In a city that’s almost 2,000 years old, you might expect to see buildings reused, recycled and reinvented, and buzzy new hotels are top among them. The Ned, in the financial district of Bank, used to be (you guessed) a bank; the former staid offices now boast 10 restaurants including flamboyant foyer dining and entertainment (think cruise ship.) Manhattan outpost NoMad in Covent Garden with its focal atrium dining was once a magistrates’ court, with grim holding cells that hosted Oscar Wilde and the suffragettes.
Yet perhaps the most ambitious refit is Raffles London at the OWO (which stands for Old War Office, its name initialized because, well, no one wants “war” in their moniker.) If you want history in your hotel, you’ve got it here. Edward I first pitched up on the site in the 13th century, followed by various monarchs including Henry VIII, who died here.
But its biggest claim to fame is as Britain’s army HQ through the turbulent years of 1906 until its decommission in 1964. As the nerve center of World War II, prime minister Sir Winston Churchill’s presence is practically palpable within the wide, hallowed halls and wainscot walls. After the army chaps left, the vacant War Office picked up the “Old” in its name and promptly lived up to it, falling into serious disrepair.
The Hinduja Group snapped up a 250 year lease in 2016, after parting with $460 million. Two years later, legendary Singapore brand Raffles stepped in as the hotel operator. The archit.