Best Urban Hotels in United Kingdom

This quintessentially British hotel is located in St James’s Place, Mayfair, close to Piccadilly Circus and Green Park. At Dukes, you are offered luxury and sophistication in a hospitable environment where the in-house team will do everything possible to make your stay perfect. Refinement and elegance matter here; it is all part of the magical concoction that creates Dukes’ unique ambience. Bedrooms and suites are beautifully appointed; there is even a dog-friendly room.

Return to the splendour of the Georgian era at Batty Langley’s. 29 suites are inspired by 18th/19th-century life and notable characters of the ages. There are two lounges for guests’ use, one with an honesty bar (the epitome of fancy boutique London hospitality) providing a recipe book for cocktail making. Breakfast can be served in these, or in your room. This establishment is certainly a place to lounge in your room till late and order room service at any time of the day or night; Batty’s has a theatrical decadence about it, that’s made for minimooners.

Stay in an elegant New Town Georgian townhouse with 26 rooms, which, like The Dunstane Houses, are spread across two buildings. Nira Caledonia offers a Jacuzzi Suite, ideal for soothing tired legs after a day of exploring the city’s cobbled streets. All rooms and suites come with PMD Tea, minibars, 2,000-pocket sprung beds, goose-down pillows and L’Occitane toiletries as standard. The hotel boasts its very own 12-year-old ultra-limited edition whisky, bottled in partnership with Adelphi Distillery and served onsite. Guests can try the tipple and dine at Blackwoods Bar & Grill, which has a farm or fishery-to-fork ethos (around 40% of the menu ingredients come from Scotland).

The London Hilton on Park Lane, a cornerstone of Mayfair’s luxury hospitality since 1963, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a multimillion-pound refurbishment. This extensive renovation introduced two new dining venues, an open-plan social lobby featuring the ‘Falling Still’ art installation by Giles Miller, and comprehensive updates to suites, the executive lounge, and guest rooms. The hotel offers 453 rooms and suites, including the Balmoral Suite on the 27th floor, which provides expansive views of Hyde Park. Guests can enjoy amenities such as the Executive Lounge, the Revery Bar with live DJ sets, and the Park Corner Brasserie serving modern British cuisine. The hotel’s prime location on Park Lane places it within walking distance of Knightsbridge, Oxford Street, Buckingham Palace, and New Bond Street, with Hyde Park Corner Underground Station nearby for convenient access to central London.

Designed in the Beaux-Arts style and opened in 1922 as the Port of London Authority building, this hotel is now a Grade II listed building. At its opening, it was one of the tallest structures in the capital and the 100 current rooms still command excellent views. This member of the legendary Four Seasons chain popular with business and leisure travellers offers a number of fine dining options. Creative French cuisine can be enjoyed in Anne-Sophie Pic’s Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic London. Contemporary Chinese and Japanese dishes are served at Mei Ume. And the stunning domed Rotunda Lounge and bar, at the hotel’s heart, is the setting for a unique Crown Jewels-inspired afternoon tea. Below ground, the lavish contemporary spa contains one of the most dreamy pools in the city.

Situated on Leicester Square, the Victory House London has commanding views of many of London’s most prestigious red carpets. Close to Soho, Chinatown and Covent Garden, Victory House is the ideal place for guests who wish to stay near the action. The hotel’s 86 rooms are spacious and chic, they are adorned with subtle nods to the area’s cinematic history which gives the rooms character. Many of the rooms gaze out over Leicester Square and they are all equipped with plush beds, a range of amenities and bathrobes. Victory House is home to an exquisite cocktail bar which serves a variety of expertly prepared cocktails. Victory House also boasts its own French Bistrot which uses only the freshest ingredients and serves classic French dishes with a modern flair.

The Halyard Liverpool is part of IHG’s expanding Luxury & Lifestyle Vignette portfolio of one-of-a-kind properties. Named after a nautical rope knot the property melds Liverpool’s rich maritime and mercantile history with its vibrant cultural legacy. Top-floor suites feature rooftop terraces with panoramic city views, while guest room designs showcase Liverpool’s creativity, including playful references to the local Meccano toy brand and artworks that highlight the city’s landmarks. The hotel’s destination restaurant and bar Voyages serves a small plate menu offering innovative global flavours that pay homage to the ingredients and cooking techniques that would have been brought through this port city over the many years of its existence. Located in the Ropewalks guests are just a short and convenient walk from the many bars, restaurants and shops making it an ideal choice for those eager to explore the city’s historical and contemporary offerings.

Relive the Golden Age of Travel, with a stay at this art deco, nautically-themed hotel just across from the Titanic Experience. It may be a new venue, having opened its doors in 2017, but the building has a long history. This was once the headquarters of Harland & Wolff (the maritime engineers responsible for most of the White Star ocean liners), a heritage reflected in the hotel restaurant’s title. Indeed, the waterfront’s history is woven throughout – lookout for details like the stunning Titanic model in the Harland Bar. The venue received three gongs at this year’s Irish Hotel Awards and was named Northern Ireland’s Leading Hotel in 2020’s World Travel Awards.

Following a complete redesign of the property by architect John Simpson and interior designer Martin Brudnizki in 2019, the University Arms Hotel part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection portfolio has re-established itself as one of Cambridge’s most remarkable destinations. The property offers 192 rooms and suites across four floors, with views of Park’s Piece and historic Regent Street. The property is undeniably British through and through. Classic Edwardian interiors are combined with bespoke, leather-padded writing desks, low ottomans and tiered chandeliers in playful colours and rooms full of natural light. We love their suites each individually named with a bookshelf of books curated by Mayfair’s Heywood Hill, large sitting rooms to relax in, while some also include walk-on balconies. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are served at their brasserie Parker’s Tavern, which has a menu of British classics made with seasonal ingredients sourced from England.

Housed in an ivy-clad Georgian Mansion surrounded by wrought iron railings, Hotel du Vin enjoys a prime setting on the quaint Town Quay. The property is a former merchant’s house, turned chic modern boutique hotel. It provides a comfortable familiarity for those already au fait with the chain and is large enough to provide facilities such as a courtyard for alfresco drinks, a bar and a bistro (serving French and British-inspired cuisine), alongside a sense of exclusivity (there are just 38 individually styled bedrooms).

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.

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is a five-star haven of elegance and tranquillity in the historic centre of Bath. The hotel is an iconic property in Bath set within an acre of manicured gardens. Each of the hotel’s bedrooms is unique in design with its own character and charm, while their suites are brimming with Georgian elegance and 5-star amenities. If you want to go all out, book their garden villa which provides guest with their own private residence within the grounds of the hotel. Their award-winning spa includes a 12-metre relaxation pool with jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and gym and dining at the hotel’s Dower House Restaurant is sure to delight and in the summer months, you can dine in the garden.