"Five-star hotel" is synonymous with "opulent luxury," and London has no shortage of five-star luxury hotels. The capital city of the United Kingdom is rife with history and culture, and there is no better way to enjoy that than from the lap of luxury, both before and after your expedition throughout the city.
On this list are the top 20 five-star luxury hotels in London. The hotels on this list demonstrate just how extravagant the five-star treatment can get and how exciting it can be to be treated like virtual royalty, even for a day. While many of these properties are located near each other in the historic neighborhoods of London, some are within walking distance of the British Royalty. But all of these hotels provide their guests with easy access to the shopping, night life, dining, and culture that London has become famous for.
As you look through this list, imagine what it would be like to stay at these hotels for a weekend or longer. Each of these properties has something unique to offer its guests, but they all offer an above average stay with the five-star treatment.
20 Bulgari Hotel & Residences
Bulgari is a name synonymous with luxury, and the Bulgari Hotel in London surely lives up to that name. The hotel is located at the edge of the world-famous Hyde Park and describes itself as a "haven of calm in the centre of the city." With unmatched service, Bulgari Hotel provides guests with well-apportioned rooms and facilities, such as a full gym and spa to help those guests unwind at the end of a busy day of shopping at Harrods or business meetings in downtown London. But the hospitality of the Bulgari Hotel in London is certainly not limited to those that stay the night, as is evidenced by the onsite shopping and ballroom facilities. Truly, this hotel is luxury at its finest.
19 Belmond Cadogan
The Belmond Cadogan Hotel is a 5-star hotel in central London that has been in place since 1887 and is central to the Kensington and Chelsea social scenes.
The luxury hotel is described as a "sumptuous sanctuary that honours its rich heritage."
How much more luxurious can you get than that? The hotel's style takes its cue from history of the exclusive neighborhood and aims to be the last word in luxury, not just for the area or London but the world. With 54 boutique rooms, world-class service, and the best dining experience north of the Thames, guests of the Belmond Cadogan Hotel know what the life of luxury is like.
18 The Milestone Hotel
The Milestone Hotel gives guests the opportunity to experience old-world charm in the heart of modern London, with easy access to London's famous tourist destinations. Located across from Kensington Palace, the hotel is also conveniently located close to the Royal Albert Hall. From afternoon tea at Park Lounge to exquisite dining in Cheneston's, the culinary experience is only a small part of what The Milestone Hotel has to offer guests. With an abundance of awards from experts around the world, it is easy to see why this particular hotel has the five-star distinction that is so coveted by the luxury hotel industry.
17 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites, And Residences
Located near Buckingham Palace and Mayfair, 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites, and Residences is conveniently located to some of London's most iconic landmarks and tourist sites. The hotel was once the home of Lords and Ladies of the Royal Court, so luxury is to be expected. And the staff of the hotel definitely deliver on that expectation.
With multi-bedroom suites and larger six-bedroom residences, guests are given an opportunity to spread out and relax in their own private space.
And the three restaurants deliver a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience for guests and visitors alike. "Taj 51 Buckingham Gate provides the discerning luxury traveler with a suite experience that will make your stay in London genuinely special."
16 The Bentley Hotel
The Bentley Hotel London considers itself to be one of "London's best kept secrets." But just what does that mean to guests and visitors? The hotel is in a key part of historical London, but its location is discreet. It may be off the beaten path so oft traveled by tourists, so to speak, but the Bentley Hotel has been on the radar of travelers who know where to look for opulence and luxury for a long time. The 64 luxury rooms, restaurant, and lounge offer each guest a personalized stay that will be hard to match anywhere else. The Bentley Hotel is a perfect example of five-star luxury at the heart of London.
15 The Berkeley, Knightsbridge
The Berkeley has been around for over 100 years, so you can be sure that they have luxury figured out. Located in Knightsbridge, with easy access to Belgravia,
The Berkeley takes style and comfort to levels that few other five-star hotels are able to offer.
"There's nowhere quite like it." Each room has been individually designed and appointed by some of the greatest designers in the world, and the service offered by the staff seems to know what you need before you ask. Truly, The Berkeley is one of a kind among London's finest five-star hotels, and that is why people continue to come back.
14 The Beaumont
The Beaumont, near Mayfair, has 50 elegant rooms and 23 stylish suites and studios, "grand in style yet intimate and welcoming." The design of the hotel seems to mimic the style of the early 20th century, but the accommodations are all up-to-date 21st century. Having earned a number of awards and accolades since opening in 2014, The Beaumont perfectly exemplifies what it means to be a five-star establishment. Guests are treated with old-world elegance, something that is a welcome respite from the nonstop haste of today's hospitality industry. One could say that The Beaumont aims to please its guests in a fashion not seen for nearly a century.
13 The Cranley
The Cranley aims to be a home away from home for visitors and guests from around the world, regardless of their reason for staying at the hotel. A small luxury boutique hotel located in Kensington and Chelsea, it is comprised of three buildings built in 1869. The accommodations may seem as though they are plucked straight from the 19th century, but they are most certainly appointed with the latest in technology. The charming location is an easy walk from some of London's greatest attractions, making The Cranley an ideal place to stay in when one wishes to have central access to London but still remain in style.
12 Marylebone
Marylebone is more than the name of the hotel. It is the name of the chic, trendy neighborhood in which this five-star hotel sits.
This hotel is only a few minutes stroll away from some of London's best shopping at Oxford Street.
With an abundance of amenities, such as spa, fitness centers, and dining, Marylebone stands out in the area as a premier place to stay. The ease of access to the center of London makes this hotel ideally situated for business meetings or gatherings prior to events. Marylebone is chic and trendy in a world where five-star means stuffy and old.
11 The Connaught
The Connaught is a whole different world that is both elegant and effortless. The experience at this five-star luxury hotel makes you fully appreciate the finer things in life.
From the moment you set foot on the property, the staff of The Connaught exist solely to serve you and your every desire.
Here, you can escape the bustle of London but still remain connected to this marvelous city. So, when you are considering a location for your extended stay in London, The Connaught should certainly be near the top of your list of considerations. After all, where else will you be treated like you have always felt you should be treated at a five-star hotel?
10 Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is elegance and luxury. From dining that is recognized around the world to a spa that will exceed your expectations,
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is a centrally-located five-star establishment that aims to raise the bar on what "five-star hotel" means.
They offer "English elegance and sumptuous style" in their rooms and suites, while still seeking to remain grounded in more "real world" pursuits. Regardless of what you are looking for in a hotel experience, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is sure to meet your needs. And if the staff does not meet them to begin with, they will do what it takes to see that your stay is complete.
9 The Langham Hotel
The Langham Hotel wants your stay to be unforgettable. This five-star property is located in the West End of London, making it conveniently located to some of the city's best shopping, dining, and culture. And that is exactly what the staff of The Langham Hotel wants you to have—easy access to the best of London while aiming to offer the best hospitality that London offers. You have options for your stay in London, but if you are looking for an experience and not just a place to stay, then The Langham Hotel wants your consideration to create that experience for you, whatever that experience may be.
8 The Savoy
The Savoy, where English Edwardian elegance meets the present, is truly an icon of London's five-star hotel scene. Whether you seek that old-world charm that is only available in Western Europe, a classic cocktail, or an elegant dining experience, you are sure to find what you are looking for at The Savoy. Standing proud on the north bank of the River Thames and with easy access to ballet, horticulture, art, and shopping, this particular hotel seems to serve as a haven from the rest of London's busy lifestyle, while still allowing its guests to remain connected to those things that make London the city that it is.
7 The Dorchester
The Dorchester considers itself to be the "gold standard of care," a distinction that they do not take lightly. Like many of the five-star properties on this list,
the staff of The Dorchester lives to serve you, and only you, regardless of what it is you are looking for.
Perfectly situated with easy access to some of London's finest shopping, dining, and culture, the staff of The Dorchester seeks to make your stay in London, not just your stay at the hotel, memorable. They will do what it takes to ensure that you have full access to all that London offers and, in doing so, ensure that your stay at their hotel is only part of a grand experience.
6 The Ned
The Ned is more than a nice suite to unwind in after a full day out and about in London. They offer exquisite dining spaces with ten different restaurants, the opportunity to relax in your way with a spa and a gym, rooms for meetings and events, and so much more. Are you looking for that special little perk that makes staying at a five-star property that much better? The Ned is likely to have exactly what you are looking for, and if they do not, they will seek to make things perfect for you on your visit to London.
5 The Goring
The Goring is English to its core, but it remains a hotel that is individual in its tastes. From the rooms appointed with unique decor and style to an intimate atmosphere and personal service, The Goring is the last family-owned luxury hotel in London. And that means that
the staff will treat you like a part of that family, something that is as unique as the style of the hotel.
The Goring is centrally located in London, giving guests access to all the city has to offer and so much more. Regardless of whether you are looking for sights or style, The Goring will deliver a London experience that is personally unforgettable.
4 Claridge’s
Claridge’s wants to treat you like you are more than just a guest, regardless of whether you are a first-time visitor or someone who regularly stays at this luxury hotel that came into existence in 1856. As well as providing individual service to its guests, Claridge’s is also a home away from home for families from around the world who come to London for the famous hospitality of this five-star hotel that gained fame in the early twentieth century as a place renowned and beloved by royals and foreign dignitaries alike. Few places have this kind of history or have received so many accolades for making guests feel so welcome.
3 One Aldwych
One Aldwych has history, as is evident in the importance of the historic Edwardian building it occupies in London. The history of the hotel continues today, as it sits in Covent Garden, central to London's vibrant new destination for those visitors seeking the best art and culture that the capital of the United Kingdom has to offer. One Aldwych does things right with over 100 rooms and suites, meeting rooms, dining, movie theater, and more,
all in a building that was originally designed and built to house a newspaper made famous by Winston Churchill.
The history is only a part of what makes One Aldwych a magnanimous place to visit and stay, as the hotel is still making history today.
2 Corinthia Hotel London
Corinthia Hotel London has seven penthouses, putting among some of the most luxurious properties in London. With easy access to the West End and the River Thames, Corinthia Hotel London seems to define what "centrally located" means for a five-star property in London and is considered by some to be a "destination in itself." Guests have nothing but accolades to offer for this hotel, and it would be difficult to find words other than praise for a five-star luxury hotel that is part of a line of hotels that has become synonymous with luxury, style, and opulence. Corinthia Hotel London demonstrates to the world of luxury properties what it means to have a five-star rating.
1 The Marble Arch
The Marble Arch aims to deliver good things in small packages. As a boutique five-star hotel located in central London, this converted townhouse is where guests go to "live king size." Despite being such a small hotel, The Marble Arch has a lot to offer its guests, from all of the 21st century amenities that have come to be expected to an inviting atmosphere that creates an experience to remember.
Whether guests aim to shop on Oxford Street or stay in the hotel for the relaxing ambiance, The Marble Arch offers it all in a tiny package that will be difficult to beat.
Only the best of the best hotels will ever achieve a five-star rating. That rating means that everything about the hotel (from the decor to the dining, staff to spa, location to luxury) goes above and beyond what guests and travelers expect. London has no shortage of these distinctive properties, but the 20 hotels on this list clearly typify what it means to have the claim that they are among the most luxurious hotel properties in the city and the world.