The project to turn London landmark Admiralty Arch into a Waldorf Astoria has made real progress. Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch opened for bookings on June 17, 2026, and is confirmed to open in autumn 2026. This historic building, which faces Buckingham Palace at the end of The Mall, is about to open its doors as a hotel for the first time. For Hilton Honors members and anyone who loves London, it is a new landmark worth starting to plan around.
Latest update
Updated July 20, 2026: Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch has officially confirmed an autumn 2026 opening, with 114 rooms in total (rooms, suites and residences, with the residences and signature suites taking up more than half the space). Bookings opened on June 17, 2026, and the check-in dates currently available start on March 1, 2027; the hotel says earlier dates will be released over time. For Hilton Honors points redemptions, the booking engine on the official site currently shows a starting price of about 160,000 points a night, which can average down to about 128,000 points a night once an elite member's fifth night free is applied; the cash rate starts from £660 a night.
The history of a century-old landmark
Admiralty Arch was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria, and completed in 1912, by Aston Webb, the architect who designed the facade of Buckingham Palace. Churchill worked inside the arch when he was First Lord of the Admiralty, and Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond books, served in naval intelligence here during the Second World War, an experience said to have seeded the Bond stories. The building still plays a role in national ceremonies. Now converted into a hotel, its rooms look out to Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square, a location that ranks among the best in all of London.
Rooms and dining highlights
The hotel has 114 rooms, suites and residences, with the residences and signature suites taking up more than half the accommodation space, a boutique luxury approach that doesn't chase scale. Facilities include a separate spa and wellness area (with a couples' treatment room, sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool), a ballroom for up to 500 people with a 9-meter Murano glass chandelier, and a rooftop restaurant overlooking St James's Park and Buckingham Palace. Dining is the other big draw, with two signature restaurants run by chefs Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud: Coreus, run by Clare Smyth, is themed on British coastal and farm ingredients, and she is a British-born chef with 3 Michelin stars; Daniel Boulud brings the all-day restaurant Café Boulud, his return to London after many years. Between them they hold eight Michelin stars, a combination of very high caliber.
- 114 rooms, suites and residences, with residences and signature suites taking up more than half the space
- Separate spa and wellness area, with a couples' treatment room, sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool
- Ballroom for 500 people, with a 9-meter Murano glass chandelier
- Rooftop restaurant overlooking St James's Park and Buckingham Palace
- Two restaurants by star chefs: Coreus (Clare Smyth) and Café Boulud (Daniel Boulud)
Booking and points redemption
Booking is already open through Hilton's official channels, and the earliest check-in date you can currently book in the system is March 1, 2027. The hotel says earlier dates will be released in batches, so check the official site again from time to time if you're interested. For points redemptions, the official site currently shows a starting price of around 160,000 points a night, which a Diamond member's fifth night free can average down to about 128,000 points a night, and the cash rate starts at £660 a night. That is not cheap even within the Waldorf Astoria luxury line, but the location, a century-old landmark facing Buckingham Palace, is a rare combination among hotels of this kind.
Development and operating background
The project was first taken on a 250-year lease in 2012 by Spanish developer Prime Investors Capital. In 2022 the Reuben Brothers family took it over and sped up construction, with Hilton operating it under the Waldorf Astoria brand. For Hilton, landing a landmark building like this in the heart of London is an important piece of its ultra-luxury portfolio.
Conclusion
A century-old landmark facing Buckingham Palace, two Michelin-starred chefs and the Waldorf Astoria name: this new London hotel has had people talking from the start. Booking is open now. The earliest rooms you can book are still in March 2027, but if you're planning a London trip on Hilton points, you can note down the 160,000 points a night figure and think about whether to set aside a night here.
Other articles on Hilton Honors:
- An introduction to the Hilton Honors program
- Hilton Honors points purchase offers
- Hilton introduces Global Automated Upgrades
- Sharing my experience: how to get top-tier Marriott and Hilton status quickly, and comparing the stays
- Analysis: Marriott or Hilton, which makes it easier to earn a free night by staying?
- Hilton introduces several favorable new policies