The Best Hotels in London for Every Traveller

Art fiends will relish Artist Residence Pimlico, a townhouse-turned-hotel with enough paintings, murals and objets to fill an actual gallery. Founded in Brighton, the first Artist Residence was born from a stroke of inspiration – in return for board, the owners asked local artists to treat the hotel as a blank canvas. The London edition is cut from the same characterful cloth, dressed with punchy prints, flea-market furniture and sculptural lighting. Perhaps the nearby Tate can wait?

Sharp-eyed design devotees should drop anchor at Tom Dixon’s Sea Containers on the South Bank. Inspired by 1920s ocean liners, the interiors are awash with maritime details and sleek Art Moderne curves. All of the furniture is bespoke, and the namesake restaurant commands crow’s-nest views of the Thames. Be sure to leave time for the Design Museum and the V&A, where more of Dixon’s famous work is on display.

If you’re coming to London for a gourmet getaway, you’ll have been whittling down your restaurant list for weeks – but where to stay? The London Edition is perfectly placed for bon vivants, not least with Soho right on its doorstep. What’s more, the hotel plays host to Berners Tavern, where acclaimed chef Jason Atherton serves his take on British cuisine amid a dining room, nay hall, decked out in extravagant top-to-tail artworks. Cap your evening off in the Punch Room, an oak-panelled drinking den, serving punches to suit every palate.

Central London isn’t often seen as a place of repose, but the team of wellness warriors behind Inhabit Paddington are on a mission to change that. With their winning combination of soothing interiors, nourishing food and restorative activities, Inhabit has created a bona fide bolthole in the inner city. Guided yin yoga classes and mindful nature walks bring a sense of meditative calm, and the minimalist library offers a space for reading and quiet contemplation.

In town for a touch of retail therapy? Ham Yard Soho is a shopaholic’s ticket to ride. Part of the Firmdale Group, Ham Yard is outfitted in a bold livery, courtesy of award-winning designer Kit Kemp. Conceived as a miniature village, it opens onto a pedestrianised passageway lined with upmarket boutiques, including jeweller Anabela Chan and Brazilian beachwear label, Frescobol Carioca. Regent Street, Bond Street and Sloane Street are all minutes away.

Kensington icon Blakes Hotel has a dream-like design scheme inspired by far-off lands, making it a perfect match for die-hard romantics. Designer Anouska Hempel splices globe-trotting glamour with a touch of theatrics – one moment you feel as if you’re in an Asian palace, the next a Parisienne apartment. Each suite is as different as the last, from the literary leanings of the Library to the porcelain-toned splendour of Corfu.

Occupying a former bank HQ in the city, the Ned is a sound investment if you’re partial to a tipple. There are eight bars and restaurants, most of which are in the cavernous banking hall, woven between verdite columns and counters of walnut and marble. The drinks menus are refreshed almost as often as the ice buckets, but the Nickel Bar – which often has live jazz – is the place for bourbon and cocktails fit for an all-American magnate.

Part of the decadent Doyle collection, the Kensington is primely positioned for museum-minded travellers. South Kensington’s glut of exhibition heavyweights – including the Natural History Museum, V&A and Design Museum – are all within strolling distance, as are dozens of art and antique dealers. The concentration is highest on Kensington Church Street, where many of the old-world shopfronts still have hand-painted signs.