{"id":569228,"date":"2025-11-14T06:08:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T06:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/569228\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T06:08:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T06:08:32","slug":"these-are-the-best-hotels-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/569228\/","title":{"rendered":"These are the best hotels in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

From east to west, north to south, Mayfair to the City, these are the hotel that most impress for their design, service, food and attention to detail.<\/p>\n

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Come to the Connaught Bar for the next-level martinis<\/p>\n

The Connaught<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re visiting a culinary-powerhouse city like London, staying in your hotel to eat is a no-no \u2013 that is, unless you\u2019re booked at The Connaught, where the dining venues are half the reason to come. At this Mayfair icon you\u2019ll sip the world\u2019s best martinis from Master Mixologist Agostino Perrone in the Connaught Bar, dine on three-Michelin-starred fare at H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Darroze\u2019s wood-panelled restaurant and nibble impeccable patisserie from acclaimed p\u00e2tissier Nicolas Rouzaud\u2019s in-house bakery. This being the Maybourne group \u2013 also of Claridge\u2019s and The Emory fame \u2013 service is polished and design ageless, with rooms oozing cross-century glamour.<\/p>\n

The Peninsula London, Belgravia<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The lobby at The Peninsula feels like a destination<\/p>\n

The Peninsula<\/p>\n

For: tech meets timelessness <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Peninsula may have been born abroad but its pillbox-hatted bellhops, impeccable service and Rolls-Royce private transfers feel so attuned to the hotel\u2019s Belgravia location it\u2019s already a London institution just two years after opening. Adjacent to Wellington Arch on Hyde Park Corner, it\u2019s a rare new-build in this iconic location, giving you the best of both worlds: prime SW1X postcode and a hotel that works in a modern age (think: excellent soundproofing, spacious rooms and plenty of natural light). <\/p>\n

Seamless tech is subtly integrated at every turn, from do-it-all touch pads in rooms to the subterranean spa, where exclusive Ricari Method treatments employ a space age-style machine to detoxify skin and ixnay excess inches. In Peninsula tradition, the lobby is rebranded from transient space to a place to be, with a humming restaurant serving opulent breakfasts and afternoon teas under a soaring ceiling, and a pianist tickling the keys. Up on the eighth floor two-Michelin-starred Brooklands by Claude Bosi has an adjoining aviation- and motorsport-themed bar serving a mean daiquiri.<\/p>\n

Kimpton Fitzroy, Bloomsbury<\/strong><\/p>\n

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All kinds of opulence awaits at the Kimpton Fitzroy<\/p>\n

Kimpton Fitzroy<\/p>\n

Perched on the northeast corner of Russell Square, this Bloomsbury staple has some seriously Instagrammable spaces, in particular a grand bronze-marbled lobby \u2013 complete with soaring columns, opulent mosaic floors and bas-relief archways. The space particularly comes into its own in festive months, when you can drift through the wooden double doors and past the twinkling Christmas tree to moody Fitz\u2019s bar, warmed by a crackling fire. In contrast to the Victorian opulence of the public spaces, the bedrooms are all calming whites and taupes, with draped four-posters and grey-veined stone. <\/p>\n

Broadwick Soho Hotel, Soho<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Broadwick is no shrinking violet<\/p>\n

The Broadwick<\/p>\n

Whereas so many hotels languish in blandness, this Soho newcomer is big on personality, of a kind that made it a London stalwart from the moment it opened two years ago. Sexy, exclusive-feeling and unabashedly OTT in design, it feels all at once like a furtive hideaway and the centre of the universe. Dimly lit dinners at restaurant Dear Jackie \u2013 where NYC-style Italian nostalgia meets timeless opulence in dishes like the XL diver scallop with Champagne sauce \u2013 buzzes on weeknights as locals mingle with hotel-goers \u2013 while rooftop bar Flute attracts a cool crowd in the sultry summer months. Bedrooms, which range from cosy standards to a penthouse with terrace and bar, take the sumptuous riot in a more soothing direction with muted hues.<\/p>\n

NoMad London, Covent Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n

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NoMad London is in the heart of Covent Garden\u2019s action<\/p>\n

Benoit Linero<\/p>\n

Inspired by New York \u2013 but set in one of London\u2019s architectural treasures, the former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station \u2013 NoMad London balances intimacy with social buzz, elegance with fun, quiet retreat with hedonism. Rooms feel more like the apartment of a chic friend, with rolltop baths, tasselled footrests and eclectic art, while the always-buzzy public spaces are filled with brunching PRs or off-duty suits munching on zingy cocktails and Cali-inflected Latin flavours at restaurant Side Hustle. For those that wish to make the most of what the city has to offer the location cannot be faulted, with Covent Garden and the Royal Opera house steps away. And yet, cosy corners, reserved just for in-house guests, means you always have a place to escape the rush.<\/p>\n

St. Pancras, London, Autograph Collection<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A stay at St. Pancras hotel immerses you in Neo-Gothic splendour<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a9Jiri Lizler<\/p>\n

There was a time when rail was a byword for the world\u2019s most thrilling escapes. And now that we\u2019re embarking on a new golden age of train travel<\/a>, it\u2019s time to renew the energy with a booking at St. Pancras hotel, housed within the very walls of the famously grand neo-Gothic Victorian rail station. Not that you have to be hopping on the Eurostar to justify a stay; the soaring columns, swirling staircases and opulent gilded wall detailing is worth an ogle even if both your embarkation point and terminus is London. Spend an evening sipping Victorian punch-inspired cocktails under the soaring ceiling of the Booking Office 1869 bar, then drift off to rooms painted in sky blues and earthy greens.<\/p>\n

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The Goring has high standards, and royal connections<\/p>\n

Nick Rochowski Photography<\/p>\n

The family-owned Mayfair stay where Kate Middleton famously spent her final night as a single woman, The Goring is as old money as it gets, with royal connections that most other London luxury hotels would kill for. With no outward attempt to be trendy, or techy, or particularly glitzy, it keeps its standards high and focuses on doing what it\u2019s done since 1910 impeccably well. Crackling fires in a painting-lined lounge provide a delectable backdrop to afternoon tea, while proper Sunday lunches with fluffy Yorkshire puds are paraded out in the charmingly trad Dining Room. Rooms and suites each ooze their own personalised character and, as the clich\u00e9 goes, feel fit for a king or queen.<\/p>\n

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The Ned <\/p>\n

For: socialising in the City<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Soho House group flung open the doors to The Ned in 2017, it revolutionised social life in Bank: rather than just warren-like old pubs and flashy expense-account spots, suddenly there was somewhere to go that actually felt, well, cool. The enticing, food hall-esque sprawl of ground floor restaurants, segueing Cecconi\u2019s into cheery Malibu Kitchen and a sushi bar, among others, acts as a mass meeting space before you check into one of the 1920s-glam bedrooms. \u2018Cosy\u2019 categories keep entry level rates surprisingly affordable given the location, though if you want the real experience of what makes the setting in the former Midland Bank special book one of the fifth-floor Heritage rooms, showcasing original features designed by original building architect Sir Edwin \u2018Ned\u2019 Lutyens. <\/p>\n

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Sea Containers was designed by Tom Dixon<\/p>\n

Sea Containers<\/p>\n

Location, location, location \u2013 and more than a dash of eye-catching Tom Dixon design \u2013 makes this Southbank staple an enduring favourite. Designed to mimic a transatlantic cruise liner, with a burnished copper hull bordering the ground floor lobby and restaurant, its balconied rooms practically hang over the Thames, making it seem as though the water is splashing at your feet. Falling asleep with the curtains open to a view over Blackfriars bridge and St Pauls cathedral is one of those \u2018pinch-me-I\u2019m-in-London\u2019 moments that can\u2019t be replicated even at some of the city\u2019s swankier addresses. Meanwhile, ground floor cocktail bar Lyaness turns out innovative concoctions from drinks guru Ryan Chetiyawardana and the Agua spa delivers skin-smoothing facials from Natura Biss\u00e9.<\/p>\n

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Art Deco meets rock and roll at 45 Park Lane<\/p>\n

45 Park Lane<\/p>\n

The Dorchester\u2019s younger sibling is more intimate, more chic, and a little bit rock and roll \u2013 all while still managing to ooze the upmarket exclusivity that you\u2019d expect of a Park Lane pad. Art Deco-inspired stylings from top to toe bring lively personality to the 45 spacious rooms, many of which have balconies that gaze across to neighbouring Hyde Park. Food is given serious priority, with Wolfgang Puck\u2019s only London restaurant \u2013 Cut at 45 Park Lane \u2013 serving up top-notch steaks and the intimate Sushi Kanesaka providing a omakase experience that could have been airlifted straight from Tokyo. <\/p>\n

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The Gallery at The Savoy hosts guests from dawn until way past dusk<\/p>\n

Jack Hardy<\/p>\n

London\u2019s original destination hotel has lost none of its appeal, with a recent suite refresh injecting fresh life into its Thames-facing rooms. With Edwardian and Art Deco detailing gracing every surface, the whole place is a feast for the eyes, whether you\u2019re breakfasting under the soaring dome of The Gallery restaurant, or sipping on a well-crafted cocktail in the Beaufort Bar, dripping in black and gold. At times it feels like all of London is passing through the doors of the lobby here, and with former guests including the likes of Winston Churchill, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana, you definitely should be too. <\/p>\n

Shangri-La at the Shard, South Bank<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dip with a view at Shangri-La The Shard\u2019s \u2018sky pool\u2019<\/p>\n

Shangri-La The Shard<\/p>\n

For: unbeatable panoramas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Capital views don\u2019t get more sensational than from The Shard, the tallest building in the country and home to the Shangri-La from floors 34 through 52. Waking up to a view of the scramble of London Bridge below, the shifting light of the clouds and the shadows of the surrounding skyscrapers \u2013 none nearly as high as you are \u2013 is a singular kind of experience. You\u2019ll quickly discover that everything becomes more fun when it comes with such a sensational perspective, whether you\u2019re going for a swim (in the window-lined pool overlooking St Paul\u2019s and the Thames) or dining (at one of the multiple restaurants), or even visiting the loo (some in-room baths, for example, allow for a soak-with-a-view). <\/p>\n

Beaverbrook Townhouse, Chelsea<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Playful decor at Beaverbrook Townhouse<\/p>\n

Beaverbook Townhouse<\/p>\n

Many of London\u2019s finest hotels are titanic affairs, with vast lobby spaces and amenities galore. But perhaps fittingly for more neighbourhoody Chelsea, Beaverbrook Townhouse \u2013 sister hotel to the opulent Surrey country house hotel \u2013 is more private and cosseted, the kind of place where you\u2019ll fly under the radar in style rather than mingle with the see-and-be-seen brigade. The cornerstone of the social space here is the stylish Fuji Grill, where honed Japanese-meets-Spanish \u2018tapasu\u2019 sharing dishes are the precursor to drinks in the neighbouring Sir Frank\u2019s Bar. Warm, inviting and saturated with colour, the rooms have the drama you\u2019d like to see in a hotel but the comfort of a familial nest; just what you want in a hotel designed to be a home-from-home.<\/p>\n

Rosewood Holborn, Holborn<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Suite life at the Rosewood London<\/p>\n

Jack Hardy<\/p>\n

It might be steps from Holborn station but with its discrete courtyard location and suited doormen, the Rosewood feels like a sanctuary in the heart of 24\/7 London. Despite its epic proportions (it houses more than 300 rooms and suites), it manages to maintain an air of strict exclusivity with pin-drop quiet, low lighting and sleek and shiny furnishings. Cavernous suites larger than a typical London flat make a comfy base for an extended stay, while a selection of restaurants (including a dedicated Pie Room) means jet-lagged travellers needn\u2019t head out. Don\u2019t miss a drink in the cosy, fireplace-flanked Scarfes Bar, recently named among the World\u2019s 50 Best Bars.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s not the usual Mayfair decor at The Twenty Two<\/p>\n

The Twenty Two<\/p>\n

For: members club atmosphere<\/strong><\/p>\n

With locations in London and New York, this boutique hotel \u2013 it holds just a little over 30 rooms \u2013 has a playful, chic vibe, with a riotous colour palette and design that injects a bit of fresh life into usually staid Mayfair. It helps that it\u2019s a members\u2019 club as well as hotel, a fact that keeps the general atmosphere feeling both local and social (all hotel guests become temporary members for the duration of their stay). Settle into the bar with a House 22 \u2013 tequila, ginger, Aperol and citrus \u2013 and while away the evening while making new friends.<\/p>\n

Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge, City<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tower Bridge is right on your doorstep at the Four Seasons<\/p>\n

Four Seasons Tower Bridge<\/p>\n

For: historic sightseeing<\/strong><\/p>\n

The EC3 postcode is more famous for its nursery-rhyme bridge than it is swanky hotels, but this outpost of the ever-polished Four Seasons brand puts it \u2013 as well as the Tower of London, Borough Market and Monument \u2013 all at fingertip\u2019s reach. And yet you\u2019ve not sacrificed any of the luxury you\u2019d expect in Mayfair or Belgravia, with this Grade-II listed building boasting rambling suites (including a four-bedroom penthouse), ballrooms and a comprehensive spa. Perks of being a FS resident include the option to hire your own private boat for a cruise on the Thames or access to special dinners in the wood-lined members club, a partnership with world-renowned Bordeaux first growth Ch\u00e2teau Latour. Read our full review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Henrietta Experimental, Covent Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Cool stylings at the Henrietta <\/p>\n

Patrick Locqueneux<\/p>\n

For: a cool place to crash<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding a stay in the heart of Soho that merges class with convenience isn\u2019t easy, but this French-flair spot from the Experimental Cocktail Club group hits all the right notes. Almost more like a restaurant with rooms, it centres around a ground floor eatery, Henri, which serves the likes of duck fat fries and grilled snails. As you might expect given the pedigree, cocktails are given particular attention, with the likes of Ma\u00eft\u00e9 \u2013 calvados, rose liqueur, lemon and cr\u00e9mant sparkling wine \u2013 mixed up at all hours. This is just the kind of chic London crash pad you\u2019re looking for when you\u2019ve got a busy weekend of sightseeing ahead and don\u2019t want to over-spend on a room.<\/p>\n

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Claridge\u2019s has racked up the awards <\/p>\n

Claridge’s<\/p>\n

For: 50 Best bragging rights<\/strong><\/p>\n

Given that this year it was named the best place in the UK to stay by the World\u2019s 50 Best Hotels, it would be remiss to leave Claridge\u2019s off our list of essential London stays. Constantly pursuing the art of hospitality perfection, the crown jewel of the Maybourne group manages to continually keep itself in the zeitgeist with a magic blend of faultless service, enduringly high quality and non-stop innovation. Example in point: a recent pop up from NYC aperitivo legends Dante.<\/p>\n

Mandarin Oriental London, Knightsbridge<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Mandarin Oriental caters well to families<\/p>\n

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re checking in with a newborn for the onsite postpartum retreat The Tenth<\/a> \u2013 or with older kiddos that will slip comfortably into the mini panda slippers provided at bedtime \u2013 the Mandarin Oriental gets what families need, without sacrificing all the things that adults love. Bordering Hyde Park, a go-to green space for little ones to burn off energy, the hotel has a lengthy pool, genuinely yummy kids\u2019 menus and a range of curated children\u2019s amenities like tipi tents, rocking horses and nursery toys. Meanwhile, grown ups can enjoy two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal or a restorative massage in the spa.<\/p>\n

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Sublime design at The Soho Hotel<\/p>\n

The Soho Hotel<\/p>\n

You feel like a \u2018someone\u2019 when you step into the Soho Hotel: staff greet you warmly at the door, and remember your name when you pop to the front desk. Service both this polished and friendly is a rare thing, and it\u2019s perhaps the secret trump card that makes the pile off Dean Street such an enduring favourite with celebrities (staff are zipper-mouthed, but basically everyone who\u2019s anyone has stayed here). <\/p>\n

The design by Firmdale Hotels owner Kit Kemp is gorgeously on-point \u2013 a riot of colour, print and fabrics that somehow comes together to create a homely atmosphere \u2013 and a guests-only honesty bar lets you refuel on drinks at any hour of the night, or day (hey, it\u2019s Soho after all). <\/p>\n

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The Ritz<\/p>\n

Courtesy of the Ritz<\/p>\n

Rather than chasing trends, the Ritz sticks to tried-and-tested glamour, effortlessly maintaining its icon status with suited-and-booted staff, gold leaf-draped interiors and quintessentially English traditions like a silver service afternoon tea. The Ritz Restaurant is exquisite, with frescoes and mirrored walls creating a Versailles-esque vibe that matches the two-Michelin-starred cooking and doting service. Rooms \u2013 with their gilded mouldings, chandeliers and thick drapery \u2013 feel like could be almost unchanged since Swiss hotelier C\u00e9sar Ritz first launched them right here on Piccadilly in 1906; in a good way.<\/p>\n

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The Emory is a radical design departure from The Connaught or Claridge\u2019s<\/p>\n

The Emory<\/p>\n

The newest addition to the stalwart that includes aforementioned The Connaught, Claridge\u2019s and The Berkeley, The Emory is the contemporary take on Maybourne luxury, with organic, curving lines fashioned by a slew of award-winning designers \u2013 Andr\u00e9 Fu, Pierre Yves Rochon, Alexandra Champalimaud \u2013 and sublime materials. Overlooking Hyde Park, suites with floor-to-ceiling windows are like Scandi-inspired cocoons, while a glass-enclosed rooftop bar lets you sip cocktails under shifting clouds year-round. Among its first guests have been Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts, so you know you\u2019re onto a good thing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From east to west, north to south, Mayfair to the City, these are the hotel that most impress…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":569229,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[748,73297,393,4884,257,120342,180744,180743,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-569228","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-claridge","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-london","13":"tag-the-connaught","14":"tag-the-ritz","15":"tag-the-savoy","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115546563289977952","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/569228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=569228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/569228\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/569229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=569228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=569228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=569228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}