London has a cool new hotel: Churchill's old war office

After a seven-year renovation, the building will soon reopen as the five-star hotel Raffles London at the OWO

The Old War Office is one of the most important historical buildings in modern London: It was a base for British military operations throughout both world wars, and plans for D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge were reviewed inside the halls of the Edwardian baroque building. Winston Churchill, T. E. Lawrence and other historical heavyweights worked from its chambers.

This month, after a seven-year, £1.4 billion ($1.76 billion) renovation, the building will reopen on 29 September as the fivestar luxury hotel Raffles London at the OWO, with 120 rooms and suites. There will be 85 private residences, nine restaurants including an outpost of the buzzy Parisian restaurant Cafe Lapérouse-and three bars.

The property is the most anticipated London hotel opening of the year, even amid a luxury boom in London. Upscale brands such as the Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental and 1 Hotels are opening properties, alongside boutique hotels like One Sloane, the Broadwick and Chelsea Townhouse. But Raffles London at the OWO is generating the most buzz because of its landmark location and the scope of the renovation.

Many London hotels are in historic areas and have royal connections, but the OWO is a unique reminder of British imperial splendour: The land was once the site of the largest palace in Europe; it's the former home of MI6 and the birthplace of James Bond. The British government commissioned the building to centralize the offices for top army brass and secretaries of state for war. Construction was finished in 1906.