10/10
“Perfect stay”
Fabulous hotel in a great location and exceptional staff
London · head to head
Raffles London at The OWO vs The Savoy
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-10: Raffles London at The OWO is $119 a night less. They are 639 metres apart.
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The honest take
At $1,084 vs $1,113 a night these are close enough to call a tie on price, so the decision comes down to what kind of grand hotel you want. Raffles at The OWO is the newer, more theatrical arrival, a 2022 conversion of the old War Office; The Savoy is the 1889 original, with more than a century of institutional weight and ten times the review base to back it up. Both are five-star and both score above 9 out of 10, so this is not a quality argument, it's a taste one.
The look and the feel
Raffles London at The OWO
The OWO is a Grade II* listed Edwardian government building, all thick stone corridors and echoing scale, turned into a hotel by Raffles with interiors led by designer Thierry Despont in collaboration with the Hinduja Group's restoration team. The public rooms keep the bones of a Whitehall ministry, high ceilings, deep cornicing, long views down Whitehall itself, but the furnishing is softer and more contemporary than the shell suggests, with velvet seating and warm brass fittings replacing what was once civil-service oak. It draws a crowd conscious of the building's past life, spies and cabinet ministers, now traded for financiers and people who want a new five-star with an old story attached.
Raffles is right for someone who wants the newest five-star opening in London and likes the idea of sleeping inside a former government building.
The Savoy
The Savoy is the real Edwardian and Art Deco thing, opened in 1889, its rooms still split between the two styles depending on wing, with marble bathrooms and a river-facing side that looks straight down the Thames. The American Bar is one of the oldest cocktail bars in the world, all polished wood and pianist, and the Beaufort Bar sits under a curved gold ceiling that has photographed better than almost any room in London. It is a hotel that has hosted everyone from Monet to Sinatra, and the crowd reflects that continuity, old money, theatre-goers from the Strand, Americans doing London properly for the first time.
The Savoy is right for someone who wants the genuine Edwardian hotel experience, with a bar and a history that The OWO cannot yet claim.
Neither listing shows a facility gap; the difference is not amenities but pedigree and address, Whitehall's civic grandeur against the Strand's theatre-and-river energy, and 207 reviews against 2,281.
The Savoy is the more beautiful place to actually sit in, because its Deco and Edwardian rooms and the American Bar carry more than a century of real use, where The OWO's grandeur is architecturally older but still feels, inside, like a very good renovation rather than a lived-in institution.
The numbers
| Raffles London at The OWO | The Savoy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $1,262 | $1,381 |
| Guest rating | 9.5/10 | 9.4/10 |
| Reviews | 207 | 2281 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 7 | 7 |
| Distance apart | 639 m |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Raffles London at The OWO has
Nothing on our list that The Savoy lacks.
Only The Savoy has
Nothing on our list that Raffles London at The OWO lacks.
What guests actually say
Raffles London at The OWO
- exceptional staff and service
- great location
- never feels crowded
- billing mistake with an extra charge
“Nothing. Raffles is perfection”
The Savoy
- civilised, attentive staff
- great location and views
- dining options like 1890 and The River Restaurant
- too little water supplied in room
- limited snack variety
“Beautiful, stylish, civilized staff, quiet”
Raffles guests seem to come away happier overall, praising near-flawless perfection, while Savoy guests are equally fond of the staff but note small in-room shortfalls like water and snacks.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
Raffles London at The OWO
- Double Deluxe TwinRoom Only$1,262
- Deluxe Twin Room, 2 Queen BedsRoom Only$1,296
- Deluxe Room, 1 King BedRoom Only$1,296
The Savoy
- Superior Queen - 290SF, 27SMRoom Only$1,373
- Superior Double Room (Full Double Bed) (Queen Size Bed)Room Only$1,435
- Double Superior Queen - 290SF, 27SMRoom Only$1,437
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
The Savoy
10/10
Beautiful, stylish, civilized staff, quiet
10/10
“Excellent staff, service, I will definitely stay there and refer others.”
I loved the staff, the extra care and exceptional service as well as Gordon Ramsay's 1890 and The River Restaurant
8/10
“I will definitely stay at the Savoy again.”
The view, the staff, the location, the facilities in general.
The amount of water supplied is too little. There is no variety in the snacks kept in the room. Some fruit and cookies will help.
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
The Savoy
Luxurious Accommodations The Savoy Hotel, with its rich history dating back to 1889, offers 195 guest rooms and 73 suites exquisitely decorated in Edwardian or Art Deco style. Each room features elegant marble bathrooms and many boast stunning views of the River Thames, ensuring a comfortable and sophisticated stay. Culinary Excellence Indulge in a culinary…
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
The Savoy
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
Where they are
57 WhitehallStrand
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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