"Why would I wanna be anywhere else?", sings Lily Allen about the city of London in her 2006 hit "LDN", and she’s right. North, south, east and west, no other melting-pot city can compare when totting up the history, the arts, the food, the style, and the sport that’s jam-packed into our boroughs. Admittedly, I’m slightly biased as a born-and-bred Londoner, but as much as we locals whinge about transport delays and temperamental weather, it takes a lot to leave when you're used to having everything on your doorstep.
From cultural institutions and buzzy restaurants to multiple shopping destinations and landmark stadiums (Come on, England!), it’s so much fun playing tourist in a city like London, regardless of how near or far you’ve travelled. It’s sprawling, with so much to do, see, taste and buy, so where you’re based matters for multiple reasons. A hotel is arguably the most convenient accommodation choice because you can come and go as you please, knowing that your room will be cleaned, your luggage is safe and refreshments are readily available.
Personally, impressive interiors definitely lift my mood, and great service is truly priceless. Your room is also your home-away-from-home haven when you need to chill, get ready or escape the rain, and as a general rule of thumb, the more central you are, the more walkable the capital will be.
London has plenty of outstanding hotels, but the trick is to find a well-located option to maximise your time there, which just so happens to be one of the Who What Wear UK editorial team’s fortes. Besides being clued up on the newest openings and coolest hangouts, we’ve collectively crisscrossed the capital, making full use of incredible hotel facilities. I can recall delicious dinners at acclaimed restaurants, relaxing spa afternoons with friends, London Fashion Week shows and afterparties and enjoying drinks whilst looking out on stunning panoramic views from different rooftops.
With all of this in mind, it wasn’t easy whittling down a definitive list of the best stylish London hotels in 2026. Certain well-known and more secretive names kept coming up, as well as the eagerly anticipated openings we can’t wait to book. Whilst I had to be brutal, I couldn’t leave any of these exceptional hotels out.
9 of the Best Hotels in London, According to a Fashion Editor
1. The Chancery Rosewood
Location: Mayfair
Vibe: Intimate, assured, sophisticated
Stars: Five.
As thoughtfully and meticulously designed as The Chancery Rosewood is (it was the former US Embassy, designed first by modernist Eero Saarinen in 1960, before lauded architect Sir David Chipperfield and lead interior designer Joseph Dirand transformed the building into an ultra-polished luxury hotel), the food might be the biggest draw. All the main offerings are New York City imports, from in-demand Italian Carbone to Jacqueline tearoom (named after former FLOTUS, Jackie Kennedy Onassis) and Tobi Masa for high-end Japanese and Serra’s Mediterranean dishes. Non-guests flock to these restaurants near the city centre’s shopping strip and Hyde Park.
One of the best London hotels for a deeply personal experience, butlers fulfil every whim whilst you stay here. The attention to detail is breathtaking; dramatic chandeliers, sumptuous tactile neutrals and gold accents flow through the sensual interiors and 144 generous suites. Oh, and there’s a discreet lift granting direct access to the Asaya spa and fitness area, just to give you an idea of the clientele.
2. One Hundred Shoreditch
Location: Shoreditch
Vibe: Artistic, retreat, rooftop
Stars: Four.
One Hundred Shoreditch had a tough act to follow. Many creatives (myself included) have fond memories partying in the basement nightclub at Ace Hotel London, the nostalgic haunt previously situated on the site. But Lore Group creative director Jacu Strauss’ bold revamp of the interiors paid off, creating a grown-up and inviting oasis at the heart of London’s progressive cultural and tech scenes.
One of the best (independent) hotels in London for anyone happy dipping in and out at their own pace, it’s a great base when sightseeing and touring East London, whenever you venture out beyond the hotel’s assorted restaurants and bars, multipurpose event spaces and guest-only gym. Reducing waste by incorporating materials from the old hotel setup, the vibrant, custom artworks, wooden walls and pink tiles of the communal spaces transition into largely neutral and calming bedrooms furnished with "floating" beds and offering great city views.
3. Six Senses London
Location: Bayswater
Vibe: Wellness, escapist, relaxed
Stars: Five.
What really gets people excited, especially when dispelling the "stressy Londoner" stereotype, is a cutting-edge luxury spa hotel. Cue Six Senses London, which opens soon inside The Whiteley, a Grade II-listed former department store near Notting Hill, and embodies West London’s vibrant yet slower rhythm. Many of the serene bedrooms have private terraces and overlook the courtyard, whilst Whiteley’s Kitchen, Bar and Café serves spirited British cuisine powered by experimental seasonal flavours.
It’s definitely on track to become one of London’s best hotels, not least because AvroKO and EPR Architects have holistically designed an elegant modern sanctuary and private club unlike anywhere else, and, frankly, the restorative amenities and extraordinary facilities sound amazing. The only hotel in London with a magnesium pool, there’s an "alchemy bar" and a longevity medical clinic offering pioneering treatments (think cryotherapy and floatation), movement studio sessions, personalised programmes and more to ensure guests leave feeling balanced and restored.
4. The London EDITION
Location: Fitzrovia
Vibe: Eclectic, playful, social
Stars: Five.
During LFW in February and September, the fashion crowd usually end up at The London EDITION. Whether it’s an exclusive afterparty hosted in the basement, a brand launch over a delicious English breakfast at the Berners Tavern (against a statement backdrop of gilt-framed portraits), or a nightcap with friends sipping the Punch Room bar’s award-winning Milk Punch cocktail, you're sure to find it full of stylish people. Moments away from Soho, the hotel’s status as one of the capital’s coolest event venues is further enhanced by the entertaining design features that define owner and Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schager’s luxury Edition hotel brand.
Full of character, the Edwardian facade contrasts with mid-century undertones and neoclassical ephemera inside, whilst the 173 yacht-cabin-like bedrooms by design studio Yabu Pushelberg are clean and pragmatic. Thrill-seeking guests keen to sample what London has to offer at night can also sync their schedules to the hotel’s fascinating cultural programming lineup.
5. Claridge’s
Location: Mayfair
Vibe: Grand, comfortable, iconic
Stars: Five.
A "best" London hotel list would be incomplete without Claridge’s—the quintessentially British hotel is the blueprint. Renowned for its A-list clientele, it opened in its own right in 1856, and the lively public spaces have retained decorative details and furniture from this time, from the famous 1929 lobby designed by architect Oswald Milne to the iconic Foyer & Reading Room. After an ambitious renovation added a basement spa in 2022, the Claridge’s Bakery will open this month with acclaimed chef Richard Hart at the helm.
The geometric patterns and glass elements of the signature bedrooms and marble bathrooms, complete with Dyson hair dryers, mirror the timeless Art Deco aesthetic. What sets this historic institution apart amongst London’s best hotels is the excellent staff, who, by all accounts, genuinely care. They remember your name and make it their mission to anticipate exactly what you need before you ask: a coffee, steamed clothes, even a small birthday celebration.
Who What Wear's managing editor Poppy Nash says, "With its impeccable service, old-school glamour and sense of occasion, Claridge’s is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime stay that lives up to the hype. Trust me!"
6. The Londoner
Location: Leicester Square
Vibe: Effortless, chic, popular
Stars: Five.
Built on the site of a former Odeon cinema at the south-west corner of one of London’s most famous squares, The Londoner's location can’t be beaten. West End theatreland, The National Gallery, Chinatown and Covent Garden are all within walking distance, making impromptu stop-offs and resets during the day super easy, and there are multiple tube stations minutes away for adventures further afield.
The hustle and bustle of the capital is quickly forgotten when you’re settled at one of London’s best so-called "iceberg" hotels and looked after by attentive uniformed staff. Six basement levels boast a stunning ballroom, an urban resort-inspired spa and more, whilst above ground, The Residence takes pride of place along with beautifully refined bedrooms, a champagne bar called The Stage and a traditional pub, Joshua’s Tavern. The guest-only trio of parlour rooms span a cosy Drawing Room lounge, the aptly shaped Y Bar and the speakeasy-style Whisky Room.
7. The Zetter Bloomsbury
Location: Bloomsbury
Vibe: Boutique, warm, quirky
Stars: Four.
If you want to cosy up in an attractive hotel that feels like an extended stay at a well-travelled friend’s tasteful home, look no further than The Zetter Bloomsbury. Opening in March and designed by James Thurstan Waterworth, it is housed inside a row of six striking Georgian townhouses, and the colourful interiors are brimming with collected antiques that honour past residents and channel Bloomsbury’s enduring intellectual spirit.
Like many of London’s best hotels, this one has a gym, and it’s very well-placed for lovely days spent museum-hopping and wandering around London’s parks. Find British favourites and delicacies on the menu at The Parlour dining room and The Orangery (found next to the garden) for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, washed down with carefully chosen drinks and cocktails. Then, when it comes to the bedrooms, details like king-size, four-poster beds, claw-foot bathtubs and clashed textile furnishings add even more personality.
8. The Standard, London
Location: King’s Cross
Vibe: Retro, accessible, cool
Stars: Five.
Before The Standard, London arrived at the Brutalist building opposite the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel (where the Spice Girls filmed their Wannabe video) in 2019, the rejuvenated King’s Cross area was best known as a busy intersection where you could study at the British Library or Central Saint Martins, and jump on the Eurostar to Paris. But now, anyone throwing a party they want to go viral does so at this scene-y ’70s-inspired hotel, where guests are shuttled up to the delightful Sweeties bar and rooftop terrace in the red pill-shaped exterior lift until the early hours.
Note how the spacious rooms downstairs have bay windows and (often) a bathtub. It’s also a hidden gem for business trips, peppered with quiet corners to work in and take meetings, or you could pop to nearby Coal Drops Yard for an excellent range of restaurants.
9. The July London Victoria
Location: Victoria
Vibe: Personal, tasteful, unexpected
Stars: Four.
Don’t let the waves of commuters fool you, because The July London Victoria’s proximity to one of London’s busiest train and coach stations actually pretty much guarantees the smoothest transfers, and the prime postcode delivers luxury many miss when staying in this area. This well-designed aparthotel blends the desirable perks of London’s best hotels (a gym, spa and another original spin on Art Deco courtesy of design firm Fettle) with the freedom of renting your own studio flat at a fraction of the cost.
Buckingham Palace visits and a ticket to Wicked on the stage are highly likely, but the real selling point is the unprecedented flexibility. There's no limit to the length of your reservation, and every guest gets a king-size bed in apartments that peak at 950 sq ft with three bedrooms. You can choose whether to make a home-cooked meal in your fully equipped kitchen and dining area, or eat out at hotel restaurant The Idler (Mediterranean-British), before hitting the Arabescato-marble bar for drinks.
More Stylish London Hotels to Book:
The Twenty Two
Location: Mayfair
Vibe: Distinguished, jovial, timeless
Stars: Five.
Templeton Garden
Location: Kensington
Vibe: Charming, prestigious, considered
Stars: Four.
The Laslett
Location: Notting Hill
Vibe: Creative, elaborate, discreet
Stars: Five.
The Savoy
Location: The Strand
Vibe: Traditional, decadent, flawless
Stars: Five.
Sea Containers
Location: South Bank
Vibe: Inspired, graceful, riverside
Stars: Five.
