Admiralty Arch has stood at the end of The Mall since 1912 — a ceremonial gateway built by King Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria, the threshold through which every state procession passes on its way to Buckingham Palace. For over a century it has been a government building, a Royal Navy administrative office, and the residence of the First Sea Lord. In summer 2026, it becomes a hotel.
Waldorf Astoria London — Admiralty Arch is the Waldorf Astoria brand's first London address, and by most measures one of the most significant hotel openings of the decade. The building is Grade I listed, sits on The Mall, and will carry two of the most compelling restaurant names in British hospitality. Getting the first reservation will be worth the effort.
TL;DR: Waldorf Astoria London — Admiralty Arch opens in summer 2026 with 100 rooms and suites, views directly down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, and two signature restaurants: Coreus by Clare Smyth and Café Boulud by Daniel Boulud on the rooftop. No room rates have been published yet. Reservations are expected to open closer to launch. This is the most anticipated luxury hotel opening in London since Raffles at the OWO.
What Makes This Different from Every Other London Opening
London gets a significant new luxury hotel every year or two. This is not that. The Admiralty Arch conversion is operating in a different category — not because of its room count (100, which is modest) or its amenities (comprehensive but not extraordinary by 2026 standards), but because of what the building is and where it stands.
The arch itself is the only entrance to The Mall from Trafalgar Square. State processions — the Trooping of the Colour, royal funerals, state visits — pass directly beneath it. Guests in rooms facing south will have views down The Mall that have historically been available only to monarchs and heads of state watching from the Palace. This is the address that the building makes possible, and no amount of design budget creates it for a hotel that opens anywhere else.
Hilton is developing the property in partnership with Reuben Brothers, the London-based investment firm. The restoration of the Grade I listed monument has been underway since 2020. The building is divided into a North and South wing across six floors, with a spa on the lower levels, a 320-guest ballroom on the lower ground floor, a VIP presidential suite on the fourth-floor bridge with direct views of both The Mall and Buckingham Palace, and a rooftop brasserie on the sixth floor. An underground bar will pay homage to the building's historic residents — among them Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming.
The Restaurants: Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud
The culinary programme is the story within the story. Clare Smyth MBE and Daniel Boulud are the chef partners — together, their existing restaurants hold seven awards between them across two continents. Each is opening a dedicated concept exclusively for this hotel.
Coreus by Clare Smyth is located in the former residence of the First Sea Lord — the Navy's most senior officer. The concept is a celebration of the British coastline: sustainably sourced seafood, lesser-known varieties brought forward, the highest-quality meat from family farms, local oysters and seasonal vegetables. Clare Smyth describes it as "relaxed, informal luxury" — an approach that fits the current direction of serious British cooking. She will also bring her Whiskey & Seaweed bar concept to the property, an intimate drinking programme that has become one of her signature offerings.
Café Boulud sits on the rooftop sixth floor, with a south-facing open terrace that looks directly down The Mall to Buckingham Palace. It is Daniel Boulud's return to London — his Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental closed in 2021. The rooftop format is all-day: breakfast with Café Boulud classics and signature pastries, afternoon tea, lunch, and dinner menus built around Boulud's French sensibility applied to British produce. As a dining address — regardless of the hotel — the terrace view makes it one of the most coveted restaurant tables London will have.
How to Get a Reservation
Room rates have not been published. Reservations are not yet open as of May 2026. The hotel is targeting a summer 2026 opening; an exact date has not been confirmed.
For guests who want early access — particularly for the opening months, when demand will far exceed supply — working through a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor is the most reliable path. Waldorf Astoria is a Virtuoso partner, and preferred advisors typically receive advance notice of opening availability before it reaches the general public.
If you're building a broader London trip around this opening, our guide to Six Senses London covers the other major 2026 London luxury opening — a different neighbourhood, a completely different atmosphere, and a useful counterpoint for anyone deciding how to split a London stay.
What You Actually Want to Know
When does Waldorf Astoria London — Admiralty Arch open?
Summer 2026. An exact opening date has not been confirmed as of May 2026. The property has been under restoration since 2020 and has seen several deadline shifts; the current target is summer. Reservations are not yet open.
How many rooms does it have?
100 rooms and suites, plus 17,500 square feet of private residences. The hotel also includes a presidential suite on the fourth-floor bridge between the North and South wings, with views of both The Mall and Buckingham Palace. Room rates have not been published.
Who are the chefs at Waldorf Astoria London — Admiralty Arch?
Clare Smyth MBE, opening Coreus — a fine dining concept in the former residence of the First Sea Lord focused on British seafood and coastal produce — and her Whiskey & Seaweed bar. Daniel Boulud, opening Café Boulud on the rooftop with a south-facing terrace facing Buckingham Palace. Together their restaurants hold seven awards across their existing portfolios.
What is the Admiralty Arch building?
A Grade I listed Edwardian monument commissioned by King Edward VII as a memorial to Queen Victoria, completed in 1912. It stands at the Trafalgar Square end of The Mall — the ceremonial route to Buckingham Palace. It has served as Royal Navy administrative offices for over a century, including as the residence of the First Sea Lord. This will be the first time in its history it has been open to the public.
How does Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch compare to Raffles London at the OWO?
They are the two most significant London luxury hotel conversions of this era and they are genuinely different. The OWO is larger (120 rooms), already open, has nine restaurants and bars, and is in Whitehall. Admiralty Arch is smaller, more focused, with a direct ceremonial address and arguably the best rooftop dining position in central London. Both appeal to guests who want London history embedded in the hotel rather than just the neighbourhood.
If you want to be among the first guests, the cleanest path is through an advisor who has the hotel's attention before reservations open. That's what Noon is for.
By Noon Travel Editors | May 7, 2026
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