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Like London's Admiralty Arch? Soon It'll Be A 100-Room Hotel

October 26, 2012 at 9:04 AM | by | Comment (1)

This is probably going to be controversial for a bunch of folks, but London has decided to pimp out one of its top landmarks, the Admiralty Arch, as a five-star luxury hotel. The King Edward VII-commissioned building, which was completed in 1912, originally housed the offices and residences of British Sea Lords, though last year it was put up for sale.

But wait! It gets better. The man in charge of the project is none other than Rafael Serrano, whose most recent hotel, the $800/night Vulgari Bulgari, was one of the most talked about hotels in the city when it opened in June. See? We told you it got better.

The final go-ahead still has to be given by the Westminster City Council, but the Daily Mail confirms that Serrano has paid £60 million for a 99-year lease on the building, and if he gets his way, he'll convert it into a 100-room hotel, complete with royal and presidential suites, a ballroom, spa and fine dining restaurant.

No word yet on room rates, but we're expect something in the £400-£500/night range. Hey, who ever said London was cheap?

The building connects Trafalgar Square and The Mall, and featured prominently during the Queens' Jubilee this summer, though the public has rarely had access to it. Until now, that is....

As these photos on the Daily Mail show, the apartments inside the building are actually kind of cozy-looking. We hope Serrano's vision doesn't include another Bulgari, which would be a huge travesty. Instead, we're hoping for something simple, elegant, and reminiscent of the building's 100-year-old history. After all, the views of Buckingham Palace alone ought to be better than the Bulgari's view of dudes sitting on the couch watching TV.

Would you stay at the Admiralty Arch Hotel? Or do you think the landmark building is better left untouched? Let us know in the comments below!

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