Over 150 hotels meet the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors' rigorous criteria in London. Claridge's, The Connaught and The Ritz are the pioneering luxury hotels in London and its biggest names – but in a city so far ahead in hotel culture, Inspectors have found no shortage of excellently designed, comfortable and often affordable stays worthy of selection.
To understand the hotel scene in London is to understand the city itself: its neighbourhoods, its nuances and its gems, many of which reveal themselves only to the city's most intimate insiders. A hotel here can inform exactly the way you experience this place, and the best hotel for you, in particular, depends on exactly why you've come to London.
Are you here alone or with a partner? On a budget or looking to celebrate and splurge? Do you prefer a hotel in the vibrant heart of the city or discreetly shielded from the bustling streets?
Below, is our comprehensive guide to the best hotels in London.
Explore this Guide
By Location:
- Zone 1 Hotels: In the iconic, walkable heart of the city.
- Shoreditch Hotels: For street art and social spaces.
- The Hideaways: Discreet gems hiding in plain sight.
By Style & Vibe:
- Quintessentially British: Historic and luxurious.
- Food & Drink: Standout hotel restaurants, cocktail bars and rooftops.
- The MICHELIN Keys: The best-of-the-best in our hotel selection.
By Traveller Type:
- Solo Traveller or Couple?
- Family Break or Business Trip?
- On a Budget or Big Spender?
the best HOTELS BY LOCATION
What's the best area to stay in London?
A guide to the bustling city centre, creative-minded Shoreditch and hidden gems throughout the city.
Zone 1: The Heart of London
Zone 1 is the iconic, walkable heart of London, home to the most famous neighbourhoods, from Soho to Mayfair. For a first-timer, it's a simple, foolproof strategy: book a hotel near a major landmark, check it off the list early and spend the rest of your trip getting to know the city. In addition to major points of interest, the below hotels are also near plenty of MICHELIN Guide restaurants.
Top Picks
The Guardsman: A playful boutique base in Westminster combines luxury touches with an approachable price – and it’s about as close as you can get to Buckingham Palace.
Dean Street Townhouse: One of London’s many members' club hotels, it feels private but happening, right in the heart of Soho near the theatres, Covent Garden market and the culinary joys of Chinatown.
Knightsbridge Hotel: Modestly priced for Knightsbridge – one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the world – this boutique hotel sits near Harrods, a plethora of upscale boutiques and the iconic Hyde Park.
Shoreditch and East London
The London neighbourhood that's been so long 'up-and-coming' it may no longer need the label, today it's full of fun, social hotels that reflect the energy of a district well-known for its street art, nightlife and industrial roots.
Top Picks
Mama Shelter London: A colourful and affordable hotel that embraces the area’s youthful energy with playful design, casual vibes and lively public spaces, including a courtyard garden and private karaoke rooms.
Redchurch Townhouse: Part of the Soho House brand, in a great location close to Shoreditch High Street tube station and within walking distance of Brick Lane and Spitalfields markets. It's equal parts modernist-chic and bohemian-eclectic, and you'll be welcomed as a club member, which means as much or as little attention as you'd like.
The Hoxton, Shoreditch: The original Hoxton is where the brand built its reputation as a social, co-working–friendly hotel hub. More than a decade later, it still shines. This affordable mainstay combines modern design with bustling public spaces and a great in-house restaurant, the Llama Inn.
Out of the Spotlight
London streets are packed with tourists. The hotels here offer genuine sanctuary from the usual atmosphere of the city. These are the discreet, characterful stays you might call the hideaway hotels of London, even if many of them are hidden in plain sight.
Top Picks
Marrable’s: A gem at the edge of London's financial district (AKA The City), far enough from the bustle of the West End or Shoreditch and buffeted by two parish church gardens that provide a natural cushion from the city. An unpretentious stay, with charming – sometimes unusual – design touches that draw rosé-sipping locals to the bar.
Home House: From the street, these two Georgian mansions on Portman Square could be elegant private residences like any of the others in Marylebone – in reality, this aptly named hotel combines all the perks of an exclusive private club with a welcoming luxury boutique hotel.
Sun Street Hotel Shoreditch: A quirky, old-school gem hiding below a phalanx of skyscrapers. Inside are stunning spaces that are warm and full of character. A romantic private dining room makes it the perfect spot for special occasions.
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the best HOTELS BY STYLE & VIBE
How do you find a London hotel that fits your style?
Consider classic British luxury, the best hotels for drinking and dining, or our top-class MICHELIN Keys.
Quintessentially British Vibes
London does top-tier luxury better than anywhere in the world. These are the historic and luxurious hotels – where liveried doormen and butlers stand to attention.
Top Picks
Claridge's: Perhaps London's most iconic hotel. Set in Mayfair, afternoon tea here is one of the city’s most famous experiences, and the staff maintain a traditional elegance, from the doormen to the butlers.
The Ritz: The interior design may lean Louis XVI, but the 1906-vintage Ritz London in Mayfair is a city icon like few others. There is hardly a more quintessential experience in the heart of London than Afternoon Tea at the Ritz.
Ham Yard Hotel: Part of the Firmdale Hotels group, a celebrated British brand known for the vibrant maximalism of co-founder Kit Kemp. This location stands out for its central Soho setting and excellent spa.
Food and Drink
London might have the best hotel bar scene in the world – and there's no shortage of standout hotels with MICHELIN-recommended restaurants inside either. It also has some of the world’s greatest hotel rooftops on which to indulge in these activities.
Top Picks
Broadwick Soho: Dear Jackie is the stylish, MICHELIN-selected basement Italian restaurant at this impeccably stylish hotel in Soho, home too to Bar Jackie and Flute, a rooftop restaurant and bar with a wraparound terrace.
The Standard: This distinctive building across from St Pancras Station is more colourful on the inside than the façade may indicate. The Spanish restaurant, Decimo, is just as vibrant, while Sweeties is the cocktail bar slash discotheque, and the Rooftop adds an open-air lounge with 360-degree views.
Flemings Mayfair: Posh, but not aggressively so, Flemings Mayfair connects 13 Georgian townhouses into a single elegant hotel, with accommodation ranging from single rooms to seven-bedroom residences. Regardless of room size, guests will appreciate Ormer Mayfair — the refined One-MICHELIN-Star restaurant in the basement.
MICHELIN Key Hotels
The Keys represent the best-of-the-best when it comes to London hotels, as selected by our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors. You’ll find 45 hotels with Keys in London – the star of the show being a Three-Key with a Three-Star restaurant, one of just a handful of hotels in the world to boast such an honour. Discover more about all of London's Three-Key hotels here.
Top Picks
Raffles London at The OWO: One of 8 Three-MICHELIN-Key hotels in London, Raffles London at The OWO delivers opulence at every turn in the Edwardian building that once housed the Old War Office. Today, it's home to both MICHELIN-Starred Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO and sky-high Kioku by Endo, which boasts 360° views across the city.
The Twenty Two: One of 17 Two-Key hotels in London, The Twenty Two in Grosvenor Square builds on a traditional trend in London’s hotel scene: the members’ club. Hotel guests are welcomed through exclusive Mayfair doors to 31 colourful suites, with access to select members-only areas, space permitting.
1 Hotel Mayfair: The One-Key 1 Hotel Mayfair embraces a literally green ethos, with its two restored buildings covered in living greenery. Like at many 1 Hotels around the world, excellent, contemporary design is paired with a fine spa, gym and multiple restaurants.
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the best HOTELS BY PARTY SIZE
Which are the best London hotels for couples, families and solo travellers?
These are the best stays for every kind of trip.
The Solo Traveller
Solo travellers often look for affordable hotels – but there's more to consider. On their own, travellers benefit from social spaces, walkability for quick peeks at major tourist sites, attentive service for seamless stays, and designs that keep spirits high and creativity inspired.
Top Picks
Nhow Hotel London: An explosion of pop art greets you in the lobby of this affordable hotel near Shoreditch, alongside London-themed ephemera that announces the hotel's irreverent style and its aim to create a space for the young and fun to drink, mingle and co-work together.
The Kimpton Fitzroy London: It's a hotel that appeals to almost any kind of traveller. Visiting on your own, you might appreciate the central location, the glamour of the historic red-brick Victorian building and the attentive, friendly service that helps make it feel like home.
The Mandrake Hotel: A truly independent, art-focused hotel, this is a place to take in the sensory maximalism of the design – the vibe is entertaining, unique and fully immersive. Highlights include no shortage of dining and drinking venues and a courtyard framed by three-storey hanging greenery.
The Couples
There's hardly a hotel in London that won't work for couples. But several embrace romance in particular, with date-worthy bars or restaurants, dark and moody lighting and plenty of secluded spots for conversation away from prying eyes.
Top Picks
L'Oscar: The Oscar Wilde influence isn't overdone, but the atmosphere here is low-lit and Bohemian, with dark rooms lined with bookshelves and an ample supply of velvet. An intimate hotel ideal for exploring the West End theatre scene, its bar is a romantic space in its own right – onyx, backlit and richly decorated.
11 Cadogan Gardens: In one of London's most upscale areas, a leafy, upper-class district filled with cobbled mews and elegant homes, this is a chance for couples to play locals whether they're here for shopping, the Chelsea Flower Show or simply to relax in the quiet, sun-dappled private garden.
The Prince Akatoki: A discreet townhouse located in Marylebone, luxury here is unflashy and under the radar, with an Asian minimalist design that's subtle and smart. Couples will appreciate the chic Malt Lounge & Bar, a warm space that feels like an upscale izakaya serving whisky, sake and cocktails.
The Families
Most families, whether with children young or old, will want a hotel close to the key sights, but there are plenty of kid-friendly spots that come with special amenities and kids' menus too.
Top Picks
The Ampersand: In Kensington, 111 rooms in a comfortable, modern English style are within walking distance of a cluster of museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Ampersand's museum-inspired afternoon teas are beloved, and other touches include a table tennis table in the Games Room, a children's menu in the restaurant and curated kids' kits.
The Kensington: Luxurious and definitively British behind a grand Victorian exterior, this hotel offers traditional comfort in close proximity to many of London's major tourist attractions. Families will appreciate the range of accommodation types, including rooms with two double beds.
The Cadogan: This upscale Chelsea hotel is more than welcoming to families. Children are treated to amenities like Polaroid cameras, popcorn machines and kids’ menus, while all guests enjoy exclusive access to the tennis courts, playground and picnic lawns at nearby Cadogan Place Gardens.
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the best HOTELS BY TRAVELLER TYPE
Which are the best hotels for businesspeople, budget travellers and big spenders?
Find the perfect spot to suit your needs.
Business Travellers
Business travellers in London have traditionally stayed in The City, the capital’s financial centre, but you’ll find everything you need on a work trip – restaurant, bar, gym, meeting spaces – at hotels all across town.
Top Picks
The Ned: Not only is The Ned located in the City, but this luxury hotel offers plush amenities and a social life more than conducive to after-work gatherings. Expect more than 10 restaurants and bars, as well as a spa, hair salon and barbershop.
Vintry and Mercer: The City has long been known for its branded luxury hotels, but this memorably designed boutique is an ode to the historic guild halls that once thrived here. The interiors are lush and rich, and the location, gym and robust bar and restaurant scene appeal to the modern business travellers who've replaced the old wine and textile merchants.
The Hoxton, Southwark: The Southwark outpost of The Hoxton may host DJs and a buzzy restaurant at night, but during the day it's full of media types tapping away on laptops or taking quiet calls in the lobby and public areas. For serious focus, The Hoxton has a dedicated co-working space, with day passes on offer for those just passing through.
Budget Travellers
The most affordable hotels in The MICHELIN Guide are places you actually want to spend the night – high quality, comfortable and found throughout the city.
Top Picks
Good Hotel London: In East London, actually floating on the River Thames, this hotel offers an innovative concept, fantastic views and one of the city's coolest rooftop terraces – lush and green, serving craft beer and locally sourced food.
La Suite West – Hyde Park: A minimalist oasis with a surprisingly accessible price for such a prime location. Rooms emphasise tranquility, with timeless design, beautiful bathrooms and four-poster beds.
The Bloomsbury: On a quiet side street in bustling central London, this inspired design hotel and its excellent bar scene make for an affordable gem near the British Museum, the University of London and the boutique-lined Russell Square.
Head here for more of our pick of the most affordable hotels →
Big Spenders
You'll find much overlap between the quintessentially British hotels above and those at the top of the market, a testament to the high expectations travellers have for luxe experiences in the English capital. The hotels below do not disappoint.
Top Picks
The Berkeley: In Knightsbridge, old-fashioned rooms and a wonderful rooftop pool have long been beloved by in-the-know artists and celebrities. It's not as over-the-top in its presentation as some of the old-guard hotels, but it's nonetheless the place for doormen and concierges, a state-of-the-art spa and a delightful afternoon tea.
The Connaught: Another top choice in Mayfair, The Connaught – modernised since its opening in 1917 – retains its traditional, stately atmosphere and counts a Three-MICHELIN-Star restaurant among its many pleasures.
Bvlgari Hotel London: A newer addition to the luxury hotel scene in London than The Ritz or The Connaught, the Bvlgari opened in 2012 in Knightsbridge and quickly established itself: today, it's one of just a handful of Three-MICHELIN-Key hotels in the world. Guests come for the spa, the restaurant and the high-gloss Italian style.
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Hero Image: An aerial view of London, courtesy of the Three-Key Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, one of the city's top hotels (© Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park)
