Best Luxury Hotels in England

TRIBE London Canary Wharf has recently opened its first property in the UK, in the capital’s premium business district. This design-led hotel boasts 320 rooms all of which offer outstanding bedding, a comfortable sleeping experience, and quality bath amenities whilst its public spaces are stylish and functional and appeal to a cosmopolitan crowd. The 24-hour hotel guest-only social Hub’ occupies the ground floor and is a place to work, play, eat and meet. For a relaxed dining experience, the all-day restaurant Feels Like June, serves a varied menu inspired by Europe-meets-West Coast flavours using locally sourced ingredients and welcomes both local residents and hotel guests.  The 24-hour Grab & Go counter offers everything to satisfy modern travellers’ needs when time is of the essence.

With just over three hundred rooms and suites to choose from, guests at this decadent hotel are sure to find something to suit their style. The most sumptuous options boast huge bathrooms set with bathtubs as well as comfortable sitting rooms positioned next to huge picture windows. Unwinding at the end of the day with a juicy steak at the Manhattan Grill is the perfect way to get the evening started and as the name suggests all of the dishes here have been inspired by the diverse cuisine of New Year. Guests who are entertaining business clients can also meet them in the stylish G&Tea bar, where there is an impressive selection of gins from around the world to choose from.

Despite the fact that Canary Wharf is a very vibrant part of London, you are sure to enjoy an especially tranquil stay at the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel. The floor to ceiling windows in the guestrooms let in plenty of light and allow guests to enjoy pretty views of the River Thames from the comfort of their large beds. The room décor is a calming blue and white, which makes the most of the natural light that floods into the rooms. Dining al fresco on the spacious terrace of the Quadrato Restaurant, Bar & Lounge during the sultry summer months is a real treat and there is an excellent selection of dishes for guests to sink their teeth into. Those who are in search of pure relaxation will find a large sauna and Jacuzzi onsite, while there is also a pretty swimming pool to splash around in.

Just a short drive from the racing town of Newbury lies The Vineyard Hotel. There’s a spa with hot tub, pool, steam room and sauna and innovative (part alfresco) dining at InsideOut. Wine is a big deal here with frequent tasting events – head sommelier Roland Bourger is a UK Sommelier of the Year winner and the cellar holds over 30,000 bottles. The rooms are classic and elegant, with four-poster beds and either balconies or patios in the suites.

The River Arts Club is housed in a Victorian Mansion beside the Thames. Boasting private moorings and access to the river, the hotel overlooks the Guards Club Island – home to many species of birds. It’s situated close to Bray, a gastronomic village paradise, to which guests can travel on water via the hotel’s private launch. There are six categories of bedrooms, all with original artworks and some offering open log fires, park or river views, and terraces.

This five-star country lodge makes for a wonderful state-of-the-art spa break. The hotel is housed in a 19th century mansion, but the spa area is in a separate, modern and eco-friendly wood-clad building with large windows taking full advantage of the views. Outside it has a jetted tub surrounded by loungers, plus there’s an infinity edge pool and a natural wild pool. Rooms come with four-poster beds and claw-foot freestanding tubs and some have private gardens. The award-winning venue also boasts three restaurants, a Billiard Bar, lounges and a terrace for alfresco dining.

There can be no more regal outlook than Buckingham Palace. And that’s exactly what this full-service five-star hotel opposite the Royal Mews offers. Guests are met by liveried doormen, before being checked into bedrooms with four-posters, fabric-covered walls, velvet tapestries and Murano chandeliers. Many of the rooms are royal-themed, paying homage to Britain’s monarchs and singles are available for solo travellers. The English Grill is the main restaurant; The Curry Room has a menu of Indian food; The Palace Lounge offers classic afternoon teas; and The New York Bar is a cool cocktail hangout.

Located close to Buckingham Palace, the Goring was first opened in 1910 and is now the only hotel in London that is still owned and run by the family that built it. At the time of its construction, it was the first hotel in the world in which each of the 69 rooms had a private bathroom and central heating. The Goring, featuring classic English design, is very popular with the Royal Family (recent royal guests include HM The Queen). It was also the hotel of choice for the Duchess of Cambridge, then Kate Middleton, and her family the night before her nuptials with Prince William. Understandably, this placed the hotel firmly on the Royalist tourist trail. The recent opening of Siren was the first new restaurant addition to the hotel for over 100 years. There’s also an elegant main dining room, bar and refined Bollinger afternoon tea service. Live like a monarch by booking the two-bedroom, two-bathroom Royal Suite, with your own dedicated footman, decanter bar and walls lined with silk from the First Class Dining Room of RMS Titanic 1912.

Hotel 41 is a hidden gem located near Buckingham Palace, exuding the intimate ambience of a private members’ club with a prestigious Forbes Five Star rating. This intimate hideaway of a hotel features 30 exquisite rooms and suites, relaxed social spaces and a chic ambience made for discerning travellers. At the heart of the hotel is the sophisticated lounge and historic dining room which offers around-the-clock refreshments along with the unique ‘plunder the pantry’ – a delightful daily treat of sweet and savoury snacks for guests to enjoy at their leisure. Each room is individually styled in black and white, adorned with mahogany panelling, sumptuous bedding, marble bathrooms, accented with playful prints by René Gruau and drawings by French caricaturist Sem. Scented candles and many other fine and indulgent details make for a relaxed and luxurious stay. For a truly special sleep-over, book the Master Conservatory Suite which is set over a split level with a glass ceiling so guests can sleep under the stars in the utmost of comfort. Known for its personalised service, attentive team and sophisticated style, Hotel 41 is an elegant and discrete escape set in a royal location.

The Clermont London, Victoria, originally opened in 1862 as The Grosvenor Hotel is a historic Grade II listed railway hotel designed by James Thomas Knowles. Conveniently located next to Victoria Station, it provides easy access to London’s major landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey and Gatwick Airport is easily reached via the Express. The hotel offers a range of accommodation options, from classic rooms to deluxe suites, all featuring contemporary design with a touch of period charm. Guests can enjoy a variety of dining experiences, including The Soak an elegant setting with sumptuous seating, floor-to-ceiling windows and an eclectic menu, open for casual drinks, light bites to formal dinners. The Réunion Bar was once the first-class lounge for the Brighton Belle and overlooks Victoria Station – ideal for people watching whilst sipping on Champagne and cocktails, and The Tea Lounge is the perfect spot for a quintessentially British Afternoon Tea. The hotel caters to both leisure and corporate guests, offering a best-in-class breakfast buffet, corporate dining, and space for meetings and events.

Established by celebrity designer Anouska Hempel, Blakes was the capital’s first five-star boutique residence. Its exclusivity and privacy make it popular with celebrities evading the limelight (Princess Margaret, Sarah Ferguson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lindsay Lohan and Kate Moss are all said to have stayed here). The decor is inspired by exotic lands – each bedroom reflecting a different pocket of the globe. Its urban garden was created by Matthew Williamson, is open for daytime meals, early evening drinks and boasts a glass birdcage like dining pod. While by night, dining takes place in the venue’s organic Mediterranean eatery. Guests at Blakes Hotel have access to the South Kensington Club, with its traditional Russian bathhouse, or can request in-room spa treatments. 

Privately owned, this hotel themes its rooms on high-brow local attractions: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Victoria & Albert and the Royal Albert Hall. So does its quirky and interactive Science Afternoon Tea, an award-winning experience – including jams served in petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and dinosaur biscuits – served in the Drawing Room. It’s understandably popular with children, but there’s also a grown-up version, featuring a cocktail flight. Venture beneath the building’s Victorian arches for a more substantial meal, in the Mediterranean eatery Apero. The 111 bedroom South Kensington hotel welcomes small pets in deluxe category rooms and above and won’t charge for their stay. Cots and extra beds can be added on request, for travelling families.