40 Best Hotels in London, England

This fashionable boutique hotel occupies a charming old town house in one of London's most upscale neighborhoods. Rooms and suites have been individually designed with bold colors, handwoven carpets, eclectic artwork, and knickknacks from around the globe. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, Tivoli radios, and marble bathrooms with Firmdale Hotels' own RikRak products. The drawing room, with high ceilings, cozy fire, graceful windows, and honor bar, is a perfect spot to relax with a cocktail. English brasserie-style cuisine is served in the Potting Shed Bar & Restaurant, a smart, intimate neighborhood find. An elegant afternoon tea can also be enjoyed in the hotel's Drawing Room, which looks out toward Dorset Square. 

The design throughout this trendy East London lodging is contemporary—but not so modern as to be absurd; in keeping with a claim to combine a country-lodge lifestyle with true urban living, a fire crackles in the lobby. The chic but casual restaurant is packed with friendly youth; the comfortable guest rooms have Frette linens and down comforters; the bar is popular with local office workers; and the Hoxton Grill combines American steak-house style with French bistro chic. You'll be hard-pressed to find another hotel of this quality, near the center of town, for the price.

A shiny fortress of luxury, ME brings a splash of modern cool to a rather stuffy patch of the Strand. Designed by Foster and Partners (the architects behind London's City Hall and the Reichstag in Berlin, among other buildings), the sleek, subtly lit public areas give way to bright and spacious bedrooms with modern gadgetry like custom-controlled mood lighting. The main on-site restaurant—STK—is fun and glittery, but the Radio Rooftop Bar is the real star. The view of the Thames, from the Shard in the east to the old Battersea Power Station in the west, is one of the best in town. Other on-site facilities include plenty of meeting spaces and a 24-hour gym.

This small hotel located opposite the Roundhouse, with the Chalk Farm Underground station and Primrose Hill within easy reach, has handsome, comfortable rooms with an industrial chic vibe and luxurious bathrooms. Despite being located above a Victorian pub—the Enterprise, once a center of Camden's indie music scene and now better known for its food (it serves excellent breakfasts and the kitchen is open late)—the rooms are surprisingly quiet, although those directly above the pub may be less so. Some top-floor rooms have skylights.

This marvelously atmospheric lodging, full of historic personality and stately antiques, occupies three connected 18th-century town houses, one of which was the last home of the English critic and essayist William Hazlitt (1778–1830). Traditional English style and opulent Regency furnishings form a huge part of its appeal, but it's charmingly devoid of a few modern amenities—as the owners say, "In 1718, there were no elevators, and there still aren't." Rooms are named after infamous Soho denizens like the 1st Duke of Monmouth and nearby are more interesting restaurants than you could visit in a year.

In a central neighborhood where hotels veer from wildly overpriced at one extreme to grimy bolt-holes at the other, the Lime Tree gets the boutique style just about right—and at a surprisingly reasonable cost for the neighborhood. The casual dining restaurant The Buttery, which serves delicious cooked breakfasts and brunch, light lunches, and cake, backs onto a sweet little garden, while the simple yet elegant bedrooms are in muted tones of taupe and cream; many have views over the classic Georgian London street outside. Thoughtful extra touches include a guest computer and a guidebook library.

This wonderfully welcoming boutique hotel is a little gem. Each of the four guest suites is spacious, elegant, and uncluttered, with crisp white linens, polished original wooden floors, and tasteful furniture. There's a pretty little terrace where you can sit with a glass of wine or the morning paper. Guests enjoy special rates at a local gym, swimming pool, and spa, and can also call upon the services of a chauffeur who can take guests to the airport for less than the cost of a train or taxi. Breakfast is available upon request and is supplied by nearby chic café/deli, Daylesford.

A stylish period masterpiece in the heart of laid-back Clerkenwell, The Rookery is a luxury boutique hotel with a hefty dollop of Downton Abbey charm. Huge, wood-paneled bedrooms have heavy raw silk drapes, antique furniture, artfully scattered antiquarian books, and white marble bathrooms with deep claw-foot tubs big enough for two. The elegant, Regency-style drawing room has a well-stocked honor bar, and the conservatory, with its small patio garden, is another relaxing place to unwind. There's no restaurant, but 24-hour room service is good quality and reasonably priced. Breakfast, served in your room, features a large basket of freshly baked breads and pastries, juices, and yogurts.

This stunningly restored Victorian landmark—replete with gingerbread turrets and neo-Gothic flourishes—started as a love letter to the golden age of railways, and now it's one of London's most sophisticated places to stay. Originally built in 1873 to serve wealthy passengers for the adjacent St. Pancras rail station, the hotel's original High Victorian Gothic features have been restored to great effect, from the soaring, redbrick reception area to the stylish, gilt-trimmed bar and restaurant, a reworking of the old station's booking hall. Guest rooms, styled with a restrained elegance and understated grandeur, are spacious, comfortable, and feature a host of up-to-the-minute gadgetry.

This art-filled former 19th-century office building, now part of the Hilton chain, is in a superb location, and some guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with extraordinary views of Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, and The City. Twenty-one rooms are split-level, with upstairs space for chilling out and sleeping space below. Bathrooms have deep tubs, full-size toiletries, and mini-TVs. Go up to the roof garden for spectacular views of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye. Better yet, ask for Room 303 to enjoy these exquisite views in privacy.

At this sleek modern branch of the small Apex chain near the Tower of London, bedrooms are reasonably spacious, with contemporary color schemes, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, and little sofas. The Lampery restaurant serves good, varied modern British cuisine, although you're hardly lacking for dining options around this neighborhood. It's worth checking out the website for good package deals and special offers, especially in the off-season.

This Radisson hotel adjacent to the long-gestating renovation of Gilbert Scott's Art Deco Battersea Power Station in the revitalized Nine Elms area has, as the name might suggest, an art-world theme. The hotel's signature artist Jaime Hayon is responsible not only for the design of the uncluttered but welcoming guest rooms (all with floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the views---prices go up according to what floor you're on), but also for the highly stylized, art-filled public spaces. The hotel even has its own art gallery, as well as an Italian-theme all-day café, a 15th-floor Portuguese fine dining restaurant with a rooftop bar, a spa, and a heated rooftop infinity pool plus hot tub.

At this contemporary guesthouse near Victoria Station, minimalist decor, Scandinavian Modern furniture, and a lounge where a fire crackles away in the winter are all geared to homey comforts. Two rooms have a connecting door, effectively making a family suite. There are also nine self-contained studios and serviced apartments, including compact kitchens, for around £250–£330 per night.

Located across the road from Fortnum & Mason (one of the most luxurious department stores in the world), it seems appropriate that the Cavendish comes with a touch of Gilded Age history, a whiff of historical scandal, and a pleasant air of joie de vivre. The hotel was opened in 1906 by one of 20th-century London's great characters, Rosa Lewis (otherwise known as the Duchess of Duke Street), who rose from humble origins to become one of the most feted chef-proprietors of the age (and, infamously, the king's mistress). Today the hotel's genuinely warm and thoughtful service really stands out, and the guest rooms, though small, are comfortable and cozy; upper rooms have memorable city views. 

Like rays of sunshine in gritty south London, the rooms at this distinctive Camberwell hotel are decorated in rich colors that evoke Mexico, a theme enhanced by authentic touches like elaborately painted crucifixes, tiles handmade in Guadalajara, and handcrafted iron bed frames. Breakfast is a tasty combination of organic breads, pastries, and smoothies, much of it sourced from nearby Borough Market. There's also an honor bar with a great selection of whiskies, tequilas, rums, and Spanish bottled beers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Somewhere between hotel and serviced apartment, Locke at Broken Wharf offers the freedom of a personal home from which you can explore The City. Like all Locke properties, Broken Wharf places the emphasis on a combination of comfort and design, providing visitors with beautiful mint green–hued studios and suites that mimic the types of looks you might find on your favorite Instagram interior design account. Even the smallest rooms come with kitchenettes and the views of the Thames are a huge bonus. 

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.

Formerly the supercool Curtain hotel, the Mondrian takeover has only raised the hipness stakes here, thanks to a glossy but subtle refurbishment that sees the industrial look of the place toned down to offer a more elegant feel. Book direct for all-day access to the rooftop pool, which is otherwise limited to 7 am to 11 am. 

This friendly, comfortable Georgian townhouse hotel is a proverbial stone's throw from the British Museum. All rooms have air-conditioning and are well-appointed and comfortable, with the quietest ones overlooking the peaceful gardens out back. There's live jazz in the bar most evenings as well as an excellent in-house bistro. In the summer months, one of the garden terraces transforms into a pop-up beach bar, complete with palm trees and cocktails served in coconuts.

Nobu's first European hotel combines ravishing design (think soothing Japonism-inspired patterns and palettes alongside bold statements of industrial chic) with slick service, in a backstreet location in the heart of Shoreditch.

The small but nicely decorated rooms at this budget choice are in the same County Hall complex as the fancier London Marriott Hotel County Hall, and, though it lacks the spectacular river views and facilities are more basic, it has the same convenient location at a fraction of the price. The friendly staff is an added bonus. Best of all for families on a budget, fold-out beds let you accommodate two kids at no extra charge.

This Edwardian stucco town house close to bustling Earl's Court Road (but on a quiet street overlooking a garden square) offers a useful compromise between a full-service hotel and self-catering lodging in the form of clean comfortable rooms with well-designed modern looks. Basic double rooms are very small, but larger doubles offer more space and fold-out couches. All have tiny kitchenettes equipped with microwaves (reception will accept your delivery order from one of the many local restaurants and bring it to your room). Some rooms have bunk beds that are great for families.