The Top 11 Luxury Hotels
in London
London is like my second home. I spent years living among its charming streets, and yet every time I return, I am blown away by how much the city continues to evolve.
When you visit London, choosing the right location to stay in is crucial. Its ever-changing nature means yesterday’s vacant borough could be today’s hot spot. Plus, there are always new restaurants, art galleries and shops popping up. You’ll want to be sure you’re close to the action and have a tube station close by for when you need to travel across town.
To take out some of the guesswork, these are my picks of the top 10 luxury hotels in London. Whether your tastes are traditional or more cutting-edge, there’s something to suit everyone.
The Connaught
Find The Connaught in a quiet corner away from the London bustle. This posh hotel boasts romantic guest rooms with dark mahogany wood furnishings, fresh flowers and glossy marble bathrooms.
The time-honoured afternoon tea is taken up a notch here, served in a glass-walled room with tables brimming with specialty pastries. Pop in for a nightcap at the sophisticated Connaught Bar, which is one of our favourites the world over.
The Beaumont
Relive the Roaring Twenties amid the Art Deco stylings of The Beaumont in Mayfair. This luxury hotel offers three bars, a spa and a daily three-course afternoon tea. Spacious guest suites feature tartan drapes, plush linens and a spattering of vintage books and original artworks, making the space feel more like an upscale private residence than a hotel room. All categories boast king-sized beds and marble bathrooms with heated floors and rain showers.
Experience England With B&R
Scheduled Group Biking Trip
On B&R’s Cotswolds Biking trip, meander amongst country lanes, green rolling hills dotted with sheep, honey-coloured stone cottages distinctive to the region, all to discover the quintessential English vibe of this rural haven.
DETAILED ITINERARYScheduled Group Walking Trip
Take a country stroll amongst chocolate-box towns and rustic cottages on our Cotswolds Walking trip. You’ll be charmed by bustling market towns, quiet pastoral lanes, the gentle hills and the atmosphere of rural England at its best.
DETAILED ITINERARYComo Metropolitan
The simple stylings of the Como Metropolitan offer a Scandi-chic option in the heart of Park Lane. Minimalist rooms see clean lines and fresh white walls, with pops of colour for added warmth. Large windows drench the guest rooms in sunlight and give way to views over London’s famous Hyde Park.
The Como’s Nobu restaurant is a local favourite, serving Peruvian-Japanese fusion cuisine in a zen dining room. For a break from the shopping and museum hopping, book an appointment at the Shambhala wellness centre, featuring a tranquil spa and 24-hour gym.
Ham Yard
The young-at-heart will be smitten with the whimsy of the Ham Yard. This quirky boutique hotel is bursting with colour and character, spread across its common areas and guest rooms.
Topping it all off is a delightful rooftop terrace with wicker furnishings, hanging lanterns and greenery galore. Add to the playful atmosphere an onsite bowling alley and kid-friendly menus, and you have a hotel that’s perfect for the whole family.
St. James Hotel Mayfair
This crimson-coloured Victorian mansion exudes old-world English charm with contemporary touches. Common areas see sparkling Murano chandeliers and walls lined with wood panelling and wallpaper, while guest rooms are fresh in pastel shades, taupes and greys.
Michelin-starred chef William Drabble is at the helm of the hotel’s two celebrated restaurants. You can tuck into French fare at one of only nine tables at the renowned Seven Park Place, or savour a seasonal British meal in the cozy William’s Bar & Bistro.
Brown’s Hotel
The Brown’s Hotel has welcomed guests through its doors since 1837. Effortlessly elegant, this five-star hotel delivers a proper British experience. Guest rooms appointed by world-famous interior designer, Olga Polizzi, see an eclectic—yet tasteful—mix of patterns and hues. The Brown’s includes a spa and three dining options: Italian at the Beck at Brown’s restaurant; caviar and cocktails at Donovan’s Bar; and an award-winning afternoon tea in The English Tea Room.
The London Edition
Find The London Edition in the city’s hip West End Fitzrovia neighbourhood. The feel is akin to a getaway in a luxury cabin, thanks to oak floors, wood-lined walls, soft lighting and furry throw blankets. Be sure to check out the Edition’s Berners Tavern, wherein an eclectic room covered in artwork, you can dine on innovative British cuisine prepared by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton.
The Lanesborough
Occupying a Neoclassical mansion in a corner of Hyde Park, inside The Lanesborough is just as regal as its exterior would suggest. Gold-leaf embellishments and ornate chandeliers are commonplace here, as are oil paintings and fresh flower arrangements.
Guest rooms are awash in soft and sweet hues of pink, green and blue, in addition to floral fabrics and wool carpets. For added theatrics, each room also comes with a personal butler available on demand. The Lanesborough is home to the Michelin-starred restaurant Céleste and the exclusive Lanesborough Club & Spa.
Number Sixteen
Number Sixteen enjoys a quiet location, set within a crisply white Victorian townhouse. A private English garden, darling outdoor terrace and lilypad-covered pond—combined with subtle glamour—make this markedly 5-star accommodation manage to feel like home.
Put your days to rest after exploring nearby attractions—like the Victoria & Albert Museum and Harrod’s—in vibrant guest rooms, with brilliant colours and bold patterns. Rooms overlook the leafy courtyard or face the white-stucco terraces of Sumner Place.
The Hari Hotel
Find this sleek boutique hotel in Belgravia: the quintessentially British neighbourhood lined with white townhouses and lovely stone churches. Joining the area’s refined ambiance is the stylish decor of The Hari, where rooms draped in velvet fabrics are complemented by sparkling glass fixtures and chrome finishes.
Mornings begin with a sumptuous spread that includes omelettes and fresh-pressed juices at its il Pampero restaurant. Come dinnertime, feast on southern Italian cuisine and homemade pasta in the restaurant’s glitzy vintage-inspired setting. You can burn off the extra carbs at the 24-hour fitness centre or continue to indulge with an in-room spa treatment.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
Situated between the famed Knightsbridge and Hyde Park, one glance out your room’s window and you’ll know you’re at one of the most exclusive, fashionable and convenient addresses in London. Like its palatial location, all rooms are one-of-a-kind and distinguished by the hotel’s art collection, antiques, and luxurious fabrics.
Feeling inspired to see and stay for yourself? Get in touch with Dane Tredway, our Experience Designer for the United Kingdom, to see how he can reserve you a spot.
