Raffles London at The OWO Review: Old War Office Five-Star Icon

To pass through the Portland stone entrance of Raffles London at The OWO is to step into a building that has held Britain's most guarded secrets for over a century. This Raffles London at The OWO review examines how the former Old War Office, a forbidding Edwardian bastion on Whitehall, has been transformed into a five-star hotel that honours its institutional past without being imprisoned by it. The result is a rare hybrid: a government palace reborn as a stage for modern luxury, where state-issued grandeur and residential warmth meet beneath vaulted ceilings. Here, the echoes of Winston Churchill and T.E. Lawrence mingle with the scent of Guerlain toiletries and the soft chime of a champagne trolley.

The Origin of a Whitehall Transformation

Completed in 1906, the Old War Office was designed by William Young as a monument to Britain's imperial reach. Its labyrinthine corridors, oak-panelled chambers, and sweeping marble staircases were intended to project power and permanence. For decades, the building housed the army's top brass, and its rooms witnessed decisions that shaped global conflicts. When Raffles and the Hinduja Group acquired the site for conversion, the brief was not to erase this history but to humanise it. The architectural team retained the façade, the grand staircase, the mosaic floors, and the original fireplaces, while opening up the interior to natural light and a more fluid guest journey. The result is a hotel that feels less like a new build and more like an old friend who has finally removed his overcoat.

Craftsmanship & the Art of the Stay

The 120 rooms and suites are distributed across the building's former offices, creating an unusual variety of shapes, volumes, and historical associations. Some suites occupy the very rooms where Churchill, Lord Haldane, and Sir Vernon Kell once plotted strategy. Interior designer Thierry Despont layered these spaces with bespoke furniture, deep carpets, and soft lighting, ensuring the imperial bones do not overwhelm the residential comfort. Bathrooms are clad in marble, many with freestanding tubs placed beneath tall sash windows that overlook Whitehall or the internal courtyards. The details reward close inspection: original plasterwork, salvaged fireplaces, and a restrained palette of cream, olive, and brass. It is craftsmanship that asks you to look slowly, to run a hand along an oak door frame, to appreciate the way a heavy curtain holds the light at bay.

"The Old War Office has not been gutted and rebranded; it has been awakened. Every marble hall and oak-panelled chamber now carries the weight of a century of state secrets and the lightness of a new generation."

— TIMELESS GENIE FEEDS DESK

Curation & Strategic Splendour

Dining at Raffles London at The OWO is a carefully stage-managed constellation, not a single marquee restaurant. The crown is Saison by Mauro Colagreco, whose Riviera-inflected cuisine brings a sunlit Mediterranean ease to the building's former ministerial offices. Kioku by Endo, perched on the roof, offers a more intimate Japanese counter experience with views over Whitehall. The guard room bar, set within the original ceremonial entrance, serves cocktails beneath soaring ceilings. The Guerlain Spa, hidden in the basement, is perhaps the property's most beguiling surprise: a subterranean wellness floor carved from old vaults, with a 20-metre vitality pool and treatment rooms that feel like classified chambers. This strategic distribution of venues—fine dining above, spa below, bar at the threshold—creates a self-contained ecosystem where a guest might move from a private dinner to a spa treatment without ever stepping outside.

Practical Guidance for the Whitehall Stay

Arrival is straightforward: Westminster Underground station is a five-minute walk, and the hotel's Whitehall entrance allows for discreet vehicle drop-off. The building's scale can feel imposing at first, but staff are quick to orient guests with a brief tour of the ground-floor public spaces. Booking ahead is essential for Saison and Kioku, especially on weekends, while residents receive priority for spa slots and the rooftop terrace. Families are welcome, though the hotel's ceremonial atmosphere suits older children and adults best. The internal courtyards provide a quiet escape from Whitehall's traffic, and the Thames path is a short walk for an early morning run. For those with a particular historical interest, the hotel can arrange private tours of the building's original rooms, many of which are not accessible to the public. The overall experience rewards a slower cadence—arrive with time to absorb the architecture, and do not rush the transition from corridor to cocktail bar.

What is the exact location of Raffles London at The OWO?

Raffles London at The OWO occupies the former Old War Office on Whitehall, London. It is a five-minute walk from Westminster Underground station and a short walk from Trafalgar Square and the River Thames. The hotel's main entrance faces Whitehall, with secure vehicle drop-off available.

How does Raffles London at The OWO preserve the original Old War Office architecture?

The property retains the Edwardian baroque Portland stone façade, sweeping marble staircases, and oak-panelled rooms where figures such as Winston Churchill once worked. Interiors by Thierry Despont blend original cornices, mosaic floors, and fireplaces with modern amenities, preserving the building's stately DNA while creating a warm, residential atmosphere.

Which dining experiences at Raffles London at The OWO are the most distinctive?

The hotel offers a constellation of restaurants, led by Mauro Colagreco's Saison, which brings Riviera-inspired cooking to the building's former offices, and Kioku by Endo, a rooftop Japanese restaurant with sweeping views. The guard room bar and the main courtyard provide further venues that honour the site's ceremonial past.

What makes the Guerlain Spa at Raffles London unique?

The Guerlain Spa at Raffles London occupies a subterranean floor originally designed for confidential wartime operations. It combines French beauty rituals with London-specific treatments, including a 20-metre vitality pool, thermal cabins, and a relaxation room carved from the building's original vaults, offering a rare sense of hidden calm beneath Whitehall.

Is Raffles London at The OWO suitable for business travelers and events?

Yes. The hotel is a short walk from Downing Street, Westminster, and major government departments, making it ideal for high-level meetings and corporate events. It features restored state rooms and private dining chambers, discreet arrival points, and a grand ballroom that can host large gatherings while preserving confidentiality.

How do the rooms and suites balance heritage and contemporary luxury?

The 120 rooms and suites range from former ministerial offices to sprawling heritage suites. They feature high ceilings, deep sash windows, and original fireplaces alongside bespoke furniture, marble bathrooms, and hidden technology. The effect is an elegant layering of British history with Raffles' signature residential warmth.

Raffles London at The OWO is not a hotel that disappears into the background. It is a building of consequence, reborn as a place of comfort, and its five-star crown feels less like an accolade than a natural state of being. To stay here is to sleep inside history without being crushed by it—to hear the echo of a century of state secrets beneath the clink of a champagne glass. That rare duality, power and warmth, makes the Old War Office one of the most compelling new arrivals in London's luxury firmament.