The best hotels in London for every type of traveller

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in London

📍 Nearby: Grosvener Square, Regents Street and The Audley for a pint

What started out as a small hotel run by the Claridge family in the mid-1800s, soon blossomed into the five-star Mayfair Claridge's mansion we know today. Its reputation was helped somewhat by visits from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and royalty was inevitably followed by Hollywood stars during the ’50s. All of the hotel’s old school glamour remains today, with art deco chic throughout and a constant stream of celebrity guests frequenting the Claridge’s Restaurant and the Foyer.

The 269 rooms and suites are as comfy and as elegant as you’d hope and we couldn’t fault the service. There’s also a relatively newly dug out huge basement where you’ll find a zen spa with a serene swimming pool, extremely posh gym and a wine shop. Once you’ve worked up an appetite down there, there are plenty of eating options. As well as the faultless Claridge’s Restaurant and the Foyer (a delightful spot for a classic afternoon tea), there’s also L’Epicerie, an epic chef’s table experience where you get to dine in the middle of the bustling kitchen. Oh and cocktails at The Fumoir bar are a must. Trust us.

There’s high end shopping aplenty nearby with Regents Street, New Bond Street and South Molton Street a short walk away and some of London’s most famous park squares including Hanover Square, Grosvenor Square and Berkeley Square which are fun for people watching.

Time Out tip: Plump for a stay here at Christmas time to see the iconic annual unfurling of their xmas tree which is lavishly decorated by a different artist or designer each year.

Address: Claridges, Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

Price: From £930 per night

Closest transport: Bond Street tube station

💎 Verdict: Best boutique hotel

📍 Nearby: Sandwiched between the British Museum and the Soho classics, from Chinatown to the West End

Smack-dab on Fitzrovia’s 50 Newman Street, The Newman Hotel adds subtle details from its neighbourhood to make this 81-room luxury boutique hotel feel like a little local haven. Picture black-and-white photos of Fitzrovia business lining the walls, and subtle design details like bangle-patterned bed notches and polka dot tiling that pay homage to writer and political activist Nancy Cunard, who lived nearby. 

Aside from the local highlights, The Newman’s revitalised Victorian building also weaves inspiration from the Art Deco era. There’s glamorous lighting, elaborate tile designs and dark wooden and curved furnishings. Head to The Gambit bar downstairs – open to non-guests, as well – and you’ll see grandiose chandeliers lighting up the backrooms in warm-gold behind the live musicians that are elevating the evening. As for the bedrooms, they’re as comfortable as they are chic. The tones are warm and neutral. The floors? Also fabulously polka dotted. And if you’re lucky to get a terrace, it’s shaded, furnished, foliaged and absolutely divine. Also divine? The breakfast at Brasserie Angelica. The hotel bar and restaurant that flips some mean ricotta hotcakes slathered in honeycomb butter, and topped with caramelized apple. 

Undoubtedly, though, one of this hotel’s top highlights is its Nordic spa and bathhouse. The wellness floor features a spacious gym, sauna, hydrotherapy pool, a steam room, an ice room, and a halotherapy room. There’s an extensive treatment programme to explore, too, as well as daily classes like early morning pilates and more. Staff are friendly and have plenty of good recommendations for local places to eat and drink. 

➡️ Discover more of the best boutique hotels in London

Time Out tip: Check the wellness studio’s schedule for your stay – you can book onto yoga, soundbaths, pilates and more, which are almost always free for guests.  

Address: 50 Newman St, W1T 3EB, London

Expect to pay: Rooms start from around £500 a night

Closest transport: Goodge Street station is a six-minute walk.
Oxford Circus station is a seven-minute walk.

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in Hackney

📍 Nearby: The Young V&A, Victoria Park, Columbia Road and the start of the East London Pizza Crawl

The Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, once the site of the 1920 British Socialist Party conference, has undergone quite the transformation from a hub of political dissent to a haven of understated luxury. Today, its a whole blend of Edwardian architecture, art deco details and baroque corridors, like stepping into a scene from the past, and the prices are remarkably reasonable – rooms start at a mere £160 per night, with the most expensive suites starting at £400. All are stylish without pretension – big, inviting beds, homely touches, and the option of sensibly-priced in-room dining. Minor scuffs and worn paint are forgivable when you’re wrapped in a dressing gown, reluctant to leave. Larger rooms even feature full kitchens, though the lure of the on-site restaurants makes self-catering unlikely. 

Dining and facilities extend the appeal: two excellent restaurants, a heated 14-metre pool beneath a glass roof, a well-equipped gym, and in-room spa services courtesy of Ruuby. Pet-friendly stays are available for an extra fee. Service is warm and relaxed, striking the right note between professionalism and personality – staff are quick with a joke, making the atmosphere friendly without tipping into pretension. In a building once dedicated to the drab duties of local government, the Town Hall Hotel has created somehow created one of London’s most distinctive boutique stays, at genuinely unbeatable prices. Plus there’s no better place to be in Bethnal Green for spending a weekend touring our favourite east London spots: Victoria Park, Columbia Road Flower Market, Brick Lane, the Young V&A – we could go on. 

➡️ Check out our full guide to the best hotels in Hackney

Time Out tip: As soon as you’re booked in at Town Hall, make sure to secure a table at the fantastic Café Cecilia, a ten-minute walk from the hotel. 

Address: Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9NF

Price: Starting from approximately £160 per night

Closest transport: Bethnal Green Underground Station is a five-minute walk

💎 Verdict: Our favourite hotel rooftop bar in London

📍 Nearby: St Pancras and Platform 9¾, Coal Drop’s Yard and Lightroom

The Standard London is the UK branch of the global hotel chain, which has party-tastic outposts in all of the world’s sexiest cities. Opened in July 2019 opposite St Pancras station with a pill-shaped red lift that whizzes up the facade, it contains 266 rooms of varying types, two excellent restaurants (Decimo and Isla), two bars (the Rooftop and Sweeties) and one bar-restaurant (Double Standard). It’s fancy and fun; an undoubtedly luxury hotel that is boutique-y and small enough to feel personal too. The Standard eschews the laciness and fancy frippery you might commonly associate with London’s poshest hotel destinations, to appeal to contemporary tastes and people who own multiple pairs of Salomons.

The hotel itself is a brutalist vision. Built in the 1970s, it takes its interior inspiration from the dramatic curve of the building. Huge windows give guests a panoramic view of King’s Cross — one of London’s most transport-nerdy vistas. Rooms range from cosy crash pads to sprawling suites with deep-soak tubs, terraces, and seating nooks perfect for sipping wine from the minibar before heading out.

Reservations for all bars and restaurants can be made at reception, and you can add a breakfast buffet to your stay too. But in the summer months, the rooftop is unmissable; chances are you’ll end up chatting to one of the coolest people you’ve ever met up there. That’s because the Standard is pure, effortless chic. There’s a DJ booth in the lounge, and just down the road are the students of Central Saint Martins and the designer shops of Coal Drops Yard. Fancy a superstar stay that doesn’t take itself too seriously? The Standard has everything you could possibly need.

➡️ Discover more of the best rooftop bars in London

Time Out tip: Gen Z, take note: the Standard also offers a Zodiac Escape package, where your experience is tailored to fit your star sign. Libra? You can expect facial oils, a sculpting tool and a set of astrology cards. That kind of thing.

Address: The Standard, 10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG

Price: From £217 per night

Nearest transport: King’s Cross station

💎 Verdict: Best pub-with-rooms 

📍 Nearby: Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Old Spitalfields Market and Holy Carrot (the best veggie restaurant in London)

The Culpeper pub is among east London’s most gorgeous boozers. Tall ceilings, vast windows onto Commercial Street, an extraordinary wraparound bar and – in the warmer months – one of the city’s great rooftops. Pair this with the pub’s lofty, light-filled rooms and you’ve got one of the area’s chicest and most underrated stays. 

All the five rooms are all on the second floor – to regular pub-goers, that’s two floors above the pub, one above the restaurant and one below the rooftop. The restaurant’s ethos and décor continues to its rooms, which are shabby-chic with washed walls and ceilings, rugged furnishings and doors of various pleasing squeaks.But the room is also smart where it matters, and luxurious in the details. A bottle of sustainably filtered Belu water sits on the fireplace, diddy Dudson mugs service a Nespresso machine and a very decent shower boasts posh Bramley bath products.

But as expected, the prize lies in its pub and restaurant. Hotel guests who book to eat get a free drink on arrival, and 10 percent off food and drink in, both, the boozer and resto. The first-floor restaurant is its own five-star review – a French-style bistro with a small seasonal menu built around British organic produce. Plates are fantastic and produce is diverse, with powerfully fresh flavours and a not-so-expensive price tag, given the quality. Breakfast is included and served in The Culpeper’s sister pub/hotel, The Buxton, just a few steps away on Osborn Street. Tuck into a rich selection of fruits, meats and cheeses, chunky granola and delectable pastries, as well as coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice made to order. The highest praise one can heap upon the Culpeper’s boutique hotel is that it is a more than worthy accompaniment to its downstairs boozer.

➡️ Discover more of the best pubs in London

Time Out tip: Make sure to book the rooftop restaurant ahead in the summer months. If you’re not having dinner there, what the hell are you doing? 

Address: 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP, London

Expect to pay: From £185 per night (including breakfast)

Closest transport: Aldgate East station is a three-minute walk. Aldgate station is an eight-minute walk. 

💎 Verdict: The best spa hotel 

📍 Nearby: Kensington Gardens, Porchester Spa, Normah’s for dinner and Beam for brunch

Everything at Six Senses new London location puts a premium on health, well being, and environmental action, from the restaurant, to the rooms, and even the bar. Because they know that self-care starts with a good night’s rest, rooms come with excellent beds, a full pillow menu, highly adjustable (and impeccably labelled) lighting and top-end marble-and-tile bathrooms to accomplish in-room zen. You’d have to look hard to find a single scrap of disposable plastic here. Even the key cards for your room are made of wood.

At the hotel’s restaurant, Whiteley’s Kitchen, the à la carte breakfast menu ranges from a Full English to a collagen and miso broth, plus a ‘kitchen counter’ buffet. Meanwhile, next-door, Whiteleys Bar has a trick up its sleeve: all the cocktails can be ordered with or without alcohol, so that non-drinkers aren’t relegated to a separate menu.

But the main event at Six Senses, accessed via a spectacular staircase inside the main hotel doors, is the spa. Below street level is a vast, hushed warren of treatment rooms, each dedicated to a different wellness practice. Of course you can get a massage here, join a yoga class or work out in the impressive, ’30s-inspired gym, but there are also rooms dedicated to flotation, cryotherapy, hammam, contrast therapy, red light, electromagnetism, crystals and somehow, more. Find a recovery room, an ‘Alchemy Bar’ that hosts one-on-one consultations plants, and a biohacking lounge, where a whole array of tech – sleep tracking rings, LED face masks, compression boots, resistance machines – promises to screen your body’s data and optimise your workout or recovery. 

➡️ Discover more of the best spa hotels in London

Time Out tip: A nice little perk is the hotel’s electric house car, which you can book directly instead of a cab for short journeys in the area. 

Address: 1 Redan Pl, W2 4SA, London

Price: From £625 per night for a room, with suites fetching up to £1,660 per night; spa treatments and workshops from around £50.

Closest transport: Bayswater station

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in Shoreditch

📍 Nearby: Brat restaurant, Brick Lane beigels, Spitalfields, and on Sundays, Columbia Road Flower Market

Shoreditch hasn’t completely forgone its edge, and neither has the coolest hotel on the high street. You’d be forgiven for thinking the lobby of One Hundred Shoreditch was the office of some edgy millennial’s start-up but head upstairs and it’s a very different story. The bedrooms – all whitewashed walls, feature tapestry hangings and pine – radiate an instant calm. Formerly home to the hipster haven the Ace Hotel, this landmark east London building is now as much a social destination as a place to rest your head. 

The biggest draw here is, obviously, the location. But guests and non-guests alike tend to gather in the hotel’s basement cocktail bar Seed Library, a genuinely cool spot that stays open till 2am on weekends. If the weather’s better, head to the buzzy Kaso rooftop for drinks, with cool blue, curvaceous chairs surrounded by plants and cacti, and marvel at the Shoreditch skyline – or the pretty-in-pink tiled bar that looks straight out of Barbie the movie. We highly recommend Kaso’s signature spicy marg.

➡️ Discover more of the best hotels in Shoreditch

Time Out tip: Need to get some work done? You’re in the right place – the lobby here is crammed full of freelancers and WFH-ers, with endless plug sockets and excellent Ozone coffee. 

Address: 100 Shoreditch High Street, E16JQ, London

Price: From around £189 per night 

Closest transport: Shoreditch High Street tube 

💎 Verdict: London’s best hotel with a rooftop pool

📍 Nearby: Battersea Park, the Cinema in the Arches, Noci Battersea for dinner and the Uber Boat back to the Southbank

Art’otel Battersea opened back in 2022, and immediately made a splash – mostly down to its rooftop infinity pool, which looks out over the Power Station and beyond. The whole thing was designed by Spanish artist Jaime Hayon, and there’s plenty of weird and wonderful art on display as soon as you step into the lobby. 

The arty vibe continues its its 164 rooms, grand, artsy and full of colour, which are home to a record player, a Roberts radio and more fabulous hanging art by Hayon. It’s certainly upmarket, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously; the staff are great and a laugh, the clientele is a real mix; families, couples in the lift in bath robes, groups of girlfriends having the best spa weekend of their lives. Some rooms have a direct view of Battersea Power Station itself, which is an almighty sight to wake up to – but fear not, if you’re not one of the lucky ones, the rooftop views are there for you to make up for it. 

The rooftop is definitely this hotel’s most special feature, decked out with a hot tub, deck chairs and the almighty pool. There’s often classes and events up there throughout the week, including aqua board pilates, rooftop yoga and a kids club on Sunday afternoons (the idea is that parents have a leisurely lunch downstairs while their kids hang out at the club. We like it!). To eat, book ahead for Joia, a very special Portuguese and Iberian restaurant with its very own views and a premium menu to match. If you want a more chilled-out dinner, head to Tozi Grand Café, a buzzy, cheerful Italian where the cacio e pepe is served at your table in a giant cheese wheel.

➡️ Find more of the hotels with rooftop pools in London

Time Out tip: After your stay, go full tourist and hop on the Uber Boat back into town. It is surprisingly fun. 

Address: 1 Electric Boulevard, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ

Price: Starting from approximately £200 per night

Closest transport: Battersea Power Station underground

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in Marylebone

📍 Nearby: Madame Tussauds, Regent’s Park and Marylebone High Street

You’ll spot this monumental Gothic revival edifice on Marylebone Road from blocks away. Traffic roars past, but once the doorman welcomes you inside the arched red stone lobby, it fades away instantly. Built to impress and rival The Savoy by Great Central Railway in 1899 and the visionary entrepreneur Sir Edward Watkin, his Victorian masterpiece has been reincarnated many, many times and now feels decisively 21st century. Imposing it may be, but stuffy it ain’t. And if you have the means to fork out for genuine five-star service in exceptional surroundings in central London, the Landmark London is the real deal. 

The hotel is designed around its courtyard with eight storeys of rooms rising above and encircling this dramatic entrance where guests once arrived in carriages. Now with a glazed roof, it has the light-filled feel of a tropical greenhouse or palm court. Oh, and the hotel’s back entrance has a glass-covered walkway to Marylebone Station.

Rooms and suites are some of the most spacious in London, with marble bathrooms, Argentum toiletries and big fluffy beds. For food, options in the hotel are plentiful, from the Winter Garden to the Champagne Bar in the mezzanine gallery above. The spa is also home to one of London’s only chlorine-free, 15-metre indoor swimming pools.

➡️ Find more of the best hotels in Marylebone

Address: 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JQ

Price: Rooms start at £500, Marylebone Suites for £800

Transport: Marylebone railway station and tube

💎 Verdict: The best hotel restaurant

📍 Nearby: Shepherd’s Bush Market, Portobello Road, Notting Hill and The Bush Theatre 

The first west London branch of this super-successful boutique chain has a design sensibility that feels all its own, with flourishes that nod to the neighbourhood’s history and culture with loud custom rugs by west London makers Holmes Bespoke, dramatic wavy headboards by Bute and warm rattan lampshades. Most of all, we love that if you book in advance (or just get lucky), you’ll often find rooms for under £200 a night here. Admittedly, these rooms might have no windows. 

There’s nothing sleepy about buzzing Shepherd’s Bush – and yet, you’ll feel so pleasantly ensconced in the plush retro world of The Hoxton that you’re bound to get a good night’s rest here. The 237 rooms might feel a touch on the small side but are very well-decorated, with black-out curtains, air-con, tea and coffee, and in the bathroom, rainfull showers and toiletries from the Hoxton’s own brand Blank. 

Lovely though the rooms are, honestly, the biggest draw of this hotel is its fabulous restaurant. Chet’s is Thai food like you’ve never tried it, by cult Los Angeles chef Kris Yenbamroong. You absolutely have to order the fried pineapple rice, served inside a half-pineapple. The sticky wings are another standout. The restaurant is also the most beautiful space in the hotel – elevating a ’60s American diner with soft pastels and a Wes Anderson-esque attention to symmetry. While staying there, be sure to pay a visit to Shepherd's Bush Market around the corner for wonderfully cheap fabric and wonderfully tasty falafels.

➡️ Our full guide to the best restaurants in London

Time Out tip: Chet's isn’t just open for dinner – stick around for brunch, where you’ll find surprising California-Thai hybrid dishes.

Address: Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush, 65 Shepherd's Bush Green, London, W12 8TX

Price: From £143 per night (for a room with no windows)

Nearest transport: Shepherd's Bush Market tube station

💎 Verdict: The sexiest hotel in London

📍 Nearby: Carnaby Street, Oxford Street and the West End, and our faves Quo Vadis and the French House

What do you get when you combine the energy of the Jazz Age with English eccentricity and a dash of disco? Broadwick Soho. Modelled to give the charm of a townhouse, the hotel has a homely atmosphere with an aesthetic inspired by the lively area where it resides. Interior designer Martin Brudnizki is responsible for the punchy pizzazz that hypnotises everyone who enters. The pastel colour palette of the lobby create an elegance and softness, achieving an almost dreamlike feel. The bedrooms are just as alluring, with charming quirky details like a gold framed TV and muralled wardrobe.

Shortly after checking in, I visited The Nook – the residents-only lounge – for a pre-dinner drink. The sultry digs have plush sofa seating, low lighting, a fireplace and a collection of vinyls provided by a local record store – all the ingredients of a cool and cosy social space to rival some of the city’s most sought-after members’ clubs. Dinner at Dear Jackie was next on the agenda; unconventional Italian fare in a dramatic underground setting, although Soho is one of the city’s best areas for eating and drinking if you want to venture out and about. Wherever you dine, cocktails at opulent rooftop bar Flute is a must.

With so much going on, it would be easy to hide behind the extravagance and let service standards slip, but this certainly isn’t the case here. There seems to be a staff member on hand no matter where you happen to be in the building, with an answer to whatever you may be wondering.  

➡️ Check out more of London’s sexiest stays

Time Out tip: The hotel likes to champion local artists and venues, so check out the ‘What’s On’ section of their website for news on live music line-ups and restaurant collabs. 

Address: Broadwick Soho Hotel, 20 Broadwick Street, London W1F 8TH

Price: From £455 a night

Closest transport: Tottenham Court Road tube 

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in Mayfair

📍 Nearby: Green Park, the Royal Academy of Arts and plenty of designer shops

Eco-luxury property 1 Hotel Mayfair, opened in 2023, is a place where sustainability meets understated elegance. Every detail here feels intentional, from yoga mats in every room to a reception desk crafted from a 200-year-old fallen oak. The plant-filled interiors – a whopping 1,300 of them in total – mean stepping into this hotel feels like you’ve walked into a forest (albeit a very posh one), all warm wood, natural stone and a signature eucalyptus-and-cedar scent. This continues across the hotel’s 181 rooms, with muted tones, natural textures and thoughtful touches like living moss walls and bedside plants. Even the turndown service goes above and beyond, with neatly wrapped cables, organised toiletries and handwritten goodnight notes. Book one of their suites for a private terrace, complimentary minibar and dedicated butler – but every room has special touches, from jersey bathrobes and Bamford toiletries to bougie minibars and in-room filtered water.

Dining is a highlight, led by Tom Sellers at Dovetale, serving up elevated comfort dishes with an eye for sustainability – along with the perfect ending, a DIY sundae bar. Adjacent Dover Yard bar has a lovely sunny terrace (and an excellent spicy marg), and breakfast is à la carte and high quality, with fresh juice, fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon. From the restaurant and bar through to reception, service is warm and chilled-out, but very attentive.  

Facilities include a well-equipped gym, free weekly run club, wellness classes and a Bamford Spa (though without sauna or steam). The Lobby Farmstand offers fresh fruit for guests on the go. Mayfair’s designer boutiques and watch shops dominate the area, but Green Park, Fortnum & Mason, Burlington Arcade and the Royal Academy are all within walking distance. Make no mistake: this place is pricey, but it often has good last-minute deals – and the experience is extremely hard to fault.

➡️ Time Out’s full guide to the best hotels in Mayfair

Time Out tip: On the go? You can grab complimentary fruit all day long from the Lobby Farmstand on your way out.

Address: 3 Berkeley St, London

Price: Starting from £500 per night

Closest transport: Green Park tube is a two-minute walk away

💎 Verdict: Best budget stay

📍 Nearby: Royal Victoria Docks, the London Cable Car and the O2 Arena

There might not be a pool or little bottles of prosecco in your room cupboard, but what Good Hotel does have are all the core things you need from a hotel, done really, really well. Originally built as a Danish prison, this all-black floating hotel docked in London in 2016 after sailing from Amsterdam. Its founder, Marten Dresden, came up with its ethical concept while travelling in Guatemala. Each night you spend at this humble hotel pays for a week of school for a child in South America. Profits also go towards hospitality training for long-term unemployed locals – lots of whom become Good Hotel employees, themselves. 

Inside, rooms and interiors are slick and earthy-toned with low-hanging lights, origami-style lamp shades and charging ports hidden inside bed frames. Amenities are basic but you never feel like you’re lacking. As for food, the breakfast bar is excellent. You’ll find cured meats, salad, pastries, fruit, sourdough and all the crucial components of a full English. It’s also absolutely worth staying on site for lunch or dinner. The kitchen offers a delicious, locally sourced tapas menu, and drinks-wise, there’s a selection of fun artisan wines, specifically ordered from vineyards that use natural, biodynamic and low-intervention methods. There’s de-alcoholised wine, too. 

And while it might look like there are only corporate offices nearby, you’re actually right next to the IFS Cloud Cable Cars. It would be rude to pass up on cheap, 360-views of the city. For wholesome hangs, 30 minutes on the DLR will get you to Mudchute Park and Farm, one of Europe's biggest city farms, but for night out, head for FOLD, a mecca for London’s grassroots clubbing, and just a 30-minute walk. 

➡️ Our full list of the best cheap hotels in London

Address: Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, E161FA, London

Price: Rooms from £69 per night 

Closest transport: Royal Victoria DLR station

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in Soho

📍 Nearby: Soho Theatre, Ronnie Scott’s, the French House and the Coach & Horses, one of our favourite pubs in London

Most people stroll past Hazlitt’s without ever knowing that there’s a sprawling, 30-room boutique hotel tucked away behind the Georgian facade on Frith Street. The four townhouses that make up the hotel date back to 1718, but Hazlitt’s only opened up its doors to the hoi polloi in 1986. Not that this makes the hotel feel any less magical. A traditionally-styled timewarp, Hazlitt’s is kitted out in full antique splendor; four poster beds, throne-style loos, ornate gilt mirrors and endearingly creaky staircases. Think Versailles via Steptoe and Son.

But all is not as vintage as it seems – there are flatscreen TVs tucked away behind wood-pannelling, and deep, cosy armchairs that look the old-school part but offer modern comfort. There’s no onsite restaurant at Hazlitt’s, which means all breakfast is breakfast in bed here – but trust us, it’s great, all Brick Lane beigels, Buck’s Fizz and epic bacon sarnies. Plus, with many of London’s best restaurants on your doorstep, who needs dinner at a hotel anyway? (By the way, staff can help swing bookings at these nearby restaurants, as well as sort out theatre tickets.)

Each room is totally unique and although the Duke of Monmouth suite has its own private roof terrace, we especially liked the rooms at the back which have velvet window seats to snuggle up in. The late, great Anthony Bourdian, said of the hotel’s two-storey the Duke of Monmouth suite: ‘It is like staying at a potty English uncle’s when he is not at home’. Be sure to check out the locked bookcase in one of the lobby rooms which is full of signed copies and first editions from authors who have stayed here. 

➡️ Discover our full guide to the best hotels in Soho

Time Out tip: Swing by Hazlitt’s cosy honesty bar for a late night port or three.

Address: Hazlitt’s, 6 Frith Street, London W1D 3JA

Price: From £329 per night

Closest transport: Tottenham Court Road tube station

💎 Verdict: London’s best aparthotel 

📍 Nearby: Wicked at the Apollo, close-ish to Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, or the Victoria Line to anywhere you like

Victoria isn’t exactly the sexiest postcode in London. It’s all transport hubs, chain restaurants and identikit hotels. Which is why The July is such a surprise – this is the first UK outpost from Amsterdam’s City ID group, and it’s apartment-meets-boutique-hotel of dreams, striking a perfect balance between the two. 

The design, for example, is spot-on. Fettle (the people behind The Hoxton Rome) have gone for a Soho Home vibe with more colour, and the attention to detail is borderline obsessive: Marie-Stella-Maris toiletries in the bathroom, Maldon sea salt and a full bottle of olive oil in the kitchen, ‘Who Gives a Crap’ loo roll by the throne. Rooms – from studios to six-person apartments – come with Smeg appliances, Nespresso machines and king-sized beds you’ll struggle to leave. Downstairs, The Idler is all marble-topped bar and soft lighting, serving modern British plates like. Lake District bavette and crème fraîche panna cotta with strawberries and balsamic. Breakfast is on the small side, but delicious; eggs florentine, potato hash and the likes. 

There’s also a dinky gym, a private-bookable sauna (cucumber water included, awkward small talk excluded) and a co-working space with an honesty bar. Staff are friendly without being fake, quick to fetch forgotten key cards or spare razors. Sure, the area’s more commuter hub than cool hangout, but that’s kind of the point. You can be anywhere in London in 20 minutes, hop to Heathrow without faff, and crash somewhere genuinely nice at the end of the day. For short or long stays, The July is an easy, stylish win – especially if you want boutique vibes without Shoreditch prices.

Time Out tip: Mildred’s and Lorne are nearby, but you’re better off venturing out of Victoria’s chain restaurant cluster to Kioko in Whitehall for posh sushi, or Nag’s Head in Belgravia for cocktails.

Address: 282 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, London, SW1V 1BB

Price per night: From £249 per night

Closest transport link: Victoria train station is a few minutes away

💎 Verdict: Best family-friendly option

📍 Nearby: All the Southbank heavyweight hitters; the Tate Modern, Globe Theatre, Borough Market and more

With a prime riverside location, a destination cocktail bar, a plush spa and a cinema, Sea Containers London is a hotel for international travellers and Londoners alike. This South Bank hotel has been a smash since it opened in 2019: firstly just look at the fabulous interiors, courtesy of Tom Dixon of Habitat fame; think bold colours and design touches that nod to the building’s nautical heritage. 

Featuring 359 rooms, with a third having killer views of the Thames, the hotel is often bustling with people. Each room is kitted out with a mini-fridge, coffee machine, an ironing board and steamer, and most importantly, an almost overwhelmingly comfortable bed. The bigger suites come with their own boat-like bathtubs, too.

Then there’s the location: bang on the river and great for the Tate Modern and Southbank Centre and other London landmarks. Plus it has views down the Thames and across to St Paul’s iconic dome and over to the City. If you want to indulge in some pampering, head down to Agua London spa in the basement, a serene space with restorative treatments and then chill out in the Curzon-run cinema which screens the latest releases.  Up on the roof, there’s 12th Knot, a buzzy rooftop bar that makes the most of its lofty position with huge windows. Icing on the cake? The seriously impressive Lyaness cocktail bar (formerly Dandylyan), from Ryan Chetiyawardana’s award-winning Mr Lyan team. Every drink you order here is guaranteed to be a stunner and you get river views as an added bonus.

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Time Out tip: Plump for a river view balcony suite to sit high above the city feeling like you’re on a cruise ship.

Address: Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD

Price: From £200 a night

Closest transport: Blackfriars station and Southwark tube

💎 Verdict: Best cheap stay in central

There are cheap stays in London, but most of them are far away from the action. And that’s fine – the tube exists, after all. But a new hotel that’s trying, and for the most part succeeding, in changing the game. Logistically, you should know everything operates a bit differently here. There’s no traditional lobby, bar or restaurant – instead, the hotel partners with local cafes for a 10 percent discount. 

The hotel’s 125 rooms can accommodate groups of two, four and six. Housed within grand Kensington mansions, many of the rooms have rather nice tall sash windows. So, although definitely snug, the rooms should let in a fair bit of natural light (and many look out over the quaint Courtfield Gardens). Just heed our warning: not all rooms have windows. But those are the rooms you’ll get for under £100, so who’s complaining?

The main draw? You’re in tourist heaven. It’s 15 minutes to the natural history museum, or 25 minutes to Kensington Gardens. A four-minute stroll to Earl’s Court station means easy access to Embankment and Westminster via the District Line, but getting the tube is optional if you want to do some museum-orbiting. 

Address: 1 Barkston Gardens, London SW5 0ER

Price: Around £120 per night; windowless rooms from £98 

Closest transport: Earls Court Tube Station

💎 Verdict: London’s most romantic hotel

📍 Nearby: The British Museum, London Review Bookshop, St John and Fortitude Bakehouse

The cushioned furniture, dramatic draping and four-post beds at the design-led Zetter Bloomsbury create a steamy setting just steps away from the British Museum. Its facade is delicate and discreet, but once you’re in, you’re in a world of deep, rich colours and unexpected patterns, dark wooden antiques, rich textiles and artwork from across the world. It’s a cabinet of cultural curiosities with romantic undertones and lush greenery that perfectly pairs with its Bloomsbury setting. 

The hotel is set within six Georgian townhouses that were remodeled into 68 elegant rooms, ranging from cosy, to superior and deluxe. There are also eight spacious suites that feature the four-post canopy beds, long, quality drapery that cascades along the windows and freestanding claw-bathtubs that are built for one, but welcome two. When you need some fresh air – in private, the sole terrace suite overlooks the hotel garden that’s directly behind the British Museum. Designed by Rich Landscapes, its courtyard makes you feel as if you’ve landed in a sexy, secretive modern-day Bridgerton rendezvous. Best part? It’s directly attached to The Parlour, the hotel’s rather nice cocktail bar where you’ll find guests and non-guests mingling with a drink in the sun on a warm day. You can also order hearty bar snacks such as rarebit, cheeseburgers, meat and cheese boards, and more cocktails late into the night. 

But when hunger strikes before noon, head to The Orangery, where breakfast and afternoon tea are served in an equally lovely setting. This plant-laden atrium looks out onto the courtyard and as if you’re in a countryside conservatory. Central London feels a million miles away, despite being on your doorstep. 

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Time Out tip: If you can get a room with the garden view room, do it – it’s the only way to guarantee feeling like you’ve completely escaped the madness of central London. 

Address: 2-7 Montague Street, WC1B 5BP, London

Expect to pay: Rooms start at £400

Closest transport: Russell Square tube station is a six-minute walk

💎 Verdict: Best for all-out luxury 

📍 Nearby: Hyde Park, Notting Hill, and the Nag’s Head for a pint 

If a functional stay in pure finery is what you’re after, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more five-star hotel elsewhere in the country. The Berkeley is an out-of-this-world (and maybe out-of-price range), immaculately presented hotel with impeccable rooms, views across one of the world’s most famous green spaces, and the reassurance of knowing that your sky-high holiday is in the safe hands of Maybourne, the parent company behind Claridge’s.

The rooms are unsurprisingly magnificent. Beds are king-sized and covered in Italian bedsheets (thread count: intergallactically high) and duck feather down pillows. The bathrooms are home to potentially the nicest-smelling hotel soaps you’ll ever huff up your pipes, and the toilet is basically a robot at your disposal, with a wall-mounted mass of buttons, a self-closing lid, and heated seat. Is it really necessary? Who are we to tell? But it is toasty. 

As for restaurants, The Berkley has its fair share, but La Môme is the Riviera-inspired jewel in this hotel’s culinary crown. There’s nothing subtle about this place. There’s a DJ playing loungey electro, floor-to-ceiling windows, flaming plates of meat weaving at head-height between chairs and white table cloths, and black truffle macaroni that’ll cost you £43, but the crown jewell of the crown jewell is La Môme’s exotic pavlova. Crisp meringue is served over vanilla cream, mango sorbet and the most refreshing mango and coriander confit.

Luxury isn’t luxury without a spa, and The Berkley’s Surrenne has all the aesthetics and offerings one could desire, along with a long 22m pool, a stacked menu of treatments, ambient uplighting, and a pristine gym. The Berkeley’s rooftop pool, though, is a standout feature. Blue-and-white striped loungers with blousy shades surround a heated pool tha will take you to the Med without leaving zone one.

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Address: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL, London

Expect to pay: From £765 per night 

Closest transport: Both, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner tube stations are a four-minute walk

💎 Verdict: The best hotel in King’s Cross

📍 Nearby: Coal Drops Yard, the Eurostar, and the “frickin’ Spice Girls steps” 

Nobody likes to abuse the word ‘iconic’ more than your pals at Time Out. But the St Pancras Hotel really genuinely is iconic. Honest. The magnificent neo-Gothic building runs straight into St Pancras (the station) and basically looks like some magnificent wizard’s lair – which explains why the camerawork in the Harry Potter films very strongly implies that the Hogwarts Express departs from somewhere around its foyer, and not from its more prosaic neighbour Kings Cross. 

The building, designed by George Gilbert Scott, opened as the Midland Grand Hotel in 1873 and closed in 1935 for being too costly to maintain. It then spent the next 70 years as the world’s fanciest railway offices, was under threat of being demolished, then was saved in a 1960s campaign that led to its Grade II listing. Finally, in 2011 it reopened as the St Pancras Hotel.

It’s an entirely exquisite building, and has a great vibe that balances the bells and whistles of a five star international hotel with a genuinely fun, welcoming destination for Londoners after a drink or meal. Essentially if, in addition to being as close to St Pancras Station as you can possibly be, you’re looking for a fun night out in stunning surroundings with world class cocktails and the frickin’ Spice Girls steps just right there for you – St Pancras Hotel simply cannot be beat.

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Address: Euston Rd, London NW1 2AR

Price: From £280 per night

Closest transport: Literally inside the St Pancras Station building