Our UK Editors' Favorite Boutique Hotels in London
London's grand hotels will always draw a crowd, but the city's boutique stays offer something different: intimacy, character, and a personal touch. These are places that feel like home from the moment you arrive, suited for staycations and international trips alike. From converted townhouses in Soho to quiet spots on residential streets, our editors have picked their favorites.
Broadwick Soho stands out with its opulent, playful interiors—think leopard print, zebra stripe, and DJ booths against silk walls. Owner Noel Hayden, a tech entrepreneur, drew inspiration from the 1970s Bournemouth hotel he grew up in, and that vaudeville spirit carries through. Art by Francis Bacon and Andy Warhol lines the corridors, while the rooftop bar Flute offers stellar views. The basement restaurant Dear Jackie, named after Hayden's mother, serves Italian-inspired dishes in a crimson, intimate setting.
Zetter Bloomsbury spreads across six Georgian townhouses with a secret courtyard backing onto the British Museum. The hotel is filled with trinkets and artsy details that reward a closer look. There are 68 rooms, plus four distinct spaces: The Parlour for cocktails, The Orangery for breakfast and afternoon tea, The Library for quiet corners, and an 11,000-square-foot walled garden.
The Newman in Fitzrovia offers a slick but unfussy welcome, with an open ground floor that hums throughout the day. Its 81 rooms balance calm and character with muted greens, warm reds, and rich timber, accented by stainless steel nods to Art Deco glamour.
1 Sloane Gardens is a red-brick townhouse built in 1888 by Liberty's architect. The 30-room hotel was created under Earl Cadogan's direction, with French hotelier Jean-Louis Costes and designer Francois-Joseph Graf bringing a rarefied quality, complete with hidden doorways and a carnal undercurrent.
In Bloomsbury, a bolthole made of three conjoined Georgian townhouses offers a speakeasy-style salon with French 75 cocktails and small plates. The 43 rooms feature parquet flooring, with the Philosopher's Quarters suite standing out for its 18th-century map and corniced ceiling. Ottie's Salon provides an atmospheric dining spot, with a terrace and Cigar Garden for tobacco lovers.
Chelsea Townhouse gives guests access to the prestigious Cadogan Place Gardens. The 36-room hotel includes ground-level suites with French doors opening directly into the garden. Decor leans antique but light-touch, with botanical prints and velvet headboards. A fire-warmed dining room and bay-windowed library add to the cozy feel.
Lime Tree Hotel on Ebury Street is a masterclass in eclectic style on a budget. Owners Matt and Charlotte Goodsall overhauled the interiors during the 2020 lockdown, adding a café. The 28 bedrooms range from minuscule to moderate, but clever design optimizes every space. The Buttery kitchen, led by Stefano Cirillo, serves perfectly executed breakfast classics.
The Hari in Belgravia is a contemporary bolthole with loft-style bedrooms and an artistic temperament. Decor mixes polish with a little burlesque, including lithographs like Tracey Emin's "She Lay Down." The bar offers riffs on classic cocktails, and the restaurant serves authentic Italian dishes.
A smart offshoot of the Surrey Hills original, this property near Sloane Square takes over two restored Georgian townhouses. Artwork on the stairs includes old posters for the Boat Race and Kew Gardens. Each bedroom is named after a London theater, with framed programs and books on opera. The Fuji Grill restaurant, helmed by chef Alex Del, offers a sensational 20-course omakase supper.
The Soho Hotel, designer Kit Kemp's classic, sits down a peaceful alleyway in the middle of energetic Soho. All 96 rooms pair warehouse-style windows with quirky, print-heavy designs. The Refuel bar and restaurant specializes in modern British cooking, and the hotel has its own basement screening room with weekend Film Club events pairing lunch with a movie.
The Twenty Two in Mayfair is a 31-room hotel and members club in an Edwardian manor house. A cape-wearing doorman greets guests in a marble-floored lobby that smells of frankincense. Rooms are understatedly plush in elegant blue, and the dining room hits modern British notes. Prices are high, but the hotel offers something sexier and more fun.
Dean Street Townhouse is famously where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their first date. The original Soho House private members club is just around the corner, but you don't need to be a member to stay here. Expect custom Hypnos beds, full-sized Cowshed amenities, and homemade cookies. The all-day restaurant serves simple but exceptional British food.
Fulham Pier Hotel sits within the grounds of London's oldest soccer stadium. It has nine river rooms and three junior suites, with the owner's penthouse offering a private terrace almost double the size of the room itself. Year-round events include family workshops, comedy nights, and holistic sessions, with private members areas that convert into viewing platforms for game day.