The Ned is a city unto itself. Located in the grand former Midland Bank HQ, there are 10 restaurants, a choice of rooftop or indoor pools and a spa, barber shop, hammam and gym, with relaxing rooms decorated in a style reminiscent of Art Deco glamour days. 

Tucked into the beautiful neighbourhood of Belgravia, one of London's ritziest enclaves, you couldn’t get a better location than The Peninsula’s. However, that’s not the only to book a stay here. The hotel chain is famed for its extravagance, exemplified by its fleet of luxury vehicles, including a hybrid Bentley Bentayga, a now-electric 1960 vintage Austin taxi and a 1935 Rolls Royce Phantom, all of which guests can make use of during their stay.

Wedged between Belgravia and Chelsea, this charming stay – with its William Morris wallpaper and trompe l’oeil ceilings – offers a quiet, cosy option for any traveller who wants a taste of historic London. The boutique, 19th-century brick stunner has just 30 rooms and offers homey extras such as the wood-panelled, in house bar that’s often warmed by a roaring fire. Hospitality doesn't get much cosier than this.

Battersea, a post-industrial borough south of the Thames, is having a moment. The 164-room Art’otel is next to the reimagined Battersea Power Station and includes a grid-worthy infinity pool, rooftop bar and art gallery. The guest experience has been well-considered; suites have generous living and dining spaces, plus there’s a complimentary unpacking service for the time-poor and a Peloton bike in the Masterpiece Suite.

The Broadwick Soho, a stylish 57-room microcosm of its host city, has an unbeatable location in the heart of the action. Even if you don't find time for the 10-minute walk to The National Gallery, you can admire the works by Bacon and Warhol that hang on the hotel’s walls. Soho is bursting with bars and eateries, but should you want to remain on-site, you're well served at the indulgent in-house Italian restaurant or at Flute, the gilded rooftop bar. There’s even a private dining room – ideal for a special occasion.

In late September of 2023, a new era of luxury came to the Big Smoke with the opening of Raffles London at The OWO. This stately building, located in Whitehall, is an opulent fantasy of sweeping marble staircase, soaring ceilings and intricate chandeliers. The rooms offer a more understated glamour – unless you opt for the suites, where open fireplaces, walk-in wardrobes and 24-hour butlers take the indulgence to a whole new level.

Sumptuous and refined, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park captures a golden era of the 20th century in its marble bathrooms, chandelier-crowned rooms and extensive wellness facilities, including a stunning steam room with a towering amethyst at its heart and exhaustive spa menu. 

The COMO name is synonymous with sleek, understated sophistication and this London outpost near the edge of Hyde Park is no exception. Ensconced in the leafy Belgravia neighbourhood, the warm elegance of the suburb spreads with just one peep out your hotel window. Most impressive of all, guests have access to Belgrave Square Garden, the pretty (and private) garden open only to residents – simply ask the concierge for the key.  

Lavish living reaches an apex at The Connaught in Mayfair, where everything from the on-site spa, two-starred Michelin eatery and three effortlessly slick and stylish bars has a flair for the fabulous. Rooms are classically decorated, with frilled, jacquard curtains or marble bathrooms, depending on suite choice. 

It wasn’t just proximity to Buckingham Palace that brought the Duchess of Cambridge to the The Goring the night before her wedding to Prince William. The Goring has maintained a reputation for excellence for more than 100 years and experiences here are the epitome of hospitality: complimentary in-room cocktails shaken in your room promptly at 5pm, silk-lined walls and a sprawling English country garden.

Wedged somewhere between Tower Bridge and the London Eye, the Southwark hub of The Hoxton captures the cool of fringe suburbs in the heart of the city. It hides a very hip lobby bar, a rooftop restaurant and welcoming rooms dotted with art and with sage green accents.

Owner André Balazs knows a thing or two about accommodating the A-list – Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont is his masterstroke, too. At this former Marylebone fire station, the drawcard for celebrities like Kate Moss, David Beckham and Samuel L. Jackson is the restaurant and nightclub downstairs but the rooms above it are contrastingly cosy. Suites have heated floors, plush forest-green carpets and open fireplaces that create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, as does the service from in-house staff (the “brigade”) – they’ll happily unpack your suitcase or steam your clothing.

You can’t miss the column-studded facade of the Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square, where it keeps guard over Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Guests divide their time between a private garden at the rear, the gold-flecked hammam, the 14-metre indoor pool, the yoga studio,  the on-site spa or one of the 100 rooms cushioned with king-sized beds, cosy armchairs and large windows.

Walking anywhere from The Lanesborough Hotel is hardly a chore – the Knightsbridge hotel is minutes away from the shady reaches of Hyde Park and less than 10 minutes from the V&A, Buckingham Palace and the Natural History Museum. Staying in is even less so, with 24-carat gold leaf gilding on ceilings, gym, sauna and steam rooms in addition to a butler for every room, who can be summoned when the urge for a cup of tea calls. 

Surprisingly modern with light, fresh interiors, this property on the doorstep of Piccadilly Circus loses none of the grandeur promised with its exterior. The on-site spa, sauna, steam room and gym are superlative and every guest staying in a suite is assigned a butler on arrival, ready and willing to do your bidding.

In town for a short time? Book into the stately Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, where Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Selfridges are minutes away by foot. Other advantages include spacious rooms and the Sheraton Sleep Experience Bed (an exclusive design that includes a plush top for ultimate comfort), inviting guests into a restful sleep.

This Holborn hotel is positively palatial, with its grand entrance arch a stunning focal point for the Edwardian Grade-II listed property. All rooms have Nespresso machines, premium Italian linens, free wi-fi and the requisite fluffy robe to slip into post-soak – there’s a tub in every marble bathroom, of course.

Trimmings at The Ampersand Hotel look a little something like this: complimentary soft drinks from your mini bar. L’Occitane toiletries in every bathroom. Room service 24 hours a day. Combined with a convenient South Kensington location, the result is a comfy, reliable boutique offering. 

The Savoy’s history is almost as grand as its guestlist (and its dazzling Edwardian interiors). It’s one of the few places Rihanna and Fred Astaire have both stayed and its impeccable service and facilities bring visitors back century after century. A steam room, sauna, spa, restaurant (with Gordon Ramsey presiding) and team of wish-granting butlers and chauffeurs confirm The Savoy’s place in hotel history. 

The Curtain bares none of the hallmarks and all the attitude of its gritty surrounding borough of Shoreditch. Guests are greeted by rain showers, rooftop pools, late check-out at 12pm (perfect for night owls) and marble bathrooms. It’s located near Old Spitalfields Markets and the transport hub of London’s Liverpool Street Station is within walking distance. 

You can’t come to England’s capital and avoid a proper afternoon tea. At the elegant Covent Garden Hotel, guests can enjoy the experience in the comfort of their own property’s drawing room, with menu classics such as Victoria sponge populating the pristine, tiered tea trays. The hotel is within strolling distance of Soho, the Royal Opera House and some of the city’s most vibrant nightlife spots.

London is surprisingly devoid of rooftop bars and ME London bucks the trend beautifully—its bar has views that stretch to The Shard. It’s just one of the West End hotel’s charms – soaring lobby ceilings, those same fabulous outlooks from many of the rooms and Egyptian cotton sheets all conspire to create a chic and comfortable stay in the centre of the city.  

The pinnacle of luxury accommodation in London, The Ritz remains atop many a list for its enduring attention to detail. At this Mayfair institution, you’ll be greeted by white-gloved doorstaff and your room will be grand with Louis XVI interiors (gilded mirrors and plaster work are just the beginning). On-site dining is just as elaborate; the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star back in 2006.

Although every corner of the perfectly pretty Leman Locke, an apart-hotel in Whitechapel, has been carefully considered for aesthetics (an abundance of natural light, puff-like pink couches, cork-backed wardrobes), there’s plenty of functionality, too. All mini-apartments include fully equipped kitchens, T2 goodies, a washer and dryer and Kinsey Apothecary toiletries.

Vintry and Mercer sits mere metres from St. Paul’s Cathedral, and this view isn’t wasted, least of all from the Mercer Rooftop Terrace bar that casts eyes over the famed cathedral spire. There’s also a speakeasy-style basement bar, Do Not Disturb, lined with cherry-red chesterfields which servers izakaya-style dumplings, steamed buns and chicken wings alongside expertly mixed cocktails.

Mayfair’s The Beaumont takes a leaf from the “old-world luxury” book, where checkerboard floors are offset by oil paintings in gilded frames and rooms come with espresso machines, generous rain showers and mini libraries. A gym, spa and hammam, as well as three on-site options for dining, round out the experience. 

Amenities at Ham Yard Hotel are far from standard. This Soho hotel houses a cinema, bowling alley, rooftop terrace with a sweet kitchen garden and beehive that services the cocktail bar, as well as lively common spaces and a ripple of fun through the bright interiors. 

Would you like to be served by a dedicated host who offers in-room cocktail-making and tips on local attractions? Welcome to the new frontier of hospitality, set in the heart of the West End. This 199-room property has a particularly impressive portfolio of suites, most with an emperor-size bed (yes, it’s bigger than a super-king). In addition to a dedicated host on every floor, two of The BoTree's best suites have a full bar and lounge area, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail, a nightcap or a complete nose-to-tail evening.

All the Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Trip to London