London's hottest new hotel is an Old War Office

The Raffles London at the OWO is near Whitehall Palace. — Handout

The Old War Office is one of the most important historical buildings in modern London: It was a base for British military operations throughout both world wars, and plans for D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge were reviewed inside the halls of the Edwardian baroque building. Winston Churchill, T. E. Lawrence and other historical heavyweights worked from its chambers.

This month, after a seven-year, £1.4bil (RM8.16bil) renovation, the building will reopen on Sept 29 as the five-star luxury hotel Raffles London at the OWO, with 120 rooms and suites. There will be 85 private residences, nine restaurants – including an outpost of the buzzy Parisian restaurant Cafe Lapérouse – and three bars.