When you live and work in the British capital, you quickly get used to a few things. You walk at the pace of a jog (without spilling a drop of your £4.50 oat flat white), you learn every quiet route imaginable to allow you to shop in Selfridges without walking down jam-packed Oxford Street, and you get inundated with questions about the best hotels in London from family and friends. The requests for recommendations come thick and fast, like new branches of Blank Street Coffee.
It’s quite a question – considering there are hundreds of worthy contenders – so we’ve done what any self-respecting London-based publication would do: we’ve slept around in the name of research. This edit isn’t based on assumptions or a set of flattering images. The Vogue team has checked in, tested the shower pressure, flung ourselves on the beds and called room service to describe how we like our eggs in the morning.
Of course, there isn’t one outright winner of a “Best Hotel in London” trophy, as there are too many variables to consider and too many deserving hotels, but we’ve shortlisted an edit of our favourite places to stay in the capital, a list that will grow over time as we continue to identify the best of the bunch.
Which area of London is best to stay in?
If you’re a first-time visitor to London – or simply have limited time to spend in the capital – a W1 hotel will put you within easy distance of most landmarks, whether you’re staying in a Mayfair institution such as Claridge’s or a Soho newcomer like Broadwick Soho. If this is your second (or third, or fourth) trip to the city, though, it’s worth venturing out of the centre to experience another side of the metropolis. Chelsea has recently seen a flurry of charming openings (At Sloane, The Chelsea Townhouse), while Shoreditch is a good base for exploring East London, now the heart of the city’s music, art, and nightlife scenes.
The Corinthia London
Why it’s one of the best hotels in London
You can’t really mention luxury London hotels without mentioning the Corinthia, which is, as we recently found out, Molly-Mae Hague’s favourite place to stay. It’s easy to see why: this Whitehall hotel, which spans 279 rooms, including 26 newly refurbished suites, is the sort of place to go if you’re in need of some real pampering. In fact, plenty of Londoners come here just for the day (their ESPA Life Spa is the city’s largest, with a vitality pool, amphitheatre sauna, steam room and actual sleep pods equipped with curtains and cushions). They’ve also recently partnered with every celeb’s favourite brand, Augustinus Bader, so if you want to emerge with that Victoria Beckham glow, don’t miss out on their famous facial.
Visually, the hotel isn’t shy – opulence is what it’s known for. Think: marble lobbies and grand pianos and a crystal chandelier so big that it looks like it could swallow you. Again, this is where you go for a treat (they’re especially known for their pretty afternoon teas). Elsewhere, there are food and drink spots dotted throughout the hotel, from sexy mood-lit cocktail bar Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese to The Garden, their seasonal al-fresco restaurant. (Don’t let the fact it’s outside put you off: with its outdoor heaters and faux fur throws, it’ll make you feel like you’re on a cosy ski trip. Plus, their creamy Bombardino, a drink popular in the Italian Alps, really is a must.)
