Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch Moves Closer to Opening

Waldorf Astoria London - Admiralty Arch is moving closer to opening, with reservations now available for stays from 1 March 2027. Earlier availability is expected to follow as the hotel nears its debut this autumn.

While news of the project has been known for some time, it is firmly on our radar as one of London’s most significant forthcoming hotel openings. Not because the British capital is short of landmark hotels, but because this is a rare case where a national landmark is being turned into a place where hospitality and history meet.

Image: © 2026 Hilton

Located on The Mall, opposite Buckingham Palace and at the entrance to St James’s, Admiralty Arch has long belonged to the landscape of London. It is a building many of us know from the outside, but few have experienced from within.

The question now is how well this transformation will translate into rooms, restaurants, service and atmosphere.

The hotel will include 114 rooms, suites and residences across the restored Grade I listed building, with a strong residential element running through more than half of the accommodation on offer. The larger suites and residences are expected to carry references to the building’s naval history, including the Nelson Suite, St James’s Residence and Victory Residence.

Food and drink will also be central to the hotel’s proposition. Clare Smyth will open Coreus within the former home of the First Sea Lord, with a menu shaped around the UK’s coastal heritage, seafood, British produce and seasonal ingredients. She will also introduce a Whiskey & Seaweed bar, which suggests a more considered identity than simply adding a standard hotel bar.

Daniel Boulud’s return to London is another important part of the story. Café Boulud will sit on the rooftop, offering all-day dining with views across St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace. If delivered well, this setting could become one of the hotel’s most recognisable and sought-after experiences, particularly for guests and locals who may come for the restaurant before ever staying in the hotel.

For Palates & Miles, that is why Waldorf Astoria London - Admiralty Arch is an opening worth watching. London is currently preparing for a wave of ambitious luxury hotel openings and restorations, but few can lay claim to the same combination of prime location, architectural significance, dining ambition and public curiosity.