Top 10: most luxurious hotels in London

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today (November 16, 2015): Top 10 best luxury hotels in London.

With a staggering 17.4 million overseas visitors in 2014, London is the most tourist-visited city in the world. It’s no wonder that people from all over the globe are flocking to London in record numbers, given the city’s extraordinary museums, fascinating theatre scene, numerous top sporting venues, and streets soaked in history. The British capital has accommodation to suit every budget, but if you want to do London properly, you’re really going to have to splurge. However, London is home to so many luxury hotels, that it can be very hard to choose the right one. I hereby present you a top 10 list of my preferred luxury hotels in London, to help you make the right decision when planning a London break. I will publish my reviews of some of these hotels in the coming weeks.

There is more info below the slide show. Think I missed one? Share your favorite London luxury hotel in the comments section, or take my poll below!

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10. MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK

One of London’s most celebrated 5-star hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park exudes an enticing mix of Oriental elegance and fashionable luxury in the centre of the British capital. With a peaceful, yet central location and overlooking iconic Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, many of London’s most famous attractions are within easy walking distance, with the rest just a short tube or taxi ride away. The hotel has 167 elegant rooms and 26 richly furnished suites with individual features, with a Guest Services Manager on every floor to cater to any needs hotel guests may have. Foodies can look forward to two of London’s most impressive dining experiences: historic British gastronomic cuisine at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and authentic French bistro dining at Bar Boulud.

Hotel website: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

9. ME LONDON

Located in the heart of the action and near the city’s main theatres, exclusive boutiques, fashionable hot spots and trendy night clubs, ME London is one of the leading hotels in the centre of London. Its contemporary and cutting edge style by the world-famous architects Foster and Partners is reflected in its 157 exquisitely designed, modern rooms, including 16 suites. The ME London owns the city’s most spectacular outdoor rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, and Covent Garden. The ME London used to be the popular Gaiety Theatre which suffered bomb damage during the Second World War and was torn down and turned into an office block in the 1960s

Hotel website: ME London
Other top 10 accolades: ME London features in my top 10 lists of the world’s most spectacular rooftops and Europe’s best hotel rooftops.

8. SHANGRI-LA AT THE SHARD

The Shangri-La at the Shard hotel in London opened in 2014. The 202-room hotel occupies levels 34 to 52 in the tallest skyscraper of the European Union, the 1,000ft (305m) high The Shard in south London, offering spectacular views of the city below. This is the first Shangri-La hotel in Britain and only the third in Europe, after Paris and Istanbul. Subtle Asian touches in the lobby and lobby lounge reflect Shangri-La’s heritage, while modern and classic art with pieces from a mix of acclaimed Asian and British artists will be showcased throughout public areas. The hotel includes three wining and dining venues and there is als a gym, a pool and conference facilities.

Hotel website: Shangri-La at the Shard
Other accolades: Shangri-La at the Shard features in my list of the best new luxury hotels of 2014.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g.room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and 85 GBP food & beverage credit).

7. THE SAVOY, FAIRMONT

Perfectly placed on the north bank of the River Thames and set within Covent Garden’s vibrant shopping and theatre district, The Savoy is well-known luxury hotel in Central London. The 268 lavishly appointed rooms and suites are decorated in either Edwardian or Art Deco style, and feature luxurious marble bathrooms. Many rooms afford breath-taking views over the River Thames. Suites also benefit from The Savoy’s dedicated Butler Service. For relaxation or exercise, indulgent spa treatments, a 24-hour gym, and a private pool are also available. The Savoy is also a destination for food lovers and drink connoisseurs alike: a choice of seven stylish restaurants and bars offer something to suit all tastes.

Hotel website: The Savoy, Fairmont
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g.room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, 85 GBP food & beverage credit, 20% off beauty & fitness treatments, and free WiFi).

6. METROPOLITAN BY COMO, LONDON

A cool, contemporary central London luxury hotel, Metropolitan by COMO combines accurate service, sophisticated design and a vibrant Park Lane location. There are 144 rooms and suites as well as 19 long-stay apartments, Nobu for Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, a lively Met Bar and Asian-inspired therapies from COMO Shambhala Urban Escape. All rooms and suites, as well as the lobby feature fresh palettes of natural hues and textures (influenced by the flora of Hyde Park in shades of green and berry), as well as rich American walnut, sycamore, pale and dark timbers. Contemporary furnishings complete each space, with oversized windows allowing a sea of sunlight through. All this is complemented by COMO’s passionate approach to service.

Hotel website: Metropolitan by COMO, London
Other top 10 accolades: Metropolitan by COMO, London features in my top 10 list of luxury hotels that are loved by celebrities.

5. FOUR SEASONS LONDON AT PARK LANE

Surrounded by greenery in the heart of Mayfair, the luxurious and redesigned Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is unique in London, yet still true to the city. Inspired by the “golden age of travel”, 147 guestrooms and 46 suites are a modern take on the staterooms of luxury passenger ships, using classic English shades and furniture. London is also where Four Seasons first introduced many of its signature innovations, from complimentary toiletries and multiple phones in rooms, to overnight laundry and one-hour pressing, to 24-hour business centres. Guests are free to use one of the two Rolls Royce Ghost house cars to visit anywhere within a mile of the hotel, perfect for exploring one of the many fascinating experiences right on our doorstep.

Hotel website: Four Seasons London at Park Lane
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g.room upgrade, daily breakfast, and $100 USD spa credit).

4. THE LANGHAM LONDON

Located at the heart of London’s West End, The Langham, London can be found atop Regent Street, one of the city’s premier locations and shopping districts. For 150 years, the legendary hotel has enchanted royalty, dignitaries, and celebrities. The hotel has 380 elegantly appointed rooms and suites that evoke a welcoming, residential ambience, while offering the conveniences of today. The hotel also offers world-class facilities to restore body and spirit, with the lovely Chuan spa and a 16 m (53 ft) swimming pool in the basement. The hotel’s dazzling Palm Court is famed as the place where the tradition of afternoon tea was born over 150 years ago, an indulgence that lives on today as Tiffin at The Langham.

Hotel website: The Langham London
Review: click here to read my review of The Langham London.

3. THE LANESBOROUGH

The Lanesborough Hotel reopened in the summer of 2015, following an extensive renovation project by Alberto Pinto, the world-renowned interior design studio, hereby regaining its position as one of London’s finest residences. The 93-room iconic hotel is now managed by Oetker Collection, the prestigious portfolio of ‘masterpiece hotels” including Le Bristol Paris, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the South of France and Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, amongst others. The renovation honours the building’s architectural heritage as one of London’s most revered Regency landmarks. It embodies the signature style that has become synonymous with The Lanesborough, whilst incorporating the latest in contemporary luxury and technological innovations.

Hotel website: The Lanesborough
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g.room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 USD spa credit).
Review: click here to read my review of The Lanesborough London.

2. BULGARI LONDON

Located in Knightsbridge on the edge of Hyde Park, London’s Bulgari Hotel is both a haven of calm in the centre of the city and yet under a minute’s walk from famous landmarks like Harrod’s department store. Since opening in 2012 the Bulgari has set new standards among the luxury hotels of the British capital. Elegant contemporary architecture and Bulgari’s legendary flair for design are matched by class-leading quality of service. The 85 light filled rooms and suites are the largest in London. Many look over Hyde Park and Knightsbridge and each is an uncluttered oasis of calm comfort and understated luxury. The hotel also has a 47 seat cinema, an impressive spa, and a unique Cigar Shop, to deliver a city hotel experience that is unique in the world.

Hotel website: Bulgari London
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g.room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, welcome amenity, and $100 USD spa credit).

1. ROSEWOOD LONDON

Rosewood London, currently the finest five-star hotel in London, is situated in one of the UK capital’s most historic thoroughfares, High Holborn. Blending English heritage with contemporary sophistication, the palatial building that houses the hotel has been sensitively renovated to create an ultra-luxurious hotel with the ambience of a stylish London residence. Guests arrive through an archway that opens into a grand Edwardian courtyard, in a little oasis of tranquillity unique among London luxury hotels. It is the perfect start to a memorable stay in a timeless heritage hotel, set just steps from Covent Garden. Rosewood London offers its guests true urban sanctuaries, with 262 rooms and 44 suites that are among the largest in London.

Hotel website: Rosewood London
Other accolades: The Rosewood London features in my top 10 list of the most amazing city hotels in Europe and my list of the best new luxury hotels of 2013.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g.room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
Review: click here to read my review of the Rosewood London.