London's Old War Office is Set to Open as a Raffles Hotel

Did you know that you will be able to book a room in the Old War Office building, a heritage precinct in London, which served as an office for eminent people, including Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, and Lord Kitchener

Scheduled for an early 2022 opening is &lsquoThe OWO&rsquo or the transformed Old War Office of London  (United Kingdom), a Grade II* heritage building, which also the first Raffles branded residences in Europe. The historical building will offer 85 flats and a 125-room hotel.

Located opposite Horse Guards on Whitehall, the property is near St James&rsquos Park and the Mall.

This landmark British building was the office of the British Government for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, until its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence.

According to a press release, the transformative journey began in 2017 when The Hinduja Group and Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarollos (OHLD) announced plans to restore and redevelop the iconic building into a new destination of 760,000 square feet comprising  125-room and suite Raffles hotel, 85 private residences, nine restaurants and bars, a destination spa and boutique retail.  

According to S&eacutebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor (the French multinational hospitality company which owns the Raffles brand among other things), &ldquoRaffles is a beloved brand with British roots, named after the British statesman and founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, so it is very fitting that Raffles is coming home to London and that this will be our first residential project in Europe.&rdquo