Raffles London – The Grand Staircase
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Living with Legends: A historic address in the heart of London, England
Raffles London at The OWO, the United Kingdom’s first Raffles hotel, is located in one of London’s most historically significant and prestigious areas. Its rich history dates back to the times of English kings and queens and includes its role in British political power during the 20th century. The site was originally the Palace of Whitehall, once home to King Henry VIII and other monarchs, and later became Britain’s Ministry of Defense in 1906. Known as The Old War Office, this impressive building has a long history. Designed in an elegant Edwardian Baroque style, it is ideally situated in Whitehall, at the center of the UK government and the historic core.
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Raffles London at The OWO – The Grand Staircase
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A majestic chandelier, crafted by iDOGI, an Italian company based in Venice, and consisting of an astounding 3085 elements and 96 lights, is suspended from the magnificent dome above the grand marble-and-alabaster staircase. This dramatic staircase is located in the center of the Whitehall Wing, which opens onto the regal Whitehall thoroughfare, opposite the official entrance to Buckingham Palace. This breathtaking piece of art took approximately 12 months to complete from concept to shipping. The chandelier features two vertically aligned globes of the finest hand-blown, hand-crafted Venetian crystal. The two globes symbolize two cultures, united in their pursuit of creating timeless beauty.
Raffles London at The OWO – Corridor
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Raffles London at The OWO – The Lawrence with Event Lights
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Raffles London at The OWO – Reception
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Raffles London at The OWO – The Drawing Room
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The chimneypieces (fireplaces) at Raffles London, situated within The OWO, boast a rich history and aristocratic origin. Several fine marble fireplaces were sourced from esteemed residences such as Cumberland House and Buckingham House in Pall Mall. Notably, two chimneypieces are attributed to renowned sculptors John Bacon RA and Thomas Carter, dating back over 250 years.
Raffles London at The OWO – Concierge
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Raffles London at The OWO Facade
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Raffles London at The OWO – Churchill
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Raffles London at The OWO – The Churchill Suite Lounge
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The Churchill Suite: This is the room where the Army Council met, and Churchill would have held meetings of state. At that time, the suite was called the Army Council Room. ‘The Army Council Room’ was where major decisions regarding the governance of the Army were made, such as the formal acknowledgment that ‘shell shock’ was a psychological disorder. This grand one-bedroom suite is also where Britain’s top military leaders made critical decisions during WWII, including the Allied victory over Hitler. It features rich wood paneling, grand fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Raffles London at The OWO – The Granville Suite Living Room
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The Granville Suite: Originally named the Levee Rooms, this is now named after Christine Granville, its namesake, who was known as Churchill’s favourite spy.
Raffles London at The OWO – The Granville Suite Bedroom
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Raffles London at The OWO – Haldane Bathroom
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The Haldane Suite: This was the original name of the suite, and there’s a plaque above the door. Lord Haldane was the first Secretary of State for War to have his office in the Old War Office. The main room has two enfilade rooms on either side. This suite of rooms was originally used by the Secretary of State for War and by notable military figures such as Kitchener and Churchill. The suite features wood-paneled oak walls and a stunning decorative neo-Baroque plaster ceiling. The grand window overlooking Horse Guards and Whitehall is of the finest craftsmanship teak.
Raffles London at The OWO – The Haldane Suite Bedroom
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The historical panelling and mantelpieces of The Haldane Suite, which was latterly Sir Winston Churchill’s Office, have been preserved and restored, enriched by red Damask wall upholstery and furniture befitting an Edwardian Palace.
Raffles London at The OWO – Corner Suite (Atkins)
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The eight Corner Suites are located in the majestic cupolas overlooking Whitehall, which give The OWO its striking roofline. Each suite is named after a famous woman, such as notable female spies and Churchill’s wife, Clementine. The Corner Suites provide guests with unparalleled views of Horse Guards and the stunning 57 acres of St. James’s Park.
Atkins was a Romanian-born British spy who worked in the France section of the SOE from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. She took on many roles as a spy, including recruiting, training, and planning secret operations in France. She recruited many top female spies and managed to decipher coded German messages that no one else could. Atkins was also known for the tenderness and respect that she showed her agents. When 118 F Section agents remained missing after the war, Atkins went to work finding them and located nearly every last one.
Raffles London at The OWO – Saison
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Saison, led by acclaimed Argentine-Italian chef Mauro Colagreco, offers all-day dining with delicious Mediterranean flavors in this beautiful, uplifting space, filled with natural daylight from its carefully restored historic glass ceiling.
Raffles London at The OWO – Mauro Colegreco
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Raffles London at The OWO – Louis XIII The Guards Bar and Lounge
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The Guards Bar is on the ground floor with its own separate entrance facing Horse Guards, the official entrance to Buckingham Palace. This is the hotel’s main bar for guests and visitors looking to raise a glass and enjoy social drinks with friends, surrounded by the grand pomp and circumstance of Whitehall.
Raffles London at The OWO – Exterior
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Raffles London at The OWO Facade
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From 1906 until April 1, 1964, the War Office was the core of the British Army’s administration. It holds extensive history and was where the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Alan Brooke, helped Winston Churchill coordinate the Allied victory over Hitler. A significant site during both world wars, it has also housed secretaries of state like Lord Haldane, Lord Kitchener, David Lloyd-George, and John Profumo. With the creation of the unified Ministry of Defense on April 1, 1964, much of the former Army Department moved across Horse Guards Avenue to the MOD ‘Main’ Building. Reorganization transformed the now “Old” War Office into a tri-service building that included an Army presence, as well as RAF branches and the Navy’s Hydrographer. The lease was sold in late 2014 as part of the disposal of government assets.
