On 1st October 2024, The MICHELIN Guide revealed the first One, Two and Three Key distinctions for the most outstanding hotels in the UK and Ireland. Earning One Key (72 properties) or Two Keys (37 properties) is special enough, but 14 hotels excelled to receive Three Keys – The MICHELIN Guide's highest hotel honour. Of these, eight can be found in London.
The Three Key hotels represent the pinnacle of all five criteria used to judge hotels by our Inspectors. Learn all about those particular benchmarks, here.
For this article, we thought it fitting to focus on just one of those criteria – the most photogenic of the five – architecture and interior design. Below, we take a look at the spectacular exteriors and interiors of each of our eight MICHELIN Three Key hotels in London.
Bvlgari Hotel London
171 Knightsbridge, KnightsbridgeThe Bvlgari brand might have originated in Milan, but its top-shelf luxury is equally at home here in the affluent London Borough of Knightsbridge. A new-build property from its inception, this was a blank canvas for well-known architect and designer Antonio Citterio to make his mark. It combines Bvlgari’s characteristic elements – such as silver highlights, a nod to the Bvlgari founder's roots as a Roman silversmith – with some unique features, like bespoke silk curtains featuring a pattern which echoes a brooch made by that same founder, Sotirio Bvlgari, in the 19th century.
It might be one of the most expensive hotels in town, but it offers all the luxury you’d expect for such a price tag. From the attentive service to the impressive spa, the Bvlgari really does have it all.
Book Bvlgari Hotel London with The MICHELIN Guide →
Read More: London's Most Luxurious MICHELIN Key Hotels
Claridge's
Brook Street, MayfairA true London institution, Claridge’s first opened in 1856 and is still charming the hearts of guests today. A timelessly beautiful art deco property, this Mayfair landmark first rose to fame with the fashionable set in the 1920s and, a little later, hosted many royals waiting out the Second World War. With this level of luxury, it’s easy to see why.
Gilded columns and a sweeping staircase welcome you into the lobby; plush bedrooms range from an art deco via English country house style to those designed by Diane von Furstenburg; and the bathrooms bring top-level comforts with their thirties-esque baths and showers.
Relax on a sofa as you descend via the 'contactless touch' lift, then enjoy tea served in gold-rimmed bone china, before making for the glamorous bar for a prohibition-era whiskey. Classical, personalised service from a host of staff cossets you from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.
Book Claridge's with The MICHELIN Guide →
Related Read: Top Afternoon Tea Spots in London
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
Hamilton Place, Park Lane, MayfairNot only was this the first of the Four Seasons Hotels in London, it was also the first Four Seasons in Europe. It opened in Mayfair in 1970 as the Inn on the Park, with Issy Sharp’s vision to create “a personal, down-to-earth hotel. Not for dukes or duchesses, but for people who want to be treated that way...” Over 50 years later, the brand is known worldwide and, with its lavish public spaces and luxurious bedrooms, you will certainly feel like royalty when staying here.
For that extra special touch, book a room with a balcony that overlooks either the city or Hyde Park; failing that, take a trip the spa for some equally spectacular skyline views. And if all that’s not enough, this MICHELIN Three Key hotel also comes with its own One MICHELIN Star restaurant, Pavyllon London.
Book Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane with The MICHELIN Guide →
Read More: London's Best Hotel Spas
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge, KnightsbridgeLondon’s original Mandarin Oriental is a stunning hotel, in an equally stunning location. It sits in the perfect spot between the high-end shopping mecca that is Knightsbridge and the leafy expanse of Hyde Park, and the textures and colours not only welcome nature within but are designed to echo the ever-changing skies.
An unparalleled level of luxury sees classically elegant bedrooms, huge bathrooms, and a whole host of services and facilities on offer. Every floor has its own manager and bespoke services that exceed expectations – be that inside or outside the hotel.
There’s a plethora of exquisitely designed guest areas offering everything from a quick dip to champagne cocktails – and what else would you expect to find here other than a Two MICHELIN Star restaurant overseen by Heston Blumenthal?
Book Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park with The MICHELIN Guide →
Watch: 3 Days in London, featuring Dinner by Heston
Raffles London at The OWO
57 Whitehall, WhitehallLocated in the heart of Whitehall, Grade II listed Raffles at The OWO is certainly a contender for London’s most history-packed hotel; its name, the Old War Office, should provide a clue. Opened in 1906, this baroque-style property housed over 1,000 rooms, 2.5 miles of corridors and 2,500 government and military officials. The centre of the British Army’s administration, it was where Sir Winston Churchill masterminded the Allied victory over Hitler. MI5 and MI6 also had operations here – and it provided the backdrop for many a 007 movie.
Today, you’ll find this glamorous 120-room hotel offering refined, contemporary elegance amidst a host of majestic historical features. It boasts three bars, nine restaurants and a 600-seater ballroom accessed by a magnificent staircase. On the top floor is sushi restaurant Kioku by Endo, which offers spectacular 360° views across the city.
Book Raffles London at The OWO with The MICHELIN Guide →
Related Read: London Hotels with Stunning Rooftops
The Connaught
Carlos Place, MayfairThe affluent neighbourhood of Mayfair is a fitting host for one of London’s most desirable grand hotels, which first opened in 1815. A clubby type of luxury has always led the way here, but following an extensive redesign, the traditional references have been joined by muted colours, clean lines and a contemporary way of thinking. Drawing together the very best of British and international art and design, it’s this blend of the old and the new that makes The Connaught feel so original.
Effortlessly elegant, the rooms feature the timeless styling of neoclassical architect Robert Adam, alongside designs by the likes of David Collins, Guy Oliver and India Mahdavi – while the artwork in their 3,000-strong collection includes pieces by Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst.
This is currently the UK's only Three MICHELIN Key hotel with a Three MICHELIN Star restaurant, courtesy of the appropriately named Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.
Book The Connaught with The MICHELIN Guide →
The Peninsula London
1 Grosvenor Place, BelgraviaThe Peninsula London may only have opened its doors in 2023, but this Asian group’s first property launched back in 1866 in Hong Kong. Now one of London’s most lavish lodgings, it was well worth the wait. Its 190 rooms were styled by architect and interior designer Peter Marino and come with finely crafted, bespoke British furnishings, mahogany-panelled dressing rooms and luxurious honey onyx bathrooms – not forgetting stunning views out over Hyde Park Corner and the Wellington Arch.
Among the world’s leading small luxury hotel groups, their signature has always been to combine innovation with style, creating romantic, glamorous hotels with unique technological features. Beside the bed are touchscreen controls for the lighting and heating, and there’s even a 24hr e-concierge service. The spa is a super stylish spot, the bar is a tribute to the golden age of motor racing, and Two MICHELIN Starred restaurant Brooklands by Claude Bosi boasts a superb terrace affording wonderful city views.
Book The Peninsula London with The MICHELIN Guide →
Related: Check Out Our Favourite MICHELIN Hotel Cocktail Bars
The Savoy
Strand, Covent Garden/HolbornThe Savoy has spent over 130 years at the forefront of London’s hotel scene. The first purpose-built deluxe hotel in London, it was the brainchild of theatre producer Richard D’Oyly Carte, who knew all about glamour and putting on a show. Opening in 1889, it set new standards in the industry, bringing innovations such as electric light, central heating and en suite bathrooms onto the scene.
Fast-forward to 2007 and it was time for a refresh. The hotel underwent a three-year restoration by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, who sympathetically recreated its former Edwardian and art deco highlights using photographs from the hotel archives; although clearly modernised, this style remains a perfect fit for the building.
With not just one but three MICHELIN-recommended restaurants, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to opulent dining options. There’s the iconic Savoy Grill, The River Restaurant and One MICHELIN Starred 1890 – all of which are by Chef Gordon Ramsay.
Book The Savoy with The MICHELIN Guide →
Hero Image: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
