The Best Hotels to Book Near the Guildhall, City of London

Every view is unique at the South Place Hotel – and that’s even before you think to look out of a window. That’s because the entire interior space of this contemporary accommodation is creative perfection. Bespoke, commissioned art adorns the walls, shared spaces from the bar to the lobby are draped in floral installations, hanging like some ancient Babylonian Garden, and the dishes in the Michelin-star Angler restaurant practically belong in a gallery.

Are you looking for a room in Central London that feels more like your own apartment? Citadines Barbican is an aparthotel situated a few minutes from Barbican Station and 10 minutes on foot from the Guildhall. Studios have their own kitchenette, cooker hob and microwave, plus a small dining space. Some classic double rooms are also available that, like the suites, have modern amenities such as Chromecast TVs and access to the coin-operated laundry room.

The Ned is practically a London institution, perfectly balancing an austere, British take on elegance with a tasteful modern veneer. The Edwardian building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (of New Delhi fame) in 1924, and the chequer-floor bar area and hefty old vault door are dead giveaways of the building’s former purpose as a bank. Today it holds 250 rooms, each with a little touch of decadence in the fine fabrics and marble bathrooms.

Perhaps you’re after something a little less upmarket without losing the British charm? The Three Cranes is a boutique hotel above a gastropub less than a minute from Mansion House Underground station. The rooms all feature a kitchenette and dining table for those quieter nights in, as well as wooden furniture and king-size beds ensuring that there’s a good balance of utility and comfort without compromising on style.

The beds are the centrepiece of a room at the Vintry & Mercer Hotel, with high-quality mattresses and sheets, and decorative headboards in bold colours such as mustard and peach. Even the standard rooms have a touch of museum-like class, with separate, well-defined storage spaces that are creatively lit to draw attention to the fine detail and amenities, such as the bathrobes hanging in the glass-fronted wardrobe. There’s an on-site Asian small plates restaurant and a rooftop terrace bar.

When staying in the heart of London, one of the most coveted types of property is one that overlooks the Thames River. Locke at Broken Wharf offers just that, with the distinctive Southwark and Millennium Bridges spanning the river on either side. Locke is predominantly an apartment hotel, where many of the upgraded studios offer the much-vaunted river views, perfect for tuning into London’s frequency. There’s a fitness centre and a bar on-site.

Set across the road from London’s historic Leadenhall Market, the CQ London, Gracechurch has a good mix of standard rooms, suites and long-stay accommodation for anybody who plans to be in Central London for some time. There are plenty of modern in-room amenities, such as room keys on your mobile phone and smart TVs in the room, but it is the shared facilities that help this spot excel – such as the private guest lounge, with high ceilings and a Mac workstation.

Cheval Three Quays is an exceptionally popular, stylish aparthotel with riverfront rooms that have floor-to-ceiling windows offering fantastic views of the British capital. You can stay here for any duration of time you’d like from one night to one year or more, and with those views it’s easy to see why some people do book for longer. Options start at one-bedroom apartments with their own kitchen, lounge and balcony. River view apartments are naturally higher priced and in higher demand.

A 15-minute walk from the City of London’s Guildhall is the Dorsett, a high-rise hotel in the rapidly rising Aldgate area of the city. Rooms are understated, with a colour palette of greys, pale yellows and gold, and modern amenities, including a docking station. The hotel’s sky bar maintains this theme, and incorporates a Neo-Art Deco chic, with great rooftop views of the City of London’s eclectic range of skyscrapers.