WHITEHALL, LONDON · GRADE II* LISTED
A subterranean sanctuary beneath Whitehall.
McCue’s full fit-out of the 27,000 sq ft Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO, carved into new basement levels beneath one of London’s most storied buildings.
The building
For over a century, closed to the public.
The Old War Office was the headquarters of Britain’s military and political elite and the workplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Today it is Raffles London at The OWO, and beneath it lies Guerlain’s first flagship spa in the capital, fitted out by McCue.
History
From royal palace to Raffles.
Five centuries on one of the most important sites in Westminster.
- 1530s
The Palace of Whitehall
The site sits on part of Henry VIII’s Palace of Whitehall, which grew to more than 1,500 rooms, then the largest palace in Europe. Most of it was lost to fire in the 1690s.
- 1898
A new home for the War Office
Scottish architect William Young, designer of Glasgow City Chambers, wins the commission and building work begins. Young dies in 1901; his son Clyde Young and Sir John Taylor of the Office of Works finish the job.
- 1906
Whitehall’s Edwardian Baroque landmark
The War Office opens: Portland stone over a trapezoid plan, four domed corner cupolas, around 1,100 rooms and more than two miles of corridors.
- 1906–1964
Where wars were run
Military decisions of both World Wars and much of the Cold War were made here. Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, Lord Kitchener and T.E. Lawrence all worked in the building.
- 1970
Listed Grade II*
The building is added to the National Heritage List for England on 5 February 1970. It later stars as MI6 headquarters in James Bond films and appears in The Crown.
- 2016
Sold after more than a century of government use
The Ministry of Defence completes the sale on a 250-year lease for more than £350 million to the Hinduja Group and OHLD, for conversion into a hotel and residences.
- 2023
Raffles London at The OWO opens
After a seven-year transformation led by EPR Architects, the hotel opens in September 2023 with 120 rooms and suites, 85 residences and nine restaurants. New basement levels dug beneath the building house the ballroom and the Guerlain Spa.
Sources: Historic England list entry, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Historic Hotels of the World, Hospitality Design, History Hit.
McCue’s work · Guerlain Spa
Five-star wellness, below Whitehall.
A full fit-out of the spa for Raffles London at The OWO, matched to a five-star hotel and to Guerlain’s first flagship spa in London.
The challenge
Sold in 2016 for its conversion into Raffles London at The OWO, the listed building gained new excavated basement levels to house a substantial wellness facility. The spa had to match a five-star Raffles hotel and Guerlain’s first flagship spa in the capital, with every part of the guest journey delivered to the same standard, over a 40-week programme, on a site with up to 1,800 contractors at work.
What we delivered
McCue completed the full fit-out of the spa, covering every part of the guest journey:
- Pool and heat experience areas, including the centrepiece 20-metre swimming pool.
- An elegant reception, a state-of-the-art gym, and VIP treatment and pedicure suites.
- Bespoke joinery, specialist finishes, precision stonework and refined architectural detailing in every space.
- Joinery made to FSC® standards in our Carrickfergus workshop and delivered on our own fleet.
The result
The 27,000 sq ft Guerlain Spa now has nine treatment rooms, a full-service salon and barbers and a choice of indoor pools, alongside relaxation zones, a luxury retail offer, tailored food and drink areas and exclusive VIP experiences: a true sanctuary, delivered with McCue’s hallmark attention to detail.
Inside the spa
Gallery
Click any photo to see it full size.
