The Big London Summer Staycation Guide
Holidays abroard may still be off the cards this summer but we can still reap all of the benefits of a luxury holiday here in the UK.
Londoners have a secret weapon. This city is one of the world’s premier tourist destinations, it’s quite literally at the top of millions of people’s bucket lists! Fair enough, not yours, but that castle you pass every day on your commute to work is known the world over, when you cycle past Buckingham Palace every evening you end up in the background of holiday snaps framed on Mississippi mantlepieces! So in the absence of exotic 2021 holidays, let’s make the most of all the wonderful hotels available here in London!
With hotels up and down the city preparing to reopen their doors on May 17th, we’ve put together a list of our favourite hotels here in the capital. Check in and check them out.
Four Seasons London at Ten Trinity Square
The imposing structure of the 1922 headquarters of the Port of London Authority looms large at the entrance to The City, no mean feat in the ‘looming’ stakes, given its neighbours include Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Carefully converted into one of London’s most exciting hotels Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square is undeniably as impressive as it is luxurious.
Guests are left in no uncertainty that this is a truly special hotel
The ceilings soar, marble floors sparkle and guests are left in no uncertainty that this is a truly special hotel. And it’s not just the surroundings and scale, the Michelin starred restaurant, La Dame De Pic London sees renowned French Chef Anne-Sophie Pic bring her skills to bear, while the rooms are plush and uncompromisingly comfortable.
WHERE: 10 Trinity Square, Tower Bridge, EC3N 4AJ
WEBSITE: www.fourseasons.com
WHERE: 3 South Place, The City, EC2M 2AF
WEBSITE: www.southplacehotel.com
South Place Hotel
South Place is the place! Not only does this City hotel boast one of our favourite Michelin Star restaurants in the form of Angler, South Place Hotel is also one of the most ‘happening’ spots in the square mile. And with the markets as they are right now, that’s really saying something!
From the South Place Chop Shop (a real meating place – geddit?) to the beautiful Secret Garden, the hotel is a great retreat all year round.
The Petersham
Want the London experience without being in, y’know, London? Head to The Petersham in Richmond. Not only is the view utterly delectable, inspiring none less than the artist JMW Turner, but the hotel can also claim to be something of an artwork in itself.
A large Victorian mansion built in 1865, the hotel’s west facing restaurant, with its plate glass windows offering views of the sunset, is run by Head Chef, Jean-Didier Gouges. The Frenchman is responsible for some of the best dishes in South West London and is yet another reason to head to Richmond.
Not only is the view utterly delectable, inspiring none less than the artist JMW Turner, but the hotel can also claim to be something of an artwork in itself.
WHERE: Nightingale Lane, Richmond, TW10 6UZ
WEBSITE: www.petershamhotel.co.uk
Head quite literally in the clouds and waited on hand-and-foot as you luxuriate in the absolute lap of luxury.
WHERE: 31 St Thomas Street, Borough, SE1 9QU
WEBSITE: www.shangri-la.com
Shangri-La Hotel, London, At The Shard
The shifty man outside London Bridge tube station might be asking ‘wanna get high?’, but the chances are he’s not got this in mind. It’s London’s tallest hotel, it’s got the highest infinity pool in the world and it’s one of the most luxurious places to stay in the capital.
Everything about the Shangri-La Hotel, London, At The Shard, is exquisite. It’s one of our favourite places to head for a staycation, head quite literally in the clouds and waited on hand-and-foot as you luxuriate in the absolute lap of luxury. There’s simply nothing like it.
11 Cadogan Gardens
Forget MIC, you’re really made in Chelsea here. The luxurious boutique hotel sits right in the centre of Chelsea, which as far as we’re concerned means it’s right in the centre of the world! A
stone’s throw from Sloane Square, the hotel is quietly aristocratic, like most of its neighbours, and quietly exudes class.
Come to think of it, the hotel also exudes great service, food and a wonderful nights’ stay. Ideal for shopping, or just stopping and relaxing.
WHERE: 11 Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, SW3 2RJ
WEBSITE: www.11cadogangardens.com
If you’ve the luxury of reclining in one of their suites, opt for The Cinema Suite, the suite that plays homage to the history of Hollywood and Indian cinema.
WHERE: 51 Buckingham Gate, Westminster, SW1E 6AF
WEBSITE: www.taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk
51 Buckingham Gate
A splash of colour in a part of London famous for it’s stucco uniformity, pomp and circumstance, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate and Residences feels a bit special.
The grand courtyard also includes the ‘longest Shakespearean sylvan frieze in the world‘!
Ideal for a home-away-from-home stay, alfresco dining and perfectly placed for sight seeing.
Flemings Mayfair
It always feels unfair to jump straight to the restaurant when summing up a hotel, so we won’t, because this small Mayfair hotel is far more than that. The definition of discretion, Flemings Mayfair is a piece of old-world London yet simultaneously modern and exciting.
From the 1930s styled bar to the perfectly appointed rooms to the perfectly appointed rooms, the hotel – formed by joining 13 Georgian townhouses, is equisite. It’s easy to understand how Flemings Mayfair inspired Agatha Christie.
And finally the restaurant, Ormer. Under the cheffing of Kerth Gumbs it goes from strength to strength. It’s fantastic.
The definition of discretion, Flemings Mayfair is a piece of old-world London yet simultaneously modern and exciting.
WHERE: 7-12 Half Moon Street, Mayfair, W1J 7BH
WEBSITE: www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk
This couldn’t be further from the ersatz corporate model that make up the mainstay of London’s hotel stock...
WHERE: 15-17 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RJ
WEBSITE: www.firmdalehotels.com
Charlotte Street Hotel
Surrounded, as it is, by ad agencies and media firms, the Charlotte Street Hotel just had to be achingly cool, and the Fitzrovia hangout definitely lives up to expectations.
The 52-room hotel has a real boutiquey feel, with design taking top priority and a ‘Bloomsbury Group’ theme developed by Firmdale Hotels’ Kit Kemp, co-owner and Design Director.
The result is a liberal splashing of contemporary art, careful design and an originality that makes exploring both fun and obligatory. This couldn’t be further from the ersatz corporate model that make up the mainstay of London’s hotel stock.
Sea Containers London
Unlike their ocean-going steel box namesakes, Sea Containers London really is the epitome of cool. The giant Southbank building seemingly floats, a river’s-width distance from St Paul’s and although the huge building was originally designed as a hotel, it was converted into an office block at the last minute, Sea Containers House. However in 2014 it was converted back into a hotel.
The hotel evokes the nautical industrial feel of the shipping industry, thanks to designer Tom Dixon and there are nods to the building’s sea lubber heritage throughout, from the ship models scattered throughout to the giant anchor and the copper reception desk designed to resemble a ship’s hull.
There’s an in-house screening room, spa, and fitness centre and the rooms to book are the balcony rooms with a view across the Thames. 12th Knot, the rooftop bar is great for relaxing with a drink, but perhaps our favourite aspect is Lyaness, the award winning bar serving the most delectable cocktails. This is a hotel worth going well out of the way to visit.
WHERE: 20 Upper Ground, Southbank, SE1 9PD
WEBSITE: www.seacontainerslondon.com
WHERE: Piccadilly, W1J 7BX
WEBSITE: www.sheratonparklane.com
Sheraton Grand London Park Lane
The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane is grand in more than just name. The Art Deco hotel constantly harks back to its heritage, while remaining totally up to date. If proof were needed, take a detour to the gents toilets in the basement where there is quite possibly London’s best surviving example of Art Deco design, perfectly persevered and in constant use. Back in the lobby and beyond, though, we are firmly in the 21st century.
Restaurant-wise, Mercante is seasonal Italian while the afternoon teas in the Palm Court are second-to-none. Smith & Whistle is a reimagining of a traditional pub but done with great panache and style.
The only question, which should’ve been posed back with it opened in 1927, is why is it named ‘Park Lane’ when it’s on Piccadilly?
The Soho Hotel
Quintessentially furnished in the indomitable style of Kit Kemp, the Soho Hotel is the very essence of London’s most vibrant neighbourhood. The heart of London’s media industry, Soho is a wondrous criss-cross of excitement and intrigue, and its eponymous hotel certainly lives up to the hype.
The downstairs rooms, an interconnected series of sitting and drawing rooms, are always bustling in the evenings, with guests spilling from room to room, like the giant party that Soho evokes. The bar and restaurant are generally full and awash with celebrity gossip and rumour.
Upstairs, the rooms are bright and decidedly tranquil, perfect for the night after a private screening in the hotel’s cinema room, a meal at Refuel – the hotel’s excellent restaurant – and the small-hours whiled away in the bar.
WHERE: 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D 3DH.
WEBSITE: www.firmdalehotels.com
The Berkeley
Proudly boasting that it’s London’s only hotel with a rooftop swimming pool, The Berkeley is noted for its firsts – from being the first hotel in London to install aircon or double glazing, both in the 1930s, to embracing technology through their 360-degree immersive whisky tasting experience.
The Knightsbridge hotel is set on the edge of Hyde Park and looks fabulous, a sandstone monolith with a thoroughly modern interior. The rooms are crisply furnished and decorated in muted colours with marble bathrooms providing the finishing touches.
You’ll want to check out the beach huts this summer, the alfresco spot is likely to be all everyone’s talking about.
You'll want to check out the beach huts this summer, the alfresco spot is likely to be all everyone's talking about...
WHERE: Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RL
WEBSITE: www.the-berkeley.co.uk
WHERE: 21 Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BH
WEBSITE: www.marriott.co.uk
The Dilly
Le Méridien Piccadilly is now The Dilly. From May 17th the hotel, dominating the north side of Piccadilly, will be renamed The Dilly. Yes, really. The Dilly.
Set in the centre of the West End, the colonnaded hotel sits a short walk from Piccadilly Circus, St James’s, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Soho.
And it’s not just the location that sets The Dilly apart, the hotel boasts a fantastic terrace bar, a health club with one of London’s largest indoor swimming pools and new food and drink offerings.
On the sly it looks like The Dilly will be one of the year’s most significant openings and yet by phoenixing out of Le Méridien Piccadilly there’s a danger it won’t get the attention it deserves.
NHOW Hotel London
NHOW London was meant to be last year’s most talked about new arrival. A place that, on balance, it sadly lost to coronavirus. But now’s the time to let NHOW London bring a whole burst of colour to the capital.
The interiors are brightly coloured and scattered with statement furniture.
If you’re looking for a perfect romantic getaway, settle in for a night in their royal garden suite, that’s bursting with blooming flowers, decadent artwork and calming tones.
Situated close to so-called Silicon Roundabout, the creative vibes are in evidence at every turn.
WHERE: 2 Macclesfield Road, Clerkenwell, EC1V 8DG
WEBSITE: www.nhow-hotels.com
WHERE: 10 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, WC2H 9HB
WEBSITE: www.firmdalehotels.com
Covent Garden Hotel
Set in the heart of theatre-land, the Covent Garden Hotel is lavish and luxurious and not a little untheatrical itself, which will ensure it fits in perfectly with the neighbours.
With the Firmdale Hotels stamp-of-approval (the design is another Kit Kemp masterpiece) guests can’t help but be delighted by the level of detail and attention to design across the hotel’s rooms, suites and guest areas. The first floor drawing room and library are perfect for relaxing with their comfy chairs and log fire.
Located just off Seven Dials it’s ideal for a London theatre visit or a longer stay taking in the many restaurants and vibrant bars in the area. Or if you’d rather not venture too far then the restaurant, Brasserie Max, serves an excellent dinner or a range of afternoon teas.
DoubleTree by Hilton London – Docklands Riverside
Nothing screams ‘London’ more than the River Thames, which means that the DoubleTree by Hilton London – Docklands Riverside, with its sweeping views over the iconic river and Canary Wharf is the most London you can get, despite being out of the centre (itself a benefit).
The hotel itself is housed inside London’s last dry shipbuilding dock, but today you’ll find cosy rooms, river-view balconies and a waterside terrace.
And if you’re feeling peckish, your stay begins with a chocolate chip cookie at check-in! You can’t ask for more than that.
WHERE: 265A Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, SE16 5HW
WEBSITE: www.hilton.com
Enter the hotel and you’re in a wonderland that’s part country house hotel and part ultra-modern.
WHERE: Carlos Place, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL
WEBSITE: www.the-connaught.co.uk
The Connaught
The grand sweep of The Connaught dominates the corner of Mount Street with views into the gorgeous Jean Georges restaurant through the beautiful stained glass windows.
Enter the hotel and you’re in a wonderland that’s part country house hotel and part ultra-modern. From the dark and moody bar to some of the best dining in London, the luxury is unparalleled and only continues in the rooms with original features and marble bathrooms featuring the famous Japanese loos!
The hotel was founded in 1815 and although there are reflections of the historic past (the staircase alone is worth checking out) one foot is very much in the present day. The styling and attention to detail contribute to making The Connaught one of the great hotels of the world.
The highlight, though, is Hélène Darozze’s two Michelin Star eponymous restaurant. It’s truly special.
The Stafford
There are few hotels more discreet than The Stafford. Hidden up St James’s Place, close to Green Park and accessible from St James’s, The American Bar at The Stafford was once the retreat of Second World War spies, with Nancy Wake the most famous amongst them. Wake was the Allies’ most highly decorated servicewoman and on the Gestapo’s most-wanted list and it’s not surprising to see why the hotel was such a hit with the intelligence community.
Enter through the main door and the boutique hotel exudes the luxury of a London hotel of it’s calibre, with marble floors and high ceilings, but pass through and end up in the low, dark and surprising American Bar, highly praised and chock full of memorabilia.
The courtyard beyond provides another, very different, equally pleasing, aspect to guests who can choose to stay in the Victorian grandeur of rooms at the front of the hotel, or the modern and sophisticated converted mews toward the back and overlooking the courtyard.
Dinner at The Game Bird restaurant isn’t to be missed, both superbly decorated as well as serving excellent seasonal British meals.
WHERE: 16-18 St James’s Place, St Jame’s, SW1A 1NJ
WEBSITE: www.thestaffordlondon.com
WHERE: 116 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1J 7BJ
WEBSITE: www.athenaeumhotel.com
The Athenaeum
Translated as ‘library’, the word ‘Athenaeum’ derives from the Greek name Athena, the goddess of wisdom, which probably suits anyone checking into The Athenaeum, one of London’s most sophisticated traditional hotels.
Based on Piccadilly, the hotel is sleek and timeless and the restaurant, 116 at The Atheneum, is headed up by Executive Chef Ian Howard. Relaxed, stylish and with warm service, enjoy seasonal menus championing local producers.
The rooms and suites are roomy and light, overlooking Green Park, and the hotel is the perfect staging post for shopping in Knightsbridge, culture in Mayfair and Central London or hopping on the tube to do business in The City or Canary Wharf.
The Chesterfield
The Chesterfield Mayfair boasts real British charm from its tempting timeless afternoon tea to classically decorated rooms. Located in the beating heart of Mayfair, you’ll find yourself just minutes away from London’s tourist sites and leading royal parks.
Their original sweetshop afternoon tea will see you delight in your childhood dreams of candy, candy and more candy.
WHERE: 35 Charles Street, Mayfair, W1J 5EB
WEBSITE: www.chesterfieldmayfair.com
WHERE: 101 Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RN
WEBSITE: www.marriott.co.uk
The Park Tower, Knightsbridge
As soon as you step foot inside The Park Tower you’ll be blown away by its sweeping staircase in the entrance hall. Located just a short walk from London’s iconic spots including Hyde Park, Harrods and Harvey Nichols, The Park Tower boasts ornate furnishings and views overlooking the city’s famed striking landmarks.
And, it’s not all just about the rooms, the hotel is home to tempting afternoon tea treats and world-renowned Wagyu beef at The Hyde Bar.
The Montcalm Hotel
You’ll know The Montcalm Royal London House for being home to one of London’s leading rooftop destinations, Aviary, and littered with a romantic igloo or two come wintertime, but if you’re looking to rest your head after a night out on the rooftop, book in for a night of pure bliss.
Located just near Liverpool Street station, The Montcalm Royal London House blends London’s creative independent feel with its corporate side. Spend your night enjoying a cocktail or two on the terrace before heading in for a treatment at the wellness spa.
WHERE: 22-25, Finsbury Square, The City, EC2A 1DX
WEBSITE: www.montcalmroyallondoncity.co.uk
Sofitel St James
Right in the heart of St James’, dominating Waterloo Place, rises the majestic form of Sofitel London St James. The magnificent architecture and dazzling white stone on the outside belie the myriad delicate touches on the inside.
The rooms are classically decorated and appointed, designed with features by Hermes and drawing on a palette of blacks, whites and muted pastels.
Restaurant-wise Sofitel London St James boasts Wild Honey St James, serving fine French and British cuisine from it’s beautiful ground floor restaurant.
WHERE: 6 Waterloo Place, St Jame’s, SW1Y 4AN
WEBSITE: www.sofitelstjames.com
Want the ultimate in luxury? Then check in to one of the fifteen suites or the Penthouse Suite ME, which boasts a glass dome giving an unrivalled 360-degree panoramic view of the London skyline.
WHERE: 336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA
WEBSITE: www.melondonhotel.com
ME London
Contemporary, luxury lifestyle hotel, ME London, is the flagship property for the ME by Meliá brand, located in the cultural heart of London, making it the perfect place to stay after going out for drinks in Covent Garden on seeing a play.
ME London is home to the renowned Radio Rooftop Bar with panoramic views of the city’s skyline from Tower Bridge to the Houses of Parliament. The hotel also boasts international dining outlets of STK (a world famous steak house) and Radio Rooftop (for breakfast) and lounge bar Marconi Lounge.
Four seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
The chain hotel that feels like anything but, the Four Seasons is a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel from the moment you enter and find yourself in a reception unspeakably plush with black marble, black leather furniture and red silk wallpaper.
The theme continues in the Amaranto Lounge and Bar with its wall of wine, but in a nod to the fact that what looks undeniably sleek and sexy downstairs would possibly be a little dark upstairs, so the designers have instead gone for clean, light and airy rooms in a muted palate that provide a perfect backdrop to the superb views across Hyde Park.
The contrast is nearly as good as the wine list.
WHERE: Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1J 7DR
WEBSITE: www.fourseasons.com
WHERE: 2 Blackfriars Road, Upper Ground, Bankside, SE1 9JU
WEBSITE: www.banksidehotel.com
Bankside Hotel
Bankside Hotel nestles just by the Thames and is an artistic breath of fresh air, a calming environment away from the hubbub of the South Bank and yet proximate to all the action. Approximately a minute’s walk from the Tate Modern, step through the hotel’s wraparound glass exterior and the artsy theme continues.
From the Artyard Bar & Kitchen to the rooms, each of which come with a little paint box and decorated with contemporary art, which continues throughout the hotel.
Baglioni
Italians just do things better than us Brits. They have flair, they have design, panache and chutzpah! If you want doormen and country house grandeur, ask an Englishman; if you’re after a sophisticated business hotel, find an American, but if you want style, opulence and jazz-hands fabulousness, you need an Italian.
London’s Baglioni Hotel feels like they floated a Venician palazzo away from the Grand Canal in the dead of night and quietly ran it aground on the edge of Kensington Gardens. Its gold and marble inlaid lobby sets the tone (and colour scheme) that’s repeated across rooms and the bar and throughout The Baglioni. Every part of the hotel is simply reassuringly extravagant, and we love it.
The restaurant is brilliant, bringing the flavours of Italy to Kensington, while the spa, designed by Rebosio+Spagnulo offers male and female steam rooms and treatment rooms.
WHERE: 60 Hyde Park Gate, Kensington, SW7 5BB
WEBSITE: www.baglionihotels.com
WHERE: 68 Regent Street, W1B 4DY
WEBSITE: www.hotelcaferoyal.com
Hotel Café Royal
Hotel Café Royal says it all in the name. A destination that prides itself on pure luxury, cuddled up on London’s famed Regent Street. Strikingly over 150 years old, the hotel is a staple of the city’s heritage and has welcomed guests inclusive of Oscar Wilde and Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill and David Bowie, David Chipperfield and Albert Adrià…and that’s just to name a few!
Hotel Café Royal champions its heritage, Britishness, with sumptuous afternoon tea offerings, fine dining Laurent at Café Royal restaurant; a grill and sushi bar, and various cosy yet chic lounging areas inclusive of the Green Bar, Papillon and an Oscar Wilde lounge.
Kimpton Fitzroy London
Full of 19th Century charm and located in a true landmark, Kimpton Fitzroy London, on the eastern side of Russell Square. Its glamourous exterior is matched inside with true Kimpton charm. Velvets and luxury furnishings give the place a modern twist, but history is usually around the corner.
Not, though, in the fitness centre, a Technogym-equipped affair that’ll help work up an appetite for a hearty breakfast at Kimpton’s Palm Court, filled with greenery and basking in light
Finish off your day in-style with a negroni at the Fitz Bar, an exclusive cocktail den.
WHERE: 1-8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, WC1B 5BE
WEBSITE: www.kimptonfitzroylondon.com
WHERE: 22 Park Lane, Mayfair,, W1K 1BE
WEBSITE: www.hilton.com
London Hilton on Park Lane
There’s always time for a pina colada but there’s only one place in the city that can guarantee the best: Trader Vic’s. Known for being the city’s first ever Polynesian-themed restaurant, the spot is bursting with a real holiday feel, namely why we can’t stop slurping up their infamous coconut number.
London Hilton on Park Lane is famed for its incredible views over London’s iconic skyline (and down into the Queen’s garden!). Grab dinner at Galvin at Windows and watch the sun set before heading down to your room.
Haymarket Hotel
Something of a hidden gem, the Haymarket Hotel is nestled a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square and the bustling, delightful carnage that is Piccadilly Circus; but you’d never know.
An oasis that’s not only tranquil but also attractive, with light open guest areas furnished distinctively and artistically with modern art and sculptures as well as more traditional pieces. The rooms and suites are airy and carefully furnished.
Downstairs the pool area includes a bar, giving a more chilled out vibe than most that’ll confirm the fact guests are on holiday, not bootcamp!
WHERE: 1 Suffolk Place, London, SW1Y 4HX
WEBSITE: www.firmdalehotels.com
WHERE: 1 Waterview Drive, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0TW
WEBSITE: www.iclondon-theo2.com
InterContinental London – The O2
If you’re looking for a hotel with great city views but with lots to do and see around it, then look no further than Intercontinental London – The O2. Nestled right next to the arena, hopping to a concert, for a bite to eat or for a shopping spree has never been easier.
Featuring 453 spacious rooms each of the rooms have incredible views of the city skyline. And it’s not just the rooms that have the views, the Clipper bar has 270 degree vista windows for a undisrupted view of Canary Wharf and the River Thames. Sipping on a G&T or custom made cocktail and enjoying the views are a compulsory part of your stay.
The Corinthia
The Corinthia was built as a truly grand London hotel but it unexpectedly spent the majority of its life as government offices and the hub for various intelligence and spy activities.
The hotel’s location, just off Whitehall, led to the newly opened Metropole being requisitioned by government in the First World War and between the Second World War and 2007 until it was finally sold and turned back in to a hotel.
Once again The Corinthia in it’s rightful place as one of London’s leading hotels, having been entirely gutted and refurbished to the highest standard once government cleared out. And now it’s got Tom Kerridge, which is reason enough to book now.
With fantastic views over The Thames, two excellent restaurants, bars and a spa it’s difficult to believe that it was once teaming with government spooks and spies, but perhaps this just adds to the allure?
WHERE: Whitehall Place, Whitehall, SW1A 2BD
WEBSITE: www.corinthia.com
WHERE: 45 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3PT
WEBSITE: www.sbe.com
The Mondrian/ The Curtain
Sitting in the heart of stylish Shoreditch, The Curtain closed last year, much to our consternation. However, it has now been acquired by SBE and will become The Mondrian.
Combining two of our favourite hotels, the Mondrian will also bring The Rumpus Room back to London, and The Curtain members’ club will continue to operate out of the hotel.
Featuring one of London’s greatest rooftop pools, summer days here are something not to be missed. And winter is just as fun, boasting its very own member’s club, great American soul food at its restaurant Red Rooster and an abundance of treatment rooms, come rain or shine there is always something new to do.
The Capital Hotel
When you’re staying in London, there’s no better spot than reclining in the stylish borough of Knightsbridge and where better to lay your head than in one of London’s five-star boutique hotels. For a real British affair, The Capital Hotel & Apartments provides the perfect backdrop with its red brick walls and classic old British charms.
Inside you’ll find a mix of rooms, suites and apartments. The apartments will leave you feeling like a true Londoner thanks to their self-catering feel and independent living areas. Before you head out for the night, pull up a pew at The Capital Bar and delight in one of their tempting masterclasses in cocktails, vermouth and whisky-cheese.
WHERE: 22-24 Basil Street, Knightsbridge, SW3 1AT
WEBSITE: www.warwickhotels.com
WHERE: 1 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DL
WEBSITE: www.milestonehotel.com
The Milestone Hotel & Residences
Full of old-world charm, The Milestone’s elegance and grandeur will have you feeling like royalty. With no two rooms the same, you will never grow tired of their artistic suites and with rooms looking straight over Kensington Palace and Gardens, this is the perfect location to watch the world go by.
Experience fine dining in Cheneston’s Restaurant with rich mahogany furnishings and if like the Duchess of Bedford you get hungry in between lunch and dinner, then opt for afternoon tea in the beautiful conservatory. The best part of The Milestone is really its prime location near Kensington Gardens, so why not make the most of it and enjoy their famous picnic in the park? Trust us, you will not want to leave this place.
The Montague on the Gardens
It’s not everyday you find yourself surrounded by entire leopard print, but then again, it’s not everyday you’re enjoying a tipple at The Leopard Bar at The Montague on the Gardens. Of course it’s over-the-top but that’s why we absolutely love it.
If leopard print isn’t your bag, the Georgian townhouse hotel itself bursting with English charm from the classic interiors through to the indulgent afternoon teas.
WHERE: 15 Montague Street, London, WC1B 5BJ
WEBSITE: www.montaguehotel.com
WHERE: 50 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, Marylebone, W1H 7FD
WEBSITE: www.theprinceakatokilondon.com
The Prince Akatoki London
Inspired by the traditions of Japanese hospitality, The Prince Akatoki is a sanctuary in the heart of London. With intricate detail and beautiful interiors, each room’s minimalist furniture is matched with tranquil furnishings to make you feel at ease.
A culinary experience awaits at their in-house restaurant TOKii. With a curated menu, guests can only expect to be served the finest Japanese fusion food around. Finish off any meal in-style with a Japanese whiskey in the malt lounge & bar. Bliss.
InterContinental London Park Lane
It might lack the style and panache of some of its peers from the outside (although we rather enjoy concrete-y architecture), but what might appear as something of an office block beside its beautiful neighbours, Apsley House and the Wellington Arch is a totally different story inside. Plus, as the adage goes, better to be on the inside looking out than vice versa.
There are two excellent restaurants, Theo Randall at the Intercontinental and the newly-arrived Mexican masterpiece that is Ella Canta.
The rooms are smart and classically styled with double-height suites and a good chance of an iconic view across Hyde Park or Hyde Park Corner.
WHERE: 1 Hamilton Place, Mayfair, W1J 7QY
WEBSITE: www.parklane.intercontinental.com
WHERE: 181 Tooley Street, Borough, SE1 2JR
WEBSITE: www.thelalit.com
The LaLiT
Located in a 120-year-old neo-baroque building that was once St Olave’s Grammar School, The LaLiT London is a boutique hotel spread over 70 beautifully designed rooms, decorated with Indian art and combining the culture of the sub-continent with a quintessentially British charm.
Just a stone’s throw away from Tower Bridge, the hotel is discreetly tucked away. Pan-Indian dining thanks to Baluchi, the hotel’s restaurant, is one of the capital’s finest Indian restaurants.
The Rubens at the Palace
If covering everything in leopardskin is your idea of the perfect decor choice, then you’ve got something in common with The Rubens at the Palace. The hotel turned their bar into an homage to the big cat and the effect is overwhelming.
And it’s not just the spotty bar, this is one of London’s best placed hotels, within easy reach of Victoria or Trafalgar Square, Mayfair or St James’s. It’s the hotel that royalty look out on every morning, set as it is literally across the road from Buckingham Palace.
WHERE: 39 Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, SW1W 0PS
WEBSITE: www.rubenshotel.com
