Raffles London at The OWO

We had the opportunity to visit The OWO - Heritage Tour and Afternoon tea. We went on the wait last as soon as Raffles hotel set up the tour. It took us over a year to find a date they had available and also we could make. We were so looking forward to our tour the afternoon tea was a bonus not something we normally would have. Emiel is the in house Heritage Ambassador,he was our guide. The OWO is full of history and Emiel really brought it all to life, in a fun interesting way. This really is the most magnificent building and we throughly enjoyed our tour! The Afternoon tea was a little disappointing following such an amazing start to the afternoon. We had to wait 20 plus minutes to be seated, the tables are very close together so you can hear your neighbours conversation easily. We solved that by chatting to our neighbours but not ideal if you wanted a private tea or may be on a date ! The tea service was quite elaborate we tried 3 different teas before we found one we liked. The sandwiches and cakes looked very enticing but did not taste as good as they looked. The scones were very good. The OWO Raffles has several beautiful restaurants we were able to walk by them on the tour, we felt the room the afternoon tea was in was very dark and overbearing. I would love to learn more about the history of the OWO but would rather have a lunch rather than afternoon tea.

We stayed five nights in a Ministerial Suite and thoroughly enjoyed it. Staff at the hotel are outstanding (hats off to Emil and Benedict and sooo many more as well). Breakfast at Saisons and the Drawing Room is a touch choice. We alternated between the two. Both are excellent. Also ate at them in the evening. Spy Bar also fun. The pool is memorable and not to be missed. You could be forgiven if you never step outside the hotel. Great location. Cannot wait to go back. Expensive but worth every penny.

From the moment we turned into the striking courtyard, we knew we were in for a special stay. The greeting from the valet and concierge, the service and tour from the receptionist, the smiles and acknowledgments from every member of staff we met or just passed….all so special! This hotel knocks your socks off with its presence and stunning interior, you can feel the history in this place! We were extremely fortunate to receive an upgrade to one of the best rooms I’ve ever stayed in.. the Turret Suite. Views in every direction.. Big Ben, West Minster, Downing St, Horse guards ( with horses) Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column, fantastic room. Must also add… Japanese style heated toilet seat on the loo… my new ‘must have’! The spa is something else, with a huge pool and the most sumptuous changing rooms and facilities I’ve ever seen! Overall, our new ‘go to’ hotel in London.. the best, with the very best staff! Thank you all for a wonderful stay.

I’ll be honest, we were nervous about returning to The OWO for our second stay — we’d had such a fantastic time last year for our extended wedding celebrations, we weren’t sure it would be able to deliver again to the same level. Any and all concerns were assuaged as soon as we stepped out of the car and received just the most welcoming reception from the doormen. The staff were hugely welcoming last visit but this time it was even better. Clearly, the guest first ethos is at the core of each and every team member, which made our stay exceptional. Special thanks go to Natalia Krezel and her team at Saison, who went above and beyond to ensure we and our dog Honey had the best breakfast experience every day. They were attentive to a fault and even provided a dog bed, bowl, and treats to ensure she had as lovely a breakfast experience as we did. I've never encountered anyone like Natalia. It's rare to find someone who can make everyone feel so genuinely welcome and special - The OWO are very lucky to have her. We stayed in The Westminster Suite again but this time on the 2nd floor with a great view down to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The rooms are wonderful and the renovations are so sympathetically done you can feel the history all around whilst you enjoy the all the modern conveniences and latest technologies. We had just the most fantastic stay, so great in fact we decided to stay an extra night and are looking forward to going back again for our first anniversary soon! I really can’t recommend the hotel enough. Excellent central London location, huge choice of restaurants and bars ( make sure you check out the Guards Bar and their signature London Sling), luxurious spa, state-of-the-art gym. And if you are looking for a dog-friendly hotel in London, then Raffles at The OWO is the perfect location! It makes such a difference to find a truly dog-friendly hotel, they are welcome in the majority of the restaurants and bars, and most importantly, the staff are genuinely delighted to see them and truly welcome them too.

Amazing hotel with first class staff, beautiful interiors, a phenomenal spa/pool and very comfy beds. Great location and stunning building. Breakfast in Saisons was lovely (special thanks to Natalie who was so very attentive) and dinner in Papermoon was delicious. The historical tour delivered by Dean was very informative and amazing to see inside some of the more historic parts of the OWO.