London is set to experience a boom in the luxury hotel industry, with a wave of high-end hotels set to grace the city over the next two years. At least 13 hotels are set to open their doors by 2025, introducing thousands of new, top-tier rooms. Among these are renowned hotel operators making their debut in the capital, and others undergoing extensive renovations.
The £1.1 billion Peninsula London, located near the prestigious Hyde Park Corner, officially opened its doors in September at the chosen time of 8.08 a.m. – a moment guided by a feng shui master. Guests were quick to check into rooms, with prices starting from £1,300 per night. This grand establishment is the first purpose-built five-star hotel to open in London since the opening of the Bulgari in Knightsbridge back in 2012.
Another hotel that opened is the £1.5 billion Raffles London at The OWO, within the historic War Office building in Whitehall. This project, financed by the billionaire Hinduja brothers, has undergone an eight-year transformation, allowing guests to reside in rooms once occupied by figures such as Sir Winston Churchill, John Profumo, and David Lloyd George. A night’s stay here starts from £1,200.
While London traditionally doesn’t have a category beyond five stars, the exceptional level of service, with, in some cases, three staff members per guest, positions these new hotels like the self-proclaimed seven-star resort hotels in destinations like Dubai.
The openings of these hotels marking the London debut for two of the most esteemed hoteliers worldwide, will be followed by a succession of launches that were delayed because of the COVID–19 pandemic
Commentators said that this remarkable multi-billion-pound investment reflects London’s enduring appeal among the world’s wealthiest travelers, especially from regions like America, the Middle East, and Asia. Travelers from China are starting to return in significant numbers for the first time since the pandemic.
Among the highly-anticipated openings coming up are Six Senses at Whiteleys in Queensway, scheduled for next summer, the Chancery Rosewood at the former US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, anticipated for a 2025 launch, and the Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch, positioned at the entrance to Trafalgar Square, also aiming for a 2025 opening.
