Best Urban Hotels in United Kingdom

It’s hosted the stars of Hollywood and members of the Royal Family for over two centuries. Spencer Tracy commented that he’d rather go to Claridge’s than to heaven when he dies. And Gordon Ramsay opened a restaurant here. This hotel is grand and British, with elements of its heritage – notably its art deco years – evident in the decor. Highlights include the Davies & Brook restaurant and The Fumoir, a sultry speakeasy-style glamorous bar. There’s a swish outdoor dining area, a spa and a famous afternoon tea. The kid-glove service is top-notch and attentive, with butlers in suites and the penthouse.

Located on Edinburgh’s most famous thoroughfares and offering what has to be one of the most enviable vistas of Edinburgh from any hotel window, 100 Princes Street is the latest addition to the family-owned Red Carnation Hotels collection, and arguably its most exclusive. Evocative of a private members’ club and a celebration of Scottish exploration, the property features 30 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, ‘The Wallace’ dining room, bar and lounge and ‘Ghillie’s Pantry’, an elegant private dining space offering over 200 whiskies along with custom whisky experiences.

You’ll find the Corinthia London where Northumberland Avenue meets Whitehall Place. Positioned on a landmark triangular site, it’s between Trafalgar Square and the Thames Embankment. The building once served as British Government offices and as the Hotel Metropole in the 19th century. Nowadays it’s home to the award-winning ESPA Life at Corinthia, a new 1920’s inspired theatrical cocktail bar named Velvet, The Northall restaurant with its designer dining room, Michelin-starred celebrity chef Tom Kerridge’s Bar & Grill and a glittering lounge, where 1,001 Baccarat crystals provide chandelier lighting for your afternoon tea. Corinthia London accommodates 283 bedrooms including 51 suites and seven penthouses.

The Chancery Rosewood in London is an all-suite sanctuary where heritage architecture and modern design converge on Grosvenor Square. Comprising 144 suites crafted by French architect Joseph Dirand, this extraordinary property occupies the restored former U.S. Embassy, originally designed by Eero Saarinen and meticulously reimagined by Sir David Chipperfield. Interiors reflect timeless sophistication through warm tones, bespoke furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing Mayfair’s skyline.

Eight distinctive restaurants and bars include Carbone, the cult New York import, Serra, celebrating Mediterranean warmth, Tobi Masa, marking Chef Masayoshi Takayama’s London debut, and Jacqueline, a tea and dessert salon by Marius Dufay. The expansive Asaya Spa by Yabu Pushelberg features a 25-metre pool, The Taktouk Clinic, MoodsPro treatments, and EviDenS de Beauté rituals. Guests enjoy flexible check-in and use of a chauffeur-driven House Car, with private butlers for suite guests.

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.

Situated in the old Work & Pensions building in the city centre, Dakota Glasgow offers the best in affordable luxury and top-quality cuisine. On a quiet street just steps from Sauchiehall Street, you couldn’t be closer to the city centre pubs, restaurants, clubs and theatres. The interior of the hotel is as striking as its painted black exterior, with lots of exposed brickwork mixed with luxe furnishings and fittings – all very effortlessly stylish! The 83 rooms and suites are light and spacious with full-length windows which wouldn’t look out of place in an NYC loft and walls and soft furnishings dressed in the trademark dark grey tones that run throughout. The olive-tiled bathrooms are also a delight and add to the calming and peaceful ambience. In terms of food, the Dakota offers an in-house Bar & grill helmed by a head chef who trained under Rick Stein, and their impressive Champagne Bar is perfect for private dining or special occasions!

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.

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. 

If you love all things vintage, you’ll adore the Art Deco interiors at this five-star property. It’s packed with 1920s era antiques, with lashings of mahogany furnishings, over a thousand original artworks (as well as notable modern pieces from Turner prize winners) and literary works from yesteryear. The building itself is a piece of history, built during the previous roaring ‘20s and now carrying a Grade II listing – even the D.R. Harris bath products nod to this heritage. But there are modern amenities too; like a shiny new spa and salons. Set beside Brown Hart gardens, there’s a tranquillity that belies The Beaumont’s central location.

Primely positioned midway between Chelsea and Knightsbridge, The Cadogan is an iconic destination where quintessential British charm effortlessly imbues a modern elegance. An intimate ‘home’ in the heart of the city, where the past and present are intertwined with every detail, the hotel overlooks the private Cadogan Palace Gardens, a botanical haven to which guests have exclusive access. Steeped in history, The Cadogan has an illustrious list of past residents, including Lillie Langtry and Oscar Wilde – the room in which Oscar Wilde was arrested is now the noble Royal Suite. In the 54 individually designed rooms, two-thirds of which are suites, white-on-white linens are offset with vibrant pops of colour, silk and velvet, with captivating artwork and design details honouring the hotel’s rich heritage.

A member of the Dorchester Collection, 45 Park Lane has somewhat of a more boutique feel than some of its neighbours. It may have just 45 rooms but doesn’t skimp on size or style; the stunning penthouse suite, accessed by private lift, presents breathtaking panoramic views from its wrap-around balcony, whilst all other rooms and suites are as equally as glamorous with their own unique features. The recently launched Spa offers guests a haven of tranquility where they can indulge in some quiet time by the pool, sauna or steam room or enjoy a well-deserved spa treatment. The building is art deco in design, a theme that continues on within the interiors of the hotel.  Dinner here is an event. Think juicy Wagyu steaks savoured while surrounded by Damien Hirst artworks; this is Wolfgang Puck’s esteemed CUT restaurant – his first venture in Europe. 

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.