The most luxurious hotels in London for an unforgettable trip
Whether you're in town for a knees-up in Stoke Newington or don't plan on stepping an inch outside of Soho, the most luxurious hotels in London are here to deliver an oasis of calm and decadence in the UK's capital. As experts in all things relating to opulence, British GQ has spent decades dining in penthouse suites, propping up late-night cocktail bars and praying to all things holy that an in-room jacuzzi might be able to steam off the resulting hangover.
Thankfully, these untold hours of draining manual labour weren't spent in vain, as they've allowed us to compile our guide to the definitive spots to rest your head for the night. From old money stalwarts to hidden gems with a decidedly intimate feel, here's where to book when you're next in town.
Where's best to stay in London?
London might be known for its sprawl across the Thames, but its imperious public transport system and all-hours fleet of black cab and Uber drivers ensure you're never too far removed from the city centre. Still, if it's your first time in town or you simply want to see as much as possible on your city break then Soho, Covent Garden and Mayfair should be your go-to locations – especially if you want to be in walking distance from the West End. For a little more greenery on your doorstep, Green Park, Marylebone and Hyde Park are unrivalled, while Shoreditch is worth considering as your stepping stone to east London's all-night frolics.
How we chose the best hotels in London
Anyone can list a five-star. What matters is knowing where Londoners themselves would actually book – the openings that move the dial, the institutions that still deliver, and the hidden gems PR gloss doesn’t cover. That’s the lens we’ve used here, having stayed in every hotel ourselves, with the resulting selection given the final stamp of approval by our London-bred (and conveniently-named) travel expert and editor, Lela London.
The most luxurious hotels in London, GQ Recommended…
1/32Brown's Hotel, Mayfair
- Price: From £798 per night
- Address: 33 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4BP
Brown’s is a real frontrunner for my favourite hotel in London. This is, admittedly, inconvenient for every new five-star that opens with a rooftop pool or an omakase counter, but there it is.
It isn’t simply the history (although Brown’s has more of it than most), nor is it the Mayfair address or the Olga Polizzi interiors, but the service. The staff are warm, intuitive and almost unnervingly good at appearing just before you realise you need something. There is none of the ceremonial nonsense that can make grand hotels feel a little too much, but there is true blue service nonetheless.
And The Paul Smith suite is the clearest expression. All heritage luxury, but with its tie loosened. Originally created by Sir Paul Smith and Polizzi, it includes banana-shaped brass door handles, striped fireplace tiles and a small robot assembled from a vintage camera, but it expanded this year to offer a full 155-square-metre, three-bedroom Grand Suite sleeping six. New details include curtains tied back with Paul Smith ties, hand-painted striped lamps, Japanese prints and a model yacht with sails made from shirt fabric. On paper, that could all tip into fashion-hotel hell. In reality, it feels like staying in the home of a properly fabulous family member.
The food is equally persuasive. Breakfast is a serious affair and, at Charlie’s, chef Adam Byatt handles British classics with real polish. The Drawing Room remains one of Mayfair’s loveliest places for afternoon tea, while the Donovan Bar combines Terence Donovan photography, excellent cocktails and a corner literally named the Naughty Corner. Try to behave accordingly.
2/32Sea Containers, South Bank
- Price: From £224 per night
- Address: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD
Sea Containers is one of the most underrated luxury hotels in London. It's everything you could want and need from a luxury escape in the city (fantastic access, comfort, luxury) with an impeccable team and service, to boot. And if being designed by Tom Dixon wasn't enough to brag to everyone back home about, the hotel’s small design touches are unparalleled. For example, you can find large-scale sculptures gifted from the Tate – one of the many attractions in the hotel's vicinity – on each floor.
The hotel's recent collab with Vinterior has taken the property to whole new heights, resulting in four new suites designed by Tom Dixon’s protégé, Jacu Strauss. The Art Deco Cabin suite embodies the essence of the hotel, in particular, inspired by a 1920s cruise liner. Wherever you look and turn in these rooms, you will find hand-selected, vintage items boasting exquisite craftsmanship and lavish details, from unique champagne buckets to geometric crystal glassware exhibited on a mirrored bar. Equally as decadent, rich materials create real contrast and luxury, such as their stainless steel bathtub, matte black sink (in not the first but the second bathroom, of course), cork walls, and boule textured sofas.
As part of the hotel's architecture, the rooms are all river-facing, showcasing cityscapes of the London Eye, but these are the kind of rooms that are just as vibey in the day as they are at night. You can tell Strauss poured his heart and soul into this project, from even curating what books, art, and trinkets like a 1920s submarine mask feature in the suite. Our favourite feature, however, was the framed paintings that turned into smart TVs. Let’s just say, you won't get cabin fever in these rooms, especially with their complimentary mini-bar. With that said, the hotel’s world-leading bar, Lyaness, is worth leaving the room for, too.
3/32The Marylebone Hotel, Marylebone
- Price: From £260 per night
- Address: 47 Welbeck Street, London
Whenever non-London friends ask where they should stay on a weekend break in the city, The Marylebone Hotel always, without fail, gets a mention. It's one of the most aesthetically pleasing yet convenient spots to call home-away-from-home, with a genuinely lovely vibe and some of London's best restaurants and pubs right there on its doorstep.
What The Marylebone also has, which many competitors at its price point don't, is a large array of amenities. Something that city central hotels often compromise on. It actually incorporates access to an ultra-luxurious Third Space Health Club (including its spa, 18m swimming pool, and impressive gym) throughout your stay, and there are also two on-site restaurants to make the most of, including 108 Brasserie & Bar (a very European-style, contemporary restaurant that does incredible steak) and The Cocktail Bar (where you can indulge in lovely small plates and/or sip away on nightcap after exploring the city).
But what about the rooms? Honestly, these are some of the more spacious London hotel rooms we've found at the price point, with a collection of suites of varying sizes, deluxe king and double rooms, and then more budget-friendly Cosy Rooms, all of which have marble bathrooms, smart TVs, dedicated work areas and luxury amenities.
4/32Hotel Café Royal, Piccadilly Circus
- Price: From £650 per night
- Address: 10 Air Street, London, W1B 5AB, United Kingdom
There are many legendary stories you can tell about Hotel Cafe Royal, the five-star hotel perched right on the lip of London’s Picadilly Circus. Oscar Wilde used to drink absinthe there with George Bernard Shaw. David Bowie hosted a legendary retirement party for Ziggy Stardust there in 1973. Winston Churchill – no stranger to many of London’s finest hotels – was fond of popping into the restaurant for a steak, a lump of Stilton and a glass of Champagne (something you can still do there yourself, incidentally). My personal favourite is that the hotel is the birthplace of modern boxing: in 1867, Queensberry Rules was established in a ring that is now its grand foyer. Later many legendary pugilists, including Muhammad Ali, would visit.
Even by London standards, it’s a storied old place. But don’t mistake it for a relic, either. Partly owing to its enviable position at the fulcrum of Bond Street and Soho, the Café Royal has the energy and atmosphere of a much younger hotel, bustling with interesting people having interesting conversations. From a pastry-lined heaven that is the front-facing cafe to the double Michelin restaurant at the back, it’s a great place for gluttons. Upstairs, the tranquil bedrooms – all clean lines and tasteful, Japanese touches – provide the perfect counterpoint to the buzz downstairs.
The real jewel in the crown, though, is the hotel’s underground spa, Akasha. I’ve tried many elite hotel spas in London, and it’s easier than you’d think to be disappointed. Not so here. The treatment menu is deep and considered – just like the massages. The space itself, from the 18-metre lap pool to the hammam, sauna and hot tubs are ethereally beautiful and relaxing: everything you’d hope and expect a 5 star spa to be. The fact you know Piccadilly Circus is roiling just above you only adds to the surreal decadence of it all.
5/32The Zetter Bloomsbury, Bloomsbury
- Price: From £210 per night
- Address: 2-7 Montague St, London WC1B 5BP
Tucked behind the British Museum and moments away from Covent Garden, the Zetter Bloomsbury is aptly positioned for first-time travellers to London. Despite its proximity to buzzing tourist hotspots, the space is a peaceful hideaway in the heart of the city.
Arched windows, high ceilings and a cosy feel, this townhouse is truly home from home. Every inch of the property is tastefully furnished and well-lit, and the Georgian interior feels like an upscale immersion into the rich stylistic past of London residences. Rooms are spacious, fit with grand four-poster beds and cheery wallpaper framed by elegant, sheer drapes. Even the bathrooms, with colourful tiles lining the showers, marble flooring and golden finishings on the sink, felt pristine. The Verden soap is just as refreshing as the view from the room, looking at a lush, well-kept garden.
The layout (and lack of a formal, stiff front desk) paired with the overall aesthetic was a match made in heaven. This is a townhouse after all, so the experience feels homely. Heading down a windy staircase to breakfast takes you through all the various sections of the house. All routes eventually lead to The Orangery, a breathtaking conservatory where breakfast is served. Expect a delightful plate of eggs royale and coffee, enjoyed peacefully looking out onto the courtyard.
6/32The Beaumont, Mayfair
- Price: From £600 per night
Address: Brown Hart Gardens, London, W1K 6TF
Tucked away in the heart of Mayfair, with Oxford St in throwing distance (but, crucially, not in hearing distance), The Beaumont is one for the art lover. Known for its art deco influence, and in collaboration with the Zuleika Gallery, each of the 101 rooms and suites within the Beaumont has its own curation of pieces. In one corner, impressionist landscapes; in another, romantic portraiture or figure sketches or bold neo-plasticism. Throughout the hotel, over 600 works, including paints, sculpture and ceramics, can be found from artists of the 20th and 21st century. Artist photobooks and memoirs serve as desk-top reads.
The rest of the room is a perfect backdrop: rich earthy walls, dark woods, golden finishings, and the odd touch of patterned fabrics to lend a slightly ’70s tone. Plus, each room has a plush and sinfully soft bed, from which you can admire the art. Marble bathrooms equipped with fluffy bathrobes and knees-and-all tubs are a highlight.
The Beaumont is home to three intimate dining spaces: chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen’s Rosi, which deals in sultry takes on British classics; the cocktail bar Le Magritte; and the Gatsby Room, which hosts a spectacular afternoon tea. Then, of course, there’s the spa. Small, but perfectly-appointed, the space offers a hammam, steam room, sauna, ice bar and a gym, as well as a range of massages, facials and beauty services like manicures.
- Price: From £600 per night
7/32Trafalgar St. James, Trafalgar Square
- Price: From £339 per night
- Address: 2 Spring Gardens, London, SW1A 2Ts
Trafalgar Square is one of the least predictable spots in all of Very Famous London. On any given weekend you can stumble into a political rally, a world food fair or a happy crowd of football fans congregating before a cup final. Or, if nothing special is planned, tourists waiting to file into The National Gallery to gawp at J.M.W Turner and some fella chalking national flags onto the pavement. If it feels like being at the centre of things, that’s because it is: the equestrian statue of Charles I at the bottom of the square is the traditional spot from which road distances to London are measured. All of which is to say: a room at the 5 star Trafalgar St. James – a stylish but discreet hotel from which you could all but reach out and touch the good king’s hat – is the perfect base from which to see the city.
Mind you, you’ll be tempted to stay indoors. The rooms at Trafalgar St. James are a particular delight. Book, if you can, one of the six Spring Garden suites. Unconventionally they are located on the lower ground floor and – as the name implies – are garden-themed. Think lush, forest green furnishing and lots of wood and, because it’s down instead of upstairs, a welcome sense of sanctuary from the chaos outside.
The real star of this place though is the restaurant. The Rockwell Bistro and Wine Bar is right next to the unstuffy lobby and, since a £6m revamp at the start of 2025, has established itself as one of the best dining spots in the area. Forget the overhyped Fallow around the corner: tuck into the wagyu beef (done four ways) or the bavette with oyster sauce here instead. The Rockwell has that winning mix of intimate booth-seating and a big, expansive, vibey dining room that feels, well… London. And the wine list is absolutely killer, too.
8/32The Rosewood London, Covent Garden
- Price: From £635 per night
- Address: 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
It’s hard work for a hotel to feel secluded when it’s smack-bang in the middle of Covent Garden. But after dodging Lime Bikes and 9-to-5-ers on their daily mission, you can head down a paved driveway, through the wrought-iron gates, and into an Edwardian courtyard that feels a billion miles away from the hustle. Sitting up from the courtyard is the massive 309-room manor, The Rosewood. Inside, the hotel balances old school influences with new-school elegance. Colour is kept minimal and high-impact, with most of the focus going to comfort, texture and art.
High-ceilinged rooms are framed by wainscotted walls, plush carpet and dark-wood details, which make you feel like you’re staying inside a fancy, and extremely British dollhouse. The food, too, is very good. The Rosewood has several of its own eateries, including the Scarfes Bar, the sunny terrace, and the Pie Room, which is exclusively for pies (we did say very ‘extremely British’, didn’t we?). If bathrobes and in-room dining is more your thing, we can confidently vouch for the lobster roll.
On the chance that dodging said Lime Bikes outside the gates ramped up the need for some me-time, the Rosewood has plenty of it. There’s a well-equipped fitness centre, as well as Sense, the in-house spa, which does everything from Himalayan salt therapy to 90-minute Organic Sea Magnesium Massages. We can’t promise anything when it comes to the world outside The Rosewood, but inside? You're in good hands.
9/32Kimpton Fitzroy, Bloomsbury
- Price: From £360 per night
- Address: 1-8 Russell Sq, London WC1B 5BE
There are London hotels that make you nod in approval, and there are London hotels that make you gasp. The iconic 5-star Kimpton Fitzroy is firmly in the second camp. Before you’ve even reached reception you’re greeted by floor-to-celing Pyrenean marble, intricate mosaic floors and a grand, swooshing staircase. Oh – and an enormous bronze dragon. It’s also so dramatic and interesting, you will be happy for once to wait while your bags are checked in simply to gaze around.
The Kimpton Fitz’ is a Grade II-listed building but, thanks to an eye-watering £90m recent renovation, it has all the reassuring touches of a modern hotel. The rooms are less theatrical than the lobby (a good thing, really), but still have plenty of personality and warmth alongside the generous bathrooms and modern, comfortable beds. To dine, the Fitz’s Brasserie is up there with any of London’s grand old hotels, serving classic British dishes alongside a pleasantly inventive cocktail menu.
A word, too, for the postcode. Bloomsbury isn’t the liveliest corner of central London, nor its most decadent. But for those with a poetic soul it is steeped in literary history and perfect for a relatively peaceful stroll, whether it’s through adjacent Russell Square or down to Lamb’s Conduit Street, one of the best menswear stretches in the city.
10/32The Arts Club, Mayfair
- Price: Non-members rates start from £850 per night
- Address: 40 Dover Street, London, W1S 4NP
There are hotels that feel exclusive, and then hotels that actually are exclusive. The Arts Club is one of the latter. The members’ club on Dover Street has been the hub of Mayfair’s creative scene since 1863, and frequented over the years by everyone from Dickens and Liszt to Grayson Perry and Gwyneth Paltrow. It’s the kind of place where you will still bump into creative titans on the stairs, or catch A-listers on the cross-trainer. But it’s typically reserved for members – that is, unless you’re staying at the hotel upstairs.
The rooms here are exquisitely finished, with a painterly eye for detail. The ultimate luxury is the penthouse suite, with elevated details from the freestanding bath tub and super-king bed (you’ve never slept better) to the private roof terrace. The food and drink, too, is a work of art: whether it’s the beef tataki at the Japanese restaurant Kyubi, or a late-night cocktail at Leo’s. Off to an opening? Head down to the Brasserie first for the yellowtail ceviche, followed by the black cod with honey, which pairs equally well with a bottle of the house white as it might with a £10,000 of 2018 Le Montrachet Grand Cru (your call). In the morning, take advantage of the club’s new partnership with the elite Lanserhof spa – with both a top-of-the-line fitness centre, and longevity treatments ranging from NAD+ infusion therapy to a complete executive medical.
But the highlight here, inevitably, is the art: whether it’s flicking through rare finds like the limited-edition Hockney Taschen book in your room, or the rotating exhibitions put on in the Drawing and Ante Rooms, where you can get up close to works from the likes of Yinka Shonibare and Emily Kam Kngwarray. Trust us, you’ll leave better than relaxed – you’ll be inspired.
11/32The Londoner Hotel, Leicester Square
- Price: From £370 per night
- Address: 38 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX
West End bases quite simply don't get better than The Londoner -- the “super-boutique” smack bang on Leicester Square. See: six bars and restaurants, a serious spa, guest-only hideaways, and staff who serve with a smile. While you're technically in the thick of it, the building soaks up the noise of the city around you and gives you plenty of room to breathe.
Rooms and suites are chic and modern, much like the hotel itself, but what sets your stay apart is access to The Residence -- guest-only parlours to work or chill in, including a hidden Whisky Room behind a speakeasy door for post-theatre pours. That, plus location, is why regulars come back.
Wellness is properly done, too. Downstairs at The Retreat you have a 12–12.5m pool with cabanas, hydro pool, sauna/steam, and a 24/7 gym, but it doesn't stop there. The hotel recently launched an energy healing residency with Amy Russell Taylor to offer guests and visitors yet another chance to, well, feel fantastic. The 75-minute in-suite sessions blend sound frequencies, crystal work and energy alignment that could quite seriously change your life. If you’ve been crystal-curious, this is the glossy, concierge-handled way to try it -- and yes, there’s a beautiful, bespoke piece of jewellery included in the package.
The fact that all of it is mere steps from the theatres, Chinatown snacks, Covent Garden shopping, and Soho bars only sweetens the deal.
12/32Pan Pacific London, Liverpool St
- Price: From £314 per night
- Address: 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
Unlike some of the haughtier picks on this list, Pan Pacific is the City’s altogether more clean-lined answer to luxury; Singaporean precision, zero faff, and a calming hush that makes Liverpool Street feel miles away, though it's literally on your doorstep. You check in, your shoulders drop, job done.
It all just works. Floor-to-ceiling glass for Duck and Waffle-worthy views, blackout blinds that actually block light out, outlets where you need them, showers with proper water pressure, unbelievably comfortable beds, et al -- not forgetting the wellness floor. Inside, you'll find an 18-ish-metre pool, sensational spa team, steam and sauna, and a gym worth packing that extra pair of trainers.
Food and drink aren’t an afterthought, though. Straits Kitchen does what most luxury hotels won’t (breakfast that earns its price tag, a phenomenal restaurant for quick bites and tasting menus alike) and the bar turns out polished, grown-up cocktails with panache. Its proximity to many of London's most exciting bars and restaurants (Spitalfields and Shoreditch can be explored in a 10-or-so minute walk) makes it a brilliant base for travellers who like to get through their food comas in pure bliss.
13/32Claridge's, Mayfair
- Price: From £1,680 per night
- Address: 49 Brook Street, London, W1K 4HR
In an age when real-life fairy tales are in short supply, Claridge's remains a modern-day marvel. With its origins dating back to 1812, the Mayfair hotel's illustrious history includes a star cast of royals, political heavyweights and celebrity deities. In 1945, Suite 212 was declared Yugoslavian territory so that Crown Prince Alexander II could be born in his own country. That same year, Claridge's also served as Winston Churchill's London home following his landslide election defeat. Hollywood actor Spencer Tracy famously sealed the hotel's iconic status when he declared that he'd rather go to Claridge's than to heaven.
The great and the good have all fallen for its charm – as did GQ's Food & Drink Awards judges a few years back. "Claridge's is timeless and never ages," said Adam Hyman. "It's the hotel that everyone wants to stay in." April Bloomfield, meanwhile, praised its all-encompassing hospitality: "For me, the single stand-out quality about Claridge's is that immediate feeling as soon as you enter, that you will be well looked after." When it comes to old-school decadence, bespoke service and enchanting luxury, there is nowhere quite as magical.
14/32London Marriott Hotel, Park Lane
- Price: From £386 per night
- Address: 140 Park Lane, London, W1K 7AA
There’s no more prestigious address in London than Park Lane. Turn one way outside the Marriott and you can be sunning yourself in Hyde Park within minutes; turn another, you’re dropping a month’s wages on New Bond Street. Inside, the grandeur of being in a 19th-century Grade II listed building is somehow warm, not intimidating or stuffy. At Lanes of London next door, the quality of the Arabian spiced lamb chops is matched only by the greeting when you walk in.
But you expected all this. It’s a five-star hotel. It’s Park Lane. More surprising is its Bed, Breakfast & Bubbles package, which involves what is – for our money – the best eggs and pastries in London (and plenty more besides) delivered to your door, with fine English sparkling wine, at a time of your choosing. Hard to imagine a better start to a day exploring London.
15/32The Dorchester, Mayfair
- Price: From £752 per night
- Address: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA
There’s something about walking into The Dorchester. The twinkling piano. The tasselled chaise lounges. The long Promenade with its crystal pillars and mirrored ceiling, under which ladies lunch on afternoon tea and you can enjoy a cocktail feeling like a spy from the 1930s. For sheer, giddy impact, few of London’s grand old hotels can compete.
Elsewhere in the building, things only get more impressive. Take the new suites – all bigger than your first flat, and so comfortable you won’t want to leave – which are decorated in warm hues of blue, green and rose. Take the world-class spa, or The Grill by Tom Booton, which serves some of the capital’s most satisfying and imaginative food in a fuss-free way. The Dorchester contains a multitude of pleasures, and might just be the most complete five-star hotel in London.
16/32The Standard, King's Cross
- Price: From £175 per night
- Address: 10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG
Twenty years after launching its trademark take on quirky hedonism in a former retirement home on LA’s Sunset Strip, Standard Hotels opened its first European outpost at the epicentre of London’s international rail hub, opposite Kings Cross and St Pancras International. Housed in a former annex of Camden Council (oh, the glamour), the '70s brutalist building has undergone a complete renovation, decanting all but a playful reference to a former public library on its ground floor and adding a further three storeys in order to accommodate large, light-filled suites, some of which come complete with their own terraces and outdoor tubs.
As befits a now-established foodie quarter, on the tenth floor there’s signature dining spot Decimo, offering Michelin-starred Bristolian chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ take on fine Spanish/Mexican fusion food, while at ground level there’s all-day dining (complete with DJ booth) in two further outlets. Throughout, the design is clever, confident and decidedly plush, with a strong Seventies vibe detectable in its swirling carpets, brightly-tiled bathrooms and brazenly huggable Craig Green bathrobes.
17/32Corinthia London, Westminster
- Price: From £800 per night
- Address: Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2BD
"Cosy" isn’t generally a word you’d associate with one of the largest and grandest hotels in England, but the Corinthia London never wanted to cave to expectations. After you walk past the enormous crystal chandelier suspended in the lobby, shining above marble floors and custom floral arrangements, the suites and rooms speak as much to home comforts as they do to shiny luxury.
From the plush beds and carpets, to the handpicked decor, each suite feels intimate and warm, while still keeping that sense of indulgence. Overlooking the Thames, and situated right on the corner of Whitehall for all your sightseeing needs, with 24-hour butler, concierge and in-room dining services, it’s a place where you feel taken care of at every turn. And in a thumping – and at times unforgiving – London, nothing could be grander.
18/32The Peninsula London, Hyde Park
- Price: From £880 per night
- Address: 1 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X 7HJ
Flaunting immaculate attention to detail and grandeur befitting of its Hyde Park surroundings, every room in The Peninsula Hotel demands your attention. We stayed in the Grand Premier Park Suite, a lavish room placed halfway to the heavens, which boasts a grand panoramic window to peacefully watch the rush around the magnificent Wellington Arch late into the night. Below decks, Cantonese restaurant Canton Blue is styled out in ornate glory as famed junk trade ship, the Keying, with beautiful china plates suspended around the tables. The restaurant’s famed dim sum is reason enough to visit. Follow the sweeping staircase past the intricate porcelain dragon artwork and you will discover the cocktail bar on the bottom floor, a cosy nook where you can enjoy one of the best (off-menu) whisky sours in London.
Hidden four floors down in the depths of the hotel, you will find its real crown jewel: the beautiful mosaic walls and magnificent ceiling light of the pool. Swimming here is immensely peaceful, and provides you with moments to actually think and escape from the bustling city above. This is all before a visit to the spa, a serene sanctum filled with calming aromas that will transport you to another world.
This hotel is escapism in its more luxurious form, with pampering and catering to your every request. When you leave and begrudgingly return to “normal" life, The Peninsula feels less like a memory and more like a wonderful dream – only one you can return to again and again.
19/32The Mandrake Hotel, Fitzrovia
- Price: From £316 per night
- Address: 20-21 Newman St, London W1T 1PG
The beautiful five-star Mandrake hotel is a favourite for glossy fashion shoots, parties during Fashion Week and celebrity shindigs. Boasting all the luxe, personal touches of a boutique hotel (from exotic foliage to antique furnishings) along with the sweeping grandeur of an establishment, it has become the place to see and be seen. And for those lucky enough to spend the night, make it in The Penthouse.
Is this London's most Instagrammable suite? This palatial rooftop abode is so pristine you'll feel nervous just standing in it. Can any hotel compete with a giant jacuzzi that fills up within ten minutes, features in-water disco lights and – wait for it – a retractable roof for midnight star-gazing? Elsewhere, the bed is impudently large (emperor-sized) and alluring in the centre of the room, encased in white Veronese bookend marble, and padded with a cashmere mattress. While the French restaurant Serge et Le Phoque is certainly worth venturing downstairs for (as are the botanical cocktails from the Waeska bar) you could also indulge your inner sloth and order room service, if only to make use of a stately dining table that's looking out over the room's private, leafy balcony.
20/32Batty Langley's, Spitalfields
- Price: From £162 per night
- Address: 12 Folgate St, London E1 6BX
Old-world magic spills over in Spitalfields where traditional style belies a very modern guesthouse. There are modern touches in the third period-inspired lodging from the duo that brought you Soho's Hazlitt's (1718) and Clerkenwell's The Rookery (1764), but at Batty Langley's (1724) you'll struggle to find them. In keeping with its owners' desire to re-create hospitality from another age with the comforts of today, televisions are routinely hidden behind wall hangings and the extensive in-room bar is similarly obscured from immediate view (probably just as well). In the Earl of Bolingbroke suite, the guest bathroom requires the judicious deployment of a fake title on the otherwise real bookshelf: little secrets that together with further idiosyncrasies (such as a freestanding marble bath and a retractable ceiling above the canopied bed) make it a favourite of proposing suitors and honeymoon first-nighters.
But if neither's on the horizon, don't delay staying at this hideaway gem in otherwise teeming Spitalfields. Granted, there's no dining room – that's what Shoreditch is for – but the in-room breakfast is a marvel: a piping hot bacon sandwich in a just-baked roll, excellent coffee and, to settle the guilt pangs, a perfect mixed fruit bowl. By all means book a table at Lyle's or Dishoom for dinner, but otherwise, this is a bolthole you won't be minded to leave.
21/32Grand Hotel Bellevue, Bayswater
- Price: From £165 per night
- Address: 25-27 Norfolk Square, Tyburnia, London W2 1RX
The Grand Hotel Bellevue looks like something out of Wes Anderson’s dreams. A Victorian-era townhouse. Burnt-orange walls. Sleek wooden accents. The bar even features bespoke tapestries designed by cult menswear designer Emily Bode. “We love everything Fabrizio Casiraghi does,” says Bode, referring to the Italian “starchitect” whose projects in Miami Beach and Milan have made headlines.
With Bellevue, Casiraghi has married modern French accents with old-school Victoriana throughout the 60 rooms, from “cabins” designed to look like a ship’s berth to a lofty suite with panoramic views of Norfolk Square. Bayswater might be a bit off the tourist path, but its proximity to Paddington is ideal for sports fans and concertgoers who can hop on the train to Wembley.
22/32Hyatt Regency, Blackfriars
- Price: From £172 per night
- Address: 19 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6DB
Blackfriars is one of those incredibly odd parts of London that really reminds you that you’re in London – as in, a centuries-old city with so much history that if you think too hard about it you’ll feel like a drop in the ocean. The Hyatt Regency Blackfriars – the latest five-star addition to the Hyatt hotel franchise – really leans into that vibe. It’s right next to the Thames, a short walk from the Tate Modern and is situated in a Grade II listed building on the former grounds of King Henry VIII’s Bridewell Palace. Rooms are modern and business-like (think: masculine colours, gold ceramics and marble finishes), with the kind of regal city views that'll make you feel like a spy in a BBC drama.
The real pull of this hotel, though, is the food. It's got three restaurants on-site – American joint Nynlon, 1920s Latin American-inspired hideaway The Leaf and Cane and the Chinese Cricket Club. The latter of which sells the sort of authentic Chinese food that’ll have you fantasising for weeks (melt-in-the-mouth smoked duck, fried sea bass adorned in fresh citrus and a colourful dim sum selection that looks so sculptural you’ll nearly not want to eat it – nearly). And don’t worry about consuming your body weight in culinary delights – there’s a state-of-the-art fitness centre to run and pump it all off afterwards.
23/32Beaverbook Town House, Knightsbridge
- Price: From £566 per night
- Address: 115-116 Sloane St, London SW1X 9PJ
Have any relatives with sprawling, historic homes just off Sloane Square? Nope, neither do we. But a stay at Beaverbook Townhouse is even better, combining the intimacy of a private house with 5-star service and lavish surrounds. The decor is peak Chelsea: vintage fabric cushions, velvet sofas, old-school telephones, keys stored in an antique Japanese apothecary cabinet at reception.
This Georgian townhouse is the first London outpost for Beaverbook, an otherwise vast, upscale hotel-cum-club in Surrey Hills. Rooms here include key access to Cadogan Place — one of the biggest and by far nicest private green squares in the city. The hotel also punches far above the B&B realm in its food and drink offering. Sir Frank’s Bar is popular with locals (meandering over from their own nearby townhouses, we presume), with drinks service spilling out onto the terrace during the warmer months. Just around the corner, Pavilion Road is one of the most charming strips of west London, with an independent ice cream shop, cheesemonger, butcher and wine store.
24/32One Hundred Shoreditch, Shoreditch
- Price: From £180 per night
- Address: 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ
London might be short of cheap pints, affordable rent and an actually good bagel – but lately it’s been overflowing with luxury hotels, and One Hundred Shoreditch is an affordable east London beauty that we find ourselves recommending time and again.
The bedrooms and suites here are built for design lovers, with sleek minimalist furniture, industrial-style floor-to-ceiling windows and a fun art collection spread throughout the hotel. There’s also a packed events programming here, so you can start (or end) your night from the hotel itself, whether at an author talk on the rooftop bar or a Friday night DJ set. Pair this with the morning yoga and you've got your weekend agenda set. It's walkable to most of Shoreditch's best spots and a good amount of central London, should you finally tire of the fun inside.
25/32Park Hyatt London River Thames, Vauxhall
- Price: From £695 per night
- Address: 7 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5PH
The first thing that hits you here is the view: rooms and spacious suites take in a glorious panorama over the Thames, with London’s skyline visible all the way from the Shard in the east to the rejuvenated Power Station to the west. Unsurprisingly, Park Hyatt have ensured that the vista is visible whenever possible, from the double-height fitness centre (decked out with Pelotons and all the latest amenities), to the blissfully serene and Succession-esque pool and spa.
Everything about the execution feels elevated, from the in-house florist downstairs to the heated, automated toilet seats. There’s a decent array of dining options, too, from the European-inspired Nine Elms Kitchen and Bar (try the ludicrously indulgent tiramisu breakfast bonbon) to the Cantonese-inspired Yú Gé (we’d recommend washing down the deep-fried soft-shell crab with a bottle of Ningxia Riesling). The hotel’s wine bar-cum-tea lounge, TAMISé, closed to the public earlier this year but will soon relaunch as the host venue for The Magic Table – an immersive 3D dining experience that blends fine dining and illusion, should that be up your street, too.
26/32The Kensington, South Kensington
- Price: From £231 per night
- Address: 109-113 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5LP
The Irish-owned Doyle hotel group is quietly one of London’s finest – offering high luxury at reasonable (relatively speaking) prices around central locations. Spend any time wandering around South Ken, and you’ll likely spot their property The Kensington – it’s one of those peak West London, whitewashed Victorian buildings, five minutes either side from the tube and Natural History Museum.
If you’re lucky enough to get a room on one of the top floors, you’ll have a fantastic view of Kensington, with a domino-like stretch of white-topped houses leading toward the park. Suites here have high ceilings, big fireplaces and über-comfortable beds. The vibe in the hotel’s restaurant and bar is great, too – elegant but not fusty. An underrated gem in one of the most beautiful parts of the city.
27/32Radisson Blu Hotel, London Mercer Street
- Price: From £162 per night
- Address: 20 Mercer St, London WC2H 9HD
If you could select one location in central London to rest your weary head in luxury, it would likely be in the crux of Covent Garden and Soho, particularly if you're a fan of theatre. Radisson Blu had the same idea, it seems. Straddling that blurred line between trendy urban bolthole and high-end luxury relaxation, the hotel presents as the perfect jumping-off point to explore some of London's most vibrant and unique dining and entertainment opportunities.
Rooms are spacious and well-equipped for when it's time to get some kip, while the interior decor reminds us of a home away from home, or perhaps your very rich cousin's Scandi-inspired flat in the city. With the in-built Monmouth restaurant, broad business and work spaces and easy access to some of London's most popular attractions, you simply can't pass it up.
28/32Locke at Broken Wharf, Blackfriars
- Price: From £118 per night
- Address: Broken Wharf House, 2 Broken Wharf, London EC4V 3DT
You want central without the tourists. You want grandeur, but also some chill. You want to live like a Londoner, without the London rent. So, you want Locke at Broken Wharf, a low-key, high-impact hotel that fills apartment-like rooms with clean lines, lots of light and a sense of homeliness you don’t get in the five-star grand dames.
Built on the river’s edge of the financial district, the ‘studios’ at Locke make for a solid base from which to explore the city. The bars and restaurants of east London are a short Uber away. You can get shopping in central on the tube. You can take a Clipper along the Thames. Then, when you’re ready for a recharge, Locke has gone to great lengths to make it as homely as possible (there’s a gym, a co-working space, a laundrette and a coffee shop). It’s as close to proper London living as you’ll get over a weekend.
29/32NoMad London, Covent Garden
- Price: From £488 per night
- Address: 28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW
On a macro level, the NoMad hotel is doing everything right: it’s a meticulously thought-out hotel. Set in a 19th-century former magistrates court in Covent Garden, its interiors are inspired by the history of the building and its surroundings. Snugs in the basement are adorned with painted scenes from Salome by Oscar Wilde, who was once imprisoned in its holding cells, while ethereal paintings in the atrium nod to former local resident JMW Turner. Its centrepiece, a beautiful glass atrium that houses the restaurant, is now understandably a constant presence on Instagram feeds.
But it’s the little touches that make the NoMad stand out from all the other high-end hotels in the centre of London. The plush Japanese toilets in the suites. The squishy, herby, perfect bread rolls they serve at dinner. The ornate shower screen surrounding the in-bedroom bathtub, which overlooks the Royal Opera House. Each room is decorated with original art, which elevates the space, too.
30/32Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, Marylebone
- Price: From £275 per night
- Address: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH
Portman Square, tucked two minutes away from Oxford Street and Marble Arch, is one of those disarmingly tranquil spots central London specialises in. One minute you’re fighting your way to Selfridges cheese counter; the next, you’re staring up at a leafy oasis where it’s quiet enough to hear the birds chirp. Just as surprising, in its own way, is Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. Perched just over the road, it’s a five-star hotel inspired by Winston that wears its credentials with something of the great man’s insouciant spirit.
Unlike its more famous rivals, the Churchill doesn’t insist upon itself – which means less fuss when you check in, and the very real possibility you could overlook its private garden, tennis court and exceptional bar and restaurant. Given the intimate atmosphere – and cocktail list – on offer at the latter, that’d be a big mistake.
31/32The Other House, South Kensington
- Price: From £229 per night
- Address: 15-17 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 4JJ
The people at The Other House want you to stay a while. In this members club-cum-luxury-aparthotel set across a slew of beautiful converted townhouses in South Kensington, the rooms are decked out with kitchens. The concierge team, reachable by WhatsApp only (it’s quite handy, actually), swiftly attend to your needs. A post room takes in online deliveries. There’s a gym and a yoga studio. It does make it hard to leave. As do the ridiculously soft pillows.
In our not-huge Club Flat room, the mezzanine bedroom provided a welcome separation from the living area. Downstairs on a Friday night, the vibe is lightly buzzy, enough to get you going but not enough to keep you awake at night. If its goal is to fill the surprising Soho House-shaped hole in this corner of west London, it's certainly making some headway.
32/32Marriott County Hall Hotel, Westminster
- Price: From £339 per night
- Address: London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
For spectacular views, the Marriott County Hall Hotel is one of a kind in London. Moments from Westminster Bridge, the hotel looks over the Thames and Big Ben. And while it may be located on one of the busiest streets in London, the hotel is a fortress of calm.
The suite to choose is undoubtedly the Westminster Suite whose bedroom features a large dressing table, and next door, a bathroom and large walk-in wardrobe. The star of the show is, of course, the huge window in the centre of the living room, from which you can see the River Thames glittering almost within reaching distance, with a thoroughly wonderful view of Big Ben and the red London buses pootling over Westminster Bridge. The decor is paired-back but chic, with modern furnishings, Egyptian Cotton sheets and a marble bathroom featuring his and hers sinks. The attention to detail is nothing short of spectacular – the state-of-the-art toilet even has a heated seat.
With two separate seating areas either side of the window, a dining table for eight and a separate kitchen with fridge, freezer and cooking facilities, the sitting area is large enough to host a drinks party for 30.
