Raffles London at The OWO Review — London, England

Some hotels have a location; this one has a chapter of history. The Old War Office on Whitehall — where Churchill worked, where the Ministry of Defence's secrets lived, where fictional spies were dreamed up — reopened in 2023 as Raffles London after one of the most ambitious hotel restorations ever attempted.

The result is unlike anything else in the city: two miles of corridors, a grand marble staircase built for generals, guestrooms in former ministers' offices, and nine restaurants and bars including Mauro Colagreco's three-Michelin-pedigree flagship. The Guerlain spa below runs four floors deep with one of London's most spectacular pools.

I book it for guests who want the newest great thing in London with real substance behind it — and for anyone whose London includes Westminster, the river and the theatre, all of which are effectively next door.

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At A Glance

RegionWhitehall, Westminster, London StyleLandmark restoration grand hotel (Raffles) Perfect ForHistory lovers, food-led stays, first-wave trend seekers My RankingFeatured on my collection →

Raffles London at The OWO, London, England

What Stood Out

The Details That Made The List

The building itself. Churchill's corridors, the spy-fiction staircase — a stay doubles as access to a landmark you otherwise can't enter.

Nine venues under one roof. From Mauro Colagreco's flagship to the Spy Bar in the old vaults — you could eat differently every night without leaving.

The Guerlain spa. Four subterranean floors and one of the most beautiful pools in London.

Know Before You Book

The Fine Print, From Your Advisor

Whitehall, not Mayfair. The neighborhood is monumental and quiet at night — superb for Westminster and the South Bank, a short hop from the shopping districts.

The scale is vast. Part of the drama, but guests who want a small, hushed house should look at The Connaught instead.

Book the restaurants when you book the room. The flagship tables sell out on their own merits — I lock them in with the reservation.

The most exciting thing to happen to London hotels in a generation — history, theatre and a genuinely great hotel in one building.

Book Raffles London at The OWO Through Me

Same Rate, More Perks

Rates through me are identical to booking direct — the perks are not. As a Fora advisor, my clients receive a space-available upgrade, daily breakfast, and a hotel credit — plus my direct line to the team on property before and during your stay.

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Planning A Trip To London?

Raffles London at The OWO earned its place on my list. Let me match you to the right room, time it to the right season, and build the rest of the trip around it.

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