There are approximately 123,000 hotel rooms in London. Nobody knows for sure exactly how many. You would think that, as with schools or hospitals or public swimming pools, there would exist a definitive and up-to-date list of the city’s hotels. Apparently not. In any case, 123,000 was the figure that some diligent scholar of the hospitality sector came up with back in 2010. A decade later, that number has no doubt increased considerably.
Still, a shortlist of the best hotels in London is plenty to be getting on with, especially 30 that are as diverse, exciting, innovative, sumptuous, original and surprising as these. While it is true that certain other great cities of the world are, in hotel terms, similarly blessed—Paris and New York, undoubtedly; Hong Kong and Geneva, possibly—none is more so than London.
How we choose the best hotels in London
Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
What area in London is best to stay in?
If it’s your first time to the capital or you’re looking to stay among the action, most of the best hotels in London tend to surround the West End in areas such as Soho, Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Covent Garden. For a stay that sits alongside greenery, some of London’s smartest high-end hotels neighbor Hyde Park or Green Park, with grand landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Harrods located nearby. To be closer to London’s creative, music, and nightlife hub, head to East London, where there are a number of smart hotels in Shoreditch.
Read our complete London travel guide here.
