Best 5 Star & Luxury Hotels In London

An immersive experience as much as a hotel, The Mandrake is a theatrical yet fashionable boutique property in Fitzrovia. Its 34 cocoon-like bedrooms include a penthouse. Ostrich feathers, curtained beds, heavy jewel-coloured fabrics, clawfoot tubs, esoteric paintings and candlelight create an opulent backdrop for your stay. The Mandrake’s unique design approach is thanks to the Beirut-born owner Rami Fustok, himself an art collector and draws more than its fair share of A-listers. Spiritual healing wellness events take place in the basement, there are two bars; Waeska and Jurema serving ethnobotanical cocktails and YOPO, the South American restaurant led by Executive Chef George Scott-Toft.

This hotel first opened in 1997, bringing the brand’s Nobu Japanese-Peruvian dining experience, popular with the A-list, to London. Rooms here are all about space and light. The Como Metropolitan is clutter-free and deeply calming, contrasting the bustle of the streets below. Everything is activated via the touch of the button – from climate control to the smart media system, lit rainfall showers and the thick silk blackout drapes. This serene ambience extends into The Como Shambhala spa, renowned the world over for its acupuncture and shiatsu. Alongside more traditional treatments, top visiting therapists also offer osteopathy and energy healing. 

Hazlitt’s is located in Soho and takes it’s name from William Hazlitt the 18h century essayist. Prepare to step back in time to a bygone era of old world English opulence, the minute you step through the door you won’t believe you are right in the heart of central London. Hazlitt’s is popular with creatives coming to the city and remains very much low key with much of it’s success based solely on word of mouth reviews. Very much a home from home, relax in the library with a good book, have a drink from the honesty bar or unwind in your rooms Victorian roll top bath.

Step away from the urban sprawl and into an urban oasis; the tree-filled garden at Ham Yard features a bronze sculpture centrepiece by Tony Cragg. Inside you’ll find eclectic interiors by designer Kit Kemp, with vintage elements, bold patterns, bright colours and an array of art. Each room has its own personality, alongside handmade mattresses, rain showers and custom-designed furniture. Dine in a rooftop terrace bar, the Mediterranean-inspired Orso restaurant and take drinks in the bar. Guests also have access to a screening room, a spa and a fitness centre, plus a bespoke hat service where you can design their own headwear.

Petite in size at just 24 rooms, this former Georgian townhouse is located in the heart of Marylebone. The hotel oozes personality and charm with each room individual in style and complete with antique furniture and curios. If you like to finish the day with a cocktail, head to Seymour’s Parlour for some of the best drinking in the city.

The Covent Hotel is housed in a building that served as the Frech Hospital back in the 1890s. It features a fusion of traditional British designs with contemporary architecture. The hotel has 58 rooms and suites. The Covent Garden Loft suite is probably their most luxurious suite. This suite covers two floors and has a vast drawing-room. This hotel is situated at the heart of the theatre district, and that makes it ideal for pre and post-theatre dining. In the basement, there is a 48-seat cinema with red leather seats. You can score a discount on the tickets and food on Saturdays.

A few minutes walk from Trafalgar Square is this relatively unassuming, Edwardian fronted 153-bedroom hotel. But this was in fact, the original HQ for Scotland Yard, now a five-star refurbished property, that’s part of the Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. The interiors are modern, yet effectively pay homage to the building’s past, with copious memorabilia and artworks. The Yard is the hotel’s aptly named restaurant, plus there’s a cosy colonial style Parlour and a whisky bar evocative of the art deco era. It’s also pet friendly, offers valet parking and has an onsite fitness centre.

Just two minutes walk from St Pancras and anything but standard, this hotel offers terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs overlooking the 19th-century station. Housed in a brutalist building, the property plays host to a variety of events including bottomless brunches, chess tournaments, live jazz and panel discussions. 266 dog-friendly bedrooms come with Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth Speakers, Craig Green robes and packed minibars. On the 10th floor is Decimo with Michelin-starred Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias at the helm. Plus you can eat and drink in Isla, Double Standard and The Library Lounge and dance to the DJ’s beats at Sweeties disco/late-night bar.

Bright and bold with a neon interactive veil-like façade, the W London’s commanding positioning on the most prominent corner of Leicester Square crowns it as one of London’s most visually striking hotels.

The hotel opened in 2011 and since then nothing quite like it has been built in London – the hotel embraces a minimalist futuristic look using curved glass panels to soften its imposing form whilst simultaneously reflecting the pulsating lights of Soho and the West End. Inside, the W London continues its bold, contemporary aesthetic with interiors designed to evoke the brand’s signature mix of ultra-contemporary detailing and playfulness. Each of the 192 guest rooms and suites features modern furnishings, smart technology through their DigiValet tablet system, generously sized W MixBar, disco ball and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to soak in the atmosphere of Soho below, think of this as your own private party pad.

Head down to level one where you can mix and mingle over a playful brunch, dinner or afternoon tea in the W Lounge and enjoy an innovative cocktail at The Perception. Break a sweat at FIT, then recharge at AWAY Spa before premiering a blockbuster in their Screening Room and use the hotel’s Whatever/Whenever® service to take care of everything else.

Found on the city side of London’s trendy Shoreditch, this diamond-shaped hotel makes for a dazzling landmark. The 288 rooms are a minimum of 25 square metres with Sky TV, mood-lighting and electronic curtains, while bathrooms have underfloor heating, rainfall showers and products by Soap Co. The hotel’s restaurant, Moor + Mead, serves seasonal British food in a casual environment and the bar is found on the mezzanine. A spa incorporates an indoor pool with a hydromassage feature, a sauna, a jacuzzi and treatment rooms. Montcalm East is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. 

One of London’s most iconic hotels in London, The Trafalgar rises out of the eponymous square and is a beacon of luxury and sophistication. The hotel’s rooms and suites are the definition of cool Britannia as they have flair and character. The rooms and suites have glorious views of Trafalgar Square and are equipped with walk-in showers, minibars and many other amenities. The Trafalgar is home to its own state-of-the-art fitness centre and a business centre which has meeting rooms and workspaces. The hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant has arguably one of the best views in London. The Rooftop serves a range of drinks and cocktails and a variety of sharing plates and light bites. The hotel is also home to an exceptional cocktail bar called Rockwell, which serves 11 bespoke cocktails which tell stories of London and its heritage.

The Royal Horseguards is one of London’s most iconic and historic hotels partially due to it hosting the National Library club whose members included Churchill and Gladstone. The Royal HorseGuards sits right on the Thames in a prime area of central London. The hotel’s rooms and suites are exceedingly luxurious, and guests can choose between river, garden and city views. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, underfloor heating and English spa skincare and beauty products. Every detail has been thought of to ensure the comfort of guests. The Royal Horseguards has its own gym and dedicated concierge service, it also serves an exquisite afternoon tea service every afternoon. The hotel is home to One Twenty-One Two, an exceptional fine-dining restaurant which serves delicious seasonal dishes. The Royal Horseguards is also owns Equus, a sophisticated and quiet bar as well as The Terrace, a relaxed restaurant and bar which serves light bites and refreshing drinks.