The best new luxury hotels in London
The Guardsman
Westminster has a new five-star boutique hotel, The Guardsman, which is part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX portfolio. Located just a few minutes walk from Buckingham Palace, The Guardsman has “all the smart sophistication, intimacy and personal service of an exclusive members-only club”, said Nicole Trilivas of Forbes. As well as 53 elegant bedrooms, the hotel also features six plush residences which take up the top three floors. It is “undeniably looking to be a home from home”, said Andy Mossack of Trip Reporter, “and in my view succeeds with honours”. Room rates start from £250 per night.
Beaverbrook Town House
In partnership with Cadogan Estates, the Beaverbrook brand’s debut London property will open its doors to guests in September. Located on Sloane Street in the heart of Chelsea, this luxury hotel will occupy two revamped Georgian townhouses and include just 14 bedrooms and suites, which are each styled and named after celebrated London theatres. In addition to the theatrical suites, the 15,000 sq ft boutique property will also be home to the Fuji Grill, a 60-cover contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar. Rates start from £400 on a room-only basis.
The Londoner
After delays due to the pandemic, the official opening of London’s first super-boutique hotel will take place in September. The Londoner, from Edwardian Hotels London, will have 350 rooms, 35 suites and is dubbed the UK’s “deepest” hotel, with the lowest floor some 30m below ground, says Business Traveller. As well as five concept restaurants and lounges and a rooftop bar, the hotel will also include a ballroom for up to 1,000 guests, two new Odeon Luxe cinemas and a unique subterranean spa.
The Westin London City
Marking the debut of Westin Hotels & Resorts in the UK, The Westin London City is poised to set a new standard for well-being in the heart of the capital. Opening in September, the 222-room hotel will boast a prime riverfront location in the heart of London, benefitting from panoramic views over the River Thames and an 8,000 sq ft Heavenly Spa by Westin. Led by British architects Dexter Moren Associates, the hotel’s design aims to “increase connectivity to the natural environment”.
Inhabit Hotels
Inhabit Hotels is set to open a second property in London this autumn. Building on the success of the Inhabit Southwick Street, which opened in the capital in 2019, the new Inhabit property will be located a stone’s throw from its sister hotel, within a series of Georgian townhouses on a leafy corner of Paddington. The new urban wellness hotel will offer considered spaces, nourishing food and beverage options, and hosts that share a passion for maintaining a healthy mind and body.
The Dilly
“The Dilly” is the new name above the door of the former Le Méridien Piccadilly hotel in central London. Dating back to 1908, the property has been transformed into the capital’s newest independent five-star hotel. Its exterior has a new design and the lobby has undergone an extensive refurbishment. The redesign of the 255 bedrooms and 28 suites will be ongoing, although 39 have been completed on opening. As part of the new Health Club at The Dilly, it will also have one of London’s largest indoor luxury pools. Rates start from £219.
The Apartments by 11 Cadogan Gardens
After reopening on 12 April, 11 Cadogan Gardens in London marked the date with the official launch of The Apartments – the first apartment suites by Iconic Luxury Hotels. Set behind a red brick Victorian façade, the newly-renovated six-storey townhouse offers a new style of accommodation to 11 Cadogan Gardens’ existing 56 hotel rooms and suites. Each of the six floors is home to a one-, two- or three-bedroom residence (six apartments in total) which make them ideal for families. They are also a perfect choice for a laid-back luxurious extended stay in a desirable London neighbourhood. Prices start from £350 per night for a minimum three-night stay.
NoMad London
NoMad London “is possibly the most exciting hotel opening in London since The Ned”, says Fiona Kerr for Condé Nast Traveller. The original NoMad, in New York, is “one of the city’s moodiest, slickest stays”. Here, in London, its “cultivated cool” is transplanted to the former Bow Street magistrates’ court and police station in Covent Garden. The design brief required exploring “the artistic and cultural synergy between London and New York, with more than 1,600 works of art on show”. The “pub-like” Side Hustle restaurant will serve Mexican sharing plates and mezcal, “in place of the usual pork-scratchings and pints, while Common Decency serves serious cocktails. After our long enforced hibernation, this is the hottest ticket in town”. Room rates start from around £455.
Henry’s Townhouse
Located minutes from Hyde Park in Marylebone, Henry’s Townhouse had its soft opening in December and fully reopened on 12 April. The private townhouse at the Grade II-listed No.24 Upper Berkeley Street was once owned by Jane Austen’s brother Henry. The building itself comprises seven elaborately designed bedrooms, each with its own unique narrative to tell. Common areas include a bespoke pantry kitchen with sharing table for breakfast, private dining and parties. This space converts into a fully equipped meeting room. Henry’s also boasts a small yet lavish carriage like cocktail “snug”, outside terrace for evening aperitifs and Jane Austen’s Reading Room, which is perfect for afternoon drinks or some quiet relaxation.