BACKGROUND
The first Raffles hotel in London, owned by the Hinduja Group and operated by Accor, opened in September 2023. It is housed in The OWO, a legendary Edwardian Baroque-style building, with the guest experience built around its exceptional history. The Grade II Old War Office was built for the British Army in 1906, based on the site of the original Palace of Whitehall. It has witnessed world-shaping events and been the office of political leaders including Sir Winston Churchill. The inception of MI5 and M16 took place here, inspiring lan Fleming to write the Bond series. It was then used as a location for multiple Bond films, from 1983's Octopussy to Spectre in 2015.
WHERE IS IT?
On Whitehall, central London, an area synonymous with politics. It faces Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace and is steps away from 10 Downing Street. The city's major highlights are all close by.
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
This story is from the March 2024 edition of Business Traveller UK.
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This story is from the March 2024 edition of Business Traveller UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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