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There are hundreds of hotels in London, making it difficult to choose where to stay. Boutique hotels tend to be more intimate, with fewer rooms to ensure a more personalized stay. Many are design-driven, and some are located in grand historic buildings, but all tend to be overflowing with charm. From five-star luxury in Soho to a classic in Mayfair, among these boutique hotels in London, you’re sure to find one that perfectly fits the bill.
The Lanesborough
Set in a grand neoclassical mansion overlooking Hyde Park, The Lanesborough is one of London’s most famous hotels and one of its best spa hotels, offering unparalleled luxury with lavish rooms, some of which offer views of the park. All include 24/7 butler service, high-end entertainment systems, tablets, minibars with decanted spirits and drinks, flannel robes, and cushy slippers. You won’t have a coffeemaker because you’ll have a butler to call for that. The spa offers pampering treatments and a hydrotherapy pool, while dining can be enjoyed at The Lanesborough Grill, which offers a menu of modern British fare. The Library Bar is a hotspot that draws many with its unrivaled selection of pre-French revolution Cognacs.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with a hydrotherapy pool
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Fine dining and a popular bar on-site
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24/7 butler service included for all guests
The Capital Hotel, Apartments & Townhouse
The Capital Hotel, Apartments & Townhouse is a five-star boutique hotel that sits on a quiet road among high-end designers, with some of London’s most luxurious things to do on your doorstep, including Harrods just a block over. Traditional and old-fashioned, you’ll enjoy British charms while feeling a bit like royalty once you check-in. While there aren’t a lot of facilities, what it does have is impressive, including a Michelin-starred restaurant. Enjoy Afternoon Tea in the lounge and drinks at the bar before turning into one of the individually decorated rooms with antique furnishings and original art. Guests can order in-room beauty treatments and enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep with beds that include high thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. Other standards include robes and slippers, bath salts, and large televisions with Sky TV.
Key Amenities:
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Michelin-starred restaurant
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Afternoon Tea
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In-room beauty treatments
Flemings Mayfair
Located in the affluent Mayfair neighborhood in the West End, Flemings Mayfair has a long history and an impressive roster of former guests, which have included Harrison Ford, Hugh Grant, and Kate Moss. Rooms have a Hollywood meets rock ‘n roll vibe, each of which is just a bit different from the rest. The studio suites come with patios and gin bars stocked with all you need for a classic gin & tonic. Standard amenities include minibars, coffeemakers, and luxury bath products. The hotel is home to the Drawing Room, which serves Afternoon Tea, and the highly-acclaimed Ormer Mayfair Restaurant, while the VIP concierge can arrange day trips to Highclere Castle of Downtown Abbey TV fame or a walking tour of the neighborhood.
Key Amenities:
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Michelin-starred Ormer Mayfair Restaurant
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Drawing Room for Afternoon Tea
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Fitness room
citizenM Tower of London
Located within a 5-minute walk of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the citizenM Tower of London combines the vibe of a hip hostel with a cool business hub. Its crown jewel is the rooftop terrace which offers spectacular views, including the historic Tower and bridge by the famous Shard skyscraper. Rooms have wall-to-wall windows with varying views and lots of high-tech, like tablets that control the TV, temperature, and lighting, along with free on-demand movies. On the seventh floor, cloudM offers drinks with a view, and there’s an open bar-style setup at canteenM with a small menu of light bites. Breakfast is self-serve, and there are snacks available for purchase 24/7.
Key Amenities:
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Bar with a small menu of light bites + snacks available for purchase 24/7
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Self-serve breakfast
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Rooftop terrace with spectacular views
Harbour Hotel Richmond
Located at the top of Richmond Hill, Harbour Hotel Richmond is outside of central London, but it’s in a great spot near Richmond Park, with walking paths, ponds, and picturesque gardens in the woods. It also boasts a fabulous spa and health club that includes a 20-meter indoor pool and a secluded garden with a Scandinavian hot tub, along with a range of treatments. There’s a sauna and steam room and a relaxation room with a hanging bed too. In the glass-roofed Gate restaurant, enjoy a light seasonal menu that can be enjoyed indoors and out, with a terrace that includes heaters. Book one of the Superior or Deluxe rooms for a Nespresso machine and complimentary gin and sherry.
Key Amenities:
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Spa and health club with a 20-meter indoor pool
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Secluded garden with a hot tub
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Indoor and outdoor dining on-site
Surrey, 152-158 Richmond Hill, Richmond TW10 6RP, UK— +44 20 8940 0061
The Londoner
The Londoner bills itself as a “super boutique hotel,” set in the heart of Leicester Square within walking distance of the British Museum, a must-see attraction in London. Some say it’s the best-kept secret in the West End, and while it feels intimate, it offers everything from a half-dozen restaurant and bar venues to a subterranean wellness retreat and spa with a pool. Dinner at Whitcomb’s is not to be missed with the freshest fish, chargrilled meats, and handmade pasta that can be enjoyed with an extensive wine list. Some rooms offer city views, and all come with Nespresso machines, minibars, and Smart TVs.
Key Amenities:
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Subterranean spa
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Indoor pool
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Multiple restaurants and bars on-site
Page8
While it’s located in one of the busiest tourist areas in London, just past Trafalgar Square, Page8 offers an oasis of calm in the city overlooking the National Portrait Gallery. Guests are referred to as “urban explorers” and can look forward to being just steps from numerous attractions. Enjoy sightseeing after fueling up at the craft coffee bar, which serves delicious breakfasts that can be served in-room. The on-site Japanese restaurant gets rave reviews, and during the warmer months, there’s a rooftop terrace where yoga sessions and various classes like candlemaking can be enjoyed. The stylish rooms come with free, daily replenished stocked minibars, with the contents varying by room. They start with basics like water and popcorn, while suites include Champagne and wine along with city views.
Key Amenities:
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Rooftop terrace with yoga sessions
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Craft coffee bar
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Highly acclaimed Japanese restaurant
The Adria
Located in South Kensington, The Adria sits within a stately 19th-century London townhouse and has been called the most stylish luxury boutique hotel in the city. A five-star hotel, it’s within walking distance of the National History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and Harrods while providing an impressive stay that begins the moment you check-in. There’s no standing at a desk; you’ll head to the lounge to enjoy homemade biscuits and your choice of teas instead. In the Games Room, you can sip a signature cocktail while playing a game of chess. While you won’t find a restaurant, as the hotel partners with nearby eateries like Gordon Ramsay and Nobu, room service is excellent. The 24 rooms are all themed, named for quintessential English events or places. All include marble bathrooms with heated floors, satellite TV, and minibars. Some include upscale features like fireplaces, four-poster beds, and Nespresso machines.
Key Amenities:
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Spa and gym
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Games Room
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Cocktail bar + 24-hour room service provided by partnering restaurants, including Nobu
88 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5AB, UK— +44 20 7118 8988
The Goring
The Goring is just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, offering a regal vibe and one of the largest private gardens in London. You can be sure you’ll be treated like royalty here. In fact, Kate Middleton was a guest the night before her wedding. The five-star hotel is the definition of English grace, complete with scarlet-clad doormen and extra-spacious rooms with silk wall coverings and marble bathrooms stocked with posh amenities. Enjoy quintessential English Afternoon Tea and Michelin-starred dining at the Dining Room featuring dishes like Beef Wellington.
Key Amenities:
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Gym
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Afternoon Tea
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Michelin-starred dining + upscale cocktail bar
The Soho Hotel
Nestled in the middle of lively Soho, The Soho Hotel offers a peaceful setting tucked into an alleyway occupying a former warehouse. The stylish five-star property offers spa services that include beauty and body treatments, while the Refuel bar and restaurant specializes in modern British fare. It’s popular for Afternoon Tea and fashion events as well as post-screening drinks, making it a favorite among creative types. In the basement, there’s even a screen room where guests can enjoy the weekend “Film Club” events that include a movie and lunch. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Two-bedroom apartments are available with kitchens, butler service, full breakfast, and champagne.
Key Amenities:
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Spa services
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Afternoon Tea
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Michelin-starred dining + upscale cocktail bar
Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, London W1D 3DH, UK— +44 20 7559 3000
The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone
Set within two Georgian buildings with fashionably eccentric interiors, The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone has a Victoriana theme with a bar and lounge area that take up most of the ground floor. Popular with creatives, it’s located near Clerkenwell with its wonderful little independent shops and lively food markets. There’s no restaurant, but there is a popular bar that offers tasty light bites like lobster broche along with some unique cocktail options like rose quartz vodka with aloe, coconut, and verbena. Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed here too. The rooms and suites are the highlight, filled with antique furnishings and lots of British-inspired features with vintage touches like gramophones. There’s also a self-contained apartment on the top floor that has a terrace with a copper clawfoot tub.
Key Amenities:
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Cocktail bar with light bites available
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Afternoon Tea
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24/7 room service
The Mandrake
One of the top luxury hotels in London, The Mandrake has been described as a cross between Queen Anne’s court and Mad Max, set within a redbrick townhouse. It boasts a spa with unique offerings from shamanic rituals and energy healing to sound therapy that’s been a big hit with the hip and fashionable, who also come for its Instagrammable greenery-filed courtyard. The on-site YOPO restaurant is a trendy spot for English fare with a Latin American twist, from ceviche to Devon crab tostadas. Enjoy a tapas-style menu on the Jurema terrace. Spread over four floors. The sultry rooms feature four-poster beds and eclectic decor like giant feathers and over-the-top chandeliers.
Key Amenities:
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Spa with unique offerings, including sound therapy
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YOPO restaurant
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Jurema terrace for tapas-style plates
Henrietta Hotel
The highly rated Henrietta Hotel offers a prime location in the Convent Garden area of the West End, the perfect place to stay for first-timers in London. It’s near street entertainment, shopping, dining, and the Royal Opera House. There aren’t many facilities with the hotel’s bar and restaurant the stars. Start with a sumptuous breakfast that can include eggs Florentine, Royale, or Benedict, along with homemade granola with goji berries and seasonal fruit salad. Dinner favorites include beef tartare, fresh-baked, warm madeleines with Chantilly cream and salmon tataki with mandarin and sumac. Rooms are a fun mix of leopard-print wallpaper and geometric floors with amenities like a bespoke mini bar selection and 24-hour room service.
Key Amenities:
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On-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Bar with a terrace
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24-hour room service
