London Hotels: The top 7 trendy spots to stay while in town
Since the answer to “is Buckingham Palace available?” is most likely no, we set out to select 7 of the next best spots to lay your head while in London. Granted, you may not have a Downton style staff of twenty at your beck and call, but hey, you might just have your own personal butler. From the ultra trendy to the hella plush, peruse our list of the best London hotels.
London Edition
10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP
Edition-hotels.com
This just-opened partnership between Marriott and hip hotel magnate Ian Schrager automatically became the place to stay in London when it threw a raucous mid-fashion week launch party attended by the likes of Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne and Pixie Geldof. To boot, each luxe room comes complete with a fur throw and artworks by Tracey Emin, Jenny Holzer and Jacco Olivier.
Café Royal
68 Regent Street, London W1B 4DY
Hotelcaferoyal.com
Part streamlined, part ornamental stunner, this newly-opened renovation of a Victorian landmark is the perfect respite from London’s bustling tourist centre. A step away from Piccadily’s Circus, this hotel houses Oscar Wilde’s old stomping grounds, The Grill Room, and the incredibly modern Akasha spa.
The Ampersand
10 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ER
ampersandhotel.com
So close to some of London’s best museums you can almost-sort-of-not-really touch them from your window, The Ampersand hotel is one of London’s newest and hottest. Owned by a low-pro Russian oligarch (seriously, his identity is unknown), this spot takes czarina opulence to the next level. Guest rooms are divided into five concepts—botany, music, geometry, ornithology, and astronomy—but unlike most concept rooms nowadays, these one’s don’t take their themes too seriously.
The greatest spaces though are the shared ones, like the delectable Mediterranean restaurant, Apero, set in the Victorian cellar, or the Drawing Room, a dazzling mix of whimsical fabrics and Wychwood blue (when in England!). Come daytime, these spots are filled with the yummy mummies who drop their kids off at the neighboring French school.
Hoxton Hotel
81 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HU
Hoxtonhotels.com
For those wanting to be in the heart of hipsterdom, look no further than the Hoxton Hotel. With younger guests and hyper-designed rooms, this boutique spot gives off some seriously cool vibes. The décor is loosely inspired by Shoreditch culture (think: one part street, one part rock and roll, one part vintage) and literally no surface/fiber/molecule has been neglected. Rain showers and steam-free mirrors, anyone?
Shell out a little more for one of the eight stylized concept room. Our pick is the Fresh, Fruit Number room—so aptly described as being just “like your annoyingly cool best mate’s spare room, it’s a place you wish you had the time to put together yourself”. Guilty as charged!
And if the twenty second walk to some of London’s coolest bars wasn’t bonus enough, there’s also the daily!/free!/yummy! brown-bagged breakfasts of yoghurt and granola. Win.
The Dorchester
53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA
dorchestercollection.com
Want to live the Kate Middleton life in London, but can’t score yourself a pair of keys to Buckingham Palace? We feel you. The next best thing is undoubtedly The Dorchester, London’s most iconic hotel. This 1930’s Art Deco masterpiece retains all it’s original charm, but has managed to stay au courant even eighty years after it’s inception. With a top-notch fitness centre, five restaurants, and two bars, there’s something for everyone in these digs. Feeling fancy? Try Alain Ducasse, one of only four 3-Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK. Feeling scene-y? There’s the majjjj hot spot China Tang (Kate Moss has been known to frequent).
Glitz and glam aside, The Dorchester’s main selling point is its history. Sure, Prince Phillip had his bachelor party here the night before he got married. And, yah, Brad and Jennifer reportedly broke up in these hallowed walls. But there’s only one celeb that’s truly worthy of a pilgrimage: Elizabeth Taylor. Through thick, thin, and all of her husbands, the Dorchester was her London home. For the easy rate of £4950/night, you can stay in her very own suite, The Harlequin, complete with the original pink marble bathroom that was installed as per her request. Rumour has it ‘RB xxx ET’ is carved into the marble somewhere.
41, London
41 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS
41hotel.com
Victoria’s 41, London was designed with one thing in mind: ditch the hotel atmosphere in favour of the cosier, more personal one of a gentlemen’s club (Staff have even been trained to know all the guests by name!). With fireplaces abounding and mahogany galore, the look here is super sleek meets super traditional. Though none of the 41 rooms are the same, they all have black and white colour schemes—no outfit clashing moments here, guys!
But the real treat at this spot is the over the top service. There are champagne bottles on check-in, an aromatherapy pillow menu, and even a soap menu! Pets are treated just as well as (if not better than) their human counterparts. Felines and canines and all the other ‘–ines’ sleep in custom-made pet beds, drink ONLY fresh mineral water, and have a turndown treat. Now that’s vacay-ing hard.
The Rookery
Peter’s Lane, Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6DS
Just a few minutes away from must-see sights like St Paul’s and the Tate Modern is The Rookery, a quintessentially British hotel set in a series of period houses. We’re talking antique furniture, open fires, floor to ceiling wood paneling, and flagstone floors. Super attentive staff is a bonus. It’s totally Downton in the city.
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Since the answer to "is Buckingham Palace available?" is most likely no, we set out to select 7 of the next best spots to lay your head while in London. Granted, you may not have a Downton style staff of twenty at your beck and call, but hey, you might just have your own personal butler. From the ultra trendy to the hella plush, peruse our list of the best London hotels.
London Edition
10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP
Edition-hotels.com
This just-opened partnership between Marriott and hip hotel magnate Ian Schrager automatically became the place to stay in London when it threw a raucous mid-fashion week launch party attended by the likes of Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne and Pixie Geldof. To boot, each luxe room comes complete with a fur throw and artworks by Tracey Emin, Jenny Holzer and Jacco Olivier.
Café Royal
68 Regent Street, London W1B 4DY
Hotelcaferoyal.com
Part streamlined, part ornamental stunner, this newly-opened renovation of a Victorian landmark is the perfect respite from London’s bustling tourist centre. A step away from Piccadily’s Circus, this hotel houses Oscar Wilde’s old stomping grounds, The Grill Room, and the incredibly modern Akasha spa.
The Ampersand
10 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ER
ampersandhotel.com
So close to some of London’s best museums you can almost-sort-of-not-really touch them from your window, The Ampersand hotel is one of London’s newest and hottest. Owned by a low-pro Russian oligarch (seriously, his identity is unknown), this spot takes czarina opulence to the next level. Guest rooms are divided into five concepts—botany, music, geometry, ornithology, and astronomy—but unlike most concept rooms nowadays, these one’s don’t take their themes too seriously.
The greatest spaces though are the shared ones, like the delectable Mediterranean restaurant, Apero, set in the Victorian cellar, or the Drawing Room, a dazzling mix of whimsical fabrics and Wychwood blue (when in England!). Come daytime, these spots are filled with the yummy mummies who drop their kids off at the neighboring French school.
Hoxton Hotel
81 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HU
Hoxtonhotels.com
For those wanting to be in the heart of hipsterdom, look no further than the Hoxton Hotel. With younger guests and hyper-designed rooms, this boutique spot gives off some seriously cool vibes. The décor is loosely inspired by Shoreditch culture (think: one part street, one part rock and roll, one part vintage) and literally no surface/fiber/molecule has been neglected. Rain showers and steam-free mirrors, anyone?
Shell out a little more for one of the eight stylized concept room. Our pick is the Fresh, Fruit Number room—so aptly described as being just “like your annoyingly cool best mate’s spare room, it’s a place you wish you had the time to put together yourself”. Guilty as charged!
And if the twenty second walk to some of London’s coolest bars wasn’t bonus enough, there’s also the daily!/free!/yummy! brown-bagged breakfasts of yoghurt and granola. Win.
The Dorchester
53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA
dorchestercollection.com
Want to live the Kate Middleton life in London, but can’t score yourself a pair of keys to Buckingham Palace? We feel you. The next best thing is undoubtedly The Dorchester, London’s most iconic hotel. This 1930’s Art Deco masterpiece retains all it’s original charm, but has managed to stay au courant even eighty years after it’s inception. With a top-notch fitness centre, five restaurants, and two bars, there’s something for everyone in these digs. Feeling fancy? Try Alain Ducasse, one of only four 3-Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK. Feeling scene-y? There’s the majjjj hot spot China Tang (Kate Moss has been known to frequent).
Glitz and glam aside, The Dorchester’s main selling point is its history. Sure, Prince Phillip had his bachelor party here the night before he got married. And, yah, Brad and Jennifer reportedly broke up in these hallowed walls. But there’s only one celeb that’s truly worthy of a pilgrimage: Elizabeth Taylor. Through thick, thin, and all of her husbands, the Dorchester was her London home. For the easy rate of £4950/night, you can stay in her very own suite, The Harlequin, complete with the original pink marble bathroom that was installed as per her request. Rumour has it ‘RB xxx ET’ is carved into the marble somewhere.
41, London
41 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS
41hotel.com
Victoria’s 41, London was designed with one thing in mind: ditch the hotel atmosphere in favour of the cosier, more personal one of a gentlemen’s club (Staff have even been trained to know all the guests by name!). With fireplaces abounding and mahogany galore, the look here is super sleek meets super traditional. Though none of the 41 rooms are the same, they all have black and white colour schemes—no outfit clashing moments here, guys!
But the real treat at this spot is the over the top service. There are champagne bottles on check-in, an aromatherapy pillow menu, and even a soap menu! Pets are treated just as well as (if not better than) their human counterparts. Felines and canines and all the other ‘–ines’ sleep in custom-made pet beds, drink ONLY fresh mineral water, and have a turndown treat. Now that’s vacay-ing hard.
The Rookery
Peter's Lane, Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6DS
Rookeryhotel.com
Just a few minutes away from must-see sights like St Paul’s and the Tate Modern is The Rookery, a quintessentially British hotel set in a series of period houses. We’re talking antique furniture, open fires, floor to ceiling wood paneling, and flagstone floors. Super attentive staff is a bonus. It’s totally Downton in the city.){kind=link}