London hotels are crazy expensive, even the basic ones. So if you’re already planning to spend a lot, you might as well go all out and stay somewhere that’s actually worth it. London hotels are crazy expensive, even the basic ones.
So if you’re already planning to spend a lot, you might as well go all out and stay somewhere that’s actually worth it. You can easily find cheap affordable hotels near me with a quick search, but this list is for when you want an experience, not just a place to sleep.
Half the “luxury” hotels in London are just regular hotels with higher prices and fancier lobbies.
But there are about a dozen that are genuinely special, the kind of places that make your whole trip better.
These are hotels where stuff just works. The shower is hot immediately, the WiFi is actually fast, the room service shows up while the food’s still warm, and the concierge can really get you into that impossible-to-book restaurant.
Some are old British hotels with all the history and tradition stuff, others are modern and hip with DJs and rooftop bars.
Either way, they’re the hotels where you’ll actually enjoy spending time, not just sleeping.
Here are the ones that are worth the splurge if you’re planning to book hotel in London and want only the best hotels in London.
The Grand Old Hotels That Never Go Out of Style
Let’s start with the neighbourhoods where the rich and famous have been staying for decades – Mayfair and Knightsbridge.
These areas are home to hotels that your grandparents might have dreamed about visiting.
Claridge’s in Mayfair is one of those places where you walk in and immediately feel special. The building looks like something from an old movie, with its Art Deco style and doorkeepers dressed in perfect uniforms.
The afternoon tea here isn’t just tea and sandwiches – it’s an event. People dress up for it, and you’ll understand why when you see the beautiful room where they serve it.
Not far away, The Connaught feels more like a wealthy person’s private home than a hotel. It’s smaller than Claridge’s, which means the staff remember your name and how you like your coffee.
The bar here makes cocktails that cost as much as a nice dinner elsewhere, but watching the bartenders work is like watching artists paint.
Over in Knightsbridge, The Berkeley has something most London hotels don’t – a rooftop pool. Swimming while looking out over Hyde Park makes you forget you’re in the middle of a busy city.
The Blue Bar downstairs has become famous for its cocktails, and even Londoners save up to visit it for special occasions.
The Mandarin Oriental sits right on Hyde Park, and from the front rooms, you can watch the horses from the royal stables pass by in the morning.
They recently spent millions renovating everything, and it shows. The spa alone is worth visiting, even if you’re not staying there; you can book a day pass and pretend you’re a guest.
Shiny New Hotels for Modern Tastes
Not everyone wants old-fashioned luxury, and London gets that. The newer hotels in the city are doing things differently, and they’re just as impressive.
The Shangri-La sits inside The Shard – that super-tall building that looks like a piece of glass reaching into the sky.
The hotel starts on the 34th floor, so even the “lowest” rooms are higher than most buildings in London. The swimming pool is on the 52nd floor with windows all around.
Swimming there feels like floating above the entire city.
The Edition in Fitzrovia attracts a younger crowd who want luxury without all the formal stuff.
The lobby feels more like a trendy club than a hotel entrance, with music playing and people having drinks at all hours.
The rooms are simple but perfect, with everything you need and nothing you don’t. The penthouse has its own outdoor terrace where you can see the whole city spread out below you.
The Zetter Townhouse properties are different from big hotels. They’re in old Georgian houses that have been turned into small, quirky hotels.
Each room is decorated differently with unusual wallpaper and furniture that looks like it came from an antique shop.
The cocktail bars in these hotels are so popular that Londoners queue up to get in.
Picking the Right Spot for Your Stay
London is huge, and where you stay really matters. If you’ve never been before, staying near Westminster or Covent Garden makes sense.
You can walk to Big Ben, take photos at Buckingham Palace, and catch a show in the West End without spending half your day on the subway.
The Corinthia near Trafalgar Square is perfect for first-timers.
Step outside and you’re in the middle of everything tourists want to see. Plus, the hotel itself is stunning – the kind of place where you want to spend time, not just sleep.
Business travellers usually pick hotels in the City or Canary Wharf. The Ned is an interesting choice here – it’s in an old bank building that’s been turned into a hotel with nine restaurants.
Yes, nine! Even if you stayed a week, you could eat somewhere different every night.
Now, finding and booking these hotels can be tricky, especially during busy times.
If you’re looking for deals or want to compare options easily, Just Buy Travel makes the whole process simpler.
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Secret Spots Most Tourists Miss
Look, if you’re going to drop serious money on a hotel in London, you want to get it right. Some of the best hotels in London aren’t always the ones tourists hear about first. They’re the places locals recommend quietly.
The city’s packed with amazing places to stay, from old-school fancy hotels where the Queen probably had tea, to brand new spots with infinity pools and robot butlers.
If you’re going to spend serious money on a hotel in London, you’ll want to get it right.
The city is packed with amazing places to stay, from old-school luxury hotels where the Queen probably had tea, to brand new spots with infinity pools and robot butlers.
Some of London’s best hotels aren’t famous; they’re the ones wealthy Londoners tell their friends about quietly.
The Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden has 40 rooms and suites, giving it an intimate feel. Because it’s so small, the staff can provide personalised service.
The hotel’s restaurant, Henri, serves exceptional seasonal British-French cuisine.
Hazlitt’s in Soho is in a Georgian townhouse that dates back to 1718. Staying here feels like travelling back in time, but with good WiFi and powerful showers.
The hotel, named after the essayist William Hazlitt, is popular with writers and artists, and each room is named after a famous person who stayed or lived there.
The Beaumont in Mayfair looks like it belongs in 1920s New York rather than London. One of the rooms is actually inside a striking three-story sculpture by artist Antony Gormley that sticks out from the building.
The hotel’s Colony Grill Room evokes the feeling of an old movie, and its bar can make a martini just as it would have been prepared 100 years ago.
The Goring is the only hotel near Buckingham Palace with a huge private garden.
The same family has owned it for over 100 years, and that family feeling shows in the service.
Kate Middleton and her family stayed here the night before she married Prince William, so you know it’s special enough for actual royalty.
Getting Your Money’s Worth from Luxury
Staying in these hotels isn’t just about having a fancy bed to sleep in. The best part is all the extra stuff they can do for you.
The concierge (that’s the person whose job is to help guests) at these hotels can work magic.
Want to see a sold-out show? They know someone. Need a table at that restaurant everyone’s talking about?
They’ll make a call. Want to go shopping when the store is closed to regular people? They can arrange that too.
The spas in these hotels are like mini-vacations by themselves. You don’t even need to be staying at the hotel to use them – you can book a day pass and spend hours in the steam rooms, saunas, and pools.
Some have treatments you’ve never heard of, like floating in salt water pools or sitting in freezing cold chambers (it’s supposed to be good for you!).
The food at hotel restaurants used to be boring, but not anymore. Some of London’s best restaurants are actually in hotels.
Guests usually get tables even when the restaurant is fully booked for months. The breakfast alone at some of these places costs what you’d spend on a nice dinner elsewhere, but it’s an experience – not just eggs and toast.
Getting around from these hotels is easier, too. Many have their own cars to take you to the airport or anywhere nearby.
Some even have old Rolls-Royce or Bentley cars for special occasions. It’s not cheap, but arriving at a wedding or theater in a classic car makes you feel like a movie star.
The Final thoughts
You’ve done the research. You’ve read the lists (including this one). You know the difference between a genuinely grand hotel and one that’s just riding on a fancy name. Now comes the fun part: actually booking it.
Don’t let too many decisions spoil the fun.
Your shortcut out of the research rabbit hole is right here. Just Buy Travel consolidates the chaos into one clean, simple dashboard. See prices, packages, and real guest reviews all in one place, without the pressure.
No matter if you want luxury, stylish stays, or cozy boutique vibes, the platform makes it easy to find the best hotels in London without any hassle.
I’m travelling by myself. Which luxury hotels are best for solo travellers?
Great question! Use Just Buy Travel to easily find top-rated hotels with vibrant social bars and relaxed atmospheres that welcome solo guests without any awkwardness.
When is the cheapest time to book a luxury hotel in London?
January, February, and November are your best bets. Nobody wants to visit London when it’s cold and gray, so hotels drop their prices. Book about 2-3 months before you travel for the best deals. Stay away from June (Wimbledon) and September (Fashion Week) unless you book super early.
I’m travelling solo. Are these hotels good for that?
Yes! Many have fantastic social bars. Just Buy Travel lets you filter for hotels with lively atmospheres perfect for solo travellers.
How do I know which luxury hotel in London suits me best?
It depends on your vibe. Do you want old-school elegance in Mayfair, a modern sky-high pool at The Shard, or something quirky in Soho? On Just Buy Travel , you can filter hotels by style, location, and amenities to find what actually fits you.
