The best hotels in London, curated by Time Out travel experts

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

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 date back to 1718, but Hazlitt’s only opened up its doors in 1986. But you wouldn’t know that once stepping inside: Hazlitt’s is a magical time warp full of four poster beds, throne-style loos, gilt mirrors and creaky staircases. But amongst the antiques, there are plenty of hotel comforts including flatscreen TVs tucked away behind wood-panels, comfy deep armchairs and claw-footed baths.

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. There’s no hotel restaurant but there doesn’t need to be with places like Duck Soup, Rita’s Dining and Quo Vadis a short walk away. We would also recommend tea and cake at Maison Bertaux, half pints at the French House and late night espressos at Bar Italia to keep you awake for the late night jazz at Ronnie Scott's. After a big Soho night out, you get the joy of having breakfast in bed. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a Brick Lane bagel sat in an ornate four poster. 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. 

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

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, the fabulous interiors, courtesy of Tom Dixon of Habitat fame; think bold colours and design touches that nod to the building’s nautical heritage. 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.

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

Does the most famous hotel in the world need an introduction? Probably not, but to step into The Ritz is still a semi-magical experience, transporting you back to a time when Britain ruled the world and someone had just invented the train. An update in 1995 injected some modernity into the 1906-does-Louis XVI design, but there’s a wonderful sense of old-school decorum here, appropriate given the sheer quantities of marble and 24-carat gold leaf on site. Be warned: no jeans, no trainers, and jackets for dining, please – apart from at breakfast.

Time Out tip: If you like afternoon tea, this is truly one of the best places in London to get your scone and finger sandwich fix.

Address: The Ritz, 150 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9BR
Price: From £725 per night
Nearest transport: Green Park station

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.  

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 station

The London Edition makes a big impact as you walk into its grand hall of a lobby, complete with double-height rococo ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and marble pillars. Bedrooms are similarly impactful: akin to lodges or dachas, with matte oak floors, wood-panelled walls and faux-fur throws tossed on luxurious beds. Larger rooms come with sofas, some have furnished terraces, all have rainforest showers and Le Labo toiletries (with the hotel’s woody signature scent).

Time Out tip: Go to Berners Tavern for brunch and flag down the bloody mary trolley where you can make a bespoke tipple.

Address: The London Edition, 10 Berners Street, London,W1T 3NP
Price: From £308 per night
Nearest transport: Tottenham Court Road station

It feels like you can see every little inch of Greater London from up up up at the Shangri-La. The floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows are truly panoramic, and they’re there everywhere you go. This is exactly what you’d hope from a place that occupies floors 34 to 52 of the London Bridge landmark, the Shard.

There are over 50 Shangri-La hotels across Asia all known for being immensely luxurious and this London outpost is no exception. The beds are insanely comfy and the bathrooms sparkle with enough marble to make them feel like a Russian palace. But let’s be real, it’s all about the views here and the hotel acknowledges that providing binoculars in every room.

Foodwise, the view also steals the show. Afternoon tea is particularly fun; there’s nowhere else in London where you can get such an eyeful while scoffing scones. Even on a grey day, you’ll feel on top of the world. If you can bear to go back to street level, Borough Market is just a few minutes away where you can load up on some of the city’s best street food and produce. Once you've had your fill, stroll over to Bermondsey Street for the Fashion & Textile Museum, the White Cube Gallery and lots of lovely cafes and shops. I particularly love Morocco Bound, a bookshop-cum-café that has an exciting range of evening events. 

Time Out tip: Go early for breakfast so you can sleepily enjoy the buffet while watching the city wake up

Address: Shangri-La The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU
Price: From £553 per night
Closest transport: London Bridge station

Over the years, London has done a fabulous job of finding new uses for its many, many historically fascinating buildings. One of those retrofits (a £75 million revamp) is the Great Scotland Yard Hotel, a Grade II-listed building which dates back to the 1820s and was once the Ministry of Defence’s old library. Admittedly, the words ‘Scotland Yard’ do not exactly scream ‘mega-luxe five-star hotel’, but this 151-room Hyatt is as deeply, thoroughly refined as hotels get. Most impressively, there’s bags of character here – far more than might be expected of a global hotel chain. 

The rooms are full of light overlooking the Palace of Whitehall and are a satisfyingly comfortable size. Beyond the rooms, Great Scotland Yard is far from a copy-paste Hyatt. There are nods everywhere to the building’s unique history: the doors are slathered in a deep police blue and the foyer has an exhibition of historical bobby uniforms and a wall of works from incarcerated artists. Meanwhile, The 40 Elephants cocktail bar features a huge chandelier inspired by the daring robberies of the Forty Elephants all-female crime syndicate. Slightly off the theme but still very unique is the restaurant, Ekstedt at The Yard, where Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt creates fire-based ‘old Nordic’ style dishes. 

For history and politics fans, you couldn’t be any closer to the Parliamentary action, but the the hotel is also exceptionally close to Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross and a short walk to Covent Garden. Considering the centrality of its location, Great Scotland Yard Hotel is impressively calm and quiet. 

Time Out tip: Ask about the knick-knacks on the walls. They’re loaded with history and each one has a great story behind it. 

Address: Great Scotland Yard Hotel, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN
Price: From £268 per night
Closest transport: Charing Cross station

This place is extremely punchy: a standard room will cost close to four figures, and the suites are really only for those with proper serious money. But you know what? It’s worth it. Honestly. If I was loaded, this is totally the London hotel I’d stay at. Given that it’s from the people behind the Italian fashion house not exactly averse to a bit of bling, the hotel is surprisingly understated. It’s clearly very confident in what it’s doing, prioritising sophistication over gaudy opulence. 

There’s also a lot more to the Bulgari than meets the eye. There are five secret subterranean floors housing a really decent-sized swimming pool, a luxe two-floor spa, a gym, a conference room and a chi-chi cocktail bar. Oh, and there’s a private cinema down there, too. You’ll not be surprised to hear that service is also shockingly good. The staff were at once exceptionally polished and jovial; deferential and funny – to the point where they became a genuine highlight of my visit. The food is also of a very high standard:, Sette, the exceptional in-house restaurant is from NYC restaurant group, Scarpetta. It’s not cheap, but it is damn good.

The location is swank central – Harrods and Valentino are just across Brompton Road, Sloane Street another block away. Hyde Park is also very close, and if, for some reason, you’re staying here and want to use the tube with the rest of the riff raff, Knightsbridge station is about a two-minute walk. 

But let me leave you with one final thing: this hotel has by far the nicest smelling toiletries of any I’ve stayed in. Sure, you might expect that, given Bulgari’s pretty big in the fragrance game, but boy did I leave there smelling good. And feeling pretty good too, actually. What a place. 

Time Out Tip: If you book a suite here, it comes with business cards that say your name and that the Bulgari is your London address!

Address: Bulgari Hotel London, 171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW
Price: From £725 per night
Nearest transport: Knightsbridge station

Older Londoners will have fond memories of Kettner’s restaurant, opened in 1867 by August Kettner, chef to Napoleon III, which has been incorporated into this gorgeous new townhouse hotel from the Soho House group. The massive restoration project involved 15 Georgian townhouses (including 11 listed buildings), plus Soho House Greek Street. The result? Thirty-three lavish rooms, from ‘cosy’ to suites, with both original features and twenty-first-century nods to art deco design. The Kettner’s restaurant has now been restored into a glam French bistro serving classic fare of yore in a decadent setting. Soho House member’s get a discount but unlike some of the other SH properties, everyone can stay here.

Time Out tip: For a real taste of old Soho, pop across the road to Maison Bertaux for cakes and chats with Soho legend owner Michelle. 

Address: 29 Romilly Street, London, W1D 5AL
Price: From £312 per night
Nearest transport: Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square tube stations