The best naughty hotels in London, for a little bit of spice

Is there a naughtier district than Soho? If you want to stay in the vicinity of debauchery while also keeping a safe distance from it, Broadwick offers a deluxe experience that still encapsultes Soho's sensual side. The Nook – a private low-lit guest lounge – is sure to get you in the mood; the combo of champagne, whimsical wallpaper and smooth tunes flowing from the record player may just send you into a frenzy. 

But whatever you do, don't miss your res at on-site Italian restaurant Dear Jackie. If the dark red colour scheme isn't enough to get you hot under the collar, people who believe in aphrodisiacs may want to order one of the truffle dishes. It serves up Italian cuisine with theatrical flair – think scallops with champagne sauce, crab-stuffed risotto, and beef fillet with gorgonzola – all of it is a flavour sensation. The final crescendo comes at rooftop bar Flute, where leopard-print furniture, gold leaf ceilings, and plush, cocooned seating make it impossible to resist lingering over craft cocktails under 360-degree city views.

Even service plays a part in the hotel’s naughtiness: it’s intuitive, almost preternatural, anticipating your needs before you even know them. It feels like a luxurious flirtation. Sure, there’s no pool or gym, but why does that even matter? Broadwick Soho is a hotel built for indulging the senses, not the sweat glands. Surrounded by Soho’s streets and chaos, this is a place where pleasures are amplified. 

Time Out tip: You can hire rooms at Broadwick Soho for private events. And seriously, there is no better place to host a party. 

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

Price: From around £455 a night

Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road tube station is a 14-minute walk.

We know, the actual logistics of booking a room don't sound very sexy at all – but it is. It really, really is. The Hoxton Holborn makes this list because you can book it for the daytime. You can check in at 10am and check out at 4pm, so it's a prime spot for a spontaneous whirlwind fling. And aside from that? It's a pretty decent spot (even if you're just there for the afternoon). The Hoxton is affordable, has free wifi and its rooms are very tastefully decorated. 

The whole place has got that quietly seductive energy that all good hotels should have. There's dim lighting, artfully scuffed leather, and a lobby that hums in the evening with the sound of people who probably have work tomorrow but absolutely aren’t going home yet.

Behind the Georgian frontage, The Hoxton pulls off its usual trick: being both effortlessly cool and just a bit naughty. The open-plan bar-lobby hybrid is the kind of place where laptops appear by day, but by cocktail hour the vibe shifts — the music dips, the lights drop, and the flirting starts. Nab one of the snug banquettes by the bar, order a round of samphire martinis, and watch things unfold.

Upstairs, rooms are made for more than just sleeping. Even the snug ‘Shoebox’ rooms ooze understated sex appeal — moody navy walls, soft lighting, and mirrors that know exactly what they’re doing. The larger ‘Cosy Up’ rooms add long hallways and wraparound windows for that morning-after glow. Thoughtful details — a tray labelled “Old Bag” for your teabags, their own-brand toiletries — show this is a hotel with a sense of humour as well as style.

Downstairs, Rondo serves up dishes that feel far too good to eat sober — scallops in silky broth, rib-eyes dripping in caper butter, and that superfood breakfast bowl to set you right the next morning. No gym, no spa, but who’s here to sweat? You’re two minutes from Soho — or you could just stay put and make your own mischief.

Time Out tip: The hotel’s wine bar Rondo is worth a visit.

Address: 199–206 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BD.

Price: Rooms from £200 per night. 

Nearest tube: Holborn is a three-minute walk

Tucked into the corner of Grosvenor Square, The Twenty Two is Mayfair’s answer to boutique indulgence. It is a hotel that feels both exclusive and open-armed. As soon as you pass through the mirrored doors, you’re greeted by cloaked doormen and reception staff who radiate Soho House-style ease. This sets the tone for a stay that’s as luxurious as it is relaxed. Part hotel, part members’ club, The Twenty Two lets guests slip into a world of discreet decadence: below ground, Mayfair’s elite mingle in plush, red-velvet surrounds, sipping cocktails and dancing late into the night, while hotel guests get a taste of membership privileges. Basically, it is the perfect spot for those who want a touch of Mayfair glamour, with an added dash of fun. 

The rooms are the real showstoppers. No two of the 31 bedrooms and suites are the same. But, each has a playful, slightly risqué edge. Our Deluxe room (£1,000) felt grand but oh so romantic, with a double-height ceiling, pale blue walls, a red velvet four-poster, mirrored cupboards, and a sparkling chandelier for a hit of drama. The bathrooms are marble-clad retreats, with underfloor heating, deep baths and bath salts. Even the small details – trompe-l'œil carpets, slippers marked “22” – hint at the hotel’s sense of humour and style. 

Dining and drinking at The Twenty Two continues the sense of elegance. The main restaurant serves rich Italian and modern British dishes – caviar, truffles, and beef fillet all make appearances – while the members’ club space is a sultry, mirrored escape with a fusion Italian/Japanese menu. Drinks flow in the dimly lit Living Room bar, where cocktail theatrics match the plush surroundings. Service is warm, personal, and attentive, striking the perfect balance between familiarity and discretion.

There’s no gym or spa here. But there’s glamour and decadence in fistfuls. The Twenty Two is Mayfair at its most mischievous: elegant, exclusive, and deliciously indulgent.

Time Out tip: There’s a nightclub open on Thursdays to Sundays. So if you want to party, book a night then. 

Address: 22 Grosvenor Square, W1K 6LF

Price: The smallest rooms start at £695

Nearest tube: Bond Street is a seven-minute walk away.

Sea Containers is all the joy of being at sea with none of the seasickness. Perched on the river, it feels like a 1920s cruise: there are curved walls, porthole mirrors, striped-shirted staff – and it’s seriously irresistible. Even the lift ride feels a little glamorous, like you’re heading somewhere you shouldn’t quite be.

The rooms are dangerously comfortable. The beds are so soft you might never leave. Decorated in grey-and-pink interiors with dimmable lights and a minibar stocked with pre-mixed cocktails, there’s basically everything you need for a good time. 

Rain showers, plush sofas, and marble bathrooms make the bigger suites feel indulgent, while even the smaller rooms have enough charm to make you consider skipping sightseeing altogether. Thames-view rooms are extra seductive – sit by the window in your robe, sip a cocktail, and watch London sparkle below.

Then there’s the 12th Knot bar on the top floor – dark, moody, and glamorous, the kind of place that feels like it’s hiding secrets. Sink into a sofa with a perfectly mixed Negroni – or slip out to the terrace and let the city unfurl beneath your feet. Nights here feel exactly like you imagine London should.

Dinner downstairs is equally flirtatious – the sea bass chowder that sings with flavour and fries that crunch with salty sin. When the sun is out bag yourself a table right on the river. 

And if you want to disappear entirely, the hotel’s own Curzon cinema is a dream. Plush seats, wine on tap, and a curated film programme make it a private escape without ever leaving the building. Sea Containers doesn’t shout – it teases. It glimmers. This is a stylish, flirty and unapologetically bold hotel, that shows off the South Bank at its most mischievous. Come for a night, get lost in the fun, and only leave when you absolutely have to.

Time Out tip: Why not catch a play at the nearby National Theatre or The Globe while you’re in the area? You’ll get a nice stroll down the Southbank, too. 

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

Price: From £200 a night

Nearest tube: Blackfriars station and Southwark tube

Mama Shelter doesn’t do subtle. Even if from the outside it might look stereotypically chic. Once you’re inside the riot begins: there’s wallpaper to make your head spin, clashing carpets, and more bejewelled Darth Vader masks than anyone could reasonably need. It’s chaotic, colourful, and you never know what the decor will serve you next. Basically, its a hotel that refuses to behave.

The energy is infectious. Staff are young, chatty and genuinely excited to offer tips – like the barman insisting you try his favourite cocktail, the Mama Says Pica Pica. Karaoke rooms with retro 50s microphones invite guests to sing badly but enthusiastically. There’s even a small gym if you feel guilty about last night, and a cinema room to sneak in some escapism. Want a souvenir? There’s a photo booth and on-site merch to take a piece of the madness home with you.

Rooms are compact but bursting with personality. With Tweety Bird lampshades, Tasmanian Devil accents (yes really) and TVs loaded with hundreds of films and a free porn collection for those feeling extra naughty, you’ll have lots to keep you busy. Breakfast is quite steep at £22 a head, but let’s be honest, you’ll probably be too hungover to care. And, if you do Ozone is just down the road.

The location adds to the fun – Bethnal Green has that rough-and-ready East End flavour, with nightlife spilling late into the early hours. Broadway Market, Columbia Road and Hackney City Farm are nearby for daytime antics, and Satan’s Whiskers serves cocktails that flirt with your sense of taste.

Mama Shelter is like an upmarket hostel with a mischievous grin – a place for those who’ve outgrown backpacker life but refuse to grow up entirely. Strangers chat like old friends, drinks are flowing, and no one here takes themselves too seriously. Exactly the kind of chaos London needs.

Time Out tip: Although Mama Shelter does invite kids in, we recommend leaving them at home. It is definitely an adults only vibe. 

Address: 437 Hackney Road, London, E2 8PP

Price: £180 a night

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green is a 10-minute walk

If you’re going to be naughty in London, you might as well do it properly.  So, why not do it 52 floors above everyone else? The Shangri-La isn’t your standard hotel, it comes with an invitation to misbehave with a skyline backdrop. The floor to ceiling windows make the city your audience. You can see everything – the Thames, the twinkling lights, and on a clear day, maybe even Birminghan?

Each of the 202 rooms is pure temptation. The beds so plush they could swallow you whole. The bathrooms are wrapped in marble and fitted with tubs that practically demand champagne. Even the loos have a view – it’s impossible not to feel a little luxiourous brushing your teeth while gazing down at Tower Bridge.

This is five-star mischief in its finest form. Afternoon tea feels like a flirtation – tiers of glossy pastries and bubbles that never stop flowing. Breakfast? A full-blown affair. Perfect eggs, silky coffee, and Borough Market ingredients so fresh it’s almost indecent.

By night, the Shard glows – and so will you after one too many cocktails at GŎNG Bar. With London glittering beneath you, it’s hard not to feel like the main character in your own slightly scandalous rom-com. Down below, Borough hums with energy – you can visit markets, galleries, and historic pubs if you dare to come back down to earth. But let’s be honest: once you’re up there, you won’t want to leave.

The Shangri-La is London’s most elegant kind of naughty – all silk sheets, skyline seduction and bubbles on tap. Come for the views, stay for the sinfully good breakfast, and don’t bother pretending you’ll get an early night. You’ll want to take it all in from up there.

Time Out tip: Ask for a room with a bathtub, you won’t regret it. 

Address: 31 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9QU

Price: From £486

Nearest tube: London Bridge is a two-minute walk

Tucked discreetly behind a Georgian façade on Frith Street, Hazlitt’s is the sort of hotel that seduce yous you in. A cluster of 18th-century townhouses transformed into a 30-room bolthole, it’s a place where every creaky floorboard and flickering candle feels laden with secrets. Once inside, you’re basically in another century: four-poster beds draped in velvet, oil paintings of unsmiling ancestors, and bathtubs deep enough to lose a lover in. It’s gloriously over the top – part museum, part boudoir – and entirely irresistible.

But don’t be fooled by the antique trimmings. Hazlitt’s might look like it’s been pickled in sherry since 1718, yet modern pleasures hide behind the panelling. There are flatscreen TVs, bedding, and a level of comfort that would make even Casanova cancel his plans. There’s no restaurant, because this isn’t the kind of place where you dine out. Breakfast is delivered to your room, best enjoyed in bed, surrounded by gilt-framed mirrors and yesterday’s regrets.

When night falls, the hotel’s honesty bar opens its arms. Picture a shadowy library of strong spirits and stronger gossip, open 24 hours for anyone who prefers a nightcap to a curfew. Staff can discreetly arrange everything from theatre tickets to dinner reservations, though the real magic is right here, behind those heavy wooden doors.

Outside, Soho hums with its usual cocktail of sin and sparkle: burlesque clubs, basement bars, and late-night eateries just steps away. But Hazlitt’s remains the area’s best-kept secret: a timewarp for lovers, dreamers, and those who prefer their history with a hangover

Time Out tip: The in-house library includes two signed copies of Harry Potter if that’s your thing.

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

Price: From £329 per night

Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road tube station is a 12-minute walk

The Standard doesn’t whisper luxury, it purrs it. Sitting bold and gleaming opposite King’s Cross, this Brutalist beauty is the kind of place that makes you want to behave badly. From the outside lift that glides up the building like something out of a sci-fi film, to the mirrored bathrooms with lighting so good it basically screams romance, The Standard is hotel dripping in class.

Inside, the rooms are plush and cinematic. Think curved walls, giant beds, deep tubs and views over King’s Cross that make you feel like the main character in a very stylish movie. Order a martini to your room, slip into one of those impossibly soft robes and you’ll understand the vibe instantly: pure, golden, indulgence. The décor mixes retro cool and modern polish – you’ll find details like 70s colour palettes and shag carpets, all with that signature “you’re in the coolest hotel in London” edge.

And then there’s the nightlife. Decimo, the rooftop restaurant, glows with red leather and tequila fumes, while the rooftop bar itself is the kind of place where one drink turns into three. Downstairs, Sweeties – the late-night cocktail bar – is part disco, part fever dream.

The Standard isn’t about stiff service or polite whispers in corridors. It’s about late check-outs, flirty glances, and room service at 2am. The energy is decadent, a little dangerous, and the best of the best. If old-school London hotels are champagne and pearls, The Standard is mezcal and red lipstick.

Time Out tip: Room service here is some of the best in the city. Don’t skip it. 

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

Price: From £217 per night

Nearest tube: King's Cross station is a two-minute walk.