London has always held a special place in my heart. We lived here in 2009, and over the years I’ve returned countless times, both with family and to discover new hotels and experiences for my clients. It is a city I know well, yet one that always gives me another reason to return.
In my 2015 post, London Calling!, I shared some of my favorite hotels, including Claridge’s, which remains firmly on my list. Two years later, London, Always Calling! A Family Adventure took us back to our old stomping grounds with the children, revisiting familiar neighborhoods and discovering new places along the way.
And then there was our arrival in London aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, followed by a stay at Belmond’s Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea. I have always loved that London can be the destination or the grand finale to any journey.
London’s top hotels have been busy reinventing themselves, while a new generation of properties is giving us fresh reasons to check in. Claridge’s has expanded beneath its historic Mayfair address, The Dorchester has completed a major renovation, and newer arrivals such as The Emory and NoMad are bringing fresh perspectives.
Here are seven London hotels worth knowing, each with its own personality and a particular guest in mind.
Claridge’s | The Mayfair Classic
Claridge’s and I go back a while. When I wrote about the hotel in 2015, I was taken with the Royal Suite, positioned just above street level on a corner, with wonderful natural light and views of Mayfair life below. I also noted the polished staff and inviting bars and restaurants, the sort of places where you find yourself lingering longer than planned.
Much has changed behind the scenes since that visit, although the hotel’s Art Deco character remains unmistakable.
A major expansion introduced Claridge’s Spa, with an André Fu-designed swimming pool, treatment rooms and wellness facilities tucked beneath the hotel. Upstairs, the rooms and suites range from traditional English interiors to more contemporary interpretations, with intricate detailing and craftsmanship throughout.
Brook Street puts guests within easy reach of Bond Street, Mayfair’s galleries and restaurants, and Hyde Park. It’s an address that makes exploring central London wonderfully easy.
Afternoon tea remains a fixture, while its restaurants and bars draw a lively mix of hotel guests and London regulars.
Perfect For: Mayfair devotees, afternoon tea traditionalists and anyone who appreciates a hotel with a lively social scene.
The Lanesborough | Regency London at Hyde Park Corner
The Lanesborough occupies a historic mansion at Hyde Park Corner, where Regency interiors set the tone from the moment you enter. Elaborate plasterwork, period furnishings and richly decorated rooms recall a more formal era of London hospitality.
Designer Alberto Pinto oversaw the hotel’s major restoration, preserving its architectural character while incorporating modern comforts.
Every room and suite includes dedicated butler service, a hallmark of The Lanesborough’s approach to hospitality. The attention extends to the hotel’s restaurants and public spaces, where service follows a more traditional English style.
The Lanesborough Grill serves modern British cuisine beneath a glass-domed ceiling, while the Library Bar, with its dark wood and leather armchairs, is made for an unhurried evening drink.
The Lanesborough Club & Spa is another reason to stay, with extensive fitness facilities, a hydrotherapy pool and a comprehensive treatment program.
Hyde Park is directly across the road, with Knightsbridge and Sloane Street close by. Belgravia’s quieter residential streets are perfect for a walkabout, especially for their local restaurants and independent shops.
Perfect For: Classic English interiors, white-glove service and mornings in Hyde Park.
Pan Pacific London | Southeast Asian Hospitality in the City
The City has become an increasingly appealing base for a London stay, with historic architecture, a thriving dining scene and easy access to some of the capital’s most interesting areas.
Pan Pacific London brings the Singapore-based group’s Asian hospitality heritage to Bishopsgate, close to Liverpool Street Station.
The interiors are modern and understated, with warm materials, soft colors and generous windows. Rooms have a calm, residential feel, offering a welcome change of pace from the busy streets below.
Wellness is a major focus. The hotel’s dedicated wellbeing floor includes an indoor infinity pool, gym and treatment facilities, making it possible to maintain a proper wellness routine while in London.
The dining program reflects the group’s Singaporean roots. Straits Kitchen draws on Southeast Asian flavors, giving the hotel a culinary identity that stands apart from the traditional British dining rooms found elsewhere in the city.
Spitalfields Market, Shoreditch and East London’s independent shops and restaurants are close at hand. Liverpool Street also provides convenient transport connections across the capital.
Perfect For: A City address with serious wellness facilities and easy access to East London.
The Ned | London’s Grand Social Club
Few London hotels make an entrance quite like The Ned. The property occupies the former Midland Bank headquarters, a monumental 1920s building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Its vast banking hall has been transformed into a collection of restaurants and bars, with soaring columns, marble surfaces and the original banking architecture still very much on display.
By evening, the hall is buzzing with diners, cocktails and live music. It’s a place where Londoners come to socialize, and hotel guests find plenty happening without ever leaving the building.
Upstairs, the bedrooms take their cues from the building’s 1920s origins, with vintage-inspired furnishings, patterned textiles and period details.
The Ned also operates a private members’ club, with facilities including a rooftop pool, gym and additional dining spaces. Access varies according to membership and accommodation category, an important detail to clarify when booking.
The City location places St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Barbican and the historic streets around Bank within easy reach.
Perfect For: A lively social scene, late dinners and 1920s architecture.
The Emory | A Modern London Address
With just 61 suites, The Emory brings a private, residential feel to Hyde Park Corner.
Opened in 2024 by Maybourne, the group behind Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, the hotel occupies a striking glass-and-steel building conceived by Richard Rogers and Ivan Harbour of RSHP.
Its architecture makes an immediate impression, especially against the historic buildings of Knightsbridge and Belgravia.
Inside, the suites have been designed by several internationally recognized names, including André Fu and Patricia Urquiola. The different design approaches give each collection its own personality, with generous living spaces, considered furnishings and an emphasis on privacy.
The rooftop bar offers sweeping views over Hyde Park, one of the hotel’s most appealing features. Few central London addresses provide quite this perspective across the city’s green spaces.
Guests also have access to Surrenne, Maybourne’s wellness club, with an extensive fitness, treatment and wellbeing program.
The Emory feels well suited to guests who prefer the privacy of a suite and the independence of a residential setting, while still enjoying the service of a leading London hotel.
Perfect For: Privacy, generous suites, contemporary design and a serious commitment to wellness.
NoMad London | Covent Garden with Character
Directly opposite the Royal Opera House, NoMad London occupies the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, a building with quite a history.
Designers Roman and Williams have embraced its past, filling the interiors with richly patterned textiles, original artwork, vintage furnishings and a sense of theatricality that feels right at home in Covent Garden.
The bedrooms are warm and layered, with upholstered furniture, antique-inspired details and a residential feel. There is plenty to discover throughout the building, from the artwork to the restored architectural features.
The restaurant beneath the soaring glass atrium is one of the hotel’s defining spaces. Lush greenery, soft light and richly detailed interiors create an inviting setting for a long lunch or dinner.
Side Hustle, the hotel’s cocktail bar, brings a livelier mood, with Mexican-inspired food and an inventive drinks menu.
The location is hard to beat for theater lovers. The Royal Opera House is across the street, while the West End, Soho and Covent Garden’s restaurants are all within walking distance.
Perfect For: Covent Garden, theater nights and interiors with a little drama.
The Dorchester | A London Institution Renewed
The Dorchester is another hotel with a personal connection for me. During our 2017 family return to London, we stayed at this Park Lane institution and appreciated its spacious rooms, beautifully appointed bathrooms and connecting accommodations, which worked especially well with the children.
I also remember the hotel’s dining and bar scene, particularly China Tang, the Art Deco restaurant where dim sum and a well-made cocktail make a very good combination.
The Dorchester has since completed the most extensive renovation in its history, a four-year project finished in 2026.
Designers including Pierre-Yves Rochon and Martin Brudnizki have helped refresh the guest rooms, suites and public spaces, bringing new colors, furnishings and design details to the hotel’s historic interiors.
The Promenade remains at the center of hotel life, while The Grill at The Dorchester, China Tang and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester give guests plenty of dining options without leaving Park Lane.
Across the road, Hyde Park provides space for a morning walk or run. Mayfair’s shops and restaurants are a short stroll away, and Knightsbridge is within easy reach.
Having known The Dorchester before its renovation, I’m looking forward to seeing how this latest chapter compares with my earlier visits.
Perfect For: Park Lane tradition, family stays and London’s grand-hotel dining scene.
The RTLM Take
London offers an extraordinary range of hotels, and the right choice can determine how you experience the city.
For classic Mayfair, Claridge’s remains a favorite, with its Art Deco interiors, social scene and central location. The Dorchester offers another take on London’s grand-hotel tradition, with generous accommodations that have worked well for my own family.
The Lanesborough appeals to those who appreciate Regency interiors and formal English service, while The Emory offers a more private, modern alternative near Hyde Park.
For a stay centered on restaurants, theater and culture, NoMad’s Covent Garden address is hard to beat. The Ned puts you in the middle of a lively social scene, while Pan Pacific London offers a quieter base for exploring the City and East London.
Having lived in London and returned so often, I know how much placing matters. Sometimes I want to be in the middle of Mayfair, close to familiar restaurants and galleries. On another visit, I might prefer Covent Garden for the theater or the City for a different perspective.
That’s one of the reasons London keeps drawing me back. There is always another neighborhood to explore, another restaurant to try and, of course, another hotel worth discovering.
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