Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch

Admiralty Arch, the Edwardian gateway between Trafalgar Square and The Mall, is opening to overnight guests for the first time as Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch. It is a restored Grade I-listed monument of about 200,000 sq ft, owned by Reuben Brothers and run by Hilton, and it is London’s headline landmark opening of this cycle.

The building and design

King Edward VII commissioned the arch in memory of Queen Victoria, and it was designed by Sir Aston Webb, the architect of Buckingham Palace’s façade. It was completed in 1912. The hotel plan dates back to a 250-year lease agreed in 2012 and a Waldorf Astoria appointment in 2017; Reuben Brothers bought the project in 2022. Historians, artisans and conservation specialists have worked on the restoration. The 3,540 sq ft ballroom, reached by the original oval staircase, has a nine-metre antique Murano chandelier restored in Rome.

Rooms and suites

There are 114 rooms, suites and residences, and residential and signature suites take up more than half the space. Names nod to the building’s naval past, including the Nelson Suite, St James’s Residence and Victory Residence.

Eat and drink

• Coreus, Clare Smyth’s fine-dining restaurant in the former home of the First Sea Lord, focused on British coastal produce and seafood
• Café Boulud, Daniel Boulud’s all-day rooftop restaurant overlooking St James’s Park
• Whiskey & Seaweed, a Clare Smyth bar centred on UK whiskies
• A spa with hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and couples’ treatment rooms

What it means for advisors

The location sells itself for first-time London visitors: The Mall, St James’s Park, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery are all on the doorstep, and royal events will pass right outside. Two big-name chefs give it standalone dining appeal. Hilton Honors points can be used here, which will matter to loyal Hilton clients. Expect peak demand around state occasions and in summer.

Opening status

Reservations opened on 17 June 2026 for stays from 1 March 2027. Hilton described an autumn 2026 debut, and earlier availability was promised as the date approaches, but no autumn opening date has been published and no opening has been publicly confirmed. For now, 1 March 2027 is the first date you can actually book.

Sources: hotel-online.com, onemileatatime.com, insideflyer.com, stories.hilton.com, euronews.com