One of London’s most recognisable landmarks becomes a hotel for the first time. Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch opens in autumn 2026, with 114 rooms and suites, two restaurants holding eight Michelin stars between their chefs, and a ballroom built for occasions.
The Grade I listed arch that frames the view down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace has stood since 1912. From this autumn it opens its doors as a hotel for the first time in its history, following an extensive restoration of the Edwardian monument in St James’s. For corporate event organisers, it adds a genuinely rare address to the London map.
Admiralty Arch has spent most of its life as government offices, closed to the public. The restoration, led by the Reuben Brothers, has turned the building into 114 rooms and suites alongside a collection of private residences. More than half of the accommodation is given over to expansive signature and residential suites, several named for the building’s naval heritage, including the Nelson Suite, the St James’s Residence and the Victory Residence, the last a nod to HMS Victory.
“New openings of this calibre do not come along often in central London, and a Grade I listed landmark on The Mall is about as rare as it gets. We are already fielding interest from clients who want to be among the first to use the event spaces.” Alex Barlow, Head of Operations & Strategy, Bien Venue
The event spaces are the headline for the corporate market. A ballroom of 3,540 square feet sits beneath a nine-metre antique Murano chandelier, restored in Rome, and is flanked by a range of smaller, more intimate rooms. The brief is broad: gala dinners, conferences, weddings and brand activations, all behind one of the most photographed facades in the country.
Dining will draw its own crowd. Clare Smyth MBE opens Coreus in the former home of the First Sea Lord, a fine dining room built around sustainably sourced seafood and British produce. Daniel Boulud returns to London with Café Boulud, an all-day restaurant on the rooftop with a south-facing terrace and views down The Mall. Between them the two chefs hold eight Michelin stars. A private spa with treatment rooms, sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool offers a quieter counterpoint to the grand public rooms.
Reservations are open now for stays from 1 March 2027, with earlier availability expected to be announced as the hotel approaches its autumn debut. We will be tracking it closely as it comes online.
For organisers planning London events into 2027 and beyond, Admiralty Arch is one to have on the radar early. Talk to the Bien Venue team about availability and site visits as they open up through bvevents.co.uk.
