Best Boutique Hotels in London

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.

Part of the same group as the Ham Yard, the Haymarket lies in the heart of Theatre-land on the corner of Haymarket and Suffolk Place offering the best of the cities bars and restaurants on your doorstep as well as some of the best shopping in the city. The hotel has 50 bedrooms each designed individually by style and design director and owner Kit Kemp and you can unwind in the hotels pool after a day exploring the city.

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.

This hotel is located on Henrietta Street, and this street is known for its fine architecture. The hotel is owned by a Paris-based business group, but it does not feature French designs. In fact, the rooms have a traditional English and highly unusual design and feel. The general mood in the place is calm, professional and friendly. In total, the hotel has 18 rooms, and one of them is specially designed for visitors with disabilities. There is also an exquisite cocktail bar and a remarkable restaurant.

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.

This boutique hotel is five minutes away from Sloane Square if you are going by foot. The luxurious bedrooms have marble bathrooms, and you get access to free Wi-Fi so that you stay connected to the rest of the world. The interior design of this hotel leaves a lasting impression on anyone that stays. For interior décor, the hotel has been furnished with antiques collected from all over the world, paintings, as well as classical furniture. All the rooms are air-conditioned to ensure you enjoy comfort and excellent air quality. The Penhaligon’s toiletries and bathrobes provided in every room make you feel at home.

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. 

Walking distance from the poshest landmarks in the city, The Hari is an exclusive pad for distinguished travellers. Its 85 bedrooms include 14 suites, draped in velvet and marble with contemporary artworks on the wall (the hotel hosts its own annual art prize). Dine in-house at the refined Italian restaurant, il Pampero, drink in the Hari Bar, and relax with a cocktail on the Garden Terrace during warmer months. The Hari’s fitness room includes a Peloton bike and you can book personal training sessions. The hotel has strong eco-credentials too, having received Silver Accreditation from EarthCheck.

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.

Stay in an elegant heritage hotel opposite Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. The Milestone offers 43 deluxe rooms, 13 individually designed suites and six two and three-bedroom residences, your home-from-home in the city. Go to Cheneston’s restaurant for fine English cuisine by Executive Chef Daniel Putz, the Stable’s Bar for hand-made cocktails and the Park Lounge, for a refined daily British afternoon tea service. Additionally, The Milestone has its own chapel, The Oratory, catering for small private events. Below ground, you’ll find a fitness centre, treatment rooms and a resistance pool.

Located in the business district, just outside the Square Mile. It is an all-time charm. The hotel has flagged stone floors, polished wood panelling, open fires and authentic antique furniture. This gives it a homely feel and is more of a private club than a hotel. Every room in the hotel is uniquely set up and named after the original residents who lived in the building over two centuries ago. Today, if you are looking for a private and discreet place to meet near the Square Mile, then The Rookery is the perfect place to touch base.

This residence may be among the bright lights of London’s theatreland and nightlife hub, yet it’s tucked out a view in a peaceful pocket of the district. Kit Kemp has created the colourful interiors, with bright prints and a cool Britannia vibe. Guests at The Soho Hotel have the benefit of an onsite boutique cinema with two funky screening rooms, a beauty spa, a library and a drawing room and access to a Nintendo Wii. Bedrooms come equipped with a fully stocked mini-bar, a Tivoli Radio, a Bluetooth Bose unit, Frette bed linen and RikRak bath and body products.