Best Luxury Hotels in Greater London

The Franklin, situated in the Egerton Gardens, was established in 1992 when four elegant townhouses were combined to create a luxury hotel. This five-star hotel contains 35 rooms and suites, a fashionable bar that serves the finest wines and spirits as well as an excellent restaurant with Michelin-star status. Those who wish to visit the Franklin on a business trip will be pleased to know that the hotel contains it’s own meeting room, ideal for conferences and other events, that will enable business people to do conduct their affairs among stylish and comfortable surroundings.

The five-star Bulgari Hotel, built by the Sir Robert McAlpine construction company between 2010 and 2012, had the distinction of being London’s most expensive hotel when it was first opened and remains one of the most prestigious places to stay in the capital. The hotel contains 85 rooms and suites as well as a ballroom, cigar shop, cinema, fitness centre and gymnasium while the Rivea restaurant offers some of the best French and Italian cuisine to the hotel’s patrons. The bedrooms are separated into Superior, Deluxe and Executive rooms while the apartments are divided into Junior, Studio, Deluxe, Knightsbridge and Bulgari suites.

One hundred and twelve years after first opening as the brainchild of Cezar Ritz, The Ritz, London is still one of the world’s finest hotels. It was awarded the Royal Warrant in 2002, the only hotel to hold it. Staying at the Ritz is a five-star experience that combines old-world opulence with the highest level of customer service available anywhere. Eat in the Michelin-starred restaurant, still regarded by many as the most beautiful dining room on the planet or take afternoon tea on the terrace. The hotel is close to Green Park and the West End.

Fleming’s is situated on Half Moon Street. Here, modern luxury blends with a historical legacy that offers a range of accommodation packages to the modern traveller. From deluxe singles to double suites, there is something for everyone. Each room is colour-coordinated and incorporates key features of a previous artistic style. The hotel has a gym which boasts the latest cardiovascular and weight-resistance equipment. Dine at Ormer Mayfair, take afternoon tea in the Drawing Room or have cocktails in the Manetta’s Bar. It is all there to enjoy.

In recreating the rooms at the Connaught, Guy Oliver and Guy Collins have fused modern styling with retro touches which help keep the overall impression in harmony with this hotel’s architectural roots. Every room is generously apportioned, particularly the suites; the Sutherland Suite has its own Baby Grand Piano. Restaurant Helen Darroze at the Connaught offers a package that won her two Michelin stars. Relax in the restaurant’s magnificent interior, designed by India Mahdavi. Alternatively, dine at Jean-George’s where British classics blend with Southeast Asian flavours. The hotel also has a spa that offers a range of treatments and alternative therapies.

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. 

Kids and pets are welcome at this 150 room townhouse hotel. Enter from the bustling Old Brompton Road, into a haven of calm. In-suite Aromatherapy Associates toiletries, Nespresso machines and a minibar help guests to unwind in their own private space. Or there’s the softly lit classic club-style K-Bar, where you can relax with a cocktail on one of its divinely cosy sofas (look out for the bar’s brass doors, which used to belong to Dublin’s General Post Office, the backdrop for the Easter Rising in 1916). Be sure to make a booking at its restaurant, Town House, too. The Kensington is super stylish, sporting statement lighting and plenty of sumptuously tactile textiles. 

Like The Gore, this hotel is part of the Starhotels Collezione group, an identity reflected in the otherwise quintessentially British hotel’s Italian basement restaurant. The Pelham’s vintage interiors have been refreshed by designer Kit Kemp, yet retain the original features, stuccoed ceilings and oil painted artworks that nod to its past. Housed in a Victorian townhouse across from the tube station, it’s super convenient for exploring the city. Children love the brand’s VIK (Very Important Kid) programme, with games, activities, menus and amenities. Pets are allowed to stay with you here, too. 

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. 

Ruby Zoe is located in Notting Hill Gate, the hotel features 173 rooms spread across six floors in a new building. Inspired by Notting Hill’s history and Caribbean heritage, the hotel’s design reflects the vibrant culture of the neighbourhood, incorporating elements from the 1970s, Portobello Road’s colours, and the Caribbean islands. The ground floor offers an open and expansive space with glass fronts, housing a bar, a retail area with a vinyl store curated by resident artists, and a public area for guests and locals to relax or work. The hotel follows Ruby’s Lean Luxury philosophy, providing top design and high-end amenities at an affordable price. The rooms feature open washstands, glass rain showers, fresh white decor, and cherry wood wall panelling. Artwork above the beds depicts colourful houses in Notting Hill. In fall 2023, a glass mosaic artwork by Zak Ové, celebrating the area’s heritage and carnival traditions, will be installed on the hotel’s facade. The hotel’s prime location allows easy access to Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Portobello Market, and Notting Hill Gate Underground Station.

The Laslett occupies a total of five Grade II listed Victorian Townhouses in the ever-trendy borough of Notting Hill and is named after the founder of its famed carnival. Bedrooms – of which there are 51 – range from singles to suites offering up to two bedrooms and a living space. The Recharge Rooms offers cutting-edge spa treatments and wellness/fitness classes. And there’s a library, The Henderson Bar and a lounge – guests can order food to consume in any of these, or the bedrooms – as well as a boutique selling arty pieces worthy of its location.

St. Ermin’s Hotel, an independent four-star deluxe hotel nestled at the end of a tree-lined courtyard in the heart of Westminster, London, offers a unique blend of relaxation within close proximity to the city’s historical attractions. The hotel boasts a wide selection of rooms and suites, including pet-friendly options, catering to a variety of guest needs and as it is conveniently located near St. James’s and Victoria stations, it is the perfect base for exploring the city or combining business with leisure. As part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, guests at St. Ermin’s can earn or redeem Marriott BonVoy points. Dining options include Caxton Bar, a historical meeting spot for influential figures, including Winston Churchill during WWII and rumoured spy exchanges, the bar offers a cosy atmosphere for guests and locals to enjoy a wide range of drinks and classic bar meals. The modern European cuisine at Caxton Grill, inspired by the rooftop garden, showcases seasonal, top-quality ingredients grilled to perfection with an emphasis on first-class ingredients and service. Whilst a traditional and indulgent British Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed in the Tea Lounge and Library.  St. Ermin’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its local sourcing and use of its rooftop kitchen garden and bee terrace for fresh produce and honey, making it more than just a typical London hotel but a place of historical significance and culinary excellence.