LONDON CALLING

These marquee debuts signal a new era in the city's hotel scene

- TOBY SKINNER

GLOBAL HOSPITALITY heavyweights are investing in the British capital with new hotels, and they're betting big. Raffles repurposed the landmark Old War Office-Churchill's erstwhile HQ - while the Peninsula broke new ground just opposite the Buckingham Palace garden, both brands staking claims in prime London real estate. Waldorf Astoria and Six Senses will soon follow suit with their own local debuts, while Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental plan to open second properties. But don't let the big names drown out boutique newcomers like the whimsical Broadwick Soho, a glittering reminder of the homegrown English charisma that makes London a must-visit in the first place.