With an abundance of luxury hotels in London it can be difficult to choose which one is best for your stay. Particularly for well-travelled individuals who want their hotel experience to be quite different from the last, then a five-star rating is simply not enough. From luxurious havens tucked away in the bustling streets of Mayfair to avant-garde retreats in the trendy quarters of Shoreditch, the city offers an array of accommodations that promise more than just a place to stay. These hotels, celebrated for their exceptional design, unparalleled service, and immersive experiences, invite guests to delve into the rich tapestry of London’s culture, history, and modern-day allure. Whether you’re seeking the grandeur of historic establishments or the chic sophistication of contemporary hideaways, these cool hotels are destinations in their own right, each telling a different story of this ever-evolving metropolis and here are our favourites in London to stay in.
Canopy by Hilton London City
Complete with panoramic views over the City of London, Canopy by Hilton London City echoes the spirit of one of the capital’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The UK’s first Canopy by Hilton hotel is set within the multi-million-pound Minories development close to Aldgate station and offers the perfect base for design-conscious visitors looking to immerse themselves in London’s East End. The hotel’s interior design reflects the rich culture of the area’s historic textile industry inspired by the Huguenot silk weavers who settled in Spitalfields in the 17th century with guest quarters and dining spaces featuring floral patterns and woven fabrics reminiscent of the techniques used by the Huguenots. Artworks created by local artists adorn the public spaces throughout the hotel while inspiration from the area continues throughout the hotel, East End-inspired dishes made with local, sustainable ingredients are served at the hotel’s restaurant Penny Squares, which takes its design inspiration from the quilting technique popular in the textile industry. Meanwhile, St Clare Coffee and Bar, provides the perfect place to relax, work or socialise over a morning coffee or evening cocktail in the hotel’s ground floor. A must-visit is the hotel’s stunning rooftop terrace Florattica which offers uninterrupted views of the City of London and serves delicious small plates with a great selection of drinks against a vibrant backdrop inspired by the floral patterns of the Huguenots.
Hilton London Bankside
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. Read our review of the Hilton London Bankside here.
Sun Street Hotel
Architect George Dance the Younger conceived this property back in the 1800s. These days it enjoys a spot in one of the capital’s trendiest corners. Rooms and suites hark back to its origin story, with rich jewel tones, patterned wallpapers and Persian-style rugs. Many come here just for the restaurant; Quercus is a destination in itself, with chef Stephen Englefield serving South East Asian inspired dishes prepared using ingredients from our own shores. And it’s well worth stopping for a tipple at the bar, whose cocktail menu uses V.R. Vickers Google Book as its muse.
art’otel London Battersea Power Station
The first art’otel in the capital officially entered London’s hospitality landscape in February 2023. Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon is behind the interiors, which take inspiration from the Power Station, while Foster + Partners and Electric Boulevard were responsible for the architecture. The hotel is in Battersea Roof Gardens, part of a whole new district, served by a recently opened tube station. It includes the TOZI Grand Cafe, JOIA, the 15th-floor restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, a spa, a rooftop bar with an infinity pool and 164 arty bedrooms.
Ruby Zoe
Ruby Zoe is the 16th hotel in Europe owned by the Munich group led by founder and CEO Michael Struck. It is located in Notting Hill Gate, Europe, and features 173 rooms spread over six floors. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the history and Caribbean heritage of Notting Hill, with decor reflecting the vibrant cultural diversity of the neighbourhood. The ground floor offers an open and spacious atmosphere with glass fronts, a bar, and a retail space featuring a curated vinyl store. The hotel follows Ruby’s Lean Luxury philosophy, offering high-end amenities at an affordable price by eliminating unnecessary elements. The hotel’s public area provides a welcoming space for guests, locals, and the neighbourhood to relax or work. In autumn 2023, a commissioned artwork by Zak Ové will be installed on the hotel’s façade, celebrating the area’s heritage and Ové’s connection to it. Ruby Zoe is conveniently located near popular attractions such as Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, and Portobello Market, with easy access to public transportation.
The Standard, London
Just two minutes walk from St Pancras and anything but standard, this hotel offers terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs overlooking the 19th-century station. Housed in a brutalist building, the property plays host to a variety of events including bottomless brunches, chess tournaments, live jazz and panel discussions. 266 dog-friendly bedrooms come with Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth Speakers, Craig Green robes and packed minibars. On the 10th floor is Decimo with Michelin-starred Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias at the helm. Plus you can eat and drink in Isla, Double Standard and The Library Lounge and dance to the DJ’s beats at Sweeties disco/late-night bar.
Great Scotland Yard Hotel London
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.
The Henrietta Hotel
The Henrietta Hotel is located in the heart of Covent Garden offering easy access to many of the city’s greatest hotspots. The trendy boutique hotel boasts 40 bedrooms, which have been uniquely designed by French Interior Designer Dorothee Meilichzon. With a chic interior, plush furniture and all the amenities a modern-day traveller desires, the rooms are the perfect base for a city break. The hotel restaurant Da Henrietta by Italian Supper Club, is boutique and authentic, presenting a menu that is inspired by the Tyrrhenian Sea and the ever-changing landscape resulting in dishes that combine creative flair with bold and earthy flavours, expect fresh pasta and seasonal vegetables to be firm favourites along with a wine list that introduces guests to lesser known grape varieties from small producers. This is a hidden gem in London’s bustling west end.
Canopy by Hilton London City
The artistry and design that’s gone into this striking East London property is quite something. The lift area, for example, is a contemporary interpretation of the church of the Holy Trinity in Minories (a building that previously occupied the hotel’s site until the end of the 19th century). Canopy Central is the building’s hub; situated off this are areas such as The Retreat – a place to work, relax and contemplate. Guests here are offered the use of the bikes free of charge, invited to bring along their furry best friends and treated to events such as tasting evenings. For eating and drinking, there’s the Freedom Café and Penny Squares restaurant serving Jewish and Middle Eastern dishes.
The Hoxton Hotel
The international Hoxton Hotel chain began life in London. Now in the three capital locations of Shoreditch, Holborn and Southwark, the brand fuses industrial, urban features with mid-century pieces and funky modern art. The properties are dog friendly (there’s no charge to bring your pooch) and are super on-trend. Each has its own hip bar, designer eateries and rooms with sizes varying from Shoebox to Biggy, catering to many different needs and budgets.
The W London
Another international chain, London’s W is located on Wardour Street, right in the heart of the city’s west end. Giving guests the opportunity to RETOX, or DETOX, there’s The Perception Bar, an epic Frosé Royale brunch menu with Veuve Clicquot, a screening room for movie nights and the AWAY spa offering healing therapies using exclusive NEOM products. 192 bedrooms have a Cool Britannia theme and are the first in the capital to have been equipped with Digivalet technology, allowing guests to personalise their stay with an advanced tablet-based system. Service operates on W’s Whatever/Whenever® ethos, ensuring your every whim is met while staying here.
Leman Locke
If you prefer to have your own cooking and dining facilities while staying in London, Leman Locke in Aldgate is a great choice. The self-contained studios and apartments are well placed in the super-cool east, with good transport links into the rest of the city. Each has good views, its own bespoke furnishings, a kitchenette, washing machine, minibar, Apple TV Box and Samsung smart TV. Neutral palettes with pale pastels provide a soothing ambience in the airy, light-filled rooms. For guests wanting to make use of the aparthotel’s shared facilities, there’s also a fitness centre, cafe and bar onsite.
Montcalm East, Autograph Collection
Found on the city side of London’s trendy Shoreditch, this diamond-shaped hotel makes for a dazzling landmark. The 288 rooms are a minimum of 25 square metres with Sky TV, mood-lighting and electronic curtains, while bathrooms have underfloor heating, rainfall showers and products by Soap Co. The hotel’s restaurant, Moor + Mead, serves seasonal British food in a casual environment and the bar is found on the mezzanine. A spa incorporates an indoor pool with a hydromassage feature, a sauna, jacuzzi and treatment rooms. Montcalm East is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
Batty Langleys
A stone’s throw from Old Spitalfields Market in the east, this building dates back to 1724. Its namesake, Batty Langley, produced handbooks providing Georgian interior design tips. The current furnishings reflect this heritage, with four-poster beds, freestanding tubs, fireplaces and antiques. The 29 rooms – five of which are extravagant suites – have a slightly eccentric feel, with strong, bold, colour schemes, but also provide modern conveniences, such as REN toiletries, minibars and Apple TVs. Outside there’s a charming terrace, while the indoor public areas include a parlour, a library and a cosy lounge with an honesty bar. There’s no restaurant, but buffet breakfasts (including smoked salmon bagels) are served daily and room service is available for all meals.
Mondrian Shoreditch
This new incarnation of the Mondrian is housed in the ex Curtain hotel and members club. The building – which wouldn’t be out of place in Brooklyn with its black framed warehouse-esque windows – received a complete overhaul this year under the direction of local design studio Goddard Littlefair. Exposed concrete walls, oversized artworks, a holographic selfie booth and a bar made of copper are some of the new additions. Christina’s cocktail bar is an uber-cool hangout, as is Altitude on the rooftop with its outdoor plunge pool flanked by wicker chairs. Tapas are served at Bibo, a Spanish restaurant with a tiled courtyard and crimson walls. Mondrian accommodates 120 rooms, and there’s a great in-house cafe too.
The Courthouse Hotel
So named as it was once a Magistrates’ and police court, this Grade II listed hotel is found just off Regent Street. Many of the original features have been preserved in the privately-owned property. But now it includes 116 bedrooms, a huge pool, the Sanook spa and a 100 seater cinema. Upgrade to stay in Magistrate’s Suites (previously judge’s chambers) or the two-bedroom Lalique suite. The court’s cell block has been transformed into a bar, with artwork depicting its famous real-life defendants Mick Jagger and John Lennon. An alfresco shisha bar strewn with rugs and kept cosy with heaters, is located on the rooftop.
ME London by Melia
Architects Foster and Partners were responsible for the design of this avant-garde building – a nine-storey white marble cathedral-shaped atrium is brought to life by colourful projections. Stay in one of ME’s ‘urban refuges’ in the heart of London’s west end, with doubles and suites providing up to three bedrooms. STK London is a five-star hotel restaurant and has a New York theme – 28-day custom-aged USDA prime beef is the speciality. On the 10th floor, there’s a Radio Rooftop Bar offering views of some of the capital’s most iconic buildings. While the lobby-based Marconi Lounge is named after the wireless’ inventor and has fire pit cocktail tables.
Citizen M At Towerhill
Situated above Tower Hill Underground Station, Citizen M Towerhill has awe-inspiring views of the Tower of London, particularly from the sophisticated Cloud M Bar. Spacious rooms and lounges are comfortably furnished and highlighted with United Kingdom-themed memorabilia, providing the perfect base for those socialising at any of the nearby stylish restaurant and bar areas.
The Andaz
The Victorian building, constructed of the same red brick as the Houses of Parliament, dates back to 1884. The interior has retained many original features such as the elegant arched doorways and the carved pillars that line the dining room. Recently refurbished rooms add a touch of minimalist elegance that contrasts with the traditional luxury of the hotel itself.
The Gantry Stratford, Curio Collection by Hilton
Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Stratford train station with easy connections to central London, Westfield Shops, Hackney Wick and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park all on its doorstep – this hotel is a great base for those who want to explore East London. Guest rooms and suites are modern and minimalistic in design and offer all the in-room amenities a modern-day traveller would expect from the Hilton name. A relaxed vibe flows through the hotel which offers guests the choice of three restaurants; the All-Day Lounge Bar and Terrace serves breakfast through to dinner, whilst light bites and creative concoctions can be enjoyed at the Cocktail Bar and the Rooftop Bar, located on the 18th floor really is a premier vantage point. Secured and self-parking is also available for guests choosing to travel by car.
The Zetter Townhouse
The East London Zetter overlooking the historic Saint John’s Square was once a Victorian warehouse. It now features the sophistication of contemporary styling with an emphasis on ecology based on the hotel’s own underground water source. The West London Zetter in Marylebone retains an atmosphere of Victorian luxury and comfort with antique furniture, four poster beds and traditional fireplaces.
