About
Raffles London at The OWO sits within one of Whitehall’s most legendary addresses. The Old War Office – once the nerve centre of Churchill and the Allied victory, and long entwined with the secrets of MI5 and MI6 – has been meticulously restored and reopened in 2023 as a hotel of rare grandeur and prestige. Behind an Edwardian Baroque façade, views sweep across Whitehall and Horse Guards and a series of handsome rooms set the stage for nuptials of every scale; the most spectacular is the Whitehall Ballroom, designed by acclaimed architect Thierry Despont. Think swooping staircases, sky-high seven-metre ceilings, and space for a colossal guest list of up to 600 (though there is the nifty option to divide the room into several staged and soundproofed sections for a more intimate affair). From an imposing first impression, with the marble-and-alabaster Lawrence foyer (incidentally perfect for a champagne reception), to pre-and-post nuptial dining from Chef Mauro Colagreco (well-travelled guests will note) and the indulgence of Guerlain wellness for prenuptial grooming or a post-wedding unwind. Raffles London at The OWO is the choice for London heritage with modern refinement.
Why Our Editors Love
- A legendary (and well-positioned) Whitehall landmark, steeped in epic history
- Edwardian Baroque grandeur, including the striking Whitehall Ballroom
- End-to-end world-class polish, from spa indulgence to dining and service
Testimonials
Thank you so much for all of your help these past 10+ months! We couldn’t have dreamed of a better wedding and venue. You and your staff were so attentive, professional, kind, helpful and just incredible. You accommodated multiple room changes and made us and our guests feel at home. London is truly our favourite city, but finding Raffles last year and working with you since then has made this city 1,000,000 times better! We can’t thank you enough.
– H&B
Choosing Raffles at The OWO as our wedding venue was the best decision we could have made. The building itself is breathtaking—grand, historic, and truly unforgettable—and it gave our day a sense of timeless elegance. From start to finish, Zoe and her team at Raffles were exceptional: attentive, professional, creative, and genuinely caring, ensuring every detail was perfect and that we felt completely at ease. On the day, everything ran seamlessly, and we were able to relax and take it all in while our guests were blown away by both the setting and the service. So many of them commented that it was one of the most spectacular weddings they had ever attended. We are so grateful to Raffles at the OWO for helping us create memories that will last a lifetime.
– Sydney & Guy
