Peninsula, the Emory, and the Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair (the group's second hotel in the capital, scheduled to open this fall). Others have been totally refurbished, such as the beloved Beaumont (doubles from $886), which has had a glow-up and added 29 rooms in an adjacent building. But all of them have been unveiled later than anticipated.
Only one year behind schedule, but perhaps the most ambitious, is the Singapore-based Raffles group's takeover of the Old War Office on Whitehall. This gargantuan, $1.8 billion project turned a 580,000-square-foot municipal building into a 760,000-square-foot luxury hotel, while somehow preserving the historical spirit of the place where Winston Churchill once worked.
Arriving at Raffles London at the OWO (doubles from $1,260), mere steps from Trafalgar Square, I entered a hallway dominated by a grand marble stairway, over which hangs a 26-foot Murano glass chandelier. Though the interior has been softened with carpets and lanterns, the building's sturdy civic bones shine through, and I could easily picture government employees rushing along its vast corridors, in and out of meeting rooms. Those oncedusty offices are now huge bedrooms and suites, with curtains, lighting, and TVs all controlled by an iPad that, in my case, always seemed to get lost in the high-thread-count sheets.
Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Travel+Leisure US.
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Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Travel+Leisure US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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EARTHLY DELIGHTS
Come fall, the Italian region of Umbria is a lush, fertile inland oasis. Peter Terzian reaps a bounty of culinary and cultural pleasures.
RUNNER'S HIGH
Some travelers like to move at a faster clip. Alexandra Kleeman crosses the peaks and pastures of Ireland with a group of women who take life in stride.
THE WILDEST ISLE
Compared with its neighbors, the island of Hawaii is bigger, more untamed-and, at times, unpredictable. With her family in tow, Flora Stubbs finds the perfect balance between relaxation and rugged adventure.
A ticket to the top of the world
On a luxurious train tour of Peru, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu are the headline acts. But, as Monisha Rajesh discovers, witnessing everyday life from the rails can be every bit as memorable.
Bonjour la France
When an American writer retires in Brittany, she learns how to belong again.
Chills and Thrills
On an Alaskan wilderness adventure, Sarah Manguso and her son learn the elements of survival.
Wheels on Fire
With its blazing fall colors and picturesque villages, the Japanese island of Kyushu was made for cycling.
Down to Earth
Pottery runs deep in Santa Fe, from hallowed Pueblo collections to clay-throwing pubs.
Steel City Shining
A tech boom; a thriving cultural scene; destination dining. Can this be... Pittsburgh?
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
This cute Pennsylvania town is brimming with artistic and cultural energy.
