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in London
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41 Hotel
41 Buckingham Palace Rd.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Alice in Wonderland meets Alice in the boardroom at this one-floor wonder.
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Andaz Liverpool Street
40 Liverpool St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Hyatt shakes things up with a concept hotel that mixes Victorian details with a modern aesthetic.
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Baglioni Hotel
60 Hyde Park Gate
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Unapologetically opulent spot where the décor–like the free-flowing coffee–is dark, rich, masculine, and decidedly Italian.
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Blakes Hotel
33 Roland Gardens
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
East meets West: Blakes delivers the world (and some celebs to boot) to quiet South Kensington.
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Charlotte Street Hotel
15-17 Charlotte St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Chic digs channel the media vibe of Bloomsbury while softening the edges with feminine touches.
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Claridge's
49 Brook St.
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
true
A classic Art Deco hotel where you'll be fussed over by attentive staff but won't feel a hint of stuffiness.
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Covent Garden Hotel
10 Monmouth St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
A favorite among celebs on discreet holidays, this West End boutique marries modern and homey touches.
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Draycott Hotel
24-26 Cadogan Gardens
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
Lounge in the drawing room with free hot chocolate or champagne at this gem.
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Dukes
St James’s Place
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
Dukes distinguishes itself with its James-Bond-approved bar, lovely rooms, and charming courtyard.
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Haymarket Hotel
1 Suffolk Pl.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
true
Style, sophistication, service, and swank in one package, not to mention the sexiest pool in London.
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Knightsbridge Hotel
10 Beaufort Gardens
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
A quiet refuge in the heart of one of London’s most exciting (and most shoppable!) neighborhoods.
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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
With service fit for royals (literally), this luxurious, historic hotel will pamper you head to toe.
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Milestone Hotel
1 Kensington Ct.
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
This boutique boasts canopied beds, views of Kensington Gardens, and friendly, personal service.
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Number Sixteen
16 Sumner Pl.
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
Bed-and-breakfast comfort meets Firmdale flair in this affordable South Ken boutique hotel.
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One Aldwych
One Aldwych
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
true
Attention to detail at this smart boutique elevates business-friendly digs to something singular.
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Pelham Hotel
15 Cromwell Place
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
The first-name-basis service, and cozy (i.e.: small) rooms at this charming townhouse will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
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San Domenico House
29-31 Draycott Pl.
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
Enjoy Mediterranean hospitality, potent espresso, and global antiques in a classic London address.
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Sanderson
50 Berners St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Stylish patrons and a minimalist design-scape make this a destination for both lodging and lounging.
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St. Martins Lane
45 St. Martin's Ln.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Fusion cuisine, members-only lounges, and Theater District address make up for the smallish rooms.
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The Berkeley
Wilton Pl.
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
The Berkeley offers a perfect respite from nearby shopping with soothing rooms and a glam rooftop pool.
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The Cadogan Hotel
75 Sloane St.
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
With a history of poets and spirits, this boutique is perfect for shoppers and gallery-hoppers.
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The Connaught
Carlos Pl.
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
Kick back in masculine-styled luxury with personal butlers and Michelin-starred cuisine.
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The Dorchester
53 Park Ln
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
true
This London doyenne beside Hyde Park emanates elegance, creating loyal patrons on the first visit.
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The Goring
Beeston Pl., Grosvenor Gardens
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
Business suits and glam royals sit amid lovely gardens and relaxed lounges at this formal British boutique.
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The Hoxton Hotel
81-83 Great Eastern St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
This hip, egalitarian (one-room-fits-all) spot set in a former parking garage is an affordable option.
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The Lanesborough
Hyde Park Corner
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
A stay in this converted mansion is the closest most of us will get to being treated like royalty (personal butlers, anyone?).
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The Marylebone Hotel
47 Welbeck St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
Recent renovations have transformed this staid hotel into a sleek abode with snug, bright rooms.
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The Ritz
150 Piccadilly
London
Hotel
Classic Luxury
Put on the ritz (yes, there's a dress code) at this grand hotel boasting Louis XVI-style glamour.
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The Rookery
12 Peter's Lane
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
Warm and intimate, The Rookery is a trip back to the 18th century (but with modern conveniences).
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The Soho Hotel
4 Richmond Mews
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
true
Full of fashionistas and a fanciful dose of Firmdale swank, this may be the hottest hotel in London.
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The Stafford
St James's Pl.
London
Hotel
Charming Finds
The elegant rooms and warm service at this sweet hotel exude the charm of an English country home.
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The Zetter
St John’s Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell Rd.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
This former warehouse is bold in every aspect (colors, vending machines, and service), except price.
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Threadneedles
5 Threadneedle St.
London
Hotel
Chic & Design
This converted-old-bank-gone-chic-business hotel proves business can be stylish.
Where you decide to lay your weary head in London depends a great deal upon how many pounds you'd like to part with, and we don't mean your desire to be a size two. The best of London hotels notoriously require you to pay through the nose for the privilege of lodging. Add in an unfavorable exchange rate, and you'll see your pounds melt away quite quickly. That said, whether you're looking for cozy or grand, traditional or trendy, your money will buy you a truly perfect spot with flawless atmosphere and amenities. London hotels are that well done. And the best of the best are spread throughout the city, so you'll never have to sacrifice style for location.
Let's start grand, shall we? Personal butlers are the draw at The Lanesborough, where your very own attendant will prepare your richly appointed room, unpack and press your clothes, and be on hand to pamper you and tend to your whims 24 hours a day (and you thought the perfect man could never be found). Nearby, The Dorchester–self-professed “Inherently British”– offers rooms that overlook Hyde Park and boasts Italian marble baths (rumored to be the deepest in London), a perfect respite for legs fatigued from a shopping jaunt to Knightsbridge or Selfridges. For an even more indulgent soak, take advantage of the Mandarin Oriental's vitality pools in The Spa at Mandarin Oriental. In posh Mayfair, don't miss Art Deco gem Claridge's–our pick on the high end–which has hosted its share of the crowned heads of Europe and offers impeccable service, Gordon Ramsey eats, classically cool Claridge’s Bar, and sexy Fumoir bar.
If all that British formality's a little too musty for you, fresh and contemporary choices abound. We love the whole lot of Firmdale hotels, six in all, spread across various London neighborhoods. These small-scale ventures (50-100 rooms each) have interiors custom designed by co-owner Kit Kemp, known for her blend of color and texture, antique and modern. Each hotel also features a lobby or library “Honour Bar” (a trend among hip London hotels), where you can fix yourself a drink, lounge around on the comfortable furnishings while socializing with other guests, and then fill out a sheet to charge the impromptu cocktail hour to your room. Our very favorite Firmdale is the Haymarket Hotel, just blocks from Trafalgar Square in the heart of the theater district, but we're also partial to The Soho Hotel in the trendy restaurant- and bar-filled 'hood of the same name.
Aside from the Firmdale family, One Aldwych is also at the top of our list for its always buzzing lobby bar/atrium and gorgeous daily floral arrangements. Gyms are not standard issue at small and even mid-sized London hotels (though many offer free day passes to first-class facilities just blocks away, so don’t write off a property just for lack of a treadmill). But One Aldwych goes above and beyond with a full health club, including a sleek swimming pool with underwater music. Take advantage of these amenities, and the pounds might come off for real.
If you’d rather conserve your pounds for other London pleasures like shopping and dining, there are several more affordable hotel options for under £150 per night that’ll still shelter you in style. The Pelham, housed in a South Kensington townhouse, lends modern touches to traditional English décor. Marylebone Hotel, in its lovely namesake neighborhood, features understated, modern yet not minimalist stylings. At The Hoxton, a converted parking lot gone urban dwelling, you might be tempted to embrace its tagline as your own travel motto: “Luxury where it matters, budget where it counts.”
Photo of Claridge's courtesy of Claridge's