London
Luxury and boutique hotels in London: eleven places for a special occasion
Churchill's old War Office, a Georgian house where an essayist died in 1830, and a hotel with a butler for every room. Five grand luxury hotels and six small boutique hotels in London, each with something nobody else has.
For most of the 20th century, the building on Whitehall was off limits to anyone without clearance. Churchill worked here, and so did the generals who ran two world wars. Since 2023 it has been Raffles London at The OWO, and you can sleep in what were once their offices.
London has added a run of major luxury hotels since 2023. Yet some of its most memorable stays are small houses with twenty rooms and creaking floorboards that never trouble the big lists. We have chosen five of the grand and six of the small, for anniversaries, proposals and weekends where the experience matters more than the bill.
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In short
The best luxury hotels in London are Raffles at The OWO, The Peninsula and The Lanesborough, each with service that starts at the kerb. For something small and personal, Hazlitt's in Soho and Batty Langley's in Spitalfields are Georgian townhouses with fewer than 30 rooms.
Our first choice: Raffles London at The OWO, for the history alone. You sleep inside Churchill's War Office, with Westminster across the road.
Book your stay: See rooms at Raffles London at The OWO (Paid link)
The luxury hotels
Raffles London at The OWO
The Old War Office was completed in 1906, and the hotel has kept its marble staircases and much of the oak panelling. There are several restaurants, and the spa sits below ground where the archives once were.
Choose it to stay inside a piece of British history, between Trafalgar Square and Downing Street. It is a big hotel, so ask for a room in the original building.
Book your stay: See rooms at Raffles London at The OWO (Paid link)
The Peninsula London
The Peninsula opened at Hyde Park Corner in 2023, and upper floors look over Wellington Arch towards the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Rooms are run from tablets in your own language, and the hotel keeps a fleet of Rolls-Royces for guests.
For those who want brand new and flawless, with Belgravia and Hyde Park on either side.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Peninsula London (Paid link)
The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough occupies an 1820s building at Hyde Park Corner that was once St George's Hospital. Every room comes with a 24-hour butler, who will unpack your case if you ask.
The interiors are Regency, with silk wall coverings and antiques. A place to mark something big, quietly.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Lanesborough (Paid link)
Bulgari Hotel London
Bulgari sits in Knightsbridge, five minutes from Harrods. Its underground pool is 25 metres long and lined with green and gold mosaic, and the spa is one of the best in the city.
The look is dark and sleek, more modern Milan than old London. For luxury without the gilt.
Book your stay: See rooms at Bulgari Hotel London (Paid link)
The Beaumont Mayfair
The Beaumont occupies a 1926 art deco building on Brown Hart Gardens that was once a car park for Selfridges shoppers. A giant crouching figure by Antony Gormley sits on the facade, and it doubles as a suite you can sleep in.
The mood is 1930s America, with a bar and grill on the ground floor. Oxford Street is two minutes away.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Beaumont Mayfair (Paid link)
Hazlitt's, Soho
Antique furniture and dark walls in a house built in 1718. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
The boutique hotels
Hazlitt's
Hazlitt's spans three Frith Street houses from 1718 and is named after the essayist William Hazlitt, who died here in 1830. The floors tilt, and rooms have four-poster beds and Victorian roll-top baths. Authors who stay leave signed copies of their books in the library.
There is no restaurant, but all of Soho is outside the door. For couples who want history and intimacy.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hazlitt's (Paid link)
Batty Langley's
Batty Langley's is on Folgate Street in Spitalfields, in a house furnished as if it were still the 18th century. Rooms are named after local characters, and one bathroom hides its loo inside a throne-like chair.
Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market are two minutes away. A calm base for exploring the East End.
Book your stay: See rooms at Batty Langley's (Paid link)
Henrietta Experimental
Henrietta Experimental, formerly the Henrietta Hotel, occupies two Georgian townhouses on Henrietta Street, a block from Covent Garden market. With 18 rooms in soft pastels, it feels more like a stylish friend's flat than a hotel.
The Royal Opera House is round the corner. Rooms are small, and the lift does not reach every floor.
Book your stay: See rooms at Henrietta Experimental (Paid link)
Charlotte Street Hotel
Charlotte Street Hotel is in Fitzrovia, where the writers and painters of the Bloomsbury Group gathered in the early 1900s. The drawing room hangs paintings from that era, and the street outside is lined with small restaurants.
Five minutes from Oxford Street, yet calmer. Ideal if you like to eat out without walking far.
Book your stay: See rooms at Charlotte Street Hotel (Paid link)
Artist Residence London
Artist Residence is a former pub in Pimlico, with a handful of rooms above a café and bar. Each room has work by young British artists, and no two are alike.
Victoria station and Tate Britain are within walking distance. Relaxed design for people who find grand hotels a bit stiff.
Book your stay: See rooms at Artist Residence London (Paid link)
Number Sixteen
Number Sixteen fills a row of white Victorian houses on Sumner Place in South Kensington. Behind them is a walled garden with a pond, where breakfast is served when the weather allows.
The Natural History Museum and the V&A are five minutes away. For couples who want somewhere small and green, with the museums as neighbours.
Book your stay: See rooms at Number Sixteen (Paid link)
When to book
Anniversaries and proposals: Tell the hotel about the occasion when you book, and ask about an upgrade.
Low season: January and February bring the most availability at the grand hotels.
Small hotels: Boutique hotels with few rooms fill early at weekends. Book two to three months ahead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best luxury hotel in London?
For history, the best luxury hotel in London is Raffles at The OWO, inside Churchill's old War Office on Whitehall. The Peninsula is the newest, and The Lanesborough gives every room a butler. For couples who want somewhere small and personal, we choose Hazlitt's in Soho.
What is a boutique hotel?
A boutique hotel is a small hotel, usually with fewer than 50 rooms, where the interiors and atmosphere matter as much as the facilities. In London, many occupy Georgian townhouses in Soho and Spitalfields, with each room decorated differently.
Which new luxury hotels have opened in London?
Among the newest luxury hotels in London are Raffles at The OWO and The Peninsula, both opened in 2023. They sit half an hour's walk apart, on either side of Green Park.
Where are the luxury hotels in London?
Most luxury hotels in London are in Mayfair, Knightsbridge and around Hyde Park Corner. Westminster has Raffles at The OWO and Corinthia, while the City and the South Bank have newer hotels in tall buildings with views.