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Top 6 London Hotels
If you fancy hunkering down in a fabulous luxury London hotel this winter then rest assured we’ve done the hard work for you. From a Grand Dame city institution to a beautiful glittering landmark, here are our favourite hotels in the Capital to ensure you have a festive season as sparkling as the city lights.
Ham Yard has recently had a gorgeous renovation; what was once a fairly neglected part of London’s Soho is now a bustling and beautiful plaza. At the heart of Ham Yard is the aptly named Ham Yard Hotel, a fantastic new addition to London’s ever-growing ‘trendy’ hotel list.
Ham Yard Hotel boasts exquisitely designed interiors by Kit Kemp, famous for her brand of modern British design with quirky details and extraordinary art. Each room is unique and plush; the sort of design that inspires renovation as you’ll want to rip out everything in your own home and model it solely on Kemp’s rooms.
Sip innovative cocktails in the bar (our favourite is the Black Margarita, with a side of barbequed octopus from the bar menu) and watch the beautiful people of London and beyond drop by. Don’t miss getting a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice from the Dive Bar. The juicer is a work of art in itself.
2. Rosewood London
Stepping through the doors of the Rosewood Hotel London feels rather like entering Wonderland. Glittering mosaic floors, dark wood panelled walls and truly opulent grandeur make this an exceptional destination for the discerning luxury traveller. You half-expect Grace Kelly to waft through the doors at any moment.
Stay out of the chilly London winters by hunkering down in the cool and cosy Scarfes Bar. Live jazz ensembles frequent the venue adding a heap of luxurious, New York-style cool and the grand yet intimate atmosphere will make you want to while away the time reading every title on the well-stocked shelves with a delicious drink at hand.
Offering a state of the art spa, the Rosewood will allow you to revel in the height of relaxation after a busy day soaking up the wonders of the West End.
Don’t miss spotting the bright and delightful tropical birds flying around vintage cages in the hotel lobby, or visiting the beautiful loos (maybe a strange suggestion) for the sole purpose of sampling the deliciously scented hand wash.
The London EDITION hotel sits just off the Tottenham Court Road on Berners Street and is home to the Berners Tavern, one of those restaurants that has become famous in its own right. If you’re an art aficionado you could spend hours analysing the walls; each one is tastefully crammed with photos and paintings that delight the senses.
Bedrooms at the hotel are designed in 50 shades of coffee; from a double espresso to a skinny soy latte, each room is plush and welcoming. The higher you go, the better the view across the rooftops of London.
The EDITION often hosts lavish parties for the cultured crowd, from the likes of the model Cara Delevigne to our friends at Conde Nast Traveller; no doubt due its excellent location amongst the once bohemian district of Fitzrovia. However, if you’d rather find somewhere a little more discreet to let your hair down, just a hop, skip and a jump away is Soho where you can go and get lost when you’re up to no good…
4. Chiltern Firehouse
It’s quite difficult to express just how popular this hotel has become without sounding like the groupie of the latest boy-band. Hailed as the new Ivy, the restaurant housed within the Chiltern Firehouse is the place to see and be seen. The likes of George Clooney, Kate Moss and every member of London/ the World’s elite are frequently spotted chowing-down on the delicious menu offered.
It is incredibly difficult to get in to the dining room and bar but once you do, it will not disappoint. There’s said to be a secret smoking room and a VVIP bar that even celebrities find it hard to get in to. We can’t say more than that…!
Despite its prestige, the Chiltern welcomes each guest with open arms. Whether you splurge on cocktails and food, or bed-in for a night or two, the gorgeous interiors (and exteriors) of the place will no doubt make you long for years gone by. Housed around the back of the fantastic Marylebone High Street, the location is enough of a reason to attempt to book in this Christmas.
Don’t miss admiring the beautiful staff-members in their green cat-suit uniforms…
5. The Beaumont
Selfridges is moments away. Is there much else to say?
Well yes. The Beaumont offers a calm, Art Deco style oasis amongst the electric streets of Oxford Circus and Mayfair. It is the first hotel presented by Corbin & King, the masterminds behind the Wolesey and the Delauney restaurants, which are London institutions in their own right.
The rooms are examples of quiet taste and luxury; if they were a car they’d be the Jaguar XF. There are only 50 of them, along with 13 studios and 10 suites meaning that every client is treated with the utmost pleasure by the staff.
A striking space called ROOM was designed by the sculptor Anthony Gormley and imposes itself as a huge crouching 3D lego-man on the outside of the Beaumont. Some may not appreciate its beauty, whilst others will marvel at the artistic-cum-architectural feat. Needless to say the aim of ROOM is to achieve a space that encourages a state of total intimacy and calm behind its bold exterior; a state of semi-meditation; to “sculpt darkness”.
6. The Shangri-La at the Shard
Do you love the glittering city lights as the sun sets and the night begins? Do you love to be wowed by infinite views? Do you live to be on top of the world in the height of luxury? If so, the Shangri-La at the Shard will suit you perfectly.
Standing at the base of the iconic Shard is quite the experience. Looking up and seeing the sleek 87-storey glass skyscraper disappear into the clouds is rather humbling and yet when inside there is no detail more spectacular than the panoramic views across London.
Taking residence by the windows in the Aqua bar a mere (mere!) 31 levels high provides mind-blowing views of the changing city below and the light of the sky surrounding you. The bar menu delights with tongue-tingling cocktails such as the Lemon Meringue Pie (it tastes like cake…).
The rooms at the Shangri-La all have floor-to-ceiling windows that frame your own private view of the world. Each is designed with a little Asian influence which we love here at Ampersand: a little home from home for us Asia-obsessed.
Make the most of The Shard’s location in London Bridge. The area plays host to the fabulous foodie destination, Borough Market so make sure to pop across for some serious gastronomic indulgence from local suppliers.
For more information about any of these hotels or to plan your own tailor-made holiday to London and beyond, contact our UK sales specialist Ellie Boulstridge at ellie@ampersandtravel.com / +44 (0)20 7819 8903.
