(Travel)
The Most Fashionable Boutique Hotels In London
Three words: stylish, cosmopolitan, posh.
London may have the second-most five-star hotels in the world (it was recently dethroned by Macau, which now holds the top honor), but the UK capital offers travelers more than just $1,200-a-night rooms fit for royalty. Yes, it has ample empty-your-wallet expensive overnights that are, admittedly, quite extraordinary, but that’s just a piece, albeit a large one, of the accommodation scene.
London is a fascinating, cosmopolitan destination where larger-than-life landmarks like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge mingle with fashionable shops and easy-on-the-eyes restaurants in neighborhoods that ooze charm. So it should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that character-rich stays abound. To that end, the boutique hotel game in the city is strong. Ok, that’s an understatement; it’s flat-out fabulous. Our picks for spots to call home when visiting the birthplace of red phone booths and Big Ben reflect the distinctive vibe of their environs, whether that’s Mayfair or Shoreditch.
Journeying across the pond soon and want to drop your luggage — and, perhaps, have afternoon tea and a proper cocktail — somewhere that’s stylish and highly distinctive? Bookmark these design-driven boutique hotels for your next trip to London.
Brown’s Hotel
While competition for the top boutique spot in Mayfair, the posh neighborhood bordering Hyde Park and Green Park, is fierce, Brown’s Hotel, now flying the Rocco Forte flag outside its Georgian townhouses, certainly makes a strong case. London’s oldest luxury hotel has an enduring legacy, having welcomed prominent figures such as Queen Victoria, Theodore Roosevelt, Alexander Graham Bell, Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, and Rudyard Kipling, who penned The Jungle Book on site. Refurbished by Olga Polizzi, the interiors reflect a timeless and cosmopolitan twist of classic British refinement. Charlie’s serves elegant afternoon tea and Sunday roast. Photographs by Terence Donovan decorate his namesake bar, a swank spot for a nightcap.
The Newman
The Newman is a stylish crash pad in Central London with charisma and a contemporary spirit. Designed by London-based studio Lind + Almond, the interiors reference Fitzrovia’s bohemian roots. The 81 rooms and suites layer a warm neutral palette with rich textiles, curated books, and bold art. The Art Deco vibes stretch to the Gambit Bar, a dimly lit drinking den for cocktails and gourmet small plates. In need of a little R&R? There’s an entire floor dedicated to wellness, complete with a sauna, steam room, halotherapy salt room, ice lounge, hydrotherapy pool, and spa treatments. It also has a fully equipped gym and fitness classes for travelers trying to make time for movement on holiday.
The Hari
Located in affluent Belgravia, near Embassies and Sloane Square, The Hari sets itself apart from the other high-end hotels with its more down-to-earth, cool vibe. It’s a place where the clued-in crowd, travelers who prefer fashionable over fancy, stay in West London. The lobby exudes mid-century vibes with graphic artwork and low-slung seating. The rooms take a more contemporary direction with velvet upholstery, wood furnishings, and marble bathrooms. Suites add tubs right under the window. The bar acts as the social hub for cocktails and chit-chat. With Il Pampero on the ground floor, guests don’t need to venture out for homemade pasta.
Redchurch Townhouse
Surrounded by vintage stores, coffee shops, and hip cafes on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, Redchurch Townhouse feels right at home in East London’s coolest pocket. The bedrooms, which range in size from Tiny to Large, are decorated with neutral hues, upholstered armchairs, vintage fixtures, and Cowshed bath products, for a calming sanctuary with a cachet of charm. Fans of Soho House’s signature restaurant, Cecconi’s, will appreciate the chance to enjoy favorites like homemade tagliatelle bolognese and wood-fired margherita pizza. Overnight guests also have access to the amenities, including the heated rooftop pool and health club, at Shoreditch House, just around the corner.
45 Park Lane
Designed by Thierry Despont to feel like a glamorous private residence, 45 Park Lane is an intimate, residential-style retreat with creative flair. It’s part of the posh Dorchester Collection, which includes Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris and Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, so you know it’s posh. But it’s also packed with personality — from the Art Deco nods to the extensive British art collection. All of the 45 rooms and suites overlook Hyde Park. Relishing a massage and dip in the hydro pool at the subterranean spa before getting gussied up for a steak at Wolfgang Puck’s CUT at 45 Park Lane and a craft cocktail at Bar 45 lets visitors play the part of a privileged Mayfair resident — at least for a few days.
The Soho Hotel
The Soho Hotel sits smack in the middle of one of the West End’s trendiest districts. Once guests enter the luxury boutique — a favorite of the fashion cognoscenti — it’s chic and glamorous yet comfortable in a way that beckons travelers to trade stilettos for well-loved designer loafers. Kit Kemp lends her trademark touch to the interiors, which include an English-style drawing room, a book-filled library, a restaurant/bar, and a screening room. The 96 individually decorated bedrooms outfitted with oversized headboards, bold florals, and large, warehouse-style windows are bright and cheery even in the grayest months.
The Twenty Two
Tucked inside an Edwardian manor on Grosvenor Square, in Mayfair, The Twenty Two London is a hotel, public restaurant, and private club with a polished pedigree and plenty of design appeal. Interiors are a masterclass in maximalism, with no square inch spared from color and texture. The 31-key retreat channels the 18th-century opulence with crystal chandeliers, bespoke canopy beds, heavy velvet drapes, and custom upholstered sofas. Bold hues, delightfully over-the-toppatterns, and curiosity-spurring corners inject a modern zeal that fills it with fresh, creative energy. As much a place to stay as play, the restaurant and bar are always buzzing.
Treehouse Hotel London
Showing off a whimsical, playful side that the U.K. capital does always get credit for having, the sustainably-minded Treehouse Hotel London exudes ease and intentionality. The photo-ready rooms and suites with connecting options appeal to the sartorial set, from London Fashion Week attendees to British Vogue editors to aesthetic-oriented travelers. It feels nostalgic — like you’re finally fulfilling a childhood fantasy — but with the practical high-tech inclusions and decor worthy of a glossy magazine that speak to an adult sensibility.
The Hoxton, Southwark
Situated near many galleries, food markets, and a tube station, The Hoxton, Southwark leans into its Southbank surroundings. Rooms are ridiculously chic with contemporary nods to the area’s industrial past like concrete ceilings, exposed brick walls, and Crittall-style windows, plus local art and all the clever space-saving accents you’d expect from the hip hospitality brand. Albie, the all-day lobby eatery, serves good vibes and great food, with a beverage list to match. The rooftop restaurant has an oyster bar and hold-on-to-your-fiddler-cap skyline views.
Flemings Mayfair
Flemings Mayfair, a member of Small Luxury Hotels, is a brilliant base for travelers who love the classic charms of Mayfair. Situated on a quiet street near shopping and leafy parks, the property comprises a string of thirteen Georgian townhouses. The interiors are equally attractive with saturated tones, velvet drapery, and just enough chandeliers to remind guests of its postal code. It’s warm, and somehow both buttoned up and relaxed with a sense of refinement that’s echoed in the glamorous lacquer, gold, and velvet. Many stays with such an impeccable pedigree and exclusive address would serve attitude, but not this one — and that’s what makes it so exceptional.
One Hundred Shoreditch
Surrounded by vintage boutiques and cool cafes in one of the trendiest parts of East London, One Hundred Shoreditch feels right at home in its eclectic environments. Music, art, and design all play a role in the fashionable fabric of the creativity-driven indie hotel. Contemporary paintings, abstract artwork, and cool installations accent the walls in the bedrooms and public spaces. There’s also a succulent-studded, Palm Springs-inspired millennial pink rooftop bar for sipping cocktails and hoping some of that SoCal sunshine breaks through the London clouds.
L’Oscar London
L’Oscar London, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, sits inside a resplendently restored Baroque-style former church in the heart of historic Holborn. It’s hard to imagine a place with such a pious past could transform into something so seductive. But that’s the brilliance of renowned Parisian decorator Jacques Garcia, who drew inspiration from Oscar Wilde, one of London’s most influential playwrights, when breathing drama and decadence into the 39-room property. Arts and Crafts-era fireplaces, ornate plasterwork, and exquisite oak paneling mingle with saturated jewel tones, sumptuous textures, and intricate golden peacock motifs.
Beaverbrook Town House
Beaverbrook Town House in Chelsea looks like the sort of flat where a modern noble would happily hang up their tricorn hat. Credit for the audacious design goes to Nicola Harding. The interior luminary curated every last detail to establish a beguiling, bijou character throughout the residential-style property. Classic elements, fashionable colors, andexaggerated prints work together to create spaces that are once eclectic and harmonious. The theatricality extends to the 14 rooms and suites, where plush velvet canopies, whimsical lighting, and colorfully tiled bathrooms pay homage to London’s theaters.
Dorset Square Hotel
Quaint, chic, and filled with charm at every turn, the Dorset Square Hotel is a favorite of fashion cognoscenti. It’s dapper yet homey in a way that beckons travelers to trade stilettos for well-loved loafers. The prints that owner and designer Kit Kemp chose throughout the townhouse interiors could just easily walk the runway. The English-style drawing room, an all-day eatery that cues plant-filled potting sheds, and 38 individually decorated bedrooms all have a modern, springy quality that’s a ray of light during even the grayest months.
11 Cadogan Gardens
A collection of four Victorian townhouses conceals one of the most splendid boutique stays in London. 11 Cadogan Gardens blends old-school royal glamour and a present-day predilection toward comfort. Tasteful furnishings punctuate the public space. Though all the accommodations are individually alluring, a common thread of contemporary luxury with a hint of extravagance links all 34 rooms, 22 suites, and six apartments. The private garden is a breath of fresh air (and, weather dependent, an ideal opportunity to bust out a pair of yellow wellies or a classic trench coat).
The Bloomsbury Hotel
The Bloomsbury Hotel is a swish home base that’s within walking distance to London’s legendary stage plays, Covent Garden, and the shops along Oxford Street. The exceptionally curated suites are draped in rich jewel tones, sumptuous velvet, and leather headboards. The opulence continues in the marble bathrooms, where freestanding tubs tempt travelers to soak in style. Then again, the pull of the tipple-laced pleasures at the elegant bar and eye-catching fireside sitting room can’t — and, more importantly, shouldn’t — be ignored.
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