There’s no denying that Admiralty Arch, the magnificent gateway between Trafalgar Square and the Mall, is one of London’s grandest landmarks. Built in 1912 in memory of Queen Victoria, the Edwardian baroque structure was designed by the very same man behind the Buckingham Palace façade and the V&A in South Kensington, and was once the HQ of the Admiralty and Royal Navy. Now, imagine if you had the chance to sleep there yourself?
Well, now Admiralty Arch has been transformed into a luxury hotel and is preparing to welcome overnight guests for the very first time. Launching later this year, it’ll be the first UK hotel from ultra-luxe chain Waldorf Astoria and is perhaps the city’s most hotly-anticipated hotel opening of the last few years.
Everything about the new hotel is as grand as you would expect. Its 114 rooms, suites and residences have been done out with the building’s history in mind and with an ‘understated elegance’ characteristic of the Waldorf brand. The extra posh residences and signature suites have names like Nelson Suite, St James’s Residence and Victory Residence (after HMS Victory) to reference its naval past.
Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch will also be a major new fine dining destination with two incredibly swanky restaurants from Clare Smyth and Daniel Bouloud (who have seven Michelin stars between them). Smyth will head up Coreus, a seafood restaurant set within the former home of the First Sea Lord while Bouloud will run Café Bouloud on the rooftop, which will be an all-day dining spot offering breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
That’s not all. Admiralty Arch will also have an extensive spa where guests can wind down with a massage, a facial, a dip in the pool, and sessions in the sauna and steam room. And, to top it all off, there will be a huge, splendid ballroom for events, featuring a nine-metre antique Murano chandelier restored in Rome. Who could ask for more?
Bookings for Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch are now open for stays from March 1, 2027 on the Hilton website here. Earlier reservations will be available closer to the hotel’s launch in the autumn.
ICYMI: Inside the luxe London hotel that has been crowned one of the greatest in the world.
Plus: The hotel bar that makes the best martini in London.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.
