10/10
“Perfect stay”
Fabulous hotel in a great location and exceptional staff
London · head to head
Raffles London at The OWO vs Rosewood London
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-10: Rosewood London is $250 a night less. They are 1.5 km apart.
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The honest take
Book Rosewood London if you want a well-run, widely reviewed five-star with a spa and pool for £937 a night. Book Raffles London at The OWO if the address matters more than the saving and you want to sleep inside a former government building on Whitehall for £1090. Raffles has the higher guest score but a fraction of the reviews, so treat that 9.5 as thinner evidence. The £153 gap buys Rosewood's greater scale and track record; the trade-off is a plainer, though still excellent, historic shell.
The look and the feel
Raffles London at The OWO
The OWO is the Old War Office, a vast Edwardian Baroque pile of Portland stone built in 1906, and Raffles has taken nine years to turn it into a hotel without sanding off its character. The lobby still has the original staircase and coffered ceilings; corridors run long and echoing, hung with reminders that Churchill, Profumo and generations of civil servants once worked here. Rooms mix that institutional grandeur with softer French-colonial Raffles touches, brass fittings, deep carpets, the coffee machine and city views tucked into what were once government offices. It draws guests who want history and theatre as much as comfort, and who don't mind the price of both.
Raffles suits guests who want to stay somewhere with genuine institutional history and don't mind paying a premium for the theatre of it.
Rosewood London
Rosewood London occupies the former Pearl Assurance headquarters on High Holborn, a 1914 Edwardian building with a courtyard entrance that gives it a hushed, almost collegiate calm before you're inside. The interiors, overseen by Tony Chi, lean into dark wood, brass and Italian marble bathrooms, with the Mirror Room restaurant doing the heavy lifting on drama, all reflective surfaces and old-world glamour. It has the trappings of a grand London townhouse rather than a monument, spa and sauna included, and reads as more private club than public landmark. The crowd is well-heeled but less tourist-facing than a name like Raffles tends to attract.
Rosewood suits guests who want a quieter, spa-equipped five-star with strong service consistency backed by a large body of reviews.
Rosewood, being the cheaper of the two, has no pool where Raffles does; everything else on the facility lists is matched.
Raffles is the more extraordinary building to walk through, an actual seat of government turned hotel, and that history is not something Rosewood, for all its polish, can compete with.
The numbers
| Raffles London at The OWO | Rosewood London | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $1,262 | $1,012 |
| Guest rating | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Reviews | 207 | 2285 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 7 | 6 |
| Distance apart | 1.5 km |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Raffles London at The OWO has
- Pool
Only Rosewood London has
Nothing on our list that Raffles London at The OWO lacks.
What guests actually say
Raffles London at The OWO
- exceptional, attentive staff
- great location
- excellent rooms and service
- billing mistake by team
“Fabulous hotel in a great location and exceptional staff”
Rosewood London
- spacious family room
- staff went above and beyond
- excellent breakfast
“Beautiful hotel and very spacious family room.”
Raffles guests seem happier overall, repeatedly calling their stay perfection and praising staff and location without real complaint, whereas Rosewood feedback is thinner though still positive on family service and breakfast.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
Raffles London at The OWO
- Double Deluxe TwinRoom Only$1,262
- Deluxe Room, 1 King BedRoom Only$1,296
- Deluxe Twin Room, 2 Queen BedsRoom Only$1,296
Rosewood London
- Deluxe KingRoom Only$1,011
- Deluxe Room, 1 King BedRoom Only$1,040
- Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed 1 King Bed Non RefundableRoom Only$1,041
In guests' own words
Raffles London at The OWO
10/10
“I want to live at Raffles. Best hotel ever”
Everything
Nothing. Raffles is perfection
10/10
Best Hotel in London. From rooms to service, just excellent and it never feels crowded
Rosewood London
10/10
“Fabulous hotel for our young family”
Beautiful hotel and very spacious family room. Staff went above and beyond with our young family and the extra touches for the children were excellent. Breakfast was also amazing in the hotel’s restaurant.
Nothing
About each
Raffles London at The OWO
Luxurious Accommodations with Stunning City Views Experience the epitome of luxury at Raffles London at The OWO, where each 5-star room offers breathtaking city views, air-conditioning, and top-notch amenities including a coffee machine and a flat-screen TV. Indulge in Exquisite Dining Options Savor a delightful culinary journey at our on-site restaurant,…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Rosewood London
Luxurious Designer Rooms and Spa Rosewood London offers elegant and spacious designer rooms with bespoke furnishings, Italian marble bathrooms, and a range of modern amenities. Unwind at the spa and sauna for a truly relaxing experience during your stay. Glamorous Dining Experience Indulge in a culinary journey at the Holborn dining room with a delicious a…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
Raffles London at The OWO
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
Rosewood London
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Luggage storage
Where they are
57 Whitehall252 High Holborn. Holborn
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Rates are live for 2026-10-10, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons