Raffles London at The OWO

Raffles occupies the magnificent former Old War Office, giving it an extraordinary position on Whitehall. Westminster, St James’s Park and Trafalgar Square are moments away, with Buckingham Palace and the West End also within walking distance. Covent Garden and the South Bank are also easy to reach on foot. Charing Cross and Embankment stations provide convenient connections across London.

Once Winston Churchill's workplace, this magnificent Edwardian structure has been transformed into a modern luxury retreat, where history resonates through marble corridors and elegant staircases. The result is grand and glamorous, but the history gives it a character no new-build hotel could replicate.

Rooms start at an impressive 31 square metres, with custom-made linens, marble bathrooms and bespoke British touches. Suites offer considerably more space, while the five Heritage Suites occupy some of the building’s most historic former offices and include personalised butler service.

With nine restaurants and three bars, you could spend a weekend here without repeating a meal. Highlights include Michelin-starred Mauro Colagreco, rooftop Japanese dining at Kioku by Endo, Italian favourite Langosteria, and the clandestine Spy Bar where photography is forbidden. This is a serious food-and-drink destination in its own right.

The Guerlain Spa is one of the hotel's biggest draws, with nine treatment rooms, a 20-metre indoor pool, a vitality pool, a sauna, a steam room, and experience showers. Pillar Wellbeing adds a state-of-the-art gym, movement studio, personalised training and complimentary classes.