Admiralty Arch is a historic landmark building in London, providing road and pedestrian access between The Mall, which extends to the southwest, and Trafalgar Square to the northeast. Commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria, it was designed by Aston Webb, and is now a Grade I listed building. Until 2011, the building housed government offices, including the residence of the First Sea Lord, and was used by the Admiralty. In 2012, the government sold the building on a 125-year lease for £60m for redevelopment into the Waldorf Astoria London - Admiralty Arch luxury hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2026.[1]
History
The arch was designed by Aston Webb, who also designed the Victoria Memorial and the new façade of Buckingham Palace at the other end of the Mall.[2]: 1 Admiralty Arch was constructed by John Mowlem & Co and completed in 1912.[3] It adjoins the Old Admiralty Building, hence the name. The building was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen Victoria, although he did not live to see its completion in 1912. Admiralty Arch served as the official residence of the First Sea Lord, including Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. It also housed various government offices, initially for the Admiralty.[2]: 1
The structure, which combines the features of a triumphal arch with those of a government office building, is asymmetrical. As viewed from the Mall, the right wing of the building has one floor more than the left one: below the cornice there are three on the right, but just two on the left.[2]: 11
A Latin inscription along the top reads:
Ceremonial use
As the ceremonial entrance from Trafalgar Square to The Mall, itself the ceremonial road leading up to Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch plays an important role on ceremonial occasions. Processions at royal weddings, funerals, coronations and other public processions such as the 2012 processions at the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games all passed under its arches.[13] The central archway is reserved for use by royalty.[2]: 1
Nose
On the inside wall of the northernmost arch is a small protrusion the size and shape of a human nose. It was placed there by the artist Rick Buckley in 1997 as part of a campaign against the "Big Brother" society. The nose is at a height of about seven feet, and sits at waist-height for anyone riding through the arch on a horse.[14]
References
- 1 2 "Clare Smyth MBE and Daniel Boulud to Lead the Culinary Vision for Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch". Hospitalitynet.org. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Heathcote, Edward (25 July 2016). "Why London's Admiralty Arch is more than just a grand entrance". Financial Times. London. pp. 1, 11. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022.
- ↑ Mowlem 1822 – 1972, p. 4
- ↑ Note by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the Cabinet Office Accommodation Project, January 1999
- ↑ Ruddick, Graham (3 November 2011). "London's Admiralty Arch could become a hotel under Government plans". The Daily Telegraph. London.
- ↑ Batty, David (24 October 2012). "London landmark Admiralty Arch sold to become luxury hotel". The Guardian. London.
- ↑ Hammond, Ed; Jim Pickard; Sally Gainsbury (24 October 2012). "Admiralty Arch sold to Spanish investor". Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ↑ Watling, Lindsay (28 February 2013). "Armani 'to turn Admiralty Arch into luxury hotel'". The Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ "Admiralty Arch proposal gets go ahead" (Press release). Cabinet Office. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ↑ "Who We Are". Admiralty Arch. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ↑ Harmer, Janet (28 June 2022). "Billionaire Reuben brothers acquire hotel development at Admiralty Arch". The Caterer.
- ↑ Gill, Rob (5 December 2022). "Waldorf Astoria set to open Admiralty Arch hotel in 2025". BTN Europe.
- ↑ Peck, Tom (25 October 2012). "Admiralty Arch to become London's next landmark hotel after sale to Spanish investor". The Independent. London.
- ↑ Lydall, Ross (13 October 2011). "That's blown it! Man who put noses on London landmarks is unmasked". Evening Standard. London.
External links
Media related to Admiralty Arch at Wikimedia Commons- Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch official website
- Official website of architects for commercial redevelopment
- Admiralty Arch at the Historic England website
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