Although Downton Abbey is a work of fiction, the level of premium service in the United Kingdom is anything but. With more historic fancy hotels per SQ mile than every city, London has long been a center for commerce, fashion, and culture.
If you’re staying at a high-end resort anywhere between Dubai to the Caribbean, you’re more than likely to find napkins in your lap, butlers on call, and perfectly-timed dinner table service based on the English model.
If it’s nice enough for the British royal family, it’s decent enough for the world’s most discerning visitors. Whatever your budget, there are just too many great places to stay in this city to narrow your choices down. In this article, you’ll find a more focused list of London’s finest hotels.
Claridge’s
This London hotel really is the greatest in the world, and we don’t just say that to brag. This is a location where old-fashioned charm and cutting-edge convenience meet the needs of visitors while providing a level of service they’ll never forget.
Paul Jackson, the hotel’s general manager, said, “We honestly feel our artistry is second to none. To guarantee that our dedication and service touches provide us an advantage, we cherish our heritage but do not live in it.”
During major cultural events such as London Fashion Week, The Chelsea Flower Show, and royal weddings, this hotel may seem like the center of the world.
Afternoon tea, which is served daily in two seatings at Claridge’s 197 rooms’ lobby salon & restaurant, may be enjoyed by guests of the hotel.
As a bonus, guests may enjoy a beverage or a nightcap at either the hotel’s name-brand bar or The Fumoir, a chic champagne lounge. Visitors to Fera, the hotel’s neo-English eatery run by Michelin-starred restaurateur Simon Rogan, will undoubtedly be drawn to the updated foraging experience.
Maximum seating for Aulis, the restaurant’s laboratory/dining table, is six diners, all of whom will have the opportunity to sample dishes that have not yet made their way onto the Fera menu.
But despite its lively atmosphere, the McQueen’s Hotel pays attention to the smallest of details. It has its own McQueen’s and Assouline stores as well as a florist and a seamstress on site. Also, visitors need not be concerned if it rains during their stay, since the hotel provides free usage of Burberry trench coats to every guest.
The Connaught:
Yes, that’s correct. However, this London hotel promotes itself as being a stylish spot to spend the night even without the pomp and ceremony of a typical five-star establishment. The stylish, sensual ambiance of this hotel attracts actors, fashionistas, and celebrities of all ages. Ralph Lauren is claimed to be so enamored with this property’s enormous dark wood staircase that he has constructed a copy in his Madison Avenue flagship shop.
The hotel’s warm atmosphere enhances the appeal of its vast, majestic rooms. Espelette, the hotel’s lobby restaurant, wraps around the front hotel in an enclosed veranda, or dine at the 2 Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze just at Connaught for a business lunch or prix-fixe dinner menu.
Have a beverage at the lobby bar, which has hosted some of the most spectacular fashion occurrences the cocktail lounge choices don’t stop there. Have a cocktail after work or before dinner.
There are three speakeasy-like choices for customers searching for a more seductive atmosphere: The Connaught Lounge (deco and luxurious), The Coburg Bar (silent and personal), & the Champagne Club (a hidden treasure).
On the spa floor, all guests are treated to a sleek Gatsby pool, where Aman Spa treatments are provided. If you think a suite is small, think again. Most include enormous living areas and snug bedrooms with elegant, molded ceilings. An exclusive club like that of a secret society meets Versailles if you will.
The Dorchester:
A-listers like Leonardo Dicaprio and Elizabeth Taylor have been known to stay in the Harlequin Suite while they’re in town for film junkets and premieres.
Nobody would see a VIP checking in among the bustling lobby filled with guests enjoying afternoon tea, a Middle London royal family unloading infinite amounts of fancy bags, and quiet business lunches. If you haven’t had The Promenade bar’s award-winning afternoon tea, you should. It’s considered to be one of the finest in town.
Classics like Caesar salad are done to perfection in the resort’s main restaurant, The Grill, which serves up dishes that aren’t often featured in casual American restaurants.
The Grill’s wall decor incorporates double-sided panels that may be rotated at night to create a completely different ambiance than during the day. Each of the rooms, like the flooring, has a unique design that combines a warm, colorful aesthetic with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic. No detail in this resort is spared when it comes to adding a splash of color, both in terms of design and personality.
Just outside the lobby, Alain Ducasse’s Michelin-starred eatery is a must-see, as is China Tang, a trendy Asian Fusion restaurant-turned-nightclub that serves up inventive dishes.
With its charming New York City ambiance, the Parcafé is the perfect place to get a cappuccino or even cold-pressed juices on the run. The spa and big ballroom here are both tranquil and regal, and they both astound with their ability to make guests feel like they are in a special place.
Those from the Middle East & Far East who really can afford the hotel’s most luxurious rooms go there in droves, so if you’re interested in staying, act fast.
45 Park Lane:
45 Park Lane offers 45 stylish rooms built by New York-based designer Thierry Despont as an almost boys’ club response to its more feminine and conventional sister hotel, The Dorchester. CUT from Wolfgang Puck, a world-class steakhouse, & a bar with an adjoining sports room make this a great place to see all of the big games.
As a boutique hotel, this resort is best suited for businessmen and bachelors who are searching for a more refined experience than a corporate hotel. 45 Park Lane is a quieter alternative to the buzzy Dorchester, perfect for individuals who want the same high-quality service but without the commotion.
The Lanes Borough:
Luxurious travel planner Sienna Charles is smitten with this historic find in the city’s center. According to these insiders, the Oetker Collection’s new ownership of the classic hotel has “reinvigorated the classic hotel to its former glory,” with magnificent Regency-style furniture, ornately adorned rooms, and old-world elegance.
This hotel is keeping on to its traditional origins. The Garden Room’s cigar bar, for example, is a great example of a cigar bar that’s both sexy and stylish. The Withdrawing Room, an alternate salon for meetings and drinks, and a glass ceiling above Céleste, the restaurant’s French-meets-English dining experience, elevate it to the level of London’s best in terms of service, cuisine, and décor.
In addition, Jaclyn Sienna, the creator of Sienna Charles, enthused about the hotel’s concierges, saying, “The concierges were really the greatest we had ever experienced.”
“They possessed a deep understanding of the city’s best eateries and a reputation for excellence.”
Four Season at Lane Park:
As with every Four Seasons location, you can anticipate five-star treatment whether you’re on a business trip or seeking a resting spot on your head while shopping in Mayfair. The hotel’s closeness to Hyde Park is evident in the eclectic design of the central lobby and event facilities.
The beautiful cocktail bar is a great spot for a pre-dinner drink or an after-dinner drink. Make reservations at Amaranto while you’re here, while Chef Eliano Crespi uses his Italian heritage to create creative takes on classic dishes.
One of the most impressive aspects about Amaranto’s sommelier, Jack Menoumba, is that he knows every item on the menu through and out and can perfectly match each one to the wine on hand. During the summer of 2016, the restaurant’s garden has been renovated into a Veuve Cliquot Secret Garden where guests may dine outside or enjoy a glass of champagne. This hotel’s spa is a hidden treasure.
Take in the city’s panoramic view while enjoying your massage in the sky suite (shown above), which has an Omorovicza Blue Diamond Facial for skin restoration, whitening, and brightness. Cosmetic dermatologists conduct non-invasive procedures such as Juvaderm and Botox at the spa in addition to the usual scrubs, massages, and facials.
The spa also has a pool and quiet areas for relaxation before and after treatments.
The Berkeley:
With Claridge’s & The Connaught already under its belt, The Berkeley is the newest member of the prestigious Maybourne Hotel Group. With its freshly remodeled Blue Bar, Pret-a-Portea afternoon tea, and Marcus, Chef Marcus Wareing’s two-Michelin-star restaurant on the premises, this hotel is renowned for its stylish offerings.
In addition to the hotel’s more formal dining choices, Koffman’s & the Collins Room (that just got a refurbishment) are as enjoyable as a meal at any time of day.
In contrast to other hotels, The Berkeley offers a rooftop pool and spa on the top floor of the building. Visitors to the 7th-floor spa may enjoy a tranquil rural experience thanks to a design that includes a rooftop garden patio (complete with blooming flowers) and cooperation with Bamford Haybarn.
An ultra-modern glass entrance, luxury rooms, and a marble lobby designed by Robert Angell distinguish the Maybourne (and London’s other buildings) from the more traditional architecture seen in nearby Mayfair.
The Goring:
In fact, Kate Middleton & her family slept here in the days immediately before the Royal Wedding because of its closeness to Westminster Abbey and possible similarity to Buckingham & Kensington Palaces’ classic English decor.
Yes, this is genuine! Unlike many-storied hotels that try to meld their past with their present, The Goring stays true to its roots.
An elderly crowd and a well-behaved group of visitors and locals are all in attendance at this afternoon tea spot. Guests who want to visit in the spring & summer will appreciate the hotel’s croquet grass and garden patio, which are unusual in London hotels, at even the most opulent establishments.
All the hotel’s larger suites come with cozy sitting areas, although the overall scale and scope of these suites are a little smaller.
Despite its royal patronage, this hotel prefers a homier vibe than an ostentatious one.
The Rosewood:
Guests approach this stunning resort, housed in a restored Edwardian mansion, via wrought-iron gates & a private courtyard.
However, what lies beyond the majestic doors has nothing to do with a bygone era. The Belle Epoque estate underwent a massive makeover that preserved all of the historic characteristics while producing 262 guestrooms, 42 luxury suites, and a lobby worth stopping by even for a drink in the afternoon.
With Tony Chi and Associates’ contemporary style infused into the Edwardian space, the hotel’s rooms, suites, event spaces, and meeting places have been reimagined. Many of the hotel’s amenities, such as the Scarfes Bar and Holborn Dining Room and the Holborn Delicatessen (a grocery, takeaway, and gastronomic gift shop), are geared toward local Londoners rather than hotel guests in order to make Rosewood London a desirable destination for both locals and tourists.
It’s a must-see hotel in an unexpected part of London thanks to Rosewood’s renowned wellness program.
Browns
There’s no mistaking this Mayfair Rocco Forte hotel’s rooms for those at the equally exclusive London store of the same name. Instead, Olga Polizzi infused the hotel’s heritage with contemporary furniture to create a unique experience.
Oatmeal and creams blended with bright colors, plenty of books, and modern furnishings and artwork are what you’ll find in this room. Aside from the hotel’s antique exterior, lobby, and restaurant, the rooms here seem contemporary and up-to-date. An example of a recent refurbishment that highlights the hotel’s underlying arts cultural scene in such an unexpected manner is the Kipling Suite, a bigger penthouse that commemorates English novelist Rudyard Kipling.
One wall of the room has a handwritten letter from Rudyard Kipling, written when he was a guest at the hotel. The suite is decorated with printed English wallpaper and fabrics. Brown’s is being modernized by Rocco Forte, who has introduced several new initiatives, including the Kipling Suite, Art Weekends, a redesigned spa and product line, the Nourish program in collaboration with chef Madeleine Shaw, and new menu options at Hix Mayfair, the Donovan Bar, and in-room dining options.
Chiltern Firehouse:
You young royals, fashion editors, and models on the streets are all invited to participate. It’s only been open since 2014, but the Chiltern Firehouse, owned by hotelier André Balazs is a high-design facility that emphasizes elegance and exclusivity. All-female staff members wear special Emilia Wickstead outfits, and no detail is overlooked in the décor. The original firehouse elements from 1889 have been retained and upgraded.
When you book a room here, you’ll feel like a member of an exclusive club. Every turn reveals something new, from the minibars bottled, pretty-packaged blended drinks to the working fireplace in nearly every room & a secret lounge behind the rear mirror of a men’s & women’s restroom.
Have your pre-dinner drinks on the terrace with freshly shucked oysters & martinis before heading inside the bright new-American seasonal restaurant. After a night of drinking and dancing at the seductive Palm Springs-themed bar and club, you’ll be ready to head home. You could see Prince Harry or Kate Moss; if you encounter someone you like, simply ask them to meet you in the restroom and have a nightcap there.
The Ritz:
This hotel is a throwback to a bygone era. The Ritz, a Picadilly icon, has long been a popular resort for the world’s most affluent. Even when you’re not a guest, it’s worth a stop in for a drink or afternoon tea because of its location, famous dining choices, and closeness to shopping, The Wolesley, and Picadilly Circus.
To experience a stay at Buckingham Palace as closely as possible, guests should book a room in the hotel’s Imperial Suite (shown above) or the Lord of Wales Suite (shown below), both of which are situated in the hotel’s 18th-century William Kent House estate. The lavish furniture, beautiful moldings, and opulent sitting rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms will make you feel like a princess for the day. Both apartments, after all, were built for the monarchs, lords, and ladies who had resided there.
You may call us old-fashioned, but nothing beats waking up to a butler bringing you a cup of tea in your own drawing-room, savoring it, and then stepping into the hotel’s Rolls Royce Wraith for a day of shopping, sightseeing, and gallery hopping.
Dean Street Townhouse:
Dean Street Townhouse, a division of the representatives of Soho House, is a 39-bedroom hotel housed in two Georgian-style homes in Soho, London. In addition to Dean Street, Soho House members have access to Little House in Mayfair, Shoreditch House, the Electric House, a West London property, and two rural residences. For those who want a downtown experience but don’t mind forgoing marble lobbies and white-glove service for a hipper take on an afternoon tea (they offer one here, but it’s simply fundamentally cooler than just a Mayfair tea service), this hotel is for you.
Winding wooden steps lead to a creaking, dimly-lit hallway packed with plush velvet furniture & couples cuddled up in quiet corners when you first enter this modest property, which immediately gives the impression of a private party like the one in the movie Eyes Wide Shut. In the various little sitting spaces going into the bar and restaurant, well-dressed circles of people sipping on ever-flowing champagne create a nice feel (and establish the tone which the celebration isn’t ending any time soon).
Restaurant and bar cocktails are powerful and well-made at the hotel, and the environment is as well–you’ll certainly see a few fashion designers, models, It-girls, and singers enjoying their drinks of preference after-hours.
The Shard:
Every perspective of London’s bridges, landmarks, and the Thames at any time of day may be seen here. A Shangri-La hotel in a portion of the UK’s highest glass skyscraper (it was Europe’s tallest before Brexit) is unquestionably the place to stay if that’s the case for you.
A skyscraper-turned-office-turned-hotel, this resort’s high design is largely in its architecture, and although it was created for optimal convenience, there are advantages to waking up or swimming in the sky, especially if you are searching for a high-end London hotel inside the South of the city, where the possibilities are not quite as many as in Mayfair.
During your visit, be sure to reserve a table at Ting, this hotel’s restaurant, which has well-prepared contemporary meals with a little amount of Asian flavor. Gong, the hotel’s swanky cocktail bar, is located on the hotel’s rooftop.
The Savory:
Covent Garden’s first luxury hotel seems like two hotels fused into one–and it really is. The hotel was built to serve the affluent theatergoers who needed somewhere to lay their heads. A hidden garden-type tea parlor with an en suite pastry & chocolate store, a restaurant, and two elegant bar scenes sits in the center of the hotel’s two sides, each with its own distinct flair.
As a first-class hotel in a bustling metropolis, the hotel has a unique set of challenges, including the need to renovate some of its biggest rooms and rethink its restaurant concept to meet the needs of both hotel guests and residents.
The hotel’s size is quite amazing. Even though there are 267 rooms and several dining choices (including the iconic American Bar), multiple event halls & ballrooms, as well as a spa that includes a swimming pool, the level of service has stayed the same throughout the hotel’s entire existence.
As a Fairmont-managed hotel, guests know what to expect when they arrive. If you’re seeking a location that’s handy for the Covent Garden performances you’re planning to attend, you won’t be disappointed.
