36 Best Hotels in London, England

The Lanesborough is like a beautiful, luxurious cocoon for the seriously well-off, exuding Regency opulence from the swagged perfection of the bedrooms (some with views over Hyde Park) to the magnificent 19th-century antiques. Each room comes with a 24/7 dedicated butler (available for performing tasks like walking your dog) and daily fresh fruit, while children are provided for with in-room treasure hunts, a media library with popcorn, special pool hours, and a welcome gift. The building dates back to 1733, and even the drinks list in the Library Bar is redolent of history, notably the collection of cognacs going back to 1770 (a mere snip at £5,000 a shot). The Lanesborough Grill features inventive modern takes on traditional British cuisine like Dover sole or beef Wellington using seasonal and regional ingredients. Befitting the Regency setting, there's a Bridgerton-themed afternoon tea. You can also relax at the state-of-the-art spa, open until late.

The well-heeled have been meeting—and eating—at Claridge's for generations, and the tradition continues in the original Art Deco public spaces of this glamorous London institution. Guest rooms are soothing and suave, and spacious bathrooms have enormous shower heads. Enjoy a cup of tea in the lounge, cocktails in the stylish bar, or, better still, a meal in the hotel's legendary Foyer & Reading Room. Perhaps Spencer Tracy said it best when he remarked that, when he died, he wanted to go not to heaven but to Claridge's. Claridge's afternoon tea is a seriously fun, high-class treat—but make sure you book in advance.

A huge favorite of the "we wouldn't dream of staying anywhere else" monied set since its opening in 1917, The Connaught has many dazzlingly modern complements to its famously historic delights. These include up-to-date rooms done in smooth taupes and creams and—the ultimate sign of devil-may-care swagger—a swanky bar with platinum-plated walls. Chef Hélène Darroze runs her namesake, three-Michelin-starred restaurant; alternatively, the afternoon tea is a great splurge. But for all its modern touches, there are nods to history at every turn here. The Coburg bar is a wink at the Victorian royal family (the current royal dynasty was named "Saxe Coburg" until adopting the more British-sounding "Windsor" in 1917) and the hotel itself was named in honor of Queen Victoria's son, Arthur—the Duke of Connaught at the time it was built.

It's little wonder this is now the London home-away-from-home for celebrities, A-list actors, and various other top-tier guests, with its unbeatable Covent Garden location in a former French hospital and stylish guest rooms that use mix-and-match couture fabrics and one-off pieces to stunning effect. Beautifully decked out with painted silks, style anglais ottomans, and 19th-century oil paintings, the public salons are perfect spots to decompress over a glass of Meursault. For £55, the popular Saturday night Film Club offers afternoon tea or dinner in the ground floor Brasserie Max and a film in the deluxe basement cinema.

Rooms at this lovely boutique hotel are created from several Victorian stucco town houses located just around the corner from the Victoria and Albert Museum and look like they come from the pages of Architectural Digest; the delightful courtyard garden is an added bonus. Chic yet welcoming, guest rooms feature beautiful furniture and textiles designed by owner Kit Kemp, offset by nice touches like hardback-filled bookshelves and flat-screen TVs set into the wall; bathrooms are clad in gray marble and polished oak. The staff are friendly, so lingering in the drawing rooms is a pleasure, and drinks are served in the leafy garden in summer.

One of London's most iconic hotels maintains its status at the top with winning attributes of impeccable service, stunning decor, and a desirable location on the Strand. There's still no grander entrance hall in London than the main stately lobby or a more glamorous setting than the adjacent Thames Foyer, a dreamy salon done up in black-and-white chinoiserie and pink orchids. Gadgets such as LCD TVs are oh-so-discreetly incorporated so as not to destroy the effect as you prepare for cocktails at the famed American Bar (first opened in 1893, it maintains a strict first-come-first-served policy, so who knows who you'll be standing in line with). There are four superb restaurants: the Gordon Ramsay–run Savoy Grill; a tiny tasting menu-only Restaurant 1890; the Thames Foyer; and Ramsay's the River Restaurant with its glorious panoramic views of the Thames.

With a sustainable approach to luxury, the US-based 1 Hotels has brought its first European outpost to Mayfair, and the hotel's promotion of all things natural offers a fresh perspective and a welcome alternative to more staid hotel experiences in the city. A striking living chandelier in the lobby, plants and shrubs at every turn, and living moss walls in the rooms, elevators, and hallways truly bring the outside in, providing a visual symbol of the hotel's holistic, eco-friendly ethos. The open dining room of the Dovetale restaurant is relaxed, wellness facilities are a key offering, and the rooms are spacious sanctuaries with natural materials used wherever possible.

As packed with bohemian character as they come, this small boutique hotel oozes retro charm. The shabby chic decor lands somewhere between town house and artist's loft, with muted gray and stripped brick walls, reclaimed furniture, and distressed pine floorboards offset with irreverent touches like quirky art, milking stools, and antler chandeliers. The effect works beautifully, and it helps that the staff are so friendly. The café serves traditional English breakfasts and lunches with an emphasis on regional produce. There's a speakeasy-style bar in the basement with a concise but considered cocktail list. 

Staff provide a warm, personal welcome at this charming, Art Deco--inspired hotel in Mayfair, which sets the tone for the attention-heavy, detailed approach to luxury hotel living. Between the elegant rooms with their tightly curated bedside book selections, the Gatsby Room for afternoon tea, the Magritte Bar for cocktails, and the Colony Grill Room for steaks, there is almost no reason to leave the hotel.

Convenient for Knightsbridge shopping, the very elegant Berkeley (owned by the same group as Claridge's and The Connaught, with rates to match) is known for its excellent restaurants, heated rooftop swimming pool with views over Hyde Park, and an excellent, if pricey, Bamford spa. The spacious rooms, all with lavish marble bathrooms, reflect an uncluttered, modern approach to luxury. Several have terraces or balconies. The Collins Room serves classic British cuisine in a relaxed and informal environment (don't miss the afternoon Prêt-à-Portea with its couture-inspired minicakes). There's also the Blue Bar (an understated celebrity haunt), and the Berkeley Café, which has a small all-day menu and an attached patisserie overseen by renowned pastry chef Cedric Grolet that features his Instagram-friendly sweet treats.

The London outpost of the exclusive Corinthia chain is design heaven-on-earth, with levels of service that make anyone feel like a VIP. There's an eye-popping lobby; the Northall restaurant is a treasury of soaring columns, Edwardian woodwork, and futuristic chandeliers; Kerridge’s Bar & Grill—designed by David Collins—references the chef's gastropub past with leather banquettes and a pewter-topped bar; and the elegant Crystal Moon Lounge wows with its stunning Baccarat chandelier. Guest rooms in cool tones have beautiful city views, and spacious bathrooms have underfloor heating, so even your toes will feel pampered.

With Buckingham Palace just around the corner, this hotel, built in 1910 and now run by third-generation Gorings, has always been a favorite among discreet VIPs—including Kate Middleton's family on the night before her marriage to Prince William in 2011. The vibe is quintessentially Belgravia: a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere, mixed with traditional Edwardian style including silk and embossed wallpapers, pearl-fringed curtains, patterned carpets, and brass and gilded fittings. If you can't stay the night here but still fancy a taste of the royally endorsed treatment, the Goring's traditional afternoon tea is excellent, and the glamorous bar serves surprisingly innovative cocktails. The beautifully uniformed and helpful concierge staff go above and beyond, with a knowledge of London that's second to none.

With faultless service, sumptuous designer furnishings, and a sense of fun to boot, this impeccable hotel breathes new life into the cliché "thinks of everything," yet the epithet is really quite apt. A "whatever, whenever" button on the bedroom telephone connects you with helpful, amiable staffers who provide exactly that. High-tech gadgets are everywhere in the beautifully decorated black-and-white rooms; some are split-level and all are gorgeously furnished with extraordinary pieces from every corner of the globe. Even the hotel entrance is unique: an elevator sweeps you up to the fifth-floor lobby, where you can relax on a buttery leather couch in front of the fire while you're checked in. Perhaps the most appealing thing of all about this place is how perfectly it balances real luxury with genuine warmth and hospitality.

With the amenities you'd expect from a five-star hotel, including crisp white sheets on huge beds and luxurious bathrooms, and impressive views of the Thames and Canary Wharf, the addition of this luxury hotel has been a boon for Greenwich Peninsula which has been under a huge development, creating a whole batch of riverside residences that hug the elevated walkway and linear park called the Tide. On-site dining options include the fabulous Kinaara restaurant while the Clipper bar echoes the region's maritime history in its decor and layout, overlooking the mighty Thames through floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. Take the elevator up to the rooftop Eighteen Sky Bar for after-dinner cocktails and views, and make sure you also use the spa—just be sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment as the hotel is popular with day visitors taking advantage of an afternoon tea and spa day program.

Hotel pedigrees don't come much greater than this one: built in 1865, The Langham was the original luxury hotel in the city, all but inventing the very image of what a great London hotel looked like. Good fortune didn't last: it closed in the 1940s, and spent much of the 20th century being used as office space by the BBC, before finally reopening in 2010 after a renovation that was rumored to cost nearly £100 million. The public spaces are flawless, from the spectacular, light-filled atrium, with its soaring marble pillars, to the restored ballroom, which now houses Mimosa, chef Jean-François Piège's French Riviera-inspired restaurant, transplanted to the hotel from Paris. Guest rooms are spacious and modern, with sumptuously comfortable beds, although bathrooms in the basic rooms are small.

These three intricately decorated Victorian town houses overlooking Kensington Palace provide an intimate, luxurious alternative to the city's more famous high-end hotels, offering thoughtful hospitality and opulent, distinctive rooms full of antiques. The hotel is noted for its attentive service and excellent restaurant. Many rooms have canopied beds, and each has a decorative theme—the Ascot Room, for example, is filled with the kind of elegant hats worn at the eponymous horse race. There's also a sauna and a heated pool, and the hotel can organize special experiences like private tours of Kensington Palace or an in-room recital by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

As the first new-build hotel in London since 2012, the Peninsula has a feeling of spaciousness not possible in converted period buildings, resulting in an overall feeling of opulence (architecturally, aesthetically, and service-wise). Public rooms boast triple-height ceilings (quadruple height for the 82-foot heated pool) and standard doubles are the size of small apartments, with floor-to-ceiling windows, sofas, mahogany-paneled walk-in dressing rooms, and huge onyx marble bathrooms (complete with Japanese toilets that adjust water and seat temperature and bathtubs offering lighting and media controls). Triple-glazed windows and thick carpets ensure the droning traffic of nearby Hyde Park Corner never intrudes. Unobtrusive but omnipresent tech, a state-of-the-art spa, two glamorous bars, and four dining options (ranging from Canton Blue and its elevated Anglo-Cantonese food to the aviation-themed, fine dining Brooklands with views over Hyde Park) create a luxurious, rarified cocoon infused with Asian influences for the (private) jet set.

The first Raffles hotel in the United Kingdom has finally opened in the former old war offices in Whitehall overlooking the Royal Horse Guards, and given the Raffles brand, it couldn't be more appropriately housed, with thoughtful, historic touches throughout including chandeliers, opulent upholstery, and grand marble staircases. Arrive through the main entrance on Whitehall, and you immediately know you're on hallowed ground—get there after midday, and you'll be greeted with a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne. Many of the hotel's suites have historic names to match their pedigree. The Haldane Suite, named after the Secretary of State for War in 1906, was once used by significant military figures such as Lord Kitchener. The historic paneling and mantelpieces have been restored and preserved, enriched by red or green damask upholstery. Stay in the Churchill Suite (if you have a spare £20,000) and you can say you've slept in a room where critical decisions were made during World War II, including about the D-Day landings. There are several fine dining and afternoon tea options on-site, and with a huge swimming pool and London's first Guerlain spa, you would be hard-pressed to find a more elegant place to stay right in the heart of Whitehall.

If you're wondering if the Downton Abbey–style world of the old British upper class still exists, look no further than here; The Ritz is as synonymous with London's high society and decadence today as it was when it opened in 1906. The central lobby, with its chandelier and sweeping balconies, is as photogenic as any in London. The lounges are as gorgeous as ever, and the bedrooms are bastions of Louis XVI style, with acres of luxurious fabric and glittering chandeliers. With a ratio of two staff members to every bedroom, you're guaranteed personal service despite the hotel's massive size. Note that the Ritz is still committed to the ancient regime of English manners, and the dress code remains inflexibly strict—woe betide a gentleman if he doesn't wear a jacket. The staff, however, are incredibly polite and courteous, particularly the concierge who stand smiling outside, ready to open the door for those visiting for afternoon tea.

Another member of the luxury Dorchester Collection hotel group, 45 Park Lane is a beautifully considered five-star property with no shortage of contemporary swagger to match its stylized Art Deco elegance. Spacious rooms are beautifully appointed and come with views of Hyde Park along with the blinking lights of the city below, although if you can afford one of the exceptionally appointed suites then all the better. From its sultry mezzanine cocktail bar and ultraexpensive grill restaurant to its ostentatious basement spa, 45 Park Lane opts out of staid luxury and instead presents an experience that oozes Golden Age glamour.

This grand hotel overlooking Green Park offers plenty for the money: rooms are both comfortable and lavishly decorated, with deeply cushy Hypnos beds, plasma-screen TVs, luxurious fabrics, and original contemporary artworks. If you need more space, you can choose one of the luxurious apartments that occupy a row of Georgian town houses next to the main hotel buildings, each with separate living, dining, and sleeping areas and tiny, fully equipped kitchenettes. The spa is available only to guests, ensuring you can always get an appointment. The restaurant serves British-inspired food from Michelin-starred chefs and also offers a full afternoon tea—an elegant experience, complete with honey from bees in Regent's Park.

Now a smart boutique hotel, this was not the actual London town house of Lord Beaverbrook (newspaper tycoon of the 1930s and '40s and confidante of Churchill), but its 1930s-style decor mixed with Japanese touches is a salute to his sophisticated life at the center of London's power elite. The luxurious but comfortable rooms, all named after London theaters, have velvet loveseats, flat screens that rise up from ottomans, retro landline phones in pastel colors, and minicocktail trolleys with glass tumblers and premixed cocktails (in case Nöel Coward stops by for a drink, presumably). The Japanese theme is continued in the restaurant and its adjoining Omikado bar which serves a nine-course small plate menu. Guests receive keys to Cadogan Gardens, one of London's largest garden squares, across the street.

Founded in 1837 by James Brown, Lord Byron's "gentleman's gentleman," this hotel occupying 11 Georgian town houses holds a treasured place in London society. Nowadays the interior has a slightly more modern edge, thanks to a top-to-bottom renovation by the Forte chain. Fans of the hotel still love the old-world setting, although a few complain that it's not quite the atmospheric old place it used to be. Nonetheless, it's a well-run operation, filled with the kinds of top-end extras you'd expect with this kind of price tag. The subtle, contemporary guest rooms have office spaces and marble bathrooms equipped with luxurious products, while the staff are exceedingly professional.

This luxury hotel checks all the Knightsbridge boxes (top-of-the-range everything, ultrafashionable design, a haven for the international rich) and brings the same attention to detail and Italian high style to the decor as it does to its eponymous jewelry line (though Bulgari hotels are now part of the top end of Marriott). The bedrooms and suites are all large by London standards (and some have fireplaces and terraces), and the glamorous marble-clad bathrooms will make you feel like a movie star (and all have Bulgari toiletries, of course). There's a beautiful onyx-lined spa and indoor pool, while the Sette restaurant, a branch of New York's Scarpetta, showcases good though pricey Italian comfort food. Service is professional but friendly. Suites come with personal butlers and the gym comes with personal trainers.

This elegant hotel spread out over five town houses features luxurious decor that incorporates sculptural lighting fixtures and modern art while retaining nods to The Cadogan's Edwardian past (it was the site of Oscar Wilde's infamous arrest for gross indecency with a young man). There's a highly rated Modern British restaurant on-site, and access to the 93-acre Cadogan Place Gardens, one of Chelsea's largest garden squares, is included with your stay.

At this small exclusive hotel in a discreet cul-de-sac, ample natural light brightens the classically elegant rooms. The bar is a delight—don't even think about staying here without dropping in for a cocktail—and the cigar and cognac garden is a pleasingly retro addition. The GBR, which stands for Great British Restaurant, offers all-day dining, creating delicious meals out of classic British flavors; appealingly enough, the kitchen also eschews modern gadgetry as much as possible, in favor of traditional techniques. But the hotel's real trump card is the location—just a hop and a skip from Piccadilly and Green Park, yet tucked away enough that it feels peaceful.