From boutique to unique and little to luxury, London’s hotel scene is not lacking in options. While there has been a recent surge in new ultra-luxury properties such as Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London and The Peninsula London, there are also many notable hotels that have debuted in the past few years at a variety of price points.
Here are five properties, spread throughout London, to keep on your radar.
Art’otel London Hoxton
Lovers of contemporary art will find this 357-room hotel a true masterpiece. Joining its sister property at Battersea Power Station, Art’otel London Hoxton opened in the trendy Shoreditch area of East London this summer. The brand is part of Radisson Hotel Group’s portfolio, making it easy to book through the Radisson reservation system and earn loyalty points.
A guestroom at art’otel London Hoxton
Credit: 2024 art’otel London Hoxton
The bold and colorful works of British pop artist D*Face are displayed in Art’otel London Hoxton, and there is also a rotating roster of featured artists throughout the year. Modern rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, Kevin Murphy bath amenities, Dyson hair dryers and the option to request items such as curling irons, flat irons, adapters or anything else guests may have forgotten. Suites also include cocktail mixing sets, original artwork and turntables and vinyl from artists such as Amy Winehouse, Fleetwood Mac and Taylor Swift (whose sold-out Eras tour debuted in London around the same time the hotel opened).
Art and beauty aren’t just found in the rooms. The gym, located on the 26th floor, features 360-degree panoramic views of London. The same skyline views will also be visible from a fine-dining restaurant expected to open in January 2025 one level down. The hotel’s exterior features two original works by Banksy, moved from their original locations, and the lower level features a curated gallery, an auditorium offering a variety of cultural events and a spa expected to open in late 2024.
The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush
The Hoxton has continued to expand its footprint across the globe, with each new property designed to reflect the vibe of the neighborhood in which it's found. The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush in West London is no different. The hotel sits along the edge of Shepherd’s Bush Green, a triangular-shaped green surrounded by a variety of restaurants, secondhand stores, tattoo shops, pubs and music venues — including O2 Empire, which has played host to rock-and-roll giants such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and more.
Stylish rooms are a highlight of a stay here.
Credit: 2024 The Hoxton, Shepherd’s BushThe Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush made its debut at the end of 2022 with 237 rooms, all on the smaller side, aside from a few contemporary accessible rooms. None offer two beds except those featuring stylish adult-size bunk beds. But what the rooms lack in space, they make up for in style. The art, color scheme and fixtures conjure a Wes Anderson energy with vintage touches. Chet’s, the on-site restaurant, is a must. Billing itself as a Thai Americana spot, it offers menu items that are creative and inspired, with diner-chic decor. While not the most convenient property to explore central London, this property is a gem and, during most seasons, won’t break the bank.
1 Hotel Mayfair
It has been about one year since 1 Hotel Mayfair debuted a stone’s throw from The Ritz London, Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly Circus and a number of other central London attractions. True to 1 Hotels group’s design ethos of bringing the outside in, interiors are inspired by nature with earth tones, wood elements and an abundance of greenery, including approximately 1,300 mostly native plants. The hotel’s 4,300 square feet of green walls are designed to both create a welcoming ambience and produce oxygen, absorb greenhouse gasses and provide energy-saving insulation.
1 Hotel Mayfair brings the outdoors in with earthy design and plants.
Credit: 2024 1 Hotel MayfairReinforcing its commitment to sustainability, the structure was adapted and expanded from a former Holiday Inn. After adding two floors, the property now houses 181 rooms, including 44 suites — most with spectacular views of London’s skyline and The Green Park (and one with a stunning wraparound terrace). Just off the hotel lobby is Dover Yard, a cocktail bar serving light bites and specialty drinks (lilac martini, anyone?).
The property's signature restaurant, Dovetale, is helmed by chef Tom Sellers, who earned two Michelin stars at his eatery, Restaurant Story, and trained with some of the world’s most celebrated chefs. Sellers has crafted a menu focused on “reimagined modern European cooking,” with a raw bar, homemade burrata, a Sunday roast option and plant-based menu options. The hotel also features the holistic-centered Bamford Wellness Spa, a gym and a coffee shop.
The Chelsea Townhouse
The Chelsea Townhouse opened in fall 2023 in the swanky space previously occupied by Draycott Hotel. Around the corner from its sister property, 11 Cadogan Gardens, these two Iconic Luxury Hotel properties are the only London hotels to receive a Relais & Chateaux designation. Built in 1890, The Chelsea Townhouse comprises three red-brick Queen Anne-style Victorian townhouses in a posh section of Chelsea.
A first-floor suite
Credit: 2024 The Chelsea TownhouseEight of the property’s 36 rooms are suites and apartment rentals (one, two or three bedrooms, some with kitchenettes) — ideal for families or longer stays. Antique-style art and furnishings transport guests to the well-heeled London life of the 19th century. Rooms are adorned with a mix of elegant fixtures, old and new, including antique desks and vanities, as well as espresso machines and contemporary Ruark wireless music systems. The hotel’s charming public spaces include a library with a bay window; a genteel dining salon for breakfast, cocktails or a light bite; and — the piece de resistance — a peaceful garden courtyard shared with only a few other privately owned townhomes.
The hotel is tucked behind the pedestrian-only Pavilion Road, where you’ll find a collection of trendy restaurants and bars teeming with young professionals. It’s also walking distance to both Kings Road and Sloane Street, known for its upscale designer shops.
Ruby Zoe
Each of the Ruby brand hotels has a unique name and its own personality. And there’s no mistake upon entering that Ruby Zoe is playful and feisty. Given its location in London’s Notting Hill, the property’s design inspiration was pulled from the Notting Hill Carnival, an annual street festival celebrating Caribbean culture. While rooms are clean, stark and mostly white, the common spaces are vibrant and lively. The 24-hour lobby lounge is adorned with an eclectic mishmash of furnishings, including old album covers, a vintage automobile and a purple piano.
Common spaces are lively and eclectic.
Credit: 2024 Ruby ZoeThe Ruby brand focuses on the cost-conscious traveler, aspiring to combine quality experiences with a laid-back atmosphere. Operating under the ethos of "lean luxury," rooms are streamlined with a smaller footprint, systems are digitized and lights and water will only operate once your key is inserted into the card slot near the door. Additionally, rather than stocking the rooms with tea and coffee supplies, these can be found in the galley at the end of each corridor.
Interestingly, the hotel has also done away with in-room telephones, which is important to remember if your clients aren’t utilizing an international calling plan for their mobile phones. Among the more unique features: Guests can check out an electric guitar at the bar and plug it into the Marshall amp found in each room for an impromptu jam session.