We all know and love the big hotels with sweeping suites, but sometimes we love nothing more than bedding in for the night in a boutique hotel that feels like a home away from home. London is abrim with beautiful boutique hotels, boasting everything from red-brick façades to quirky interiors packed with buckets of charm.
From affordable city breaks to stylish must-visits, scroll on for our edit of the best boutique hotels in London.
Top Boutique Hotels In London
The Chelsea Townhouse
If you’re after a chic neighbourhood occasion, The Chelsea Townhouse ticks all of the right boxes. Part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels group, this luxe boutique hotel has recently undergone an extensive renovation and the outcome is simply striking.
Nestled amongst lofty trees and leafy streets, this red-brick townhouse houses 36 beautiful bedrooms, from spacious suites to quaint rooms perfect for solo travellers. Expect stylish spaces, complete with delicate coving, striking chandeliers and antique furnishings.
On the ground floor, you’ll find a relaxed ‘dining salon’, perfect for morning coffee meetings and brunch catch-ups through to lunch and supper options filled with home-style comfort food.
26 Cadogan Gardens, SW3 2RP
Henrietta Hotel
Famed for its iconic Miracle Christmas pop-up, Henrietta Hotel is a charming Covent Garden retreat. The perfect oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist-filled streets, it’s home to 40 rooms designed by French interior designer, Dorothee Meilichzon. It’s the interiors that instantly had us hooked, featuring coloured curvy headboards, gold and copper metal accents, and dreamy deep green, blue and coral tones.
Cosy in for a long weekend and dine at the hotel’s Italian-inspired restaurant. Expect a mix of healthy breakfast options, light lunches and small and large plates perfect for sharing with friends over a bottle of wine.
14-15 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8PS
The Zetter Marylebone
Designed with eccentricity in mind, The Zetter group is a firm favourite of ours when it comes to unique staycations. Our favourite location is its Marylebone townhouse, where you’ll find elegant rooms packed with charm.
Each bedroom is equipped with its own bespoke style, whether you’re after a cosy room for a quick getaway or a roomy loft experience, complete with your own terrace and outdoor bath.
A visit to The Parlour is a must, with the bar’s colourful character coming to life through its over-the-top interiors. If minimalism is your thing, this isn’t the place for you. Simply tell the expert mixologists what you’re in the mood for and they’ll whip up a special tipple that’ll transport you in time.
The Mandrake
Blink and you’ll miss it walking past, The Mandrake’s unassuming façade helps to add to the intrigue of its lively personality. While it looks small on first look, this hotel opens up a world of possibilities, from the newly opened YOPO bar to the jungle-esque hanging garden Jurema. It’s unlike anywhere else in the city.
Boasting a range of rooms, suites and even a penthouse option, each has been uniquely designed. We personally love the entry-level rooms, thanks to their deep tones and dark furnishings, making them the type of place you can lock yourself away in all weekend.
20-21 Newman Street, W1T 1PG
Artist Residence
If there’s one trendy spot we insist you try at least once, it’s one of Artist Residence’s locations. While its London location might not have the seaside pull of Brighton or the traditional inn feel of its Oxfordshire hotel, it does win us around with its cool charm.
Located between Chelsea, Tate Modern and Westminster, this boutique hotel features ten rooms, each uniquely designed and full of fun furnishings. We love the loft room, tucked away with rooftop views over the area. Featuring statement, mismatched furniture, it’s the 1930s French-style bathtub you’ll want to sink into all weekend long.
52 Cambridge Street, Pimlico, SW1V 4JD
The Chesterfield
If it’s old English charm you’re after, a visit to The Chesterfield Mayfair is the perfect option. Just moments from Hyde Park, Bond Street and some of London’s iconic landmarks, you can look forward to a refined staycation in a regency-esque setting.
From quintessentially English afternoon tea to grandeur rooms, this boutique hotel is perfect for those looking for a shorter break or a longer stay.
35 Charles Street, W1J 5EB
St Martins Lane London
From its striking views over the capital to its on-site late-night speakeasy, St Martins Lane London has a certain pull to it. It’s ultra-modern and bursting with personality. The rooms are simple yet stylish, with the option to choose a luxe, spacious suite.
If you’re tired after a day of sightseeing, settle in for an evening filled with French-inspired dishes at the on-site restaurant, before heading to Blind Spot, the hotel’s speakeasy bar, for a cocktail nightcap.
45 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4HX
The London EDITION
Set on the edge of Soho, this luxury hotel is filled with a mix of old English charm and modern amenities. The rooms are compact with decadent detailing – think oak floors, wood-panelled walls and a tufted George Smith lounging chair. Each comes with its own gold-frames photograph from Dutch photographer, Hendrik Kerstens, adding an arty touch.
A stay at the London EDITION isn’t complete without visiting Berners Tavern. Whether you’re after a Michelin-starred experience or you just want a quick cocktail at the bar, it’s worth visiting for the breathtaking interiors alone.
10 Berners Street, W1T 3NP
Ham Yard Hotel
For the interiors lovers, Ham Yard Hotel is a stylish gem of a hotel that keeps on giving. Every ounce of this Firmdale Hotel has been crafted to perfection, from the cosy library perfect for curling up with a book to the foliage-filled rooftop terrace that’s a popular spot come summertime.
Boasting 91 bedrooms and suites, Kit Kemp has individually designed each to bring her classic, modern British style to life. Expect an eclectic mix of colours, patterns and textures to draw you in.
1 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT
The Portobello Hotel
If you’re hoping for a Notting Hill-esque love story, let the magic start at The Portobello Hotel. Part of the Curious Collection hotel group, this boutique bolthole is bursting with personality.
Each room is individually designed, with bohemian-style interiors at the heart of the hotel. Expect to uncover an ensemble of nick-nacks dotted around your room, from bespoke art to precious antiques.
The pièce de résistance is, of course, the Best Room, lined with Degournay wallpaper, rich golden fabrics and a signature rounded bed. Just take a peek at the Victorian gold bathtub and you won’t want to stay anywhere else.
22 Stanley Gardens, Notting Hill, W11 2NG
The Bingham Riverhouse
Swap the bright lights for rolling countryside and riverside views courtesy of The Bingham Riverhouse’s beautiful location. Each of the 15 rooms has been named after the works of Michael Field, the pseudonym of Edith Cooper and Katherine Bradley who resided here from 1899 to 1910. They are airy, with timeless furnishings and some even boasting copper bathtubs looking out over the views.
Visiting the Riverhouse Restaurant is essential for a cosy countryside weekend, where you can enjoy a mix of small and large plates destined for sharing.
61-63 Petersham Road, Richmond, TW10 6UT
The Laslett
A boutique hotel with a neighbourhood feel, The Laslett is one of our favourites for brunch in West London, but its rooms are well worth exploring if you’re looking for somewhere to bed in for the night. Roomy with beacons of natural light flooding in, each is designed beautifully with cool art, retro lamps and vintage nicknacks.
After a restful night’s sleep, head down to the Henderson Bar & Kitchen for the Chorizo Hash with a fried egg and harissa cream cheese – you won’t regret it.
8 PEMBRIDGE GARDENS, NOTTING HILL, W2 4DU
The Gore
For a quintessentially English staycation, The Gore is the perfect city destination. Set in the heart of Kensington, it offers a range of room and suite options. Go for a classic room for a simple yet chic affair or go all out with the Junior Suite July Garland, which features the famed star’s actual four-poster bed!
Complete your stay with traditional afternoon tea, featuring delicate sandwiches, fresh scones and a selection of seasonal cakes and pastries.
Part of the Starhotels Collezione, there are two other London locations worth visiting too. Head to The Franklin for sophisticated elegance and Michelin-starred dining or The Pelham for elevated home-away-from-home comforts.
190 Queen’s Gate, Kensington, SW7 5EX
Chateau Denmark
Denmark Street has a long musical history – it’s the place where Bowie and Hendrix used to hang out, the Rolling Stones recorded and even the place the Sex Pistols once called their home. Nowadays this legendary heritage lives on through Chateau Denmark, an alluring boutique hotel spread across 16 buildings.
Housing 55 rooms, this hotel combines rock ‘n’ roll theatrics with vintage gothic charm, with every room distinctly designed. It’s hard not to feel cool here.
Denmark Street, WC2H 0LA
