112 Best Hotels in London, England

High-concept, high-tech, and supertrendy, this Dutch budget boutique minichain has a unique selling point—nearly everything at the hotel is self-service, and that includes check-in and breakfast. Even the in-room amenities, from the blinds to the television, are all controlled via a tablet. The egalitarian rooms (all feature the same design) are small, but comfortable, with huge beds and wall-size windows. They're soundproofed, too—a big bonus given the busy location on the South Bank, not to mention the happening bar/workspace downstairs. The effect is more no-nonsense than no frills; or, as the hotel's website puts it, "absolutely no trouser presses, bellboys, or stupid pillow chocolates." It won't be to everyone's taste, but you'll look a long time before finding a better affordable hotel in such a good location.

The modern rooms at this central London outpost of the trendy Dutch hotel brand have been cleverly designed to maximize storage space, enabling a more comfortable stay than you might expect from such a small space. Ask for a room on the mews side for views of nearby Westminster Cathedral. 

Near a canal filled with colorful narrow boats in the Little Venice neighborhood, this lovely town house offers individually styled rooms, some with rich brocades, velvets, and antiques, others with balconies. The 1920s elevator (believed to be one of the oldest still working in the United Kingdom) and the Wedgwood fireplace in the lobby add to the historic style, as does the "Sigmund Freud Suite" (Freud visited regularly in 1938). It's also the birthplace of Alan Turing, one of the fathers of computer science and the man who deciphered the German Enigma code in World War II.

A contrast to the wildly expensive business hotels that proliferate in this part of the East End, right on the edge of The City, The Corner is a modern and surprisingly affordable option in a trendy area of town. Sleek and cheerful public spaces have a self-consciously irreverent edge, with wry "thoughts for the day" placed around the hotel by staff. Mismatched pieces of furniture have been recycled from industrial materials, and guest rooms are decorated in bold, outlandish color schemes. What could easily get stale stays nicely to the side of playfulness. 

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.

London's original "pod hotel" has tiny rooms with a double bed, private shower room, and little else—each brightly decorated in the easyGroup's trademark orange and white (to match their budget airline, easyJet). The reception desk doesn't offer much in terms of service, and everything costs extra: room cleaning during your stay, use of television, Wi-Fi, and even a window. The concept is undeniably a hit—it's fully booked months in advance (the earlier you book, the cheaper your room rate) and several branches have opened (the website details locations)—just don't expect any frills. Like, none.

This welcoming boutique hotel is an oasis of understated country-house chic in glitzy Knightsbridge, with guest rooms that don't stint on design touches like four-poster beds, swagged curtains, and patterned wallpaper and textiles. Prints and posters by impressionist artists adorn the walls, and some rooms have verdant views over the beautiful gardens in back. The lovely staff—surely among the most helpful and friendly in London—keep everything running like clockwork. The two drawing rooms are good places to write letters or relax with a drink from the honor bar. There is no restaurant but a limited menu is available through room service. The hotel also has a partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, which means guests can score tickets even to sold-out exhibitions.

This former Victorian hotel near Earl's Court has been converted into an apartment/hotel residence aimed at extended-stay travelers, although there are a handful of rooms without kitchenettes. The decor is inspired by the legendary, retro-chic Biba boutique formerly just down the road, with deep vermilions, emeralds, and mustards, Art Deco touches, and numerous potted palms. The individually designed boudoir-style rooms are comfortable (though unlikely to appeal to fans of high-tech touches—USB ports and even power outlets are in short supply) and kitchens have Smeg appliances. There's a spacious garden with a terrace, a co-working space, a free laundry room, a café that serves breakfast, a Middle Eastern restaurant, and a bar.

A refreshing change from the overt opulence displayed by some of the big-name hotels in Mayfair, the Four Seasons Park Lane has a beautifully restrained interior that pairs its luxurious flourishes with a strong sense of tranquillity. Oyster-shell chic is the look in the public areas—although Bar Antoine offers the type of moody drinking den every hotel should have—and the soft, pastel perfection is continued upstairs in the guest rooms themselves. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with marble baths and possess more than a hint of stylish Scandinavian-led design. Don't miss the spa on the top floor; in the treatment rooms, massive windows seem to hold all of Hyde Park inside a snow globe.

The opposite of functional beige minimalism, this well-appointed hotel (established 1898) with old-school attentive service combines the cozy and the theatrical. The lobby evokes a stately home, a theme continued in the beautifully decorated, jewel-toned bedrooms upstairs, which are decorated with antiques, sumptuous fabrics, and oil paintings. A few rooms are just plain spectacular, like the Tudor room with a 15th-century minstrels' gallery, stained glass, and mahogany four-poster bed, or the Judy Garland room with the lavish bed that the actress had installed for her frequent stays here.

Originally built as a Georgian town house, this charming hotel is just around the corner from the British Museum, and all its 26 rooms are fully ensuite and come with a variety of modern amenities, including TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. The breakfast room overlooks a delightful walled garden and should you wish to have lunch or dinner in-house, then a sister hotel, the Grange White Hall, is literally two doors away. The public areas have a traditional, old-fashioned feel to them, which only adds to the charm of the place. Service is excellent, with a concierge and porter always on hand to help.  

Set in a handsome Georgian crescent, this family-run hotel offers quiet and comfortable accommodations with excellent amenities. With space for four, the quad rooms are a good choice for traveling families. For those who tire of eggs and sausage every morning, breakfast includes a choice of fresh croissants and a variety of cereals. See if you can spot Zizi and Wolfgang, the hotel's friendly cat and dog.

Named in honor of the fictional detective who had his home on Baker Street, rooms here have a masculine edge with plenty of nods to Mr. Holmes himself (along with hypermodern bathrooms stocked with fluffy bathrobes). The bar has an appropriately clubhouse feel, with wood floors and leather furniture. Despite the name and subtle elements within the decor (think tasteful images of pipes, brollies, and bowler hats), the Holmes never feels like a theme hotel.

The emphasis here is on modest-size rooms elegantly appointed and decorated with a chic eye for detail. Expect crisp linens, comfortable beds, classic furniture and knickknacks, and bespoke wallpaper. Rooms range in size, but all come with the same focus on comfort and style, including signature touches of an old-style transistor radio and a local neighborhood guide in each room. There's also an excellent on-site restaurant and bar.

With its Instagram-friendly decor scheme (brightly painted walls, taxidermy on display, campy artwork, etc.), lobby-cum–cocktail lounge featuring live music and signature cocktails, and plentiful hanging plants, this boutique hotel with an enviable location on the edge of Kensington Gardens will appeal most to guests who like a party atmosphere. Nevertheless, rooms are clean and comfortable and some have views over the Gardens. There's no restaurant, but two of London's best, oldest-established bargain restaurants (Stick & Bowl and the Spaghetti House) are just outside the front door.

Even though it's one of London's largest hotels, The Churchill is always abuzz with guests smiling at the perfection they find here, including warmly personalized service and calmly alluring guest rooms. The shimmering lobby is in Robert Adam–esque 19th-century style, and there's a gorgeous cocktail bar inspired by Winston's wife, Clementine. There are two restaurants: Locanda Locatelli, one of the best Italian restaurants in London, and the more traditional Montagu, overlooking Portman Square. Guest rooms are lovely and modern, and suites are hung with cutting-edge art on loan from the Saatchi collection. No-nonsense business travelers and VIPs appreciate the highly convenient Portman Square location and the relaxed business lounge.

Overlooking busy Hyde Park Corner and the grounds of Buckingham Palace, this hotel's luxurious rooms are aimed at high-end business travelers. Comfortable yet sophisticated, they incorporate big windows and grand views and rich curtains and bedspreads. You will really feel treated like a king if you take one of the suites, where special guest services range from free snacks and a dedicated butler to a spin in an Aston Martin, should you feel like it.

A stone's throw from City Hall and just down the road from The Shard, this luxurious hotel (the first international expansion from the India-based Lalit chain) harks back to the building's former incarnation as a Victorian grammar school, designating bedrooms as different types of classrooms and meeting rooms as laboratories. In the public rooms, polished wood floors and baronial stone fireplaces combine with gold-threaded tapestries, Hyderabad-style glass chandeliers, and tea lamps to create a sort of Harry Potter-goes-East effect. The fusion of Indian opulence and English heritage continues in the individually designed bedrooms, which incorporate cream-and-orange Indian textiles, wood-paneling on the walls, and elaborate molding on the high ceilings. The piéce de résistance is undoubtedly the stunning great hall, which houses the Keralan fine-dining restaurant Baluchi and a tea parlor, but the complimentary stuffed elephant toys that sit on every bed almost threaten to steal the show.

A glass-covered, eight-story atrium sets the scene at this truly grand hotel, where the huge bedrooms are richly furnished and have marble bathrooms; odd-numbered rooms overlook the Winter Garden restaurant beneath the glass roof. Built by a wealthy industrialist to serve a planned channel tunnel rail link in 1899, The Landmark was the victim of atrocious timing twice in its life—first when the original tunnel was canceled, and again 40 years later when it was requisitioned by the army during World War II. Lavishly reborn in the late 1990s, it has been going strong ever since. 

While the vibe once skewed toward the financial crowd of the City, now tourists and weekend trippers are a valued clientele at the Leonardo Royal Hotel; guests likely appreciate the novelty of the great location a stone's throw from Tower Bridge. Drinking and dining options include Leo's, a restaurant and bar with a Mediterranean-inspired menu. The real highlight of the hotel (aside from the location) is its spa, a subterranean sanctuary where an opulent, columned swimming pool is the star.

Steps away from the London Bridge rail and Tube stations, and handy for the South Bank, this thoroughly modern, stylish hotel is popular with business travelers, but leisure travelers find it just as appealing. The diminutive but sleek rooms have an understated contemporary look, and three spacious two-bedroom apartments come with a kitchen, living room, and dining room. An inviting lounge serves bar food, and there's a more formal restaurant as well.

Set in a row of white Georgian town houses, this excellent budget option in hit-or-miss Bayswater is friendly, well run, and spotlessly clean. The tone is set right from the gleaming white lobby and minimalist public areas. Guest rooms are modern and well maintained. Rooms in the basement, unsurprisingly, are the best bargain, but also the most cramped. A continental buffet breakfast is available for an extra £15.95 per person.

This grand hotel on the Thames enjoys some of the most landmark-loaded views in the city—right next door is the London Eye, and directly across the Thames are the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Until the 1980s this building was the seat of London's government, and the public areas are suitably imposing, full of pedimented archways, bronze doors, and acres of polished mahogany. All the business-friendly bells and whistles you could ever want are available, and many of the stylish but unfussy modernist rooms have that aforementioned amazing view.

A big favorite with the business crowd, this pleasant modern outpost of the Marriott megachain is just one of several big-name hotels on busy Cromwell Road. An enormous plexiglass frontage enlivens (and neatly soundproofs) the otherwise cookie-cutter exterior. It's so geared to business travelers that the breakfast room empties by 8:30, but it's also about as smooth and well-run as you could hope for. Guest rooms aren't huge, but they're quiet and comfortable. There's a good bar, but you'll probably want to eat out.

The first London outpost of the fashionable French hotel brand, the rooms and public areas here have the feel of an upmarket design hotel—think marble-top tables, bold fabrics, and atmospheric designed lighting—but at a fraction of the cost.

Following an extensive renovation after a roof fire, the imposing Edwardian facade of this ultraluxe hotel on the edge of Hyde Park belies the modern and bright setting within that features spacious bedrooms filled with high-tech gadgets. The hotel's main, double-Michelin-starred restaurant has views over the park and is overseen by top-flight chef Heston Blumenthal. There's also a "Japanese izakaya experience" restaurant and a similarly Asian-influenced tea room. The large renovated spa is equally innovative and high-end. Service is exemplary (every floor has its own butler) and guests can use the outdoor terrace bordering Hyde Park.

Capitalizing on its location in central London's most intimate, village-like neighborhood, The Marylebone features contemporary designer rooms and drinking and dining options that match the boutique elements of its surroundings. Rooms are styled in neutral tones and those on the higher floors offer the kind of quaint rooftop views that have become increasingly rare in a city intent on building bigger. The elegant 108 Brasserie is the perfect spot for people-watching, whether from inside or poised on its outdoor terrace flanked by cobblestone Marylebone Lane. 

Located across from St. Pancras International station, this colorful, snazzily designed hotel offers guests rooms with a chic contemporary vibe and all the latest amenities, from espresso machines to Bluetooth speakers. Rooms come in decent sizes, with the more spacious ones on the upper floors, having huge windows to view the cityscape. Magenta, the hotel restaurant, serves good modern European fare.

Located next to a conference center and opposite a Tube station, this is very much a business hotel. The lobby is sleek and minimalist with polished marble floors and soaring blonde-wood columns, while the guest rooms are similarly tasteful (though bordering on bland) with neutral creams and earth tones complemented by light-wood desks and leather chairs. There are two bars and several restaurants (plus an attached casino), which means that you don't have to go out if you'd prefer to stay in.