London Hotels: The Definitive Guide

London boasts some of the world’s finest hotels, renowned for their outstanding architecture and interiors, as well as their impeccable service and vast amenities. Over the past decade, numerous new establishments have opened their doors, catering to a continually growing and ever-changing clientele. Covering the most current locations, as well as those that have stood the test of time, Something Curated collates the best hotels in London, taking a closer look at the people responsible for these wonderful spaces.

 

New Institutions

Ace Hotel || Alex Calderwood

Ace Hotel, which opened in Shoreditch in 2013, has quickly established itself as an East London institution. Somehow, Ace seems progressive and homely at the same time. The 264-room hotel is largely the creation of Alex Calderwood, an American entrepreneur and self-termed “cultural engineer”. Starting in Seattle in the 1980s, he built an impressive and ever-diversifying career, overturning many of the rules of the hospitality trade. From the busy high street, customers pass through a flower shop to reach Hoi Polloi, the hotel’s restaurant. The English Modernist brasserie inspired by mid-twentieth century European bistros, achieves an environment that is simultaneously informal and smart.

100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ

 

Chiltern Firehouse || André Balazs

Chiltern Firehouse was Hungarian-born, New York nightlife entrepreneur-turned-hotelier, André Balazs’s first endeavour in London, and one of his best. Working with architecture and design team Studio KO, he was able to seamlessly interweave the skeleton of the 19th-century Grade II listed building with a new-age hospitality and dining ethos. The hidden hallways and secret gardens are remnants of the original layout but are retained, providing discreet areas for guests. The restaurant, as with the hotel at large, maintains a style that is simultaneously classic and seductive, with the lobby bar feeling something akin to a Mediterranean greenhouse, while the main restaurant, run by head chef Nuno Mendez, feels like an extended living room.

1 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PA

 

Town Hall Hotel & Apartments || Loh Lik Peng

Set in a former Edwardian town hall, Town Hall Hotel mixes modern design with art deco and period details. By placing luxury hotels and restaurants in off-the-radar neighbourhoods, such as Bethnal Green, Loh Lik Peng has developed a reputation as being a master of the unexpected. Housed in what was once the civic headquarters for the East London borough, the Town Hall Hotel is an engaging blend of historic architecture and contemporary dynamism. The design has drawn recognition from English Heritage and won accolades within the industry.

Patriot Square, E2 9NF

 

Boundary Restaurant, Rooms & Rooftop || Terence & Vicki Conran

Designers Terence and Vicki Conran have turned a former Victorian printing warehouse into a mainstay of Shoreditch’s scene, offering, alongside 17 rooms, a popular restaurant, café and a rooftop bar. Located on the corner of Boundary Street and Redchurch Street, it shares a postcode with some of the city’s trendiest shops and restaurants. The design across all the rooms varies, but each harks back to a design movement, such as Bauhaus or Young British Designers, or celebrates a legendary designer, including creator Sir Terence Conran himself.

2-4 Boundary Street, E2 7DD

 

Dean Street Townhouse || Nick Jones

In a Georgian townhouse built in the 1730s, Dean Street Townhouse is elegantly furnished with an unrelenting commitment to comfort. Over the past two decades, Nick Jones has developed Soho House into a global network of members clubs, restaurants, spas and product lines. In the 1980s, he created Over the Top, a small group of restaurants, followed by the launch of the Soho House Group in 1995, when Jones took over the labyrinthine property in London’s Soho district, turning it into the eponymous private members club, now an institution for a choice creative community world over.

69-71 Dean Street, W1D 3SE

 

Shoreditch House || Nick Jones

A former biscuit factory, Shoreditch House is laid back, expansive, and bustling. Juxtaposed with a concrete industrial backdrop, a series of rich and distinct spaces provide club members with a quietly luxurious and social environment. Jones’ clubs, which decidedly shun the mainstream, are carefully curated in every aspect; accounts detail more than 50,000 members, with a 30,000 waiting list. Designer Tom Dixon created several distinct spaces to provide members with everything they could want in the Shoreditch edition, including a formal square bar, rooftop pool, a domestic dining hall and a lounge filled with rich upholstery.

1 Ebor Street, E1 6AW

 

The London Edition || Ian Schrager

Designed by hotelier Ian Schrager, The London Edition comprises of five 1835 Georgian townhouses in Fitzrovia. Meticulously decorated, the building is a shining example of Belle Epoque grandeur. Toronto firm Yabu Pushelberg assisted with the space’s meticulous restoration. The designers preserved landmark details like stained-glass windows and marble floors, while Schrager and his team provided direction for the overall interior scheme. Jason Atherton’s beautiful Berner’s Tavern serves stylish British cuisine. There’s also a grand lobby and library bar, and a nightclub.

10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP

 

Heritage

Corinthia Hotel || Alfred Pisani

Unapologetically opulent, Alfred Pisani’s Corinthia Hotel is certainly impressive, filled with intricate and enormous chandeliers, an attractive collection of modern artworks, palatial public rooms decorated with striking marble and mahogany finishes, a mini-branch of Harrods, as well as a magnificent four-floor spa. Close to the River Thames and Charing Cross station, this was once the majestic 600-room Hôtel Métropole, which opened in 1885. The London hotel is part of the Corinthia group, a collection of hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta in 1962.

Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD

 

The Connaught || Derek Quinlan

Impressive and stylish, The Connaught occupies a quiet corner in the heart of Mayfair. The hotel first opened in 1815 as the Prince of Saxe Coburg Hotel, an offshoot of a hotel opened by Alexander Grillon in Albemarle Street. Amongst a breadth of spectacular amenities, it boasts Europe’s first Aman Spa, in collaboration with Aman Resorts. In 2007 the Connaught closed for a major restoration programme, described as a “contemporary interpretation”. Celebrated interior designer Guy Oliver directed the refurbishment of the old hotel, completing a total of 88 rooms and suites, as well as the restoration of the main staircase, new lifts, concierge and public areas.

Carlos Place, W1K 2AL

 

The Dorchester || Hassanal Bolkiah

Opened in 1931 in the heart of Park Lane, The Dorchester is one of London’s most revered hotels. Comfortable and lavish, with views of Hyde Park, its highlights include listed apartments created in the 1950s by the theatre designer Oliver Messel, three stunning restaurants and the vibrant floral displays of Phil Hammond. Oliver Ford, who was in charge of decor for the Queen Mother’s residences, was the first consultant to take the reins. He introduced the sumptuous carpets in floral patterns and sourced rococo style for the hotel’s signature furnishings.

53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA

 

Hotel Café Royal || Georgi and Alfred Akirov

The establishment was originally conceived and set up in 1865 by Daniel Nicholas Thévenon, who was a French wine merchant. Home to the National Sporting Club for many years as well as being a venue for banquets and conferences, the Café has been leased by the Crown Estate to Georgi and Alfred Akirov. David Chipperfield Architects and Donald Insall Associates were brought in to restore the building to its former glory and turn it into a luxury hotel and spa with two restaurants.

68 Regent Street, W1B 4DY

 

Rosewood London || Chang Family

This purpose-built Belle Epoque Edwardian building, by H Percy Monckton, features rare and beautiful marble panels and pillars, Cuban mahogany and French walnut fittings. Notably, its most extraordinary feature is a solid Pavonazzo marble staircase that soars to an impressive 166 feet. Before the Chang family took over, this was the Renaissance Chancery Court, a generic Marriott hotel. Now it has been transformed by interior designers Toni Chi and Martin Brudnizki, who have created an elegant and sophisticated space, a magnificent city hotel with a contemporary style.

252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN

 

The Bulgari Hotel || Rosalía Mera & Francesco Trapani

London’s Bulgari Hotel, designed by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Veil, fully expresses the design ethos and heritage of the luxury brand. Located in Knightsbridge on the edge of Hyde Park, the hotel is a haven in the centre of the city. The space boasts a contemporary yet timeless style, employing a range of marbles, woods and precious materials, together with Italian furniture and custom-made textiles. At the heart of the unique space is the Bulgari Spa, featuring one of the most dramatic private pool complexes in London: the 25 metre colonnaded swimming pool is clad in the textured Vicenza stone that has been the signature of great Italian architecture since the time of Palladio.

171 Knightsbridge, SW7 1DW

 

The Ritz London || César Ritz

Built in a French chateau style, the famed Ritz London is located on the edge of Green Park. The main building was designed in 1904 by architects Charles Mewés and Arthur Davis to be a sophisticated home to the famous and fashionable. The hotel retains its reputation of elegance, featuring intricate mouldings, rich fabrics and golden accents. Since 2005, historic William Kent House, just behind, has been seamlessly joined to the Ritz to provide lavish private function rooms and the hotel’s two top suites.

150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR

 

Claridge’s || William & Marianne Claridge

Claridge’s features a unique art deco interior that was conceptualised by Basil Ionides and Oswald Milne in the 1920’s and 30’s. Bold lines, sweeping curves and fine details give the hotel interior timeless elegance, and each space encourages visitors to look up at the intricate designs adorning the ceilings and walls. The furniture features plush fabrics and elegant colour pairings, complementing the more modern aspects of the art deco design. The newest suites at Claridge’s were designed by David Linley in 2012 and feature a hybrid style of Victorian, modern and classic art deco.

Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR

 

Traditional Boutique

Number Sixteen || Tim & Kit Kemp

Situated in the heart of South Kensington, Number Sixteen is housed in part of a mid-Victorian white stucco terrace. It has its own tree-filled private garden and provides all the facilities expected of a luxury hotel. The Firmdale owned residence, founded by Tim and Kit Kemp, is unmistakably marked with Kit’s unique combination of traditional and contemporary interiors, prioritising both comfort and colour. Notably, the drawing room features an elegant driftwood chandelier, while the recently redecorated library is a bold arrangement of black and white, purple and yellow.

6 Sumner Place, SW7 3EG

 

Blakes Hotel || Anouska Hempel

Created by acclaimed interior designer, Anouska Hempel, Blakes Hotel occupies a row of black-painted Victorian townhouses on a quiet South Kensington street. The opulent rooms and suites are lavishly packed with rich fabrics and décor, collected by Hempel during her travels from around the world, particularly China and Cambodia. Blakes is credited as being one of the first boutique hotels in the world. Amenities include a Chinoiserie-filled restaurant serving fusion cuisine, a Chinese room and bar, and a courtyard with bay trees and individual conservatories.

33 Roland Gardens, SW7 3PF

 

The Beaumont || Jeremy King & Chris Corbin

Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s grand yet intimate hotel is located on a quiet unassuming Mayfair square. The Beaumont recaptures the spirit of old-world luxury. To create the look and feel of the hotel, King fabricated a fictional character, who left New York to open The Beaumont as an Anglo-American pre-Second World War Grand Hotel, a society hub and, in those days, a highly modern place to stay. Celebrated British artist Antony Gormley also created a monumental sculpture-cum-suite for the hotel, which promises an undoubtedly unique stay.

8 Balderton Street, W1K 6TF

 

Micro Boutique

The New Road Residence || James Brown & Christie Fels

The meticulously refurbished 1797 Georgian townhouse in Whitechapel boasts stylish open plan living areas and accommodation for up to six guests. Formerly a linen merchant’s store, its current transformation is the innovation of James Brown and Christie Fels, of the Shoreditch-based lifestyle and fashion boutique Hostem. Their aesthetic inclinations towards mid-century furniture, and the more organic movements in contemporary art, meet in the striking 265 square meter space. Through the house, a thoughtful selection of contemporary artworks curated by London gallerist Stuart Shave are on display, including pieces by Richard Tuttle and Paul Lee.

33 New Road, E1 1HE

 

40 Winks || David Carter

40 Winks has been named “the most beautiful small hotel in the world” by German Vogue. It has also been described by those who have been fortunate enough to have spent the night there as a bit like tumbling down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. The allure and unique experience offered by 40 Winks are credited to the hotel’s owner, host, and “master of ceremonies,” David Carter. An interior designer by trade, Carter has spent the past two decades turning his Stepney Green home into a whimsical, eccentric space that dazzles as much as it inspires. The three centuries of built history preceding 40 Winks is almost palpable as one ventures through one room to the next.

109 Mile End Road, E1 4UJ

 

Bert’s Barges || Lee Thornley

The innovation of Lee Thornley, founder of Bert & May, a bespoke tile company based on Vyner Street, the hotel is essentially a one-bedroom houseboat, though Thornley has plans to add six more barges, and more later in London’s Little Venice. The barge sits on a quiet side of the canal, with ivy growing over its portholes and views of runners and cyclists on the towpath opposite. The space is Scandinavian in feel, with rubbed grey clapboard walls and chic textile and ceramic pieces. The living area, which is surprisingly spacious, boasts a skylight. As well as the cosy bedroom, there is a roof terrace with deckchairs, a wood-burning stove and underfloor heating.

67 Vyner Street, E2 9DQ

Alternative

Green Rooms Hotel || Nick Hartwright

Located within a long-neglected Art Deco building, Nick Hartwright’s affordable hotel for creatives combines cosy bedrooms with a light-filled rehearsal and performance space, numerous co-working spaces and studios, a downstairs café-bar and a 50-cover restaurant. Unpretentious and smart, the utilitarian interior was developed by architecture practice SODA, with furniture by Folk, the fashion-turned-interiors label. The restaurant will play host to six-month “incubator” residencies, designed to help up-and-coming chefs establish roots.

13-27 Station Road, N22 6UW

 

Russell’s of Clapton || Annette Russell

Advertised as a modern B&B on a traditional London street, Russell’s is an elegant and interesting option situated in East London. Annette Russell, a music industry manager turned boutique hotel owner, has been welcoming people to her stylish residence since 2011. Based on similar set-ups in Brooklyn and Berlin, Russell’s aims to steer visitors away from a conventional image of the capital, and offer them an alternative option in a real home. All the rooms feature vintage furniture, greenery and plenty of eclectic touches.

123 Chatsworth Road, E5 0LA