London is full of excellent hotels with long histories and time-honored luxury touches such as butlers and valets. While there’s a sense of romance to these properties, modern travellers might find them a bit, well, boring.
Luckily, a slew of new boutique hotels is revitalizing old buildings in the British capital and modernising chapters of London history with Instagrammable design touches. Expect bold colors, velvet upholstery and nods to the Roaring Twenties, 70s glamour and even punk rock – along with top-notch service and amenities.
So if you’re looking for a London stay with pizazz and personality, here are the best new boutique hotels in London to check into.
The Twenty Two Hotel, Mayfair
Just a short walk from Hyde Park, The Twenty Two Hotel is a luxury hideaway in west London, despite all the heavy traffic outside its walls. Set in a stately Edwardian manor house, the hotel’s interiors are a maximalist explosion of 18th-century French décor and a riotously colorful palette. Rooms and public spaces differ dramatically in design with rich silks, bold prints and lavish velvet drapes setting the scene. The 31 bedrooms and suites each come with organic spirits in the mini-bar, 400 thread count Egyptian cotton linens, a plush cabochon marble bathroom with organic amenities and butler service. There is also a Mediterranean restaurant attached, as well as a private club for guests too.
Chateau Denmark
If you ever wanted to live the life of a rockstar but can’t hold a tune or play guitar, check into Chateau Denmark instead. Set across 16 buildings, the hotel is located on Soho’s fabled Denmark Street and was once home to recording studios, music shops and also a place where iconic acts such as The Sex Pistols, Elton John and David Bowie chilled, socialised and penned their albums. The décor is an exciting blend of gothic-chic luxury and punk rock irreverence. Think black leather floors, vintage furniture and eccentric wallpaper all coming together seamlessly well. Save a night for Chateau Denmark’s all-day bar and restaurant, Thirteen, with elegant cocktails, small bites and a late-night DJ lineup.
The Other House
Located in South Kensington, close to Royal Albert Hall and multiple museums, The Other House is a combination of 11 townhouses steeped in tradition, art and tech. The décor makes guests feel like they are staying in a rainforest with signature owl and monkey wallpaper, velvet cushions and a “garland of leaves” chandelier making up your oasis. There is also a library and a daytime open kitchen. But the real treat is the exclusive private club for guests, where you can work in one of two members lounges, as well as enjoy the gym, pool and screening room. Do check out the hotel’s calendar of events such as spirit tastings and sound baths, plus flexible room rate packages for frequent travellers.
Beaverbrook Town House
The 14-suite Beaverbrook Town House in Chelsea comprises two Georgian townhouses on posh Sloane Street, overlooking Cadogan Place Park. The property pays homage to London’s historical theatres: the rooms are named after famous theatres such as the Aldwych and the Palladium, and feature colorful but tasteful touches such as velvet upholstery, retro bar carts, vintage posters and photography and bespoke written histories to educate and delight guests. There’s nothing retro about the amenities, though. Heated bathroom floors are a welcome feature in chilly London, along with a complimentary minibar, flatscreen TV and Bamford toiletries. There’s an all-day Japanese restaurant on-premises, but you should save an evening for the 12- or 20-course Japanese omakase experience, followed by cocktails at the atmospheric Sir Frank’s Bar.
The BoTree Hotel
When it comes to design and guest experience, The BoTree Hotel aims to deliver what it calls “conscious luxury” with a dual focus on conserving the environment while delivering top-notch service. The hotel is opening later this summer at the cross-section of Marylebone and Mayfair, among the cafés and bookshops that give the area its identity. But BoTree has plenty of its own personality. It has 199 rooms and 29 suites, all with a fresh and elegant contemporary design, and public spaces furnished with colourful plush pillows, floral accents, plants, trees and exposed timber ceilings. Naturally, the hotel has a state-of-the-art fitness centre and studio, but let’s be honest: Guests will be vying for a table at LAVO Ristorante, the London outpost of the Los Angeles eatery famous for its celebrity patrons.
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