[2023 PICKS] The 12 Best London Boutique Hotels

When choosing to stay in one of the best boutique hotels in London, visitors are not only treated to some of the most sought-after locations in London but also a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Boutique hotels have become increasingly popular among travelers who desire a more personalized touch during their travels, as opposed to the more cookie-cutter experience often found at larger chain hotels.

Smaller, independently-owned hotels in London are known for their unique decor, which reflects the personality and character of the surrounding neighborhood. They offer superior services, amenities, and customer service. The staff at these boutique hotels are often more attentive and willing to go the extra mile to ensure that each guest’s stay is memorable. Staying at a boutique hotel will surely highlight your trip, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor to London.

The 12 Best Boutique Hotels in London

1. Hotel Cafe Royal

9.3 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Located in the heart of London on Regent Street, the luxurious 5-star Hotel Café Royal offers guests an array of amenities. Just 1.6 km from Theatreland, Buckingham Palace, Westminster and the British Museum. A 6-minute walk to popular shopping areas of Bond Street, Oxford Street and Savile Row. The hotel features 159 guestrooms, including 54 suites designed with meticulous attention to detail.

Guests will have complimentary WiFi, Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems, media hubs, and luxury bathroom amenities at their disposal. The boutique hotel also offers a state-of-the-art gym, lap pool, sauna, Hammam/steam room and spa treatments at the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre. Dining options include Cakes and Bubbles, The Green Bar, Brasserie Saint-Germain, The Grill Room and Alex Dilling.

2. The Stafford London

9.1 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The Stafford London is a luxurious hotel located in the historic St James’s neighborhood of London. It is close to famous landmarks and the bustling West End. Guests can choose from elegant, individually designed rooms and suites. The Main House offers a blend of Victorian charm and modern amenities, while the Carriage House transports guests to a countryside retreat in the heart of the city. The Mews Suites and Penthouse boast classic elegance and the privacy of a personal residence.

Guests can savor modern British cuisine at The Game Bird restaurant, and unwind with a cocktail at the renowned American Bar. The American Bar boasts a unique collection of artifacts, trinkets, and celebrity photographs donated over the years. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or a specialty cocktail while immersing themselves in the history of one of London’s most iconic five-star hotels. There is also a private cobbled courtyard for al fresco dining. Experience ultimate luxury at The Stafford London, in one of the most historic and quintessentially English settings of London.

3. The Londoner

9.1 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The Londoner is a luxurious boutique hotel featuring a stunning guest-only club, six concept restaurants and bars, a spa with a pool, a gym, a superfood clinic, and a beauty salon. 350 luxurious bedrooms and suites, including a tower penthouse suite with panoramic views. Each room includes a table, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom. Guests will have exclusive access to The Residence, a residents-only club offering an inspirational place to relax in The Drawing Room. The Y Bar changes from a place to work during the day to a nightly scene for socializing, cocktails, and light bites.

Guests can also follow a secret passage to The Whisky Room. Complimentary antipasti, soft drinks, tea, and coffee are served throughout the day. The hotel’s interior design is by Yabu Pushelberg. The Londoner features a variety of event spaces, including a state-of-the-art ballroom accommodating up to 850 guests, two private screening rooms, an elegant events room, and seven meeting spaces. Located in Leicester Square, the hotel is just a short walk from many of London’s hotspots, such as Soho, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, and local transport links. The boutique hotel is also a member of the prestigious Preferred Hotels and Resorts Legend Collection.

4. The Resident Covent Garden

9.3 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The hotel is situated in the West End of London, just a few minutes walk from Covent Garden Piazza and Charing Cross station. It features air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. Popular points of interest nearby include Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Savoy Theatre, and The National Gallery. Royal Opera House is 700 meters away. All rooms come with an en-suite bathroom with a powerful shower, either as a walk-in shower or a shower over bath, and a mini-kitchen including a microwave, fridge, sink with BRITA filter water tap, kettle, free Fairtrade teas, and Nespresso coffee machine with free capsules. A TV, desk and USB charging points are also available in the room.

The reception can provide advice on the area to help guests plan their day. Trafalgar Square is less than 1 km from the accommodation, while Arts Theatre is a 13-minute walk from the property. The nearest airport is London City Airport, 14 km from the hotel.

5. Haymarket Hotel, Firmdale Hotels

9.4 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The elegant Haymarket Hotel is located in the heart of London’s theatre district, surrounded by restaurants, bars, and next door to the Theatre Royal. Guests can enjoy a swimming pool, gym, and a spa with a range of treatments. Afternoon tea is served until 16:30, with delicious cakes, scones with clotted cream and jam, and a wide range of tea and coffee. Fresh, seasonal produce is used in the restaurant and tapas is available at the bar.

Each room at Haymarket Hotel features a flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, and writing desk. Rooms also benefit from 24-hour room service and a fully stocked minibar. St James’s Park is a 5-minute walk away, and Buckingham Palace can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are all within easy walking distance.

6. 41

9.7 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Nestled behind Buckingham Palace, this luxurious hotel is opposite the Royal Mews. It offers striking rooms, generous free snacks and canapés, attentive 5-star service, and a wood-paneled Executive Lounge. Guests are offered complimentary snacks all day during their stay, including fresh fruit, crisps, a selection of dried fruit & nuts, sweets, chocolates, and toffees. There are also small tubs of Jude’s ice cream, freshly baked scones with jam and clotted cream, and evening canapés.

Each en suite bedroom has a stylish black-and-white theme, handmade mattress, air-conditioning, luxury bedding, on-demand movies, Bose music systems, and marble bathrooms with bathrobes and Floris’ toiletries. 41 is 500 m from London Victoria Tube and Train Station. Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Piccadilly Circus are less than 1.6 km away. The quiet and exclusive 41 hotel feels like a traditional London club. The Executive Lounge has a glass roof for bright breakfasts, afternoon teas, and sampling the all-day menu.

7. Corinthia London

9.2 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The Corinthia London is located just steps from Trafalgar Square and Whitehall, boasting restaurants, bars, a florist, and London’s spa. Spacious, air-conditioned rooms blend the hotel’s 1885 character with modern amenities such as city views, an iPod docking station, an LCD TV, free Wi-Fi, and marble-finished bathrooms. Guests can book spa and health treatments at ESPA Life at Corinthia, and a hair salon is also on site.

The spa features 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, and Thermal Floor with an indoor swimming pool, a vitality pool, an amphitheater sauna, an ice fountain, marble-heated loungers, and private sleep pods. Renowned Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge, opened his first London restaurant at the hotel with classic menus. The Northall Bar provides Champagne and a cocktail bar, offering live music every week.

8. The Connaught

9.2 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The Connaught is located in the exclusive Mayfair area of London and offers on-site Michelin-starred dining, a holistic spa, and two chic bars. Guests receive bespoke butler and concierge services at the elegant Connaught. The hotel features beautiful and unique bedrooms, each with a king-size bed, mood lighting, a 32-inch plasma TV, and original artwork.

The marble bathrooms boast a plasma TV and walk-in shower. The cuisine at Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, inspired by the regional flavors of Hélène’s native France, has won 3 AA Rosettes and 2 Michelin Stars. Connaught Bar and Coburg Bar both serve mouth-watering cocktails and fine wines. Aman Spa offers calming treatments and healing therapies drawn from the traditions of China, Thailand, India, and the Americas.

9. Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences

9.3 Average Rating on Booking.com
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Located in the heart of Westminster, just a short walk from Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and Mayfair, this 5-star luxury hotel offers suites and residences with 3 restaurants, a full-service spa, and a 24-hour fitness center. All suites come with air-conditioning, fully equipped kitchenettes with separate living areas, a flat-screen TV, and a modern bathroom with fluffy bathrobes, slippers, and designer toiletries. Butler and Golden Key Concierge service is available 24 hours a day. Chef Sriram Aylur’s Michelin-starred Quilon serves South-West coastal Indian cuisine, while Kona offers award-winning themed afternoon teas.

The Victorian Courtyard is a relaxing escape from the busy city and the ideal setting for cocktails and alfresco dining. Jiva Spa features a range of spa treatments inspired by Indian wellness philosophies and using natural ingredients and products by TEMPLESPA. The spa is open between 8 am and 9 pm and pre-booking is essential. The property is centrally located in the heart of London’s Royal Quarter. St. James’ Court is a short 10-minute walk from Victoria Coach and Rail Stations and easily accessible from both Gatwick and Heathrow International airports.

10. The Royal Lancaster London

9.1 Average Rating on Booking.com
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This 5-star London hotel is quietly located next to Hyde Park, Marble Arch, and Lancaster Gate Tube Station, offering breathtaking views of the famous London skyline. It features a free on-site 24/7 gym and two award-winning restaurants. The Royal Lancaster London is also just a 5-minute walk from Paddington Underground Station, and Oxford Street and Knightsbridge’s shops are 15 minutes away on foot. The bright, soundproofed rooms at the Royal Lancaster London all have Smart TVs, heated bathroom floors, USB charging points, satellite TV, and a work desk. The marble bathrooms have free toiletries and a bathrobe.

The Royal Lancaster, London Nipa Restaurant, serves authentic Thai cuisine prepared in elegant surroundings. The hotel also offers a contemporary Island Grill with rich meals and a selection of wines. The Hyde Cafe serves light snacks and refreshing drinks throughout the day, and the Park Restaurant serves traditional afternoon tea.

11. The Savoy

9.4 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The world-renowned Savoy Hotel opened in 1889 and is located on the banks of the Thames river, just a 5-minute walk from The British Museum and The Royal Opera House. It is known for its historical significance, having welcomed famous figures such as Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, and Katherine Hepburn. Conveniently situated in the heart of London, the Savoy is just 5 minute walk from Covent Garden and 20 minute journey by public transportation from the luxury shopping destinations of Knightsbridge and Mayfair.

The Savoy’s 195 guest rooms and 73 suites are decorated in a combination of Edwardian and Art Deco styles, providing a blend of comfort and elegance with discreet technology. Many rooms offer picturesque views of the River Thames and elegant marble bathrooms. The Savoy offers some of London’s most well-known restaurants and bars, such as British institution Simpson’s-In-The-Strand, Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, and The River Restaurant, which serves some of the UK’s finest shellfish and seafood. Guests can also enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Thames Foyer and classic cocktails in the American Bar, widely considered one of the best hotel bars in the world, or in the theatrical Beaufort Bar.

12. The Beaumont Hotel

9.5 Average Rating on Booking.com
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The Beaumont Hotel is set in the prestigious London district of Mayfair and offers a popular restaurant, spa, and fitness center. The original building dates back to 1926 and features an iconic, 3-story high sculpture by the award-winning Sir Antony Gormley. This boutique hotel features standard guest rooms with large king-size beds to studios and spacious suites, all elegantly designed in Art Deco style with original artwork and antiques.

The Beaumont Hotel features Le Magritte Bar and The Colony Grill Room, which are popular with locals. There is also a hammam and spa offer grooming and relaxation treatments, and the gym, sauna, and steam room are free for all guests. The hotel is in a quiet position overlooking a landscaped garden square. Selfridges is within a short walk, while Hyde Park can be reached in 10 minutes on foot. Other popular places of interest include theatres, art galleries, and luxury shopping – all easily reached easily by tube or car.