Best London hotels
Lounge in a freestanding bath tub, take your pick from a pillow menu and tuck into Moroccan eggs with labneh at London’s best hotels
Looking for the best hotels in London? Want to know where to stay in central London? Our guide to London’s best boutique hotels…
All of our London hotels have been chosen and reviewed independently by our editorial team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases made, but this comes at no extra cost to you and helps us to continue providing top-quality content for our loyal readers.
Now discover the best UK spa hotels for food lovers.
The Hoxton, Southwark – for a buzzy bar and Mediterranean vibe
From £139, check availability at booking.com
The Hoxton Southwark in a nutshell
More like this
A buzzy, 192-bedroom hotel that’s home to a low-key neighbourhood dining spot and a separate rooftop restaurant.
Why foodies stay here
Albie – the downstairs restaurant, bar and lounge – serves Italian and French-influenced plates, with on-trend terrazzo tables, wicker chairs and flickering tealights matching the Mediterranean design vibe. Take a seat at the marble bar, or sink into a velvet armchair, for a pre-dinner drink. The extensive cocktail menu features Hox classics, imaginatively named tipples with a twist, plus an impressive selection of no-alcohol brews, wines and spirits.
When it comes to food, the squidgy focaccia is a must-order, with a choice of French or Italian olive oil (we go for the former, and it’s got rich, grassy notes and a lusciously thick texture). Over half the menu is veggie; think goats cheese-stuffed courgette flower and burrata with slices of juicy white peach. Mains are on the lighter, so it’s worth opting for one of the heartier plates, such as creamy crab linguine, if you’re very hungry. Desserts steal the show; crème brûlée spiked with fragrant lavender and a tower of crisp, cocoa-dusted mille-feuille sandwiched with praline cream and hazelnuts – think posh Kinder Bueno.
For more decadent dining, ride the lift up to Seabird, the hotel’s striking rooftop restaurant, to try something from London’s longest oyster list, or other fresh seafood dishes, against a backdrop of panoramic city views.
What are the rooms like?
Choose from five bedroom sizes with the smallest, Shoebox, offering a king-size bed and wall-to-wall windows, and the most spacious, Biggy, offering a super king-bed, a lounge area and a large bathroom. No matter what the size, you can expect mid-century furniture with vintage touches – pale-green panelled walls, red velvet headboards, dial-up telephones, cream Roberts radios and brass light switches to name a few.
Those who want to wallow over a long soak will be disappointed (there are no baths) but spacious rainfall showers feel luxurious, with teal tiles and marble.
Breakfast
Wake up to a light breakfast bag filled with fruit, a granola bar and a zesty juice shot (ginger, lemon, turmeric and apple on our visit), or head downstairs if you want something more substantial. Greenwich-based Paul Rhodes Bakery makes the hotel’s must-try pastries, from flaky pain au chocolat to almond swirls filled with lemony-marzipan, or order wedges of fluffy cinnamon-spiced brioche French toast.
Where to eat and drink nearby
The thoughtful in-room map and area guide gives guests a top 10 list of things to do south of the river. Among them a trip to the Bermondsey Beer Mile for craft breweries, Borough Market for top-notch food traders and The Blackfriar if you’re in search of a local boozer. Check out our guide to eating in London Bridge for more suggestions.
Check availability at booking.com
Treehouse London
Treehouse London in a nutshell
A fun – and sustainable – central London hotel with skyline views and child-friendly touches.
Why foodies stay here
There are three restaurants to choose between: Madera serving Mexican cuisine, Backyard – a cosy coffee and wine bar and The Nest for rooftop drinks. Madera (from the Los Angeles-based restaurant group) offers a modern, farm-to-table approach, with dishes (many of which are veggie or vegan) ranging from tequila tofu marinated in pesto to wild mushroom enchiladas and a street-food taco box with five house-made corn tortillas (beef or wild mushroom) served with salsa, lime, coriander and onion.
Cocktails make the most of locally produced spirits (Chase gin) as well as more unusual flavours (activated charcoal agave and matcha agave) to create an intriguing drinks list.
What are the rooms like?
Treehouse Hotels was founded on the playfulness and sense of adventure that inspire children to want to build treehouses, so it's little surprise that bedrooms here come with handmade, child-friendly details (think sloth teddy bears on the beds and coloured anoraks hanging in wardrobes).
Depending on your budget (and need for space) there will almost certainly be a bedroom that suits, from the Lookout Twin, with views of The Shard, to the Skyline King, which overlooks the London Eye. Each room comes with rain showers, digital newspapers and bedside USB outlets. Not to mention cosy window nooks where you can rest and read. Decor is pared-back, with grey walls, white linen and exposed lightbulbs for reading lights, while the hotel's sleek bathrooms bring a touch of nature to proceedings with pot plants and tree stems.
Breakfast
If you want something to eat on-the-go, order a Workshop coffee and croissant to takeaway from Backyard. Otherwise settle down in Madera for a Mexican-inspired feast. Start with wild mushroom and truffle manchego frittatas before moving onto tres leches brioche bread with cinnamon apples. After something smaller? Order a side of coconut yogurt with quinoa-roasted coconut or chipotle-scented black beans.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Join the queue at Sabor for camarones fritos (tiny shrimp, deep-fried and served with a crispy, paprika-dusted fried egg), or tuck into top-notch carbonara, peppery cacio e pepe and homemade cannoli at Al Dente. Find more places to eat and drink near Oxford Street here
The Buxton, Shoreditch – for a Brick Lane boozer
From £100, check availability at booking.com
The Buxton in a nutshell
A former Brick Lane boozer turned polished pub-with-rooms, reimagined by the team behind Commercial Street’s The Culpeper.
Why foodies stay here
The heart of the action occurs in the slickly refurbished Victorian pub, on the ground floor (there are bedrooms and a roof terrace above). Tall, graceful arched windows introduce plenty of light, while a sweeping rosso levanto marble counter acts as a stylish focal point.
Food is affordably priced, with an emphasis on prime produce and seasonality. Meat (high-welfare native breeds from Swaledale in Yorkshire) is butchered in-house, and fish comes from day boats on the south coast. Simple dishes don’t stray far from British and European classics – the pithy menu covers everything from cottage pie to homemade tagliatelle – but they are well executed and deliver on flavour.
What are the rooms like?
Bedrooms are on the small side, which is one reason for their affordable pricing. Clever design and attention to detail, however, ensures they don’t feel cramped. High ceilings and original features add space and character while whitewashed walls and smart navy accents lend a fresh and contemporary feel.
Breakfast
Head downstairs for breakfast after a night in the bar and you’ll find the space transformed, and surprisingly serene. Sip local Exmouth coffee while grazing from a continental buffet that includes sourdough toast, homemade jams and granola. Or order a cooked breakfast, including thick-cut English ham with poached eggs, mustard mayonnaise and, best of all, a brick-shaped potato rosti, all golden crispy edges and soft, fluffy interior.
Where to eat and drink nearby
On bohemian Brick Lane, you’ll find no shortage of places to eat and drink; try the street’s many curry houses, 24-hour bagel shops (salt beef is a must) plus nearby restaurants such as Lahpet, Smokestak and Sichuan Folk. Good local bars include The Cocktail Trading Co. and Apples & Pears.
Check availability at booking.com
The Pilgrm, Paddington – for a chic central stopover
From £79 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Pilgrm in a nutshell
A quirky, design-led, 73-bedroom hotel with lounge-bar and cafe that’s brought a fine Victorian building in London’s Paddington back to life.
Why foodies stay here
For grab and go, there’s a small coffee bar downstairs, by the entrance, that’s run by Workshop Coffee, selling their own blends of coffee, teas and homemade cakes. Between 3 and 10pm, the lounge serves snacks, juices (including Square Root London’s small-batch sodas) and cocktails. The hotel has a terrace too, where guests can enjoy alfresco tapas using ingredients from companies like Brindisa and Belazu.
What are the rooms like?
Rooms are small so book the largest you can afford, and if you’re a light sleeper, ask for one away from the road. There are tiny (but very comfortable) bunk rooms, if you’re on a budget, or on a one-parent, one-child getaway. Decor is pared back and stylish, with slate-coloured walls contrasting with white sash windows and Egyptian linen-clad beds, and floors of reclaimed 200-year-old parquet giving a warm homely feel.
Breakfast
Breakfast is the thing here, kicking off at 7am and continuing until 3pm in the vintage-chic first-floor lounge. There’s full-cooked Pilgrm (with house-baked beans) or a vegan version of smashed avocado, butternut squash hummus and a knock-out beetroot falafel. But the top seller is smashed avocado on toast with crumbled feta, which comes with the unexpected addition of a tomato and olive salsa.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Being in the heart of London, you’ve plenty of dinner choices nearby – from the cheap-and-cheerful Paramount Lebanese Kitchen, next door, to the newly revamped Cleveland Arms around the corner, and Basque-styled Lurra and Donostia a short walk away. Read our guide to Paddington restaurants here
Check availability at booking.com
The Zetter Hotel, Clerkenwell – for panoramic city views
From £152 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Zetter Hotel in a nutshell
Victorian warehouse turned hip boutique hotel in Clerkenwell, with 59 retro-styled rooms and all-day modern British restaurant.
Why foodies stay here
In the hotel’s two AA rosette restaurant, expect delicate, precise plates of food that celebrate British ingredients. Highlights include opening snacks of soda bread served with bowls of whipped butter and (indulgently addictive) beef fat, and an expert touch with fish and game – try the lightly poached south coast brill with Japanese mushrooms and bonito dashi, or the blushing pink loin of fallow deer, earthily matched with heritage beetroot, caramelised endive and glazed faggot.
The wine list comes with lots of options by the glass, and a robust collection of English sparkling wines. Staff were knowledgeable and helpful with pairing suggestions – we tried a well-balanced riesling and a fruity, full-bodied chianti on our visit.
If you have time for pre- or post-dinner cocktails, head across St John’s Square to elegant sister hotel Zetter Townhouse. The bar mixes a punchy martini, and has previously welcomed a collaboration with drinks maestros Matt Whiley (The Talented Mr Fox) and Rich Woods (The Cocktail Guy).
What are the rooms like?
Rooms have a sleek mid-century vibe, and an attention to detail that elevates the guest experience, from plush UK-made REN toiletries in the bathroom to a well-stocked honesty tray of food and drink, and a mini library of Penguin paperbacks.
We suggest choosing one of the hotel’s seven rooftop bedrooms, each of which comes with a private terrace and panoramic views of the city. We stayed in one of the spacious and light-filled rooftop deluxe studios, which have funky geometric interiors, sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and a freestanding rolltop bath on the terrace. Those into their drinks will also love the locally sourced minibar, which on our visit had bottles of East London Liquor Company rum, gin and vodka, Redchurch beer and JARR kombucha – all made in east London.
Breakfast
Start the day with either a lavish continental spread – including fresh-baked pastries, housemade granola, baked ham and continental cheeses – or choose from an array of classic hot dishes: we recommend the old-school grilled kipper with grilled tomato, poached local eggs and lemon.
Where to eat and drink nearby
It’s a 10-minute walk to Moro in Exmouth Market, for North African and Spanish-influenced tapas.
Check availability at booking.com
The Coach, Clerkenwell – for a Sunday roast and sleepover
The Coach in Clerkenwell in a nutshell
Chef-restaurateur Henry Harris has transformed this popular independent pub in Clerkenwell into a well-executed French restaurant-with-rooms.
Why foodies stay here
Hidden down a quiet street in the heart of Clerkenwell, The Coach has been refurbished with the addition of four small, boutique-style rooms. The lively pub is child-friendly and serves a variety of beers, lagers and wines from local breweries as well as a selection of cocktails. For our aperitif we opted for a strong, citrussy negroni followed by a full-bodied, fruity red Château Laussac Cuvée La Dame. Visit on a Sunday for the classic Sunday roast – succulent 48-day aged Hereford sirloin of beef with punchy horseradish came with crispy duck-fat potatoes, sweet baby carrots and plenty of crunchy greens. Finish with a super-light blood orange posset with delicate lemon shortbreads and a verrine made with sought-after Gariguette strawberries, silky smooth crème pâtissière and chantilly cream.
What are the rooms like?
Plenty of light floods into the compact rooms through double sash windows, framed by funky grey and yellow blinds. Modern art features on whitewashed walls and boutique hotel luxuries add a welcoming touch (Roberts radio, chrome light shades and Bramley hand soap). The bathrooms evoke the design of an old-school coach, while little white tiles add a retro twenties stamp.
Breakfast
The bright, art-filled breakfast room overlooks a small terrace alive with greenery. Choose from a small menu – try bowls full to the brim with crunchy coconut and pecan granola or indulge in the full Coach breakfast of thick-cut bacon, crispy fried eggs, buttery mogettes (beans) and sourdough from Bread Ahead bakery.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Exmouth Market is on your doorstep, where you’ll find an array of independent shops, bars and restaurants, including Pizza Pilgrims, Morito and Berber & Q.
The Boundary Project, Shoreditch – for a foodie weekend in Shoreditch
From £173 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Boundary Project a nutshell
A trendy hotel with 17 individually-designed bedrooms, a rooftop bar and an all-day British café, Albion.
Why foodies stay here
Dodge busy Shoreditch streets at the sky-high rooftop bar, where the view of London is uninterrupted and the cocktails are excellent. Try the Serendipity – a concoction of Monkey Shoulder whisky, Drambuie, mango purée, lime and chilli – and share plates of garlic tiger prawns and grilled lobster.
On the ground floor is Albion, an all-day café, bar and food shop that serves British classics such as fish and chips, sausage and mash, and kedgeree. In the evening, seasonal produce is at the centre of the menu: expect Jersey royals, English asparagus and lamb rump during spring.
What are the rooms like?
Each bedroom (there are 17) is truly unique, taking inspiration from a particular designer or design movement. Take your pick from Mies van der Rohe, Charles & Ray Eames, Andrée Putman or Eileen Gray. Most share a restful, simple colour palette and a restrained but very carefully curated collection of furniture. The Tang Suite is an exception with its Chinese silk wallpaper and tassled green silk lampshades. Regardless of which room you stay in, a mid-afternoon delivery of freshly baked brownie and copy of the Evening Standard is guaranteed.
Breakfast
There’s a grown-up vibe but an on-trend menu, stretching to cold-pressed juices and ‘healthy’ cooked breakfasts. Baked goods are where it’s at, though, with a choice of cinnamon – or pistachio and white chocolate – swirls, croissants and Danish pastries.
Where to eat and drink nearby
BRAT, just a minutes’ walk away, is a Spanish-inspired spot that serves grilled sharing platters. Click here for more places to eat in Shoreditch
Check availability at booking.com
Kettner’s Townhouse, Soho – for the Champagne lifestyle
Kettner's Townhouse in a nutshell
Playing on its 1920s heyday, this Georgian building (brought up-to-date by the Soho House Group) is home to an all-day French brasserie, Champagne bar and 33 glamorous hotel rooms.
Why foodies stay here
The all-day menu served in the brasserie sticks to classic French comfort food (steak tartare, roast chicken and Toulouse sausage). Try perfectly pink fillet of Lake District beef with fluffy chips and a creamy pepper sauce; or head to the Champagne bar for its take on a French 75, The Romilly, made from exotic Star of Bombay gin, mango cordial and sparkling Ruinart. The Kettner’s Fizz – refreshing clementine and grapefruit juice laced with Grand Marnier and Runiart rosé – is also a good shout.
What are the rooms like?
Rooms vary dramatically in size. Compact Tiny rooms are fitted with Tudor-style beds and slick en-suites, while Cosy rooms are a bit larger with pretty green velvet scalloped headboards. If you want to wallow in a freestanding bath tub and super king-size bed, book one of the Medium or Big rooms (they have double sinks and walk-in rainforest showers, too). All rooms, no matter what size, cater to every whim, making for a luxurious stay. An almost overwhelming array of Cowshed bath and shower products await in the rainforest showers (cleansing toner and lip balm, as well as the usual staples).
Breakfast
Opt for a glass of fizz and a decadent lobster royale with hollandaise and Exmoor caviar in the Champagne bar, or keep it classic in the brasserie: blueberry muffins, or citrusy pink grapefruit served with thick sheep’s milk yogurt and a sprinkling of bee pollen and micro mint. Soho House has zingy breakfast drinks sorted, with its own pre-bottled house press juices.
Where to eat and drink nearby
For dinner with a difference, try Taiwanese XU, where stylish interiors hint at 1930s Taipei. Tuck in to XO carabinero prawns, crisp chicken wings and silky mapo tofu topped with spring onions in an umami Szechuan peppercorn and chilli oil sauce. Read more about where to eat in Soho here
The Hoxton, High Holborn – for a hip hangout
From £149 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Hoxton in a nutshell
A cool, open-house hotel with 174 bedrooms, designed by local illustrators.
Why foodies stay here
Head to the basement for Chicken Shop, where rotisserie chicken is served with a selection of sides, from crinkle cut fries to corn on the cob.
What are the rooms like?
Choose between four sizes, starting with Shoebox (the clue’s in the name), then Snug, Cosy and, the largest of the four, Roomy. Compact shoebox rooms still have queen-size beds and walk-in showers, while roomy ones are home to king-size beds and squidgy leather armchairs. With the exception of Shoebox, all are dog-friendly. If you fancy wine or beer in your room, head to the front desk where you can buy bottles at supermarket prices.
Breakfast
A light breakfast bag is delivered to your door, but for something more substantial head to Rondo for ’nduja scrambled eggs, or a Full English, served with Tamworth sausage & bacon, Fenton eggs, black pudding & beans. There are cold-pressed green juices to wake you up, or a selection of 100% vegan coffees, including matcha and raw cacao lattes.
Where to eat and drink nearby
A pie at the Holborn Dining Room is a must, whether it be filled with chicken, girolle and tarragon, or mutton curry. Try the contemporary afternoon tea at Rosewood’s Mirror Room, too. Read our full review here
Check availability at booking.com
Ham Yard Hotel, Soho – for a hidden design gem
From £63o per night, check availability at booking.com
Ham Yard Hotel in a nutshell
An urban village home to 91 individually designed bedrooms and suites, 24 apartments, 13 independent stores and a restaurant.
Why foodies stay here
With its super central Soho location, there’s no shortage of restaurant, bars and cafés to explore in the area. But the hotel itself has its own restaurant and serves a selection of afternoon teas, including a ‘healthy’ reduced sugar option. A roof garden is home to raised herb and vegetable beds, so expect to see purple sage and orange marigold featuring on the menu. Two bee hives also live on the roof, the honey from which is used in cocktails.
What are the rooms like?
Kit Kemp designed the quintessentially British interiors, so that means colourful, patterned textiles and original artwork. Superior rooms have queen-size beds and a separate sitting area with writing desk, while the two-bedroom terrace suite on the hotel’s top floor has a kitchen. All bedrooms have views of the leafy terrace or city skyline.
Breakfast
Antipodean-style eats and smoothies feature alongside lighter bites, including coconut chia seed pots with mango. Porridge is prepared with your choice of milk, water or cream, and is topped with berries, banana, mango, sugar, seeds or maple syrup.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Pop across the road to KILN for regional Thai dishes. Try aged lamb skewers, delicately fragrant with cumin and Szechuan pepper; or clay-pot baked glass noodles with Tamworth pork belly and brown crabmeat. Here are more places to eat and drink in Soho
Check availability at booking.com
The Culpeper, Spitalfields – for campfires on the roof
From £160 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Culpeper in a nutshell
An east London pub with five bedrooms, a restaurant and rooftop garden.
Why foodies stay here
The ground floor pub takes classics up a notch: deep-fried black pudding balls, crispy ox tongue with tarragon mayo, and chicken liver on toast. The wine list is completely natural, local beers feature strongly, and all the cocktails are based on herbs that grow on the roof. The rooftop has a changing residency each summer, but in the past Piculpeper has set up camp with fire pits serving grilled broccoli, ash-roast potatoes and slow-roast camembert.
On the first floor, a restaurant offers three starters, three mains and three desserts that change weekly. It also makes use of what’s grown in and around The Culpeper, including nettles, sprouting kale, baby gem lettuce and swiss chard on its menu.
What are the rooms like?
Five bedrooms are in keeping with the rest of the pub, so expect plastered walls, bare brickwork, original fireplaces and simple-yet-colourful textiles.
Breakfast
Full English, yogurt and granola, croissants and juice. Breakfast is kept simple.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Som Saa is less than a minute away, so head there for sticky Burmese-style curry, whole deep-fried sea bass and palm sugar ice cream. Read our full review here
Check availability at booking.com
Vintry and Mercer, City of London – for luxury in the City
From £325 per night, check availability at booking.com
Vintry and Mercer in a nutshell
A 92-bedroom luxury hotel with a roof terrace restaurant, speakeasy-style bar and an all-day kitchen serving Asian plates.
Why foodies stay here
Both for the delightful roof terrace restaurant, which focuses on farm-to-plate food cooked over charcoal; and DND (Do Not Disturb), a fun bar that pairs barrel-aged cocktails with sliders. There’s also Vintry Izakaya, which serves tapas-style dishes including tempura shiitake and tomato miso steamed buns. Along with the usual spirits, there’s also a selection of sakes and Asian-influences cocktails. Try the Takhiriti, made with Don Q rum, lemongrass syrup, kaffir lime and Thai basil.
What are the rooms like?
Rooms comes with elaborate velvet headboards and dramatically tiled bathrooms. The standard is anything but, with a queen-size bed, walk-in shower and heated floor, while the deluxe comes with a king-size bed, turndown service and wet room. Every bedroom nods to its city location, be it through needle-and-thread wallpaper that references the mercers who used to import fine silks just a stone’s throw from where the hotel now stands, or antique-style maps that depict old trade routes.
Breakfast
At Vintry Izakaya you can get smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and toasted bacon sarnies, or green tea ricotta pancakes and coconut porridge with dates. Stay for brunch and tuck into fried tofu sandos or eggs benedict steamed buns.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Wander up to Brigadiers for an Indian feast of BBQ butter chicken wings, sikandari kid goat shoulder and on-tap cocktails. Read our full review here
Check availability at booking.com
Green Rooms, Wood Green – for great-value rooms
From £25 per night, check availability at booking.com
Green Rooms in a nutshell
A no-frills affordable hotel with stylishly simple bedrooms and a pop-up residency restaurant.
Why foodies stay here
It has to be the regularly-changing restaurant residency, which in the past has included tapas-style plates (sweetcorn croquettes) from Colombian Street Kitchen; and katsu curries, donburi and tempura soft-shell crab from Oita’s Kitchen. The ground floor lobby is a minimalist hangout space during the day and bar in the evening.
What are the rooms like?
22 bedrooms (everything from three-quarter to king-size beds, some with shared bathrooms, others en-suite), two en-suite studio apartments and two dormitories (one sleeps 12, one sleeps 16 people) make for an eclectic mix of accommodation. It’s a back-to-basics vibe, but with added style. Mattresses are good quality, furnishings are sparse but pretty (a few rooms have chairs and textiles by fashion brand Folk, but most have simple white bed linen and vintage wooden furniture), and frills extend only to a few coat hangers, a travel kettle, a small range of London Tea Company teas and Climpson and Sons coffee.
Breakfast
The menu is split into four sections: the classics, the romantics, the purists (all veggie or vegan) and the surrealists. Try the quinoa salad loaded with sweet potato, avocado and spinach, or go for toasted waffles with cream and fruit. Otherwise, it’s a simple affair of eggs, toast, yogurt and fruit.
Where to eat and drink nearby
In Turkish-influenced Wood Green, you don’t have to go more than 30 paces to find grilled halloumi and spinach omelettes. Try Antepliler for pides, spiced lentil koftes and pistachio kanafeh.
Check availability at booking.com
Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross – for swanky fine dining
From £212 per night, check availability at booking.com
Great Northern Hotel in a nutshell
A luxury, boutique hotel just 25 metres from King’s Cross station.
Why foodies stay here
Mark ‘Sarge’ Sargeant is chef-director, and while he’s not hands-on in the kitchen, his menu of comforting seasonal classics is well executed at the hotel’s restaurant, Plum + Spilt Milk. Tuck into beef croquettes with horseradish mayonnaise, or indulge in whole grilled native lobster with garlic butter and fries. For drinks, head to Anthracite, a luxurious, dimly-lit martini lounge with plush blue furnishings. Sip shaken-not-stirred vesper martinis, or try Offbeat Number for its almond and spiced chocolate notes.
What are the rooms like?
Comfort and class is the focus, with each bedroom sporting sash windows and high ceilings. Couchette is the cosiest, with queen-size beds tucked into leather-clad banquettes, while the Wainscot bedrooms on the top floor have walnut wood panelling and vintage-style bathrooms. Cubitt (named after the hotel’s builder) is the largest, with views of King’s Cross and a roll top bath.
Breakfast
From smoked salmon with steamed spinach on spelt muffin to avocado and chilli on toast, breakfast is trend-aware and healthy; but a full English is also on offer. Or buy a take-out continental breakfast from the hole-in-the-wall kiosk outside the hotel.
Where to eat and drink nearby
There’s no shortage of options in Coal Drops Yard, including wine bars and funky sandwich joints. Try smoky rotisserie chicken and mezcal negronis at alfresco Mexican restaurant, Plaza Pastor. Read our full review here
Check availability at booking.com
The London Edition, West End – for striking interiors
From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com
The London Edition in a nutshell
A slick hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia with 173 bedrooms and a sophisticated restaurant, Berners Tavern.
Why foodies stay here
The in-house restaurant is under the direction of Michelin-starred chef, Jason Atherton. A striking dining room (ornate ceilings, plush leather booths and antique artwork in lavish gold frames) sets a grand tone, while the trendy-yet-accessible food is the kind you could eat every day: pork pie and aged beef tartare, BBQ pork chops, and mac ‘n’ cheese. Try a roast at the weekend, including beef wellington and Dingley Dell pork belly.
There are two bars to choose from: The Lobby comes kitted out with a snooker table and tufted sofas, while The Punch Room is an intimate space inspired by 19th-century private clubs. The signature gin-infused EDITION house punch is a must.
What are the rooms like?
Stylish and simple, inspired by luxury yachts with oak floors, walnut wooden panels and tufted armchairs. There are four bedroom sizes (guest, superior, deluxe and loft) as well as two suites, the loft and the penthouse. All bedrooms come with the same features (king-size beds, rainforest showers, iPod docking stations and custom made Le Labo bathroom products). Suites come with a large living area, while the penthouse has a dining area, pantry, walk-in wardrobe and three outdoor terraces with city views.
Breakfast
Hearty classics are the order of the day, be it a slow-cooked smoked ham hock croque monsieur with aged cheddar, or oak smoked Scottish salmon with scrambled eggs. If you’re after something lighter, dairy-free mango smoothies and ginger, turmeric and orange shots are also on offer.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Book a table at Rovi, Ottolenghi’s restaurant with vegetables, fermentation and fire at its heart. Read our full review here
Check availability at booking.com
The Athenaeum, Mayfair – for a luxurious Mayfair stay
From £371 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Athenaeum in a nutshell
A luxury family-friendly Mayfair hotel with bedrooms, suites, apartments and townhouses.
What are the rooms like?
Spacious bedrooms include Hypnos mattresses, London-inspired artwork and your choice of pillow. Marble bathrooms come with heated towel rails and non-steam mirrors. Serviced apartments are ideal for those with children, with separate front doors leading onto a double bedroom (with extra bunk or sofa beds for little ones), living area and fully fitted kitchenette. If you want to stay in the main hotel, interconnecting bedrooms are also available.
Breakfast
Choose between a continental buffet (yogurt, fruit, charcuterie, cheese and baked goods) or opt for a full English, omelettes or smoked salmon. There’s a separate menu for children, including waffles with fruit compote or boiled eggs with toast soldiers.
Where to eat and drink nearby
For dining in the area, check out our favourites places to eat in Mayfair here.
Check availability at booking.com
The Bull and The Hide, Bishopsgate – for cosy pub vibes
From £125 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Bull and The Hide in a nutshell
A pub with seven boutique bedrooms in the heart of the city.
Why foodies stay here
The Bull pub (part of the Hush Heath Estate) serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, bar snacks and dinner. Classics include scotch eggs with curried mayo, half-pint shrimps and whitebait with tartare sauce. Flatbreads are also a focus, so try the pulled pork, BBQ sauce and jalapeño one. The sparkling wines come from the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, and the crisp sparkling apple is recommended.
What are the rooms like?
Neat and simply decorated. Each is named after the pub’s colourful past, from the Oxford (the 17th Earl of Oxford lived on the site in the 16th century) to the Devonshire suite, which echoes the name of a grand house that stood on the site in 1625. If you want a room with a view, book the Hush Heath suite for its own private balcony. All come equipped with Miller Harris toiletries, goose down pillows and a 24-hour pantry, where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, cookies and sweets.
Breakfast
The Bull breakfast is a simple affair. Choose a full English, American pancakes with bacon, avocado on toast or granola.
Check availability at booking.com
Claridge’s, Mayfair – for classic elegance
From £578 per night, check availability at booking.com
Claridge's in a nutshell
A glamorous art deco Mayfair hotel with restaurants, bars and a reading room.
Why foodies stay here
Afternoon tea has been a ritual here for almost 150 years, and this luxurious redoubt for the rich and royal (no flip-flops, no intrusive photography) has turned it into an art form. Eat English cucumber and dill cream sandwiches, fluffy raisin scones with Cornish clotted cream, and caramelised hazelnut Paris-Brest.
The Foyer and Reading Room serve an all-day dining menu, from roast rack of Kent lamb to its signature lobster wellington. Or head to Davies and Brook, a Michelin-star restaurant from chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara.
What are the rooms like?
Bedrooms and suites are either traditional or art deco, but both come with Bose speakers, fresh flowers and mini bars stocked with British produce. En-suite marble bathrooms include Cowshed products (made exclusively for Claridge’s), and the Claridge’s King room comes with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and views of the peaceful inner court. The Mayfair Suite has a separate sitting room with original fireplace, and the Brook Penthouse, a two-bedroom apartment with living room, dining area, private bar and a terrace with views of the Houses of Parliament, is luxury at its finest.
Breakfast
A lavish affair. There’s English, European, Japanese, vegan and Middle Eastern options, to name a few. Try pork gyoza, prawn dim sum, chicken congee, Chinese pickles and century duck egg for a Chinese feast, or keep it healthy with chia seed pudding and carrot juice. The Claridge’s bakery makes daily Danish pastries, croissants, muffins and brioche, and pancakes are served with berries and Valrhona chocolate.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Wander down Regent Street for a Spanish feast at Sabor. Eat crisp, golden prawn croquettes and mussels ‘a la Bilbaina’. Read more about Sabor here
Check availability at booking.com
The Ritz, Piccadilly – for old-school luxury
From £539 per night, check availability at booking.com
The Ritz in a nutshell
Old-school luxury in the heart of Piccadilly, with a restaurant to match.
Why foodies stay here
Afternoon tea is the main draw, taken in the elegant Palm Court. Indulge in Scottish smoked salmon on springy sourdough bread, warm scones and delicate blackcurrant macarons. Choose from an 18-strong tea menu that has been curated and exclusively blended by The Ritz’s tea sommelier, Giandomenico Scanu.
The Michelin-starred restaurant has John Williams MBE at its helm, cooking seasonal British produce. Try Dover sole with new season leeks, cauliflower and caviar, or native lobster with heritage carrot and lemon verbena. Don’t leave without trying the crêpes suzette, prepared, cooked and served at your table with real flair.
What are the rooms like?
Opulent yet traditional, there’s a twee feel to the bedrooms with plenty of floral patterns and pastel furnishings. Living areas come with antique furniture, and en-suite bathrooms are adorned with marble. Deluxe suites come with up to five bedrooms and spacious sitting rooms, but, if it’s views you’re after, book the Green Park Suite, which looks out over its namesake.
Breakfast
Whether you fancy sirloin steak with fried eggs or an omelette with caviar, The Ritz has you covered. A continental breakfast keeps things light with fruit, homemade yogurt, cheese, ham and cereal, while three punchy juices are sure to wake you up. Our favourite is the Ruby Ritz: carrot, beetroot, fennel, ginger and lime.
Where to eat and drink nearby
World-famous for its seafood and shellfish, Bentley’s is the place to go for oysters. Click here for more places to eat in Mayfair
Check availability at booking.com
Shangri-La At The Shard, London Bridge – for striking views
Shangri-La At The Shard in a nutshell
A central London hotel with 202 bedrooms, striking views and an infinity sky pool.
Why foodies stay here
The hotel includes a restaurant, afternoon tea lounge and two bars. On level 35, TING serves a modern British menu with Asian influences, making the most of produce from neighbouring Borough Market. The five-course tasting menu offers the likes of duck liver ballotine with forced rhubarb and green tea, and Eton mess with cardamom.
Climb 12 levels higher for GONG bar (the highest hotel bar in Europe) and its quirky cocktails. The cognac and sherry-based Over the Rainbow comes in a decorative hot air balloon, while the Scan Me whisky sour is delivered in a sleek black glass.
What are the rooms like?
Every bedroom and suite comes with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame London’s skyline; the iconic City View room, for example, looks out over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. A pillow menu is available, along with binoculars (to get a closer look at the landmarks), feather duvets, L'Occitane bath products and a Chinese tea set.
The suites offer a separate living and working space, with views spanning across Surrey and Sussex, and the Shangri-La suite is the grandest of them all – dressing room, kitchenette, cocktail-making services, an iPad and local area guide included.
Breakfast
Choose between an English, Middle Eastern or Asian breakfast, the latter of which comes with congee, dim sum and wok fried noodles. Or try something from the wellness menu: bircher muesli and green smoothies packed with kiwi, spinach, ginger, mint and apple juice.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Pop to the market for plates of pici cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu at Padella. Click here for our London Bridge restaurant guide
Check availability at booking.com
Sea Containers London, Southbank – for a room above the best bar in the world
Sea Containers in a nutshell
A modern hotel on the river with bedrooms designed by Tom Dixon and a cocktail bar from master mixologist, Mr Lyan.
Why foodies stay here
The world’s number one bar, Dandelyan used to have its home at Sea Containers, but Mr Lyan closed that down and re-opened it as Lyaness. The sweeping green marble bar occupies the ground floor of the hotel, with soft-grey sofas and electric-blue banquettes. Try the tiki-inspired Double Painkiller, with bright tropical notes and a subtle smokiness. An all-day restaurant serves plates designed to share, from whole seabass with lemon to shaved mushrooms with manchego and brown butter.
What are the rooms like?
Choose between bedrooms, suites and apartments. Tones of grey and pops of pink are the signature colours, with chrome furnishings lending a sleek feel. Queen-size beds come as standard in the boutique rooms, and marble bathrooms are stocked with natural Malin + Goetz products. Wall-to-wall windows in the Riverview Deluxe room offer views of the city, while the Riverview Suite includes a separate living area and extra bathroom.
Breakfast
If you’re there over the weekend, try the eggy sammy from the brunch menu – a brioche bun stacked with fried egg, crispy bacon, jack cheese and avocado – or go for a spicy chorizo flatbread with olives and wild rocket. In the week, expect a full English, fruit and yogurt, or avocado on toast.
Where to eat and drink nearby
Skylon is an 11-minute walk away on the first floor of the Royal Festival Hall. It’s all about seasonal modern British food and great views of the Thames.
Check availability at booking.com
The Standard, King's Cross
The Standard in a nutshell
There’s nothing standard about The Standard. Minutes from St Pancras International, London’s rail-based gateway to Europe, the cool kids behind America’s Standard Hotel group have opened their first UK outpost, converting a 1970s concrete block into a hip eating and drinking destination, with more than 200 groovy retro-kitsch bedrooms on site.
Why foodies stay here
Chef Adam Rawson is behind the food at the ground floor restaurants. Isla’s vibrant space, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a plant-filled terrace, is home to light British small plates divided into “sea”, “soil” and “land”. Our pick of the vegetarian soil section was creamy burrata covered in a neat dome of yellow courgette slices; a hunk of broccoli slathered in yogurt, finely chopped almonds and mustard; and salty wrinkled potatoes, sprinkled with sea herbs. From the land, Ibérico pork was cut into pink slices, with caramelised edges, punchy chimichurri and pretty cones of sliced daikon.
Continue your evening in the adjoining Double Standard bar, where espresso martinis are laced with stout syrup and boulevardiers are spruced-up with a grape shrub. Adam has used this space to play with New York dive-bar food: chicken scratchings, mac ’n’ cheese, and sharing boards that showcase Cobble Lane fennel salami, Secret Smokehouse salmon and a range of British cheeses.
What are the rooms like?
It may be the priciest (with the exception of the suites), but book a King’s Terrace room and you’ll be rewarded with a large terrace complete with an outdoor bath that overlooks the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and its terracotta-coloured clock tower. There are no ‘standard’ rooms at The Standard – the most basic options still boast bathrobes, bespoke Davines toiletries and Bang & Olufsen speakers.
The building’s geometric shape adds character to outer-ring rooms (internal Cosy Cores don’t have windows, but they do have shower rooms strung with ferns), with squishy sofas in retro colours tucked beneath aquarium-like curved windows. Wallace Sewell, TFL’s fabric designers, have created the bedspreads and carpets, with the nostalgic red, purple and blue palette reminding guests how in-the-thick-of-it they are. Retro-chic design continues in the bathrooms, where pale pink and black tiles cover monsoon shower walls, and mint green taps add a pop of colour
Breakfast
Make the most of humongous beds and order breakfast delivered to your room. Avocado on toast pepped-up with chimichurri, perhaps, or a batch of brown butter madeleines with Square Mile coffee. Head down to Isla for heartier dishes, including piquillo pepper and smoked mozzarella shakshuka, truffle-laced duxelle mushroom omelettes and confit duck hash with chimichurri.
Where to eat and drink nearby
The Standard is a one-minute walk (if that) from St Pancras International, so it’s well-placed if you want to kick off a trip to Amsterdam, Paris or the south of France in style.
Doubles from £279, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com
Comments, questions and tips
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
