeply seasonal, ingredient-led and quietly extraordinary. His London debut at Raffles represents a significant moment for the city’s fine dining scene.

Mauro’s Table: A More Intimate Setting

For those who want the Colagreco experience in a slightly less formal register, Mauro’s Table offers a more intimate dining setting — private, chef’s table-style, where the meal becomes an event in itself. This is the kind of experience that requires advance planning and, in all likelihood, a waitlist, but it’s the sort of meal that guests tend to remember for years.

Saison by Mauro Colagreco: Seasonal Bakes, Brunch and Cocktails

Saison brings Colagreco’s seasonal philosophy to a more casual all-day setting, with a focus on exceptional bakes, weekend brunch and cocktails. It’s the most accessible of the three Colagreco concepts at The OWO, and a genuinely appealing option for visitors who want to experience the chef’s ethos without committing to a full fine dining tasting menu.

Kioku by Endo: Japanese Omakase Excellence

Kioku by Endo is the Japanese fine dining concept from Endo Kazutoshi, the London-based chef behind the celebrated Endo at the Rotunda. Omakase — the Japanese tradition of entrusting the meal entirely to the chef — is the format here, and the results are predictably exceptional. The sake bar that accompanies the main restaurant (the Kioku Sake Bar) offers an equally serious approach to Japanese spirits and small plates, making it one of the most interesting standalone bar experiences in the hotel.

Langosteria: Italian Seafood Luxury

Langosteria is a Milan institution — a seafood restaurant of the highest order that has been delighting Italian food lovers for years. Its arrival at The OWO marks its first London outpost, and the concept translates beautifully: pristine seafood, exceptional Italian wine and the kind of service that makes lunch feel like an event. If you know Langosteria from Milan, you’ll be pleased to find it intact. If you don’t, this is an excellent introduction.

Paper Moon: A Milan Icon Arrives in London

Another celebrated Milan export, Paper Moon brings its acclaimed Italian cooking — classics executed with precision and warmth — to a new London audience. The original Paper Moon in Milan has been a favourite of fashion industry insiders and discerning locals for decades. Its presence at Raffles London adds another layer to what is already an extraordinary dining collection.

Café Ciel and The Drawing Room: Lighter Bites and Afternoon Tea

For lighter moments — a coffee, a pastry, a beautifully composed afternoon tea — Café Ciel and The Drawing Room provide settings that are elegant without being stiff. Afternoon tea at Raffles London is available as a standalone experience, meaning you don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy it. It’s one of the most compelling reasons to visit The OWO without staying, and given the building’s grandeur, it’s a memorable way to experience the space. Expect carefully crafted sandwiches, exquisite pastries and a tea selection that takes the whole thing seriously. Pricing is broadly in line with other top London afternoon tea experiences — typically in the £80–£120 per person range, though you should check current pricing directly. Bookings can be made via raffles.com/london or by calling the reservations team.

Pillar Kitchen: Wellness-Led Cuisine

Pillar Kitchen is the dining arm of the Pillar Wellbeing concept — a menu designed around nutrition, performance and recovery without sacrificing flavour or pleasure. It’s a welcome addition to a dining collection that might otherwise skew entirely towards indulgence, and it reflects the broader wellness positioning of The OWO as a whole.

The Guards Bar and Lounge: Classic Cocktails in Historic Surroundings

The Guards Bar and Lounge takes its name and its atmosphere from the building’s military history. It’s a setting for classic cocktails, measured conversation and the kind of understated elegance that feels entirely at home in a former War Office. The crowd here tends towards hotel guests and a certain kind of Whitehall local — the sort of place where you wouldn’t be entirely surprised to overhear something interesting.

The Spy Bar: A Nod to the Building’s Espionage Legacy

The Spy Bar has quickly established itself as one of the most distinctive bar concepts in London — not just for its drinks, but for its premise. The Old War Office has long been associated with British intelligence; Ian Fleming’s wartime service in Naval Intelligence, the proximity to the intelligence services, the classified operations that passed through these corridors. The Spy Bar leans into all of this with a wink rather than a heavy hand, offering a cocktail menu that’s inventive without being gimmicky and an atmosphere that’s genuinely unlike anywhere else in the city. If you visit Raffles London for just one drink, make it here.

Kioku Sake Bar: Japanese Spirits and Small Plates

The Kioku Sake Bar extends the Japanese fine dining concept of Kioku by Endo into a standalone bar format, with an impressive range of sake, Japanese whisky and small plates. It’s a more accessible entry point to the Kioku experience and a serious option for spirits enthusiasts who want something different from the typical London luxury hotel bar.

The Guerlain Spa and Wellness at Raffles London

The Guerlain Spa at Raffles London is a significant arrival in its own right. Guerlain — the French luxury house founded in Paris in 1828 — is one of the oldest and most respected names in skincare and beauty, and this is their first spa in London. The treatments draw directly on Guerlain’s heritage formulations and signature skincare rituals, delivered in a setting that is appropriately grand.

Signature treatments include the Orchidée Impériale facial — Guerlain’s flagship anti-ageing ritual — alongside body treatments, massages and bespoke programmes designed around individual skin concerns and wellness goals. The experience is designed to feel like a continuation of the hotel’s broader luxury proposition rather than a separate wellness annex.

Pillar Wellbeing: Active Wellness in a Historic Setting

Alongside the Guerlain Spa, Pillar Wellbeing provides a more active dimension to the wellness offering. Pillar is a London-based wellness brand focused on fitness, movement and recovery, and its presence at The OWO adds a contemporary, performance-oriented counterpoint to the spa’s more restorative focus. Think personal training, bespoke fitness programming and recovery treatments — the full spectrum of what modern luxury wellness actually looks like, rather than just a gym with good towels.

Spa Facilities: Pools, Treatment Rooms and Relaxation Spaces

The spa facilities include treatment rooms, relaxation spaces and — critically for a London luxury spa — a pool. The architectural setting is, as you’d expect from a building of this character, considerably more dramatic than most hotel spas manage. There’s a particular pleasure in spending time in a space that has been thoughtfully carved from a historic building, and the Guerlain Spa at Raffles London delivers that in full.

Booking a Spa Treatment: What You Need to Know

The Guerlain Spa is open to both hotel guests and external visitors. If you’re not staying at Raffles London but want to experience the spa, you can book directly through the spa booking portal at emea.spatime.com. Treatment availability for non-guests can be limited during peak periods, so booking well in advance is advisable. Prices for individual treatments range from approximately £150 for shorter sessions to £400 or more for signature rituals and longer programmes — in line with Guerlain spa pricing at their other international properties.

Wellness Packages and Retreat Offerings

For those who want a more immersive wellness experience, packages combining spa treatments, Pillar Wellbeing sessions and dining at Pillar Kitchen are available. These can be arranged through the hotel concierge and are particularly well-suited to guests who want to use a stay at Raffles London as a genuine reset rather than simply a luxury night away.

Experiences, Events and Occasions at Raffles London

Weddings at The OWO: Ceremony and Reception in a Historic Setting

Few venues in London — or anywhere else — offer the combination of historical gravitas, architectural drama and five-star hospitality that The OWO brings to a wedding. The building’s grand spaces, its Edwardian Baroque architecture and the Raffles service team create conditions for a celebration that is genuinely memorable rather than merely expensive.

The Whitehall Ballroom is the centrepiece of the weddings offering, accommodating up to approximately 400 guests for a reception and around 200 for a formal seated dinner — figures that place it among London’s most capacious grand event spaces. For smaller ceremonies and intimate receptions, the building’s variety of original rooms offers configurations from private dining spaces seating 20 to mid-scale reception rooms for 80–120 guests. Exclusive-use arrangements for the full building or defined sections can be discussed with the events team for the most significant occasions.

What distinguishes a wedding at Raffles London from other luxury London venues is the in-house catering talent. Rather than working with an external caterer, couples benefit from the kitchen teams behind nine world-class restaurants — including Mauro Colagreco’s brigade — bringing a level of culinary ambition to wedding catering that is genuinely unmatched in the London market. Menus can be tailored to draw on the full breadth of the hotel’s culinary talent, from the seasonal European cooking of the Colagreco concepts to the precision of Kioku by Endo or the celebrated Italian traditions of Langosteria and Paper Moon.

The OWO holds the relevant civil ceremony licences, meaning legally binding ceremonies can take place within the building — couples do not need to conduct their legal formalities elsewhere. To begin a wedding enquiry, contact the events team via London@Raffles.com or speak with the concierge team who can connect you with the dedicated weddings coordinator. Given the limited number of dates available in a venue of this exclusivity, early engagement is strongly recommended.

The Whitehall Ballroom: London’s Most Spectacular Event Space

The Whitehall Ballroom is the centrepiece of the events offering — a space of genuine grandeur that takes full advantage of the building’s Edwardian proportions. For galas, corporate dinners, product launches and large-scale private events, it represents a step change from the typical London hotel ballroom. The combination of historic architecture and contemporary luxury service is genuinely rare at this scale.

Meetings and Corporate Events: Facilities and Capacity

Beyond the ballroom, The OWO’s meetings and events facilities cater to everything from intimate boardroom gatherings to large-scale corporate productions. The building’s variety of original rooms — each with its own character and dimensions — means that even corporate events feel distinctive rather than generic. The Raffles concierge team can assist with full event production, AV requirements, catering and accommodation for delegates.

Heritage Tours: Exploring the Old War Office’s Secret History

One of the most distinctive experiences available at Raffles London is the heritage tour — a guided exploration of the building’s history, architecture and intelligence connections. These tours take guests and visitors through spaces that were closed to the public for over a century, offering a genuinely exclusive perspective on a building of immense historical significance. The espionage angle — James Bond connections, wartime intelligence, the building’s classified past — makes these tours particularly compelling for history enthusiasts.

The Art Collection at The OWO

The OWO houses a curated art collection that adds a cultural dimension to the guest experience and references the building’s history in ways that are thoughtful rather than literal. The collection is integrated into the public spaces of the hotel rather than confined to a gallery, meaning guests encounter art as part of their daily movement through the building — a considered approach that reflects the broader curatorial intelligence of the project.

Private Dining and Bespoke Experiences

The concierge team at Raffles London is equipped to arrange bespoke private dining experiences across the hotel’s restaurants — whether that’s a private room at Langosteria, a chef’s table arrangement, or a fully customised dinner in one of the building’s historic spaces. Special occasion packages covering birthdays, anniversaries and corporate entertainment can all be tailored. This is, after all, what the Raffles service ethos is designed for.

The OWO Residences by Raffles: Private Homes in a Historic Landmark

The OWO Residences by Raffles comprises 85 unique private homes within the historic building — one of the most prestigious residential addresses in London, and arguably in the world. The residences aren’t an afterthought or a separate development that happens to share a postcode with the hotel. They’re integral to The OWO’s identity as a complete luxury lifestyle destination.

Interior Design: 1508 London and Albion Nord

The residences have been designed by two acclaimed firms: 1508 London and Albion Nord, both known for their work on high-end residential and hospitality projects. Each of the 85 homes is unique — a consequence of the building’s original architecture, which means no two floor plans are identical. Some residences occupy former state rooms with soaring ceilings and original period details. Others offer more contemporary configurations while retaining the building’s characteristic character.

Amenities Shared with the Hotel

Residents benefit from access to the full suite of hotel amenities: the Guerlain Spa and Pillar Wellbeing, all nine restaurants and three bars, the concierge services, and the broader Raffles service team. This is the key distinction between The OWO Residences and other ultra-prime London addresses — the level of service and amenity access is genuinely hotel-standard, not simply a gym and a concierge desk.

The Location Advantage: Living on Whitehall

As a residential address, Whitehall is extraordinary — historically significant, centrally located, and one of the few parts of central London where architecture of this quality and scale is available in a residential format. The surrounding area offers immediate access to the royal parks, the South Bank, Westminster and the West End, while the neighbourhood itself retains a dignity and grandeur that is increasingly rare in central London.

How to Enquire About a Residence

Enquiries about The OWO Residences can be made directly through theowo.london. Given the limited number of residences and the level of interest, availability is not guaranteed — but the team can advise on current opportunities and future releases.

Planning Your Visit: Practical Information for Guests

Getting There: Address, Transport Links and Parking

Raffles London is located at Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX. The location is exceptionally well-served by public transport, with three tube stations within comfortable walking distance:

• Westminster (District, Circle and Jubilee lines): approximately 5 minutes on foot
• Charing Cross (Bakerloo line and National Rail): approximately 7 minutes on foot
• Embankment (District, Circle and Bakerloo lines): approximately 8 minutes on foot

Multiple bus routes serve Whitehall directly. For guests arriving by taxi or private car, the hotel’s concierge team can advise on drop-off arrangements. On-street parking in the immediate area is extremely limited — the nearest public car parks are in the St James’s area — and driving to central Whitehall is not generally recommended. London’s Congestion Charge zone applies here, and public transport is genuinely faster and easier for most journeys.

For international guests arriving at Heathrow, the Heathrow Express to Paddington followed by a short taxi or tube journey is the most efficient option. From Gatwick, the Gatwick Express to Victoria and then a short taxi puts you at the hotel in around an hour. The concierge team can arrange private airport transfers if preferred.

Video and Virtual Tour Content

For a visual introduction to the hotel before your visit, Raffles London has published a series of films on their website and YouTube channel showcasing the rooms, dining concepts and spa. The hotel’s Instagram account (@raffleslondon) provides a regularly updated visual portrait of the property, including guest experiences, seasonal menus and behind-the-scenes content. These are the closest equivalent to an in-person preview and are well worth browsing before you book.

Check-In, Check-Out and Concierge Services

Check-in is at 3:00 PM and check-out at 12:00 PM, though the concierge team can often accommodate requests for early check-in or late check-out depending on availability. The Raffles concierge service extends well beyond standard hotel assistance — theatre tickets, restaurant reservations across the city, private transfers, bespoke city experiences and personal shopping assistance are all within scope.

Dress Code and What to Expect on Arrival

There is no formal dress code for the hotel itself, though the environment naturally encourages a certain standard of presentation. Individual restaurants within The OWO may have their own dress guidelines — smart casual is appropriate for most venues, while the fine dining concepts naturally suit smarter attire. Worth checking with each restaurant when booking.

Nearby Attractions: What’s Around Raffles London

The Whitehall location puts you within easy reach of some of London’s most significant cultural and historic sites:

• Downing Street: steps away
• Houses of Parliament and Big Ben: 5-minute walk
• St James’s Park: 5-minute walk
• Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery: 7-minute walk
• Tate Modern and the South Bank: 20-minute walk across Waterloo Bridge
• Buckingham Palace: 10-minute walk
• National Portrait Gallery: 8-minute walk

The neighbourhood is genuinely one of the richest in London for walking — the concentration of historic buildings, public spaces and cultural institutions within a half-mile radius is extraordinary.

Contact Details and Reservations

For room reservations and general enquiries:

• Phone: +44 (0)20 3907 7500
• Email: London@Raffles.com
• Website: raffles.com/london

The hotel is multilingual, with service available in English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and several other languages — reflecting the international character of Raffles’ global guest base.

Raffles London vs. Other Luxury London Hotels: How Does It Compare?

Comparison at a Glance

The table below summarises how Raffles London sits alongside its principal luxury competitors across the key dimensions most relevant to bookers.

Hotel	Location	Rooms	Restaurants/Bars	Spa	Loyalty Programme	Approx. Rate From
Raffles London at The OWO	Whitehall, SW1A	120	9 restaurants, 3 bars	Guerlain Spa + Pillar Wellbeing	ALL – Accor Live Limitless	~£800–£1,000/night
The Savoy	Strand, WC2	267	3 restaurants, 2 bars	Savoy Spa	World of Hyatt	~£700–£900/night
Claridge’s	Mayfair, W1	197	3 restaurants/bars	Claridge’s Spa	Marriott Bonvoy	~£700–£900/night
The Connaught	Mayfair, W1	121	2 restaurants, 1 bar	Aman Spa	No major programme	~£800–£1,100/night
The Peninsula London	Hyde Park Corner, SW1X	190	5 restaurants/bars	The Peninsula Spa	The Peninsula Hotels	~£900–£1,200/night

Rates are approximate and vary significantly by season, room type and availability. Always check current pricing directly.

Raffles London vs. The Savoy

The Savoy is the obvious comparison — London’s most famous luxury hotel, a building with its own extraordinary history, a similarly iconic location and a reputation built over more than 130 years. The Savoy has the American Bar (one of the world’s great cocktail bars), the River Restaurant, and a kind of old-world glamour that is genuinely irreplaceable.

That said, Raffles London offers something The Savoy doesn’t: the sheer scale and diversity of its dining and wellness proposition. Nine restaurants versus The Savoy’s handful of venues is a meaningful difference, and the Guerlain Spa — Guerlain’s first London location — is a genuine differentiator. The Savoy’s position on the Strand is slightly more central for theatre and West End access; Raffles London’s Whitehall location is more compelling for history and government district exploration. Both are exceptional. The choice comes down to what you’re optimising for.

Raffles London vs. Claridge’s

Claridge’s has a claim to being the most beloved luxury hotel in London — a Mayfair institution with extraordinary Art Deco interiors, a devoted celebrity clientele and a level of service consistency maintained across generations. It’s smaller than Raffles London (around 197 rooms, with a more intimate feel), and its dining — while excellent — doesn’t approach the ambition of The OWO’s nine-restaurant collection.

Where Claridge’s wins is in atmosphere and legacy. There’s a warmth and familiarity to Claridge’s that comes from over a century of consistent excellence, and that’s not something that can be replicated in a hotel that has been open for a couple of years. Raffles London, by contrast, offers something more architecturally dramatic and gastronomically ambitious. Different experiences, different moods.

Raffles London vs. The Connaught

The Connaught is perhaps London’s quietest luxury hotel — a Mayfair property that trades in understatement, privacy and the kind of discreet, personalised service that its long-term guests return for year after year. The Connaught Bar is frequently cited as one of the best hotel bars in the world. The Hélène Darroze restaurant offers serious French fine dining.

Raffles London is a louder proposition in the best possible sense — more architectural drama, more dining options, more public-facing energy. The Connaught is for guests who want to disappear into luxury; Raffles London is for guests who want to be at the centre of something.

Raffles London vs. The Peninsula London

The Peninsula London is Raffles London’s most direct contemporary peer. Both opened in 2023 — making them the two most significant new ultra-luxury hotel arrivals in London in recent memory — and both operate at the very top of the market.

The differences are instructive. The Peninsula London occupies a purpose-built contemporary tower at Hyde Park Corner, designed by Hopkins Architects with interiors by Peter Marino. It offers 190 rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, and The Peninsula Spa — all delivered to the Peninsula brand’s characteristically precise standards. The location is outstanding for Hyde Park access and proximity to Knightsbridge.

Raffles London counters with something The Peninsula cannot match: a building of genuine, irreplaceable historical significance. The OWO’s Edwardian Baroque architecture, its intelligence and military heritage, and the sheer narrative weight of the space create an atmosphere that no purpose-built hotel — however expertly designed — can replicate. The dining proposition also tips in Raffles London’s favour: nine restaurants against The Peninsula’s five, with a chef roster that includes the world’s top-ranked fine dining chef.

For guests who value contemporary architectural precision and Hyde Park proximity, The Peninsula is a compelling choice. For those who want history, narrative and gastronomic ambition under one roof, Raffles London at The OWO makes the stronger case.

What Makes Raffles London Truly Unique in the London Market

Here’s the thing about Raffles London: it’s the only five-star hotel in London that occupies a former government building of this scale, significance and architectural quality. The combination of nine restaurants, three bars, a Guerlain Spa, Pillar Wellbeing, 85 private residences and 120 individually designed rooms under one historic roof is unmatched in the UK market.

The Whitehall location also offers a genuinely different neighbourhood experience from Mayfair-centric luxury hotels — more historically resonant, less commercially pressured, and arguably more interesting for guests who want to understand London rather than simply occupy a comfortable room in it.

Who Is Raffles London Best Suited For?

Raffles London is particularly well-suited to internationally-minded luxury travellers who want a hotel that is itself a destination — not just a comfortable base. It appeals strongly to food lovers (the dining collection is genuinely among the best in the city), history enthusiasts (the building and its heritage are central to the experience), and guests celebrating special occasions who want a setting of real grandeur. It’s also a compelling choice for anyone who has stayed at Raffles properties elsewhere in the world and wants to experience the brand in its first British incarnation.

If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate Mayfair retreat, The Connaught is probably a better fit. If you want London’s most ambitious, most historically significant, most gastronomically rich luxury hotel — Raffles London at The OWO is in a category of its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Is Raffles London Worth It?

Raffles London at The OWO is a once-in-a-generation hospitality project — the kind that comes along when the right building, the right brand and the right moment in a city’s history align in a way that produces something genuinely extraordinary.

The Old War Office stood empty for years before the Hinduja Group and Onex Holding committed to its transformation. The six-year restoration that followed — involving hundreds of specialist artisans, a Grade II* listed building, and the ambition to create not just a hotel but a complete luxury destination — has produced something that London hasn’t seen before and may not see again for a very long time.

From 120 meticulously designed rooms and suites that carry the weight of real history to nine world-class restaurants, three distinctive bars, the Guerlain Spa and the legendary Raffles service ethos, every element of the experience has been considered with a seriousness of purpose that shows. Press coverage from The Times to Condé Nast Traveller has been consistently positive, and guest sentiment reflects the same: the heritage atmosphere, the dining ambition and the calibre of service are the three qualities that reviewers return to again and again. The rates are what they are — this is ultra-luxury, priced accordingly — but the consensus among those who’ve stayed is that Raffles London delivers on its considerable promise.

Whether you’re planning a full stay, a special occasion dinner at Mauro Colagreco’s flagship restaurant, an afternoon at the Guerlain Spa, or simply an evening at The Spy Bar — Raffles London offers an experience that is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the world. The building alone is worth the visit. Everything else is an extraordinary bonus.

Ready to experience Raffles London? Check availability and book directly at raffles.com/london, call +44 (0)20 3907 7500, or email London@Raffles.com to speak with the concierge team about planning your perfect visit.