An iconic name in the world of luxury travel, we're excited to see Raffles finally come to London — and that too to such a stunning location.
Singapore's pride has become not only an iconic landmark amidst the skyscrapers that envelop the bustling heart of Singapore but also a luxury destination marked by a wealth of captivating history, profile visits, and world famous cocktails. This same legacy will soon reach London.
Anyone who has been to Raffles Hotel Singapore will know that not just any building would be suitable for this monumental export. The Old War Office, a colossal part of a Grade II* listed building, was chosen to house what will soon become Raffles London, a 125-room hotel with a 720-person hall and spa facilities with a 25-meter indoor pool and nine restaurants and bars. When it opens (construction is still ongoing), this historical one — if we dare say so — will be even more captivating than the original.
After all, he had witnessed two world wars and a massive political scandal. Tables within the walls of the Edwardian Baroque once served the likes of Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia, David Lloyd George, Lord Kitchener, and most famously, John Profumo—then minister of war who brought his 19-year-old lover Christine Keeler to "Take him around."
He would later step down in 1963 after the Profumo affair became a massive British political scandal following revelations that he had lied to the House of Commons. Before all this, Charles I was executed for treason outside his compound.
For all its history, this building is truly an architectural master class. The odd trapezoidal shape of the building would be difficult to navigate, but Young's use of the curved walls and corners of the dome takes away the bizarre angle of the landmark.
A majestic Renaissance-style marble staircase sits in the middle, leading future guests into a matrix of corridors that — if the walls could speak — would tell a story that will leave you gasping in awe. For one, scouts used to run through them as message runners during the first world war.
When Raffles London opens, it will undoubtedly rival The Ned and The Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square in bringing out the old charm world to a new generation for tourists. There's no better time to get lost in the past romance, where luxury and history come together to become the next great hotel to visit when the world reopens.
Other Popular Hotels in London
