There are thousands of hotels in London but, with our pick of the capital’s best places to stay, you’ll be sure to find the right room. Whether it's a staycation or your first visit to this vibrant metropolis, we've got you covered from iconic classics to the hottest new openings.
Iconic Mayfair
Claridge’s
One of the capital’s most iconic hotels, no London guide would be complete without Claridge’s. For more than a century, it has provided the embodiment of classic English luxury at the heart of Mayfair. The hotel prides itself on impeccable service and classic, yet stylish, interiors - the place to go for a memorable stay.
Rooms from £540, book here
The Ritz
Oozing opulent style, The Ritz is a bona fide London landmark as well as a five star hotel. Its world-famous afternoon tea and ideal location next to Green Park make it the perfect destination for a quintessential London experience.
Rooms from £395, book here
The Dorchester
Another of London’s most iconic hotels, this glamorous five-star favourite has long attracted the capital’s most discerning clientele. Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is the only hotel restaurant in the UK with three Michelin stars, serving up refined contemporary French cuisine.
Rooms from £442, book here
The Connaught
This exclusive Mayfair hotel is not to be missed. Lucky guests can expect spacious, luxurious rooms and suites; world-class wellness at the luxury Aman Spa and Michelin-starred cuisine from Hélène Darroze.
Rooms from £540, book here
Brown’s
This historic luxury hotel opened in 1837 and, famously, was the location of London’s first telephone call - made by none other than Alexander Graham Bell. Today, the hotel remains one of the capital’s most illustrious establishments, with its flair for modern style secured by hotel design guru Olga Polizzi.
Rooms from £500, book here
Modern Classics
Blakes
Converted from a set of Victorian town houses in a secluded street in South Kensington, Blakes sets the bar for luxury boutique hotels. Each exotically-inspired room is finished with opulent attention to detail; as a whole, the place exudes indulgent excess carried off with style and a touch of drama.
Rooms from £240, book here
Mondrian London
Any hotel designed by lighting guru Tom Dixon was always going to be incredibly stylish. The first London outpost for the Mondrian group, it took over the Old Sea Containers building on the South Bank, which means incredible views across the river to St Paul's. Drink champagne cocktails on the roof in the decadent Rumpus Room, book a massage in the vast underground spa or catch a film at the in-house Curzon cinema. Its central location can't be beaten.
Rooms from £234, book here
Charlotte Street Hotel
Decorated in fresh, bold colours by co-owner and Design Director Kit Kemp, the Charlotte Street Hotel is a Bloomsbury gem. Despite its ideal location close to London’s best theatres, galleries and museums, the lively bar and state-of-the-art screening room may make you reluctant to leave.
Rooms from £270, book here
Old World Opulence
The Savoy
Located just off the Strand, The Savoy is irrefutably one of London’s grandest hotels. Merging Art Deco and Edwardian styles, this legendary hotel is still gleaming from its £220 million revamp in 2010. Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill adds deliciously to the 1920s glamour.
Rooms from £390, book here
Mandarin Oriental
Perfectly perched between Knightsbridge and Hyde Park, this glamorous hotel features opulent rooms and suites and a world-renowned spa. For added gastronomic delight, the hotel is home to the exclusive Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, which has two Michelin stars.
Rooms from £450, book here
Sheraton Grand London Park Lane
Founded in the 1920s, this Art Deco gem recently reopened its doors after a sleek multi-million pound renovation. Offering redesigned rooms as well as a new restaurant and bar, this Roaring Twenties throwback has gained a new lease of life without losing its glorious heritage.
Rooms from £249, book here
Luxury Openings
The Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
Housed in the majestic 1922 headquarters of the Port of London Authority, this will be London’s second Four Seasons outpost. Inside the historic facade will lie an equally prestigious hotel, containing two grand ballrooms, 100 sleek guest accommodations and a lavish spa. A tempting new addition to the luxury hospitality scene in the capital.
Rooms from £344 with introductory offer, opening January 2017. Book here
The Principal London
Formerly Hotel Russell, this palatial Bloomsbury-based hotel will reopen as The Principal London this summer, after a multi-million pound restoration. Its distinctive thé-au-lait ('tea with milk') terracotta exterior overlooks Russell Square, while the inside will feature the chic, cosy Palm Court as an exciting new venue for afternoon tea.
Rooms from £280, opening summer 2017. Book here
Lalit
This is the first overseas venture for luxury Indian hotel group the Lalit. Set in a Grade II listed Victorian building on the South Bank - formerly a grammar school attended by novelist Lawrence Durrell - the hotel combines Indian culture with British charm. Afternoon tea with an Indian twist and a spa offering ayurvedic therapies and yoga add to the atmosphere.
Rooms from £350, opened January 2017. Book here
Henrietta Hotel
The team behind Chinatown’s Experimental Cocktail Bar is opening its first London hotel, after the success of its Parisian sister hotel. A sumptuous boutique number in Covent Garden, the Henrietta will have 18 bedrooms dressed with handpainted wallpaper, upholstered headboards and marble details. The beating heart of the hotel will be its eponymous restaurant, a chic fusion of ornate Victorian and sleek Art Deco led by London's star chef Ollie Dabbous.
Rooms from £250, opening winter 2017. Book here
Hip New Hangouts
Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch
This hotly anticipated luxury boutique hotel once held a colourful array of guests. Formerly the Old Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, the Grade II listed building used to house the East End’s most notorious felons, including the Kray twins. Having undergone a luxurious renovation (to the tune of £40 million) the Courthouse Hotel is now a haven of spacious rooms, restaurants and bars. There’s even a bowling alley and a cinema - plead guilty!
Rooms from £179, bookings from May 1st 2017. Book here
The Curtain
New York hotelier Michael Achenbaum is bringing a new brand and vision across the pond with this hip new Shoreditch hangout. Not far from Shoreditch House, The Curtain’s highlights will include a restaurant run by a Michelin-starred chef and a 1,600 sqm rooftop, complete with a restaurant, Moroccan-style pool and day beds.
Rooms from £240, opening early 2017. Book here
Nobu Hotel Shoreditch
Due to open in Shoreditch at the end of May 2017, this will be Nobu’s first European hotel. Designed in a distinctive east-meets-west aesthetic, the hotel will feature food and drinks menus created uniquely for the hotel by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Other highlights will include a state-of-the-art fitness centre and banqueting and meeting rooms.
Rooms from £249, opening end of May 2017. Book here
The Ned
Nick Jones strikes again with The Ned, but this time the Soho House entrepreneur is targeting the City suits with his hotel-cum-members-club. £200 million has been spent on transforming the former Midland Bank headquarters in Poultry with 252 rooms, eight restaurants, numerous bars and a Cowshed spa. There will also be a rooftop pool, a boxing ring and a yoga and pilates studio.
Opening in early 2017. Book here
Boutique Gems
The Hoxton, Holborn
The latest London opening from the Hoxton group (a Southwark outpost is planned for 2018), this hotel is credited with making 'Midtown' cool. There's a Cheeky beauty parlour for all your mani-pedi needs, a Chicken Shop from the Soho House group and proper coffee at the Holborn Grind. Rooms have a funky edge - hashtag embroidered cushions, anyone? - and range from 'Snug' to 'Roomy'.
Rooms from £89. Book here
The Ace Hotel
One of the more tempting hotels for a London staycation, why not book a room after dinner at its in-house restaurant Hoi Polloi? One for the creative crew, the Ace nails downtown NYC-style cool with its super trendy industrial-style lobby bar, juice station and coffee shop. The rooms are best described as industrial-chic and come complete with anglepoise lamps, wifi and extras such as acoustic guitars and vinyl selections.
Rooms from £149. Book here
Dean Street Townhouse
You can’t say a hotel with baths in the bedrooms isn’t romantic, you just can’t. This Soho House outpost is based across two Georgian buildings and it’s all about subtle earthy hues, Egyptian cotton bedding and classic design.
Medium rooms from £255 a night. Book here
Best of the West
The Laslett
Five former Victorian townhouses spitting distance from Notting Hill Gate station make up this boutique hotel. On the ground floor you’ll find a neighbourhood hangout rather than a lobby, a cocktail bar and coffee shop supplied by Sally Clarke. Each of the 54 rooms are designed to feel like a friend’s stylish home with books for bedtime reading, locally sourced antiques, blankets and Neal’s Yard Remedies in the bathrooms.
Rooms from £250. Book here
Zetter Townhouse Marylebone
Just as the original Zetter in Clerkenwell is known to its fans as Great Aunt Wilhelmina's, the new Marylebone Zetter is to be known as Wicked Uncle Seymour's. Designed by Russell Sage, you can expect its unique rooms to feature antique furniture, elegant bathrooms and curiosities from this eccentric old relative's imagined European Grand tour. If you really want to go all out, book the Rooftop Apartment, which has its own private staircase, dressing room and roof terrace with an outdoor roll top bath.
Rooms from £258. Book here
Artist Residence
A very well-kept secret in Pimlico, this hotel has just 10 rooms which all champion the rough-luxe look. Housed in all old pub, the bijou Artist Residence can be described as fun, friendly and eccentric - think of it as your home from home in the capital. Fluffy beds, rainfall showers and stand-alone bath tubs in the eclectically furnished rooms complete the look.
Rooms from £230. Book here
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