London is a hub of history and tradition, boasting a roll call of distinguished landmarks—Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, among many others. It’s a city of great pageantry, where kings and queens wave, and horses and guards march with fanfare. But underneath the ceremonial rites lies a modern and worldly London, where contemporary art, avant-garde fashion, and a theatrical flair show a diversified city that’s anything but stodgy. We’ve rounded up a selection of hotels that proves London is a city of such varied pursuits, from a 100-year-old institution that never misses teatime to a see-and-be-seen celebrity enclave.
Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel
When this hotel opened in 2012, it was the Thompson Hotel chain’s first introduction to the European market. British designer Tara Bernerd’s chic and urban interiors proved successful, as the outpost has become one of the city’s most sought-after stays. The loftlike lobby features a large fireplace, perfect for breaking the chill of London’s temperamental clime, with a stocked library and cozy nooks outfitted with an eclectic collection of contemporary art. Each of the 85 guest rooms feature an earthy color palette and ashen wood floors throughout, and all are equipped with elegant marble baths.
The Goring
The Goring stands as one of the Grande Dames of England, and in celebration of its centennial, the iconic estate was dressed to the nines with a full-scale redesign. Four acclaimed English designers (Nina Campbell, Tim Gosling, David Linley, and Russell Sage) took on various parts of the property, including the Dining Room at the Goring, which was recently awarded its first Michelin star. The royal family has always had a connection with the Goring, as it’s across the street from Buckingham Palace; the Duchess of Cambridge stayed there the night before her wedding and added the finishing touches to a hand-painted Fromental mural that graces the Front Hall.
Dean Street Townhouse
The walls within 69 and 70 Dean Street have some tales to tell. The Georgian residences were first erected in the early 1700s, and throughout their history housed aristocratic families, mistresses of kings, and a club that hosted prominent artists, politicians, and royalty—think Fred Astaire and Dylan Thomas. When Soho House & Co. acquired the property, they introduced a boutique hotel with 39 bedrooms that keep with tradition in Georgian-period details and vintage furnishings, and plenty of British flair. The dining room, designed by Martin Brudnizki and Soho House, serves traditional British fare.
The Lanesborough
Fresh off a multimillion-dollar and nearly two-year makeover, the Lanesborough is poised to reign as the ultimate in London luxury. The refurbishment was overseen by designer Alberto Pinto and has resulted in some elegant design details like book-matched marble, sheets of hand-painted gold leaf, and custom gildery. The 93 guestrooms, 43 of which are suites, feature the utmost in Regency-style elegance: plush floor-to-ceiling drapes, crystal chandeliers, and hand-cut Italian marble bathrooms.
High Road House
Part of Soho House’s growing collection of hotels and houses around the world, High Road House is one of the company’s eight properties in the United Kingdom. The 14-room Georgian townhouse is situated in the Chiswick neighborhood of West London, and offers an intimate restaurant and bar to Soho House members. Each of the guestrooms is light and airy, with bright white paneled walls and crisp white Egyptian cotton linens. Some of the rooms feature freestanding clawfoot bathtubs to boot. The shared spaces were reimagined by Alexander Waterworth Interiors, in collaboration with Soho House, and are largely defined with midcentury furniture pieces, whitewashed brick from the original structure, and leather and brass accents.
The London Edition
Hotelier Ian Schrager partnered with design team Yabu Pushelberg to create this boutique stay in central London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood. The design is consistent with the other outposts in the Edition brand but retains some pre-existing design elements of the historic Georgian building. The lobby, fanciful in muted shades of brown, beige, and white, with dreamy Belle Époque ceilings, centers on a roaring fireplace surrounded with boxy, leather furnishings and pops of green fabric. Above is a chrome sculpture of an egg by Ingo Maurer, which acts as a 360-degree mirror to the soaring room. The 173 guestrooms are paneled in dark wood, reminiscent of a yacht’s sleeping quarters, and outfitted with tufted George Smith slipper chairs and remastered photographic works by Hendrik Kerstens.
Chiltern Firehouse
Hotelier André Balazs reimagined a former fire station in Marylebone, and within months of its opening, the celebrated hotel quickly became one of London’s most buzzy celebrity enclaves. The small, 26-room hotel is cozy, like a well-heeled friend’s guesthouse, with just the right amount of glitz to uphold the hotel’s luxurious reputation. Paris-based architects Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty of Studio KO collaborated with Balazs on the interiors—the result is a relaxed space, with laid-back guestrooms that each boast a working fireplace, Sheila Metzner photographs, and marble bathroom. The onsite restaurant, helmed by chef Nuno Mendes, is the hub of all activity in the hotel and features gorgeous interiors with the individuality and personalization that Balazs has perfected in his properties.
London visitor 