Our Pick Of The Best Hotels in London
By CTH Editors
8 months ago
The capital's finest staycation spots
The Garden Suite at The Mayfair Townhouse
Maybe you live in the London and just want a change and a rest away from your own walls? Or perhaps you are a country dweller and crave a dose of its buzz, shopping, thrilling culture and equally thrilling world-class restaurants? Whichever, London’s hotels make brilliant – and sometimes surprisingly affordable – boltholes.
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Reviews are taken from this year’s Great British & Irish Hotels Guide – purchase your copy here.
The Westin London City
Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, opened in 2021 its first UK hotel, The Westin London City. The hotel is a relative newcomer to London’s five-star hotel scene, but this sophisticated venue has already left its mark. Overlooking Shakespeare’s Globe and Tate Modern, with a stunning riverside position, its location is unbeatable. The hotel boasts 225 light-filled bedrooms, including ten suites and three expansive Westin Residences. Each residence features three bedrooms, sleek marble bathrooms and a balcony overlooking the Thames. Dining can be enjoyed in Hithe + Seek, a bar and kitchen offering small plates, wines and cocktails, and in Mosaic, an all-day dining restaurant, with an Eat Well menu of nourishing dishes. The Heavenly Spa by Westin has invigorating treatments, using all-natural Philosophia Botanica, skin expert Germaine de Capuccini and Aromatherapy Associates products – book the Forest Therapy, which combats pollution. The spa also features a 12m pool, sauna and steam. Gym enthusiasts will appreciate the fitness studio, equipped with Peloton Bikes, Hyperice station, and Technogym equipment.
BOOK
Signature king room from £375
+44 (0)20 3146 2690 / westinlondoncity.com
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences
A stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace and Mayfair, this five-star hotel is in a prime location for exploring the capital – and equally ideal for both short breaks and longer stays. The suites and residences are vast (with up to six bedrooms), each with a fully equipped kitchen and living area. A team of butlers and Clefs d’Or Concierge are available to assist guests with anything from restaurant reservations to spa bookings. The Michelin-starred restaurant Quilon is a celebration of South-West Indian cuisine, while Kona is known for its selection of award-winning afternoon teas. Other must-try dining experiences include TH@51, where the international menu perfectly reflects London’s myriad of culinary influences, and House of Ming, which serves up dishes inspired by regional Sichuan and Cantonese cooking. Wellness is at the heart of the hotel’s offering. J Wellness Circle specialises in treatments and therapies that take their cue from India’s holistic approach to wellbeing, aimed at revitalising not just the body but the mind and soul too.
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Suites from £700
+44 (0)20 7769 7766 / taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk
The Standard, London
This is The Standard brand’s first hotel outside America – and a brilliant one. Set in a unique Brutalist building in King’s Cross, its hip vibe fits right in with this cool, regenerating part of London. The retro interiors sing of the Seventies: geometric shapes, colourful lighting, inviting leather armchairs and cream shagpiles. There are 266 bright rooms, from snug Cosy Cores (perfect for catching an early Eurostar) to the huge, terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs and spectacular views over St Pancras station or the city. The three restaurants are excellent. Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, previously of the Michelin-starred Casamia in Bristol, serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired flavour-packed dishes such as gambas rojas, mangalitza pork and a dramatically different tortilla. Next door, Sweeties serves playful cocktails under a disco ball. Downstairs, laidback Isla triumphs with its zingy seasonal menu while hearty fare and tasty cocktails can be found at Double Standard. And don’t plan on an early night – there’s a DJ in the Library Lounge for seeing out the small hours. And if that wasn’t enough, the seasonal summer rooftop boasts 360°-views of London.
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Doubles from £299
+44(0)20 3981 8888 / standardhotels.com/london
The Rosewood
With its winning combination of English heritage and contemporary sophistication, Rosewood London sits firmly in the highest echelons of the capital’s luxury hotels. The Grade II-listed Belle Époque building has the feel of a stylish London residence; guests enter a grand, wrought iron gated former carriage arch, leading to the hotel’s central courtyard with its majestic façades, while the Grand Pavonazzo marble staircase soars to a dizzying 166-foot cupola. Inside, the hotel is the work of two designers: Tony Chi created the 263 glamorous rooms and 45 suites, splendid Rose Bronze Gallery entrance and the jewel box Mirror Room, which serves an innovative afternoon tea inspired by London’s latest exhibitions. Meanwhile, Martin Brudnizki designed both Holborn Dining Room – a bustling British brasserie with a trendy gin bar – and the popular Scarfes Bar, its walls decorated with paintings by satirical artist Gerald Scarfe. Don’t miss Holborn Dining Room’s Pie Room, run by Nokx Majozi, who was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Hospitality. Suites come with a dedicated butler, and service is faultless.
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Doubles from £700
+44 (0)20 7781 8888 / rosewoodhotels.com
The Rookery
Those in the know in London don’t lay their heads in the centre of town – they swerve east to its most fashionable districts. Luckily, we know of secret abodes beyond the reach of hipsters and tech geeks. One such hideaway is the deliciously unique Rookery, set in the heart of gastronomic Clerkenwell. After eating top-class grub and partying hard, you can retreat to one of its 33 quirky bedrooms, none of which is the same. Each, though, shares gorgeous Georgian detailing, polished brass metalwork in bathrooms, antiques aplenty and shelves bulging with real books. In the 1800s, Clerkenwell was teeming with thieves, tarts and ne’er-dowells. A rookery was universally understood to mean a criminal area and many of the rooms are named after those local characters of ill repute. And you won’t worry about the wonky floors or the lack of things like a spa or a gym as you enjoy the hotel’s calm and mannered atmosphere – a bit like that of a private club – as you settle in the drawing room or courtyard garden with the papers. Plus, you’re only a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral.
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Doubles from £325
+44 (0)20 7336 0931 / rookeryhotel.com
The Ritz London
One of the most iconic hotels in the world, with an enviable location on London’s Piccadilly overlooking the royal Green Park. Opened in 1906 by hotelier César Ritz, The Ritz London quickly became a favourite of Hollywood stars and royalty alike, and was the first hotel to be awarded a Royal Warrant in 2002 for banqueting and catering services. Ideal for families and couples alike, guests today can choose between lavish Louis XVI-style rooms and suites. In the Michelin- starred Ritz Restaurant, with its sparkling chandeliers and marble columns, executive chef John Williams MBE uses the finest seasonal ingredients. His famed signature dishes include Cornish turbot, beef wellington and langoustine à la nage. Or choose the theatrical four-course Arts de la Table dinner menu which showcases the harmony between the kitchen and front of house teams through the guéridon style of service. Guests may also enjoy the legendary afternoon tea in The Palm Court complete with a resident pianist (The Ritz even has a certified Tea Master) or spend the evening sipping cocktails in the intimate Art Deco Rivoli Bar.
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Doubles from £825
+44 (0)20 7493 8181 / theritzlondon.com
The Peninsula
The first UK outpost of this renowned Hong Kong brand doesn’t disappoint. The Peninsula London sits right by Hyde Park Corner, a deeply serene oasis with the hotel’s trademark green Rolls-Royces outside and afternoon tea that takes place in the elegant lobby that’s decorated with hand-blown chandeliers and hand-painted De Gournay murals. Hugely spacious understated rooms designed by Peter Marino come with mahogany-panelled dressing rooms, honey onyx bathrooms and plenty of seamless technology including PenChat, a 24-hour e-concierge. As well as all-day dining in the Lobby, there’s also Canton Blue, a Cantonese restaurant with adjacent tea lounge and the two-Michelin star rooftop restaurant Brooklands by Claude Bosi. At the latter, modern British food combines with French techniques and a backdrop that pays homage to aviation and motorsport (it’s named after a Surrey racetrack and features a vintage Napier Railton and scale-model of Concorde suspended from the ceiling). The finishing touch is the subterranean spa, fitness centre and pool where underwater speakers mean soothing music for an early morning swim.
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Deluxe doubles from £1,300
+44 (0)20 3959 2888 / peninsula.com/london
One Aldwych
Housed in a beautiful heritage building that was once home to The Morning Post newspaper, One Aldwych is brilliantly positioned on the edge of bustling Covent Garden. Contemporary yet soothing suites and bedrooms feel like a real sanctuary and come with sweeping views of the cityscape below. Signature restaurant Indigo, from Chef Dominic Teague, celebrates British producers in seasonal delicious dishes such as wild mushroom wellington or catch of the day, served in crisp beer batter. The Lobby Bar with its extensive list of the coolest craft cocktails is an institution; the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed afternoon tea is huge fun for all ages, featuring snozzberry jam and chocolate swudge milkshake. The Concierge has the inside track on everything from the best brunch spots and hottest theatre tickets to must-visit exhibitions. Upon return, settle down in The Library with its comfortable sofas and piles of beautiful books. And, for pampering – whether a refreshing swim, a pick-me-up facial or an invigorating massage – you can while away a few hours in the deeply cosseting health club and spa.
From £700 for a Superior Room
+44 (0)20 7300 1000; onealdwych.com
The Mayfair Townhouse
Located on Half Moon Street, alongside Piccadilly, The Mayfair Townhouse sits across 15 Georgian townhouses, seven of which are listed. Rich in history and once a known haunt for colourful characters, it evokes a debonair Oscar-Wilde-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland aesthetic. Touches of whimsy combine with practicality in the 172 individually designed rooms and suites which range from cosy Cabin rooms to two interconnecting Garden Suites that opens onto a private patio, or one of the three lavish Signature Suites. The Dandy Bar is the heart and soul of The Townhouse; an intimate and sophisticated cocktail bar where style meets decadence, while The Lower Ground is a vibrant space to work, connect and eat. An expertly curated collection of over 550 pieces of art, including a Swarovski crystal peacock sculpture, is woven seamlessly throughout. Stepping out into the heart of Mayfair, there is a wealth of restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and museums on the doorstep; a short walk leads to Shepherd Market, Green Park and Buckingham Palace.
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Doubles from £312
+44 (0)20 8138 3400 / themayfairtownhouse.com
Mandarin Oriental
The celebrated Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is a byword for luxury and outstanding service. This original London outpost is no exception. A multimillion-pound renovation of the redbrick Edwardian building was completed to designs by Joyce Wang six years ago. She cited the beauty of Hyde Park, the hotel’s royal heritage and the glamour of the golden age of travel as her inspiration. The bedrooms are sanctuaries of calm, with curated artwork and bespoke furniture. For dining, there’s two Michelin-star Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, The Rosebery with its fabulous award-winning afternoon tea, all-day dining and cocktails, and The Aubrey, a Japanese izakaya restaurant, with live DJs daily. Hyde Park Garden is the latest addition, designed by the Dinner team, with a menu inspired by British botanicals plus phenomenal park views. New spa offerings include advanced facials in partnership with Oskia and Biologique Recherche, holistic health workshops and nutritional consultations with Clinique La Prairie, and the BodySpace Momentum Studio. Fans, take note: Mandarin Oriental Mayfair opens later this year.
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Doubles from £930
+44 (0)20 7235 2000 / mandarinoriental.com
The Londoner
When this super-boutique hotel opened in 2021, it was a much-needed boost for Leicester Square. Six years in the making and spread across 16 storeys, it’s all bells-and-whistles – from the two-screen cinema to the vast ballroom and the subterranean wellness floor where the tranquil pool is surrounded by cabanas (ideal for escaping the West End bustle). Sleek, serene interiors with a neutral palette come courtesy of international design studio Yabu Pushelberg (and those staying in the hotel also have access to The Residence, three guest-only socialising spaces). There are also a handful of must-try bars and restaurants, including French fine dining Whitcomb’s with influences from the Mediterranean; Joshua’s Tavern, inspired by 18th-century artist Joshua Reynolds, which specialises in terroir-led gins; and The Stage, which is the place for a grown-up afternoon tea or glass of champagne (there’s often live music at weekends). Perhaps the biggest buzz, though, is 8 at The Londoner, the izakaya rooftop bar with a terrace offering top-drawer cityscape views.
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Doubles from £499 / thelondoner.com
JW Marriott Grosvenor House London
Located on Park Lane with sweeping views over Hyde Park, this historic hotel is perfectly located a stone’s throw from the designer boutiques of Bond Street and Mount Street, and all the attractions of Mayfair. Inside, rooms and suites take their cues from nature (golden leaf-patterned carpets, foliage wallpapers in the hallway) and both come with elegant marble bathrooms. Indulge in afternoon tea served in the Park Room accompanied by a pianist; sip a signature Old Fashioned in the Bourbon Bar – home to over 300 rare, pre-prohibition, single batch bourbons – before supper at JW Steakhouse where prime cuts of British and American beef are surely best followed by a slice of the legendary baked JW cheesecake (guests can also grab takeaway coffees and pastries from the Park Lane Market cafe before setting out to explore). There’s also a fitness suite, hair salon by Steven Carey, and an expert concierge team who can arrange anything from guided wellbeing walks in Mayfair to horseback riding in Hyde Park and dinner reservations for two with a Thames view.
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Doubles from £530
Hotel Cafe RoyalHotel Café Royal
A landmark address on Regent Street for more than 150 years, this hotel has seen everyone from Oscar Wilde and David Bowie to Winston Churchill walk through its doors (the latter, apparently, came for the excellent steaks, stilton and champagne). A huge Murano glass chandelier in the sleek lobby sets the opulent tone for the interiors, including The Grill Room, a decadent, Grade II-listed gilded, mirrored space where afternoon tea is served to the sound of a pianist playing, and the speakeasy-like Green Bar – ideal for pre-dinner cocktails. Rooms and suites feel calm, many panelled in English oak, with marble bathrooms and views of the bustling street below. Equally sanctuary-like is the underground Akasha spa, which offers wellness experiences from fitness consultations to Watsu treatments, plus exclusive partnerships with U Beauty and Therabody. Don’t miss chef Alex Dilling’s tasting menus in the two Michelin-starred restaurant, which are a modern take on traditional French cuisine; Barbounia which brings the warmth of the Mediterranean to central London; or Albert Adrià’s Cakes & Bubbles.
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Doubles from £795
+44 (0)20 7406 3333 / hotelcaferoyal.com
Henry’s Townhouse
Set in the former home of Jane Austen’s favourite brother Henry, this discreet townhouse hotel is a home-from-home in Marylebone that also feels like a smart members’ club (you can take over the whole place if you wish). Full of Georgian glamour, original period features and sophisticated yet cosy spaces, it is the result of a collaboration between the owners and in-demand interior designer Russell Sage. Six sumptuous bedrooms, all named after Jane Austen’s relatives, come with four poster beds, roll-top baths, rich fabrics and colour palettes, oil paintings and antiques. Breakfast is served at the refectory table in Monsieur Halavant’s Pantry Kitchen, the Georgian-inspired kitchen and dining room (it’s also the spot for meetings and private dinners for up to 12) while Jane’s Sitting Room is ideal for evening aperitifs or a place to simply curl up with a book. Don’t miss the first-floor landing carriage snug, based on a railway carriage, where you can squirrel away for a glass of wine, or the intimate outdoor terrace, a peaceful setting for morning coffee or breakfast.
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Doubles from £545
+44 (0)1451 850577 / henrystownhouse.co.uk
Hazlitt’s
Hazlitt’s is the real deal: as genuine, amusing and revealing a hotel as you could hope for, especially in bustling Soho. It’s named after the radical essayist and master of English prose, William Hazlitt. He died in poverty in 1830 at 6 Frith Street, one of three adjoining townhouses that the owners, experts on the Georgian era, fashioned into Hazlitt’s in 1986. A fourth building behind was converted to create a sitting room with an honesty bar and an additional eight bedrooms, reached by a lift. As befits an establishment with such literary connections, the hotel is popular with authors, who leave signed copies of their works when they depart – the bulging bookcases are full of signed tomes from former guests including Bill Bryson, Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney. The sloping creaking floorboards have been retained and the rooms, decorated with antiques, busts and paintings, are individually furnished, with splendid bathtubs and Victorian fittings. Like the rooms in its distinctive sister establishments, Batty Langley’s and The Rookery (p93 & 105), they are delightfully different from other London hotels.
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Doubles from £325
+44 (0)20 7434 177 / hazlittshotel.com
The Hari
Walking through the leafy streets of Belgravia, there’s one building that can’t help but catch the eye: The Hari, with its striking navy and glass façade that’s adorned with cascading foliage, and is a taste of the peaceful sanctuary within. There are 85 designer rooms, including 14 suites, all decidedly chic with plush velvet upholstery, sleek marble bathrooms and contemporary art from the likes of Tracey Emin and Mario Testino. The hotel also has an annual art prize, in collaboration with A Space For Art, which has curated the public areas since 2016, and has been awarded Silver Accreditation by EarthCheck, the world’s leading environmental certification for travel tourism. Enveloped in crawling ivy, the Garden Terrace is a hidden gem, perfect for a lazy lunch al fresco or afternoon aperitif, and with its retractable roof and heaters, it’s the ideal spot come rain or shine. Il Pampero restaurant’s Italian-inspired menu is full of delicious homemade pasta dishes. All this just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and the Royal Albert Hall, as well as the city’s most prestigious shopping districts.
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Doubles from £540
+44 (0)20 7858 0100 / thehari.com
The Goring
Created from the maverick mind of Otto Goring in 1910, The Goring imbues both the splendour and mischief of the pre-war Edwardians: an era when those in the know excelled at having a good time. Today, the hotel maintains its original spirit and is still richly woven with a particular brand of Britishness. From Gainsborough silks hand-crafted with historic tales in the luxurious suites and cosy bedrooms, to the scarlet red coattails worn by the footmen, every detail is a slice of escapism (it’s also within strolling distance of the Royal Parks and Buckingham Palace). One of the few family-run hotels that is truly independent, staff here welcome guests old and new like age-old friends. Whether stopping for a chat during afternoon tea, or delivering a surprise visit from Teddy the Shetland pony, they exude a delightful old-fashioned flair for service. Refreshed this year, the Michelin starred Dining Room includes a new state- of-the-art kitchen and chef’s table, while the Goring Cocktail Bar, with its live pianist, is
an elegant setting for a post-dinner digestif. The perfect way to end a day in London.
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Doubles from £800
+44 (0)20 7396 9000 / thegoring.com
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
Mayfair has its fair share of five-star hotels. However, Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane stands out from the crowd with its Art Deco elegance, vibrant interiors and all-round excellence. Opened in 1970, this big hitter is the most established Four Seasons in Europe but shows no sign of slowing down. The 196 newly renovated rooms and suites add further sparkle, from the beautifully appointed Executive Conservatories to the Hyde Park Suite, with sweeping views of Park Lane and the park. The beds are quite possibly the most comfy in London. When it comes to dining, multi-awarded chef Yannick Alléno has brought his modern French cuisine to the Michelin-star Pavyllon London, producing innovative plates – book a table at the counter to experience serious culinary theatre. Bar Antoine serves up superb cocktails, including Yannick’s signature Allenotics (the reinvented G&T). Just don’t miss the jaw-dropping tenth- floor spa – serene in oak and stone – with nine glass-walled treatment rooms plus delicious relaxation pods. The service is faultless and the best of the city is right on your doorstep.
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From £800
+44 (0)20 7499 0888 / fourseasons.com
The Franklin London – Starhotels Collezione
A stone’s throw from Harrods and the V&A, yet tucked away overlooking tranquil Egerton Gardens, this hotel combines the feeling of a private home with impeccable service. Interior designer Anouska Hempel’s timeless Italian- influenced design translates to Art Deco details, Rubelli brocades and glittering taffeta that lends a glamorous vibe to the social spaces. In the 35 spacious rooms and suites, dramatic dark walls are offset with mirrors to bounce the light around; they also come with Frette linens, botanical wall art and velvet armchairs. The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo continues the nod to Italy with modern Piedmont cuisine served in an elegant setting (silk ikat-pattern fabrics, immense Venetian eglomise mirrors). On the menu, pastas are followed by dishes such as chargrilled corn-fed chicken and roasted red snapper (leave room for tempting desserts such as tiramisu and mille-feuille tart too). Afternoon tea has a haute couture theme and there’s a 1920s Great Gatsby-style bar for cocktails. When you’re not out exploring, the hotel has a hammam, fitness centre and cosy library for downtime.
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Doubles from £380
+44(0)20 7584 5533 / collezione.starhotels.com
The Chelsea Townhouse
Sitting in the heart of London’s vibrant Chelsea neighbourhood, this is the newest addition to the Iconic Luxury Hotels portfolio. Debuting in September 2023, it has 36 rooms and suites spread across three handsome Queen Anne-style, Victorian red-brick townhouses. A discreet doorbell entrance reveals a patchwork tiled floor and sweeping staircases, where guests are welcomed in by Townhouse Hosts. Heritage fixtures such as marble fireplaces and ornate crown mouldings are paired with restored furniture and trinkets from around the world, lending the property a sense of grandeur and timeless charm. Thoughtful touches include a welcome Chelsea Bun, plus the four Chelsea Studio Suites each come with their own kitchenette that can be pre-stocked with artisanal produce. Downstairs, there’s a help-yourself buffet breakfast which can be eaten in the Dining Salon or the light-filled library. Best of all, guests have access to the private Cadogan Gardens – a tranquil oasis of lush greenery, towering mulberry trees and the sound of birdsong – as well as 11 Cadogan Gardens, including use of the restaurant, bar and gym. delightful cocktails.
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+44 (0)20 7730 6466 / thechelseatownhouse.com
The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London
A standout on Sloane Street, The Cadogan’s glamorous good looks may recall well-heeled neighbouring Knightsbridge, but its many literary and artistic accents mean that boho Chelsea is in here too. From the original 1887 facade to the modern bedrooms and suites, the hotel is stylish yet homely, all velvet, silk, wood, marble and chrome, with circular tables doubling as desks and statement paintings from female British artists. It took its inspiration from the private gardens opposite – for which you can, as guests, get keys. The hotel is steeped in rich history with recollections of Oscar Wilde (famously arrested here) and his friend Lillie Langtry, whose adjacent house now forms a private entrance for hotel guests and a dining room of the café restaurant, The LaLee. Offering delightful European dishes, the menu, which features the very best of the season, reflects the refined tastes that seduced Lillie on her travels. Over in The Cadogan Lounge, you can enjoy a fine dining afternoon tea from pastry chef Benoit Blin and experience a quintessentially British afternoon tea with a French twist.
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Superior rooms from £790
+44 (0)20 7048 7141 / belmond.com
Bulgari Hotel London
Perfectly positioned between Hyde Park and Sloane Street, Bulgari Hotel London is the ultimate city escape. Elegant contemporary architecture and Bulgari’s legendary flair for
design are matched with impeccable service. Generously proportioned rooms and suites are combined with unrivalled facilities, including The Bulgari Spa’s 25-metre swimming pool, 12 single treatment rooms including a private spa suite, its pioneering Workshop Gymnasium with on-site personal training team, a private cinema and a beautiful ballroom. The Bulgari Lounge, offering all-day dining in the comfort and glamour of an Italian-style living room, invites guests to indulge in afternoon tea, crafted to savour the richness of Italian flavours. Sette by Scarpetta, an independently operated restaurant located on the ground floor, is the first London location of LDV Hospitality’s Scarpetta Restaurant concept from New York City, serving authentic Italian food with its own inimitable flair. Nolita Social lies beneath the restaurant, an underground bar and lounge that brings the energy of ‘the New York night’ to London with a heady mix of crafted cocktails, live music and DJs.
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Doubles from £690
+44 (0)20 7151 1010 / bulgarihotels.com
Brown’s Hotel, A Rocco Forte Hotel
Brown’s was founded in 1832 by Lord Byron’s butler and is London’s oldest luxury hotel.Today, this five-star delight is part of the Rocco Forte Hotels umbrella, with rooms
and suites curated by Olga Polizzi for her brother, the brand’s founder and namesake. The Kipling Suite pays tribute to Rudyard Kipling, who is believed to have penned The Jungle Book here, while the Sir Paul Smith Suite features furniture, hand-picked artworks and furnishings from the designer’s furniture collaborations. Find afternoon tea in The Drawing Room, where wood panelling complements wallpaper of a Hogarthian 19th-century London. The Donovan Bar, in honour of photographer Terence Donovan, has a new ‘Happily Ever After’ cocktail menu by ‘Maestro’ Salvatore Calabrese and Director of Mixology Federico Pavan with each cocktail inspired by an iconic fairytale. Meanwhile, Charlie’s at Brown’s, helmed by Adam Byatt of Michelin-starred Trinity, offers a seasonal menu and live music including jazz on Sunday evenings. There’s a luxurious spa with indulgent Irene Forte Skincare products too.
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Doubles from £800
+44 (0)20 7493 6020 / roccofortehotels.com
Bingham Riverhouse
Bingham Riverhouse began life as two Georgian townhouses and, from 1899-1910, it was home to the poets Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper. ‘I have rubbed myself against nature’s great warm hand,’ wrote Katherine, after a bout of gardening, ‘in a spirit of pagan delight’. Today, the new laidback Riverhouse Restaurant is overseen by award-winning South African chef Vanessa Marx, a champion of slow food who whips up modern comfort dishes, while the drawing room bar has a spacious feel of a country house kitchen. The Riverhouse also has its own members’ club, which is increasingly becoming a hub for entrepreneurs who make a beeline for the tranquil Thameside work setting, private bookable meeting rooms and events. There are 15 rooms, each with a handmade Naturalmat bed and yoga mat so guests can join the daily in-house wellbeing classes; some also have copper freestanding baths. But it’s the bucolic Richmond setting that adds that extra magic: the river is just at the end of the terrace with its pretty walled garden, and there’s a towpath by the water where rowing boats splash by all day.
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Doubles from £160
+44 (0)20 8940 0902 / binghamriverhouse.com
Beaverbrook Townhouse
This sister hotel to Beaverbrook in Surrey opened three years ago in a pair of restored Georgian townhouses and quickly became a Sloane Street hit. The ground floor is all about socialising: sipping cocktails in the Art Deco detailed Sir Frank’s Bar (named after Sir Frank Lowe, creative director and curator of the artwork that is displayed throughout) and tucking into sensational Japanese food in The Fuji Grill where traditional sushi and sashimi is served up alongside Beaverbrook signatures such as popcorn shrimp tempura. There’s also The Butterfly Room, a private dining room for up to 14 guests. Upstairs, each suite is named after a London theatre and has framed programmes of past productions on the walls. They are designed by Nicola Harding (she was behind the rooms at Beaverbrook’s Garden House and the new Village) who has combined her trademark cosy fabrics and printed textiles with modern four-posters, fringed velvet sofas and bold contemporary colour palettes. Ask at reception and staff will lend you the key to Cadogan Gardens opposite for peaceful afternoon meandering.
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Doubles from £510
+44 (0)20 3988 6611 / beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk
The Beaumont
Overlooking a quiet garden square in the heart of Mayfair, The Beaumont has embodied the spirit of grand 1920s hotels since it opened in 2014, with its chequerboard lobby floor, early 20th-century paintings and gleaming antiques. Social spaces include the classy Magritte Bar; the award-winning afternoon tea lounge, Gatsby’s Room; and a terrace for light, al-fresco lunches and suppers among lush greenery. The striking muralled Colony Grill Room has a clubby atmosphere with red leather banquettes where guests can feast on timeless transatlantic classics. This year saw a completion of a three-year refurb, including the addition of a new 29-room wing and a freshening up of the existing 50 Art Deco-themed rooms and 22 suites by French architect and interior designer Thierry Despont. All are handsome and comfortable: the showstopper is Antony Gormley’s Room, a three-storey extension and public artwork on the outside, an extraordinary one-bedroom suite of dark-fumed oak within. Try the hammam treatments and spa, inspired by the Turkish baths at London’s RAC Club and the original New York YMCA.
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Doubles from £550
+44 (0)20 7499 1001 / thebeaumont.com
Batty Langley’s
As you walk through the doors of this charming hotel, packed with character and Georgian detail, you feel as if you’re entering another era. In lively, gentrified Spitalfields, Batty Langley’s lives up to its unusual name. Under the same ownership as the equally captivating Hazlitt’s and The Rookery, it was inspired by the 18th century architect and landscape gardener of the same name, who wrote guides to help his clients plan their houses and gardens in a grand style. The panelled interior, with its open fires, countless books and fine paintings feels more like a private house than a hotel. Cocooning their inhabitants in comfort and calm, the 29 bedrooms and suites are furnished with 17th and 18th century carved oak beds or four-posters, heavy silk curtains and bathrooms with restored period fittings. Nods to the 21st century are discreetly hidden. Your most difficult choice, though, will be which of the three warmly decorated sitting rooms to occupy. Our choice is The Tapestry Room, with an honesty bar stocked with local spirits and French doors that open onto a pretty courtyard.
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Doubles from £325
+44 (0)20 7377 4390 / battylangleys.com
The Bailey’s Hotel London Kensington
The excellently located hotel on Gloucester Road, part of Millenium Hotels and Resorts Group, has set itself apart thanks to its inspired fusion of British-meets-Asian heritage. Opened in 1876 by James Bailey, a butler-turned-hotelier, The Bailey’s was the first purpose-built hotel in the area and has been going strong ever since. The Victorian grandeur of this Grade II-listed townhouse is deeply British, as are the stylish super comfortable 212 rooms and marble bathrooms, with a focus on homegrown craftsmanship. Book a Signature Suite, which features a roll top bath and living area. It’s the elegant restaurant which introduces the Asian influence. The recently relaunched The Bugis Singapore Restaurant offers authentic Singaporean dishes influenced by Malaysian and Chinese cuisines. Skilled mixologists conjure up cocktails to your taste in The Bailey’s Bar, a sophisticated space of high ceilings, chandeliers and panelled wood. There’s a well-equipped gym to keep you in shape but head outdoors for a stroll – the Natural History Museum, the V&A and Royal Albert Hall are only a stone’s throw away.
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For more information please go to the website.
+44 (0)20 7373 6000 / millenniumhotels.com
Artist Residence London
The third hotel from the hands of dynamic duo Justin and Charlie Salisbury – following their Artist Residences in Brighton and Penzance – this was once just a down-at-heel local boozer. Together, with enthusiasm, hard work and artistic flair, they’ve transformed it into a charming, affordable London hotel with bags of character. Over three elegant floors it has ten comfortably rustic bedrooms and two fabulous suites, all imaginatively decorated and furnished with quirky, cleverly sourced finds (for those who want to splash out, the Grand Suite has a four-poster bed, cosy armchairs and, in the bathroom, a cast iron free-standing tub). There’s a moody and glamorous bar tucked away in the basement that comes alive at night, serving drinks inspired by cult movies: try the Kill Bill, which comes with a black vanilla sugar stripe, or Smoke & Mirrors, featuring brandy, orange liqueur and caramel syrup. And taking centre stage is the café, a welcoming social space by day, serving brunch, cold-pressed juices and Extract Coffee, which transforms into a modern restaurant at night. Even better, a separate entrance for hotel guests means there’s no awkward check-in at the bar.
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Doubles from £215
+44 (0)20 3019 8610 / artistresidence.co.uk
11 Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea
Proudly individual and fabulously characterful, 11 Cadogan Gardens and its new sister hotel, The Chelsea Townhouse, are the only Relais & Châteaux hotels in London. Expect five-star service, quirky design, and a playful vibe. Spread across four interconnected redbrick Victorian townhouses, it has 56 guest rooms, including 22 suites that are as memorable as they are luxurious (one is especially flamboyant and a little risqué). All have high ceilings and a wealth of natural light that floods through the bay windows. The hotel has a drawing room, the moody and seductive Chelsea Bar, and the popular Hans’ Bar & Grill, which has an all-day seasonal menu rooted in British produce – ideal locations for afternoon teas, late night cocktails, family breakfasts and everything in between. Looking for a little more privacy or a longer stay? Located a stone’s throw from the hotel, across the leafy garden square, are The Apartments by 11 Cadogan Gardens. Each floor features a one, two or three bedroom residence, offering a true home from home in the heart of London.
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Doubles from £349
+44 (0)20 7730 7000 / 11cadogangardens.com
