The 11 Best Luxury Hotels in London (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 11 picks

The best luxury hotels in London in 2026 are The Savoy, Claridge's and The Connaught for classic grandeur, The Peninsula London and Raffles London at The OWO for the newest five-star openings, and The Goring and The Lanesborough for intimate, old-school service. For views, Shangri-La The Shard is unbeatable.

London's grandest hotels cluster in Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge, between Hyde Park and Green Park, with The Savoy and the newer Whitehall hotels closer to the river. Most are worth visiting even if you don't stay: afternoon tea, a cocktail in the bar or Sunday lunch is the cheapest way to experience them. Smart-casual is the norm; a few bars ask for no sportswear.

The list at a glance

The Savoy Strand, Soho & the West End
Claridge's Mayfair, Soho & the West End
The Connaught Mayfair, Soho & the West End
The Peninsula London Belgravia, Hyde Park Corner, Westminster & South Kensington
Raffles London at The OWO Whitehall, Westminster & South Kensington
The Goring Belgravia, Westminster & South Kensington
The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington
Corinthia London Whitehall, Embankment, Westminster & South Kensington
The Dorchester Park Lane, Mayfair, Soho & the West End
Shangri-La The Shard, London London Bridge, South Bank & Borough

1. The Savoy — Strand, Soho & the West End

London's legendary riverside hotel, with Thames views, the American Bar and theatreland on the doorstep.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · First-timers · Luxury

The Savoy has stood between the Strand and the Thames since 1889 and still feels like the centre of London glamour: Art Deco and Edwardian rooms, river-view suites and some of the most polished service in the city.

The American Bar and the Beaufort Bar are both destinations, and the Thames Foyer serves one of the city's best-known afternoon teas. Covent Garden and the West End theatres are a five-minute walk, so it's ideal for a theatre weekend.

Good to know: Pay up for a river-view room; the Thames from the Savoy is the reason to stay here.

Strand, London WC2R 0EZ

Google Maps Website

2. Claridge's — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

Mayfair's Art Deco icon, and the best all-round grand hotel in London.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Families · Luxury

Claridge's combines Art Deco glamour with service that remembers your name, and it still draws a mix of royalty, fashion and families celebrating something. The lobby, with its sweeping staircase and chandelier, is one of the most photographed in the world.

Afternoon tea in the Foyer, cocktails in Claridge's Bar and late nights in the Fumoir are all worth booking. Bond Street, the Royal Academy and Hyde Park are a short walk.

Good to know: The Christmas tree in the lobby, designed by a different big name every year, is unveiled in late November.

Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR

Google Maps Website

3. The Connaught — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

The quietest of the Mayfair greats, home to the Connaught Bar and an Aman spa.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Business · Luxury

The Connaught is Claridge's discreet sister on Carlos Place, a red-brick Victorian building in the most residential corner of Mayfair. Rooms feel like a very grand London townhouse, and the service is famously understated.

The Connaught Bar, with its martini trolley, is regularly ranked among the best bars in the world, and Hélène Darroze's restaurant is one of the city's top tables. The Aman Spa adds an indoor pool.

Good to know: Arrive early in the evening for a seat at the Connaught Bar; it fills up fast.

Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL

Google Maps Website

4. The Peninsula London — Belgravia, Hyde Park Corner, Westminster & South Kensington

One of London's newest five-stars, with some of the city's largest rooms and a rooftop restaurant.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Families · Couples · Business

The Peninsula opened at Hyde Park Corner in 2023, built around a central courtyard between Belgravia and Hyde Park. Rooms are spacious by London standards and full of the brand's tech: bedside tablets control everything, and the bathrooms are huge.

Brooklands, the rooftop restaurant, looks across Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace's gardens, and there's an indoor pool and spa. It suits families and anyone who values space and modern comfort.

Good to know: Even if you're not staying, a drink in the rooftop bar gives you the view for the price of a cocktail.

1 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HJ

Google Maps Website

5. Raffles London at The OWO — Whitehall, Westminster & South Kensington

A grand hotel inside the restored Old War Office, steps from Downing Street and Horse Guards.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Families · First-timers

Raffles opened in 2023 inside the Old War Office on Whitehall, the Edwardian building from which Britain ran its army through two world wars. The restoration kept the marble staircases and panelled rooms, and the guest rooms are spacious by London standards.

There's a Guerlain spa with an indoor pool, and a cluster of restaurants and bars inside the building. Westminster, Trafalgar Square and St James's Park are all within a few minutes' walk.

Good to know: Ask for a room facing Whitehall for the view over Horse Guards and the government buildings.

57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX

Google Maps Website

6. The Goring — Belgravia, Westminster & South Kensington

A family-run five-star behind Buckingham Palace, loved for its garden and its warmth.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Luxury · Families

The Goring is the only family-owned five-star hotel in London, and its fourth-generation owners keep it personal and slightly eccentric. The Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales, famously stayed here the night before her 2011 wedding.

The dining room serves elegant British classics, and the lounge and veranda overlook a large private garden. It suits couples and anyone who wants old-fashioned English hospitality rather than glitz.

Good to know: Breakfast at The Goring is an institution; book it even if you stay elsewhere.

15 Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW

Google Maps Website

7. The Lanesborough — Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

Regency splendour at Hyde Park Corner, with a butler for every room.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Luxury

The Lanesborough occupies a Regency building at Hyde Park Corner and goes all-in on opulence: silk walls, antiques and a 24-hour butler service included with every room. It's part of the Oetker Collection and feels like a private house more than a hotel.

Afternoon tea in Céleste, under its glass roof, is one of the most refined in town, and the Library Bar has a deep list of rare cognacs. Best for couples and travellers who want maximum pampering.

Good to know: Use your butler — they'll unpack, press clothes and book restaurants as part of the rate.

Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA

Google Maps Website

8. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park — Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

A grand Edwardian hotel on the edge of Hyde Park, a short walk from Harrods.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Families · Couples · Luxury

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has the best park views of any London hotel, with rooms looking straight over Hyde Park on one side and Knightsbridge on the other. Harrods and Harvey Nichols are a few minutes' walk.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, with dishes based on historic British recipes, is in the building, and the spa has an indoor pool. Ideal for shoppers, families and anyone who wants green space outside the window.

Good to know: Park-view rooms cost more but are the reason to stay; the street side faces busy Knightsbridge.

66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA

Google Maps Website

9. Corinthia London — Whitehall, Embankment, Westminster & South Kensington

Big rooms, a four-floor spa and a location between Trafalgar Square and the Thames.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Families · Couples · Business

Corinthia fills a Victorian building near Embankment with some of London's largest standard rooms and a vast spa over several floors, with an indoor pool. It's walkable to Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Westminster and the South Bank across the river.

Kerridge's Bar & Grill brings Tom Kerridge's pub-style British cooking to a grand dining room. A strong all-rounder for families and anyone who wants space in the very centre.

Good to know: Ask for a room facing the river or Whitehall Place for light; inner rooms face the courtyard.

Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2BD

Google Maps Website

10. The Dorchester — Park Lane, Mayfair, Soho & the West End

A Park Lane institution with Hyde Park views and one of the city's grandest afternoon teas.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Luxury · Business

The Dorchester has overlooked Hyde Park from Park Lane since 1931 and has had a major refresh in recent years. Rooms on the park side have the view, and the Promenade, its long gilded lounge, is one of London's great places for afternoon tea.

Restaurants include Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester and The Grill, and the Vesper Bar is a stylish spot for a martini. Best for couples and travellers who want classic Mayfair glamour.

Good to know: Afternoon tea on the Promenade sells out at weekends; book several weeks ahead.

53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA

Google Maps Website

11. Shangri-La The Shard, London — London Bridge, South Bank & Borough

Rooms high in the Shard with the best views of any hotel in London.

$$$$ SplurgeBest for Couples · Luxury · Business

Shangri-La occupies the middle floors of the Shard, so every room has a floor-to-ceiling view across the city — Tower Bridge, St Paul's and the Thames below. The infinity pool near the top is one of the most spectacular places to swim in Europe.

Borough Market and the South Bank walk are at the foot of the tower, and London Bridge station has trains and the Jubilee and Northern lines. Best for couples and special occasions.

Good to know: Ask for a room facing north or east for the City towers, St Paul's and Tower Bridge.

31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous luxury hotel in London?

The Savoy, Claridge's and The Ritz are the three most famous — The Savoy for its Thames setting and American Bar, Claridge's for Art Deco society glamour, and The Ritz for its afternoon tea. The Dorchester and The Connaught complete the Mayfair-and-Strand set of legends.

How much does a five-star hotel in London cost?

Entry-level rooms at London's top hotels usually start from around £800–£1,200 a night, and more at peak times; suites at the very top run to many thousands. Weekends in winter are often the best value.

Which luxury London hotels have a swimming pool?

The Peninsula London, Corinthia London, Shangri-La The Shard, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Bulgari Hotel London and Raffles London at The OWO all have indoor pools. They are rarer than in other capitals, so check if a pool matters to you.

Where can I have afternoon tea at a luxury London hotel?

Claridge's Foyer, The Savoy's Thames Foyer, The Dorchester's Promenade and The Lanesborough's Céleste are classics; book two to four weeks ahead for weekends. Smart-casual dress is expected.

Which area is best for a luxury stay in London?

Mayfair for shopping, galleries and restaurants; Knightsbridge and Belgravia for Hyde Park, Harrods and quieter streets; the Strand and Whitehall for walking to theatres, Westminster and the river. For a wider range of prices, see our guide to the best hotels in London.

1. The Savoy — Strand, Soho & the West End

2. Claridge's — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

3. The Connaught — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

4. The Peninsula London — Belgravia, Hyde Park Corner, Westminster & South Kensington

5. Raffles London at The OWO — Whitehall, Westminster & South Kensington

6. The Goring — Belgravia, Westminster & South Kensington

7. The Lanesborough — Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

8. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park — Knightsbridge, Westminster & South Kensington

9. Corinthia London — Whitehall, Embankment, Westminster & South Kensington

10. The Dorchester — Park Lane, Mayfair, Soho & the West End

11. Shangri-La The Shard, London — London Bridge, South Bank & Borough

Frequently asked questions

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