More than a decade after plans were first approved, one of London's most iconic landmarks is finally set to welcome overnight guests.
This autumn, the Grade I-listed Admiralty Arch on The Mall will open as the Waldorf Astoria London - Admiralty Arch, marking the arrival of the luxury hospitality brand's long-awaited first hotel in the UK capital following an extensive restoration.
Originally commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his late mother, Queen Victoria, Admiralty Arch was designed by Aston Webb, the architect behind the Buckingham Palace façade. Construction was completed in 1910 and it then served as government offices for more than a century until 2011.
Its storied history includes hosting leading figures of state and society, from Sir Winston Churchill – whose office was based within the arch when he was First Lord of the Admiralty – to author of the James Bond spy novels Ian Fleming.
'Unmistakably London'
