Best Luxury Hotels in United Kingdom

Part of the Luxury Collection group, The Park Tower is a five-star establishment in the heart of Knightsbridge and Belgravia. It first opened to guests in 1973, a noticeable new landmark on the west London skyline, with its unusual circular architecture. All 271 rooms and suites come with a view thanks to its unique shape, as well as 200-thread count cotton sheets, robes, slippers and deep soaking tubs. In-room spa services are available, as well as The Park Tower Butler, for your every need. The Hyde Bar is the hotel’s main dining establishment, with afternoon teas served in The Knightsbridge Lounge.

Base yourself here and you’ll be perfectly situated for both the shops and world-leading theatres of England’s capital. Located in Marble Arch, the bustle of Oxford Street is a stroll away, but in this salubrious Mayfair neighbourhood, guests are cocooned in elegance. Some of the executive rooms and suites at this 5-star establishment offer views over Hyde Park, balconies and sofa beds, with all bathrooms crafted from Italian marble. Suites come complete with lounge access offering complimentary food and drinks throughout the day and evening in the Lanes of London restaurant. A fitness centre features an indoor pool, steam room and gym with optional massage and spa treatments available too. And the hotel’s restaurant, Lanes of London is a chic venue for classic British-inspired dishes, botanical afternoon teas and craft cocktails. 

This recently launched 16-storey establishment on the corner of Leicester Square is defined in a new category of accommodation: super boutique. While large in size, the hotel is intimate in nature. Operated by the privately owned Edwardian Hotels London group, it blends style with sustainability and high-end facilities. Guests unable to sleep – or those who like to socialise into the night – can frequent The Y Bar, The Drawing Room, and The Whisky Room.  A Japanese restaurant, bar and terrace are found on the eighth floor. While below ground, lies The Retreat, a wellness sanctuary with holistic therapies for body and mind, as well as a soothing hydro pool.

The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, located in the city’s historic New Town, combines classic Georgian architecture with modern luxury. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities including a fitness centre, spa, and Tesla chauffeur service. The hotel features eclectically styled rooms and suites with luxurious details and innovative technology. Dining options include The Garden for cocktails and light fare, BABA for Levant-inspired dishes, and Aizle for seasonal tasting menus. The hotel is also pet-friendly and offers unique experiences like sound therapy suites and personal shopping services.

Awarded the No. 1 Hotel in London by the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, the Lanesborough is part of the Oetker Collection. Found in the centre of Knightsbridge the hotel is comprised of 93 suites and bedrooms, an opulent spa, dynamic bars, a ‘Withdrawing’ room and its Michelin-starred restaurant, Céleste. Here you receive dedicated butler service 24/7 – no matter what grade of the room you choose. Following a major refurbishment in 2015, the interiors have been aligned with Regency and Georgian style by renowned design agency Albert Pinto. Lying just a short stroll from Harrods, this hotel is ideal for an upmarket combined shopping and spa stay in an ambience of timeless classic elegance. The hotel is known as the most expensive in London, and with one of the finest suites setting you back a cool £20,000 per night, it doesn’t get much more special than this.

A few minutes walk from Trafalgar Square is this relatively unassuming, Edwardian fronted 153-bedroom hotel. But this was in fact, the original HQ for Scotland Yard, now a five-star refurbished property, that’s part of the Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. The interiors are modern, yet effectively pay homage to the building’s past, with copious memorabilia and artworks. The Yard is the hotel’s aptly named restaurant, plus there’s a cosy colonial style Parlour and a whisky bar evocative of the art deco era. It’s also pet friendly, offers valet parking and has an onsite fitness centre.

Reward yourself with 5-star service and luxury amenities at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House. Located in one of the capital’s best addresses Park Lane Mayfair and moments away from many of the city’s best attractions like Oxford Street, Buckingham Palace and Knightsbridge. Make yourself at home in their elegant rooms and suites, featuring plush pillow-top beds, marble bathrooms and many with views out to Hyde Park. Savour delicious dining at JW Steakhouse and start the evening off with a cocktail at Red Bar and the Bourbon Bar. This landmark hotel is perfect for business travellers and guests who appreciate a touch of contemporary British design and style without the stuffiness.

Previously known as the Deeside Inn, this historic property received a multi-million-pound refurbishment in 2022, ensuring its upgrade to the esteemed AA five-star rating. Now operated by Crerar Hotels and renamed, the Balmoral Arms boasts an enviable village location close to His Majesty’s summer retreat. This is complemented by authentic Highland hospitality, an Ishga spa and menus featuring produce from the Royal Balmoral Estate. Here is where period heritage meets contemporary design, with a homely feel and some regal flavour.

Hilton London Bankside is at the forefront of Hilton Hotels’ innovative, design-focused evolution. Every element of the hotel has been meticulously thought out to echo the rich history and vibrant atmosphere of the area, merging raw urban elements with sleek, modern aesthetics. A stone’s throw from iconic London attractions like the Tate Modern, Borough Market, and Shakespeare’s Globe, The property boasts 292 guest rooms, including 25 suites that offer stunning cityscape views, along with a rooftop penthouse, peloton guest rooms, a vegan suite, and a heated indoor pool and gym. Two dining experiences are onsite too OXBO Bankside and The Distillery.

Located near the picturesque banks of the Thames, near London’s most iconic landmarks, The Westminster London, inspired by Ian Fleming’s James Bond, reopened in May 2021 following an extensive multimillion-pound refurbishment. The hotel features 464 beautifully designed guestrooms, ranging from standard rooms to suites, all equipped with modern-day essentials such as flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, and bottled water. Guests can enjoy the on-site gym rooftop gym with Peloton equipment and incredible views or indulge at the Westminster Bar & Grill, a modern steakhouse with a carefully curated wine list along with its own unique bowling alley. Additionally, the Westminster Café on the ground floor offers casual dining with a selection of hot drinks, juices, sandwiches, snacks, and canned cocktails, perfect for a quick breakfast or a pre-dinner drink.

Period features meet contemporary interiors in this hotel opened in 1837. Interior design by Olga Polizzi was inspired by literary works and former guests – Rudyard Kipling wrote many of his novels here and it’s believed that The English Tea Room was the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’. As such, the Afternoon Tea is popular with history lovers, seeking to retrace the steps of heroes and heroines in this award-winning, wood-panelled establishment. Now owned by Rocco Forte, modern comforts in the 33 suites and 82 rooms abound. Elegant muted shades are offset with pops of colour and unique artworks. The in-house restaurant Charlie’s, named after the founding Forte Lord Charles, is all about British cooking. While Donovan’s bar (named after photographer Terence), is an intimate and playfully decadent spot to enjoy a bespoke sixties-themed cocktail.

This famous AA Resort Hotel overlooks both the 17th hole of the prestigious Old Course (known as having the trickiest par 4 in the world) and the West Sands – a long golden stretch of the Fife coastline. The 175-roomed Old Course Hotel is home to the only Kohler Waters Spa outside of the USA, as well as four fine restaurants and multiple bars. Its interiors have been designed by Jacques Garcia, creating an elegant and classic ambience. Don’t miss the uber-elegant afternoon tea.