The best five-star luxury hotels in London, reviewed by experts

Every so often, a hotel just gets everything right. 1 Hotel Mayfair is absolute perfection. Opened in 2023, the eco-luxury brand’s first London outpost blends sustainability with five-star polish so seamlessly you barely notice you’re being green. From the handwritten turndown notes to the yoga mats and never-ending displays of plants, every detail feels intentionally and oh so fantastically done.

Open the door and you’ll soon feel like you’ve wandered into a forest – there’s dripping moss, ivy-clad stone and a reception desk carved from a fallen 200-year-old oak. The scent alone (a soothing mix of eucalyptus and cedar) is enough to make you want to linger just that bit longer than normal. The 181 rooms continue the theme: pared-back luxury in muted tones, with natural textures, potted plants and the world’s comfiest grey jersey bathrobes. There are thoughtful eco touches throughout, like refillable filtered water taps and smooth “not now” pebbles instead of do-not-disturb cards. Turndown service goes the extra mile; chargers are tidied, toiletries are artfully rearranged, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find a chalkboard message wishing you goodnight.

Downstairs, Dovetale, run by two-Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers, delivers a masterclass in fine dining: English Wagyu carpaccio, lamb with whipped yoghurt and sumac, and bread so good it deserves its own fan club. Next door, Dover Yard bar serves impeccable spicy margaritas in a space that’s all warm woods and faux-fur throws. The terrace feels straight out of the Hamptons.

The service strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and attentive; this is the pinnacle of relaxation, after all. For fitness lovers there’s a well-equipped gym, a free weekly run club and Bamford spa treatments (though no sauna or steam). Even the lobby fruit stand is charming.

And okay, yep it is pricey. But is it worth it? Absolutely. 1 Hotel Mayfair is a sustainable sanctuary that makes you feel good in every sense.

Time Out tip: Don't skip the DIY sundae bar. It is as good as it sounds.

Address: 3 Berkeley St, London

Price: starting from £500 per night

Closest transport: Green Park tube is a two-minute walk away

The Landmark London doesn’t whisper five-star luxury. It basically declares it, with its striking structures, from across Marylebone Road. This vast Gothic revival masterpiece, built in 1899 by the Great Central Railway to rival The Savoy, remains one of the capital’s most distinct and lavish hotels. Once you’re inside the red stone lobby, the chaos of traffic fades into calm grandeur. Beneath the soaring glass atrium (once an arrivals hall for horse-drawn carriages), palm trees reach towards eight storeys of rooms above. The whole place feels like a tropical cathedral. 

The rooms are equally impressive. Once nearly 700 in number, they’ve been halved to make space for some of the largest in London. Executive rooms (a generous 560 sq ft) are dressed in soft creams and greys, with king-sized beds, damask curtains and marble bathrooms featuring twin sinks, separate bath and shower, and Argentum toiletries. You’ll find robes, slippers, a Nespresso machine and even Walkers shortbread. And yes, the beds are genuinely comfortable – not two singles shoved together, but proper old-school kings.

Service here is where the hotel truly earns its stars. Staff walk that fine line between polished and personable, remembering faces and conversations with unforced warmth. Long-time concierge Jacob, 17 years into the job, talks about the place with a pride that radiates off him.

Under the soaring glass canopy of the Winter Garden restaurant, diners tuck into polished plates from head chef Brian Hennessey; Dover sole with brown shrimp and capers, herb gnocchi with Yukon turnips, and chilled tomato consommé poured tableside. Breakfast is an elegant feast of salads, smoked salmon, avocado and perfectly poached eggs, with the added accompaniment of a live piano because why the hell not?

Below ground, the spa’s 15-metre chlorine-free pool is a rare luxury in central London. There’s also a sanarium, steam room and Germaine de Capuccini treatments for full unwind mode. Step outside, and Marylebone’s indie bookshops, delis and cafés are a stroll away, with Regent’s Park just beyond.

For those who want London opulence without pretension, The Landmark offers the lot: history, heart, and that warm, glowy feeling of being properly looked after.

Time Out tip: The hotel has one of London’s only chlorine-free, 15-metre indoor swimming pools. A dip in here is absolute heaven.

Address: 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JQ

Price: Rooms start at £500 rooms, Marylebone Suites for £800

Closest transport: Marylebone railway station and Underground in 30 seconds. Baker Street Tube is a five-minute walk

Few hotels in London wear their history quite as dramatically as the Kimpton Fitzroy. Looming over Russell Square with its terracotta turrets and stately facade, this Bloomsbury landmark was once the Hotel Russell, a late-19th-century showpiece by architect Charles Fitzroy Doll – the same man who designed the Titanic’s first-class dining room. Inside, his legacy lives on in marble staircases, candlelit columns, and the hotel’s own bronze dragon mascot, Lucky George (his twin went down with the ship in 1912). After a top-to-toe Kimpton makeover, the place now feels both grand and gloriously alive.

Step into the lobby and it’s hard not to gasp. Henry Charles Fehr’s original sculptures of Queens Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne and Victoria guard the entrance. And, beyond them  lies a foyer that’s pure theatre. There’s red marble, flickering candles, and a gleaming zodiac mosaic underfoot. The gothic revival architecture might sound imposing, but the hotel manages to stay light on its feet: friendly staff, plush corners, and the kind of warmth that makes a vast 334-room property feel personal.

Rooms range from compact singles to sprawling suites overlooking Russell Square, all kitted out with Smart TVs, Ruark speakers, Nespresso machines and (on request) yoga mats. Bathrooms are marble and gleaming, with roll-top baths and 19-69 toiletries. There’s even free dog boarding for four-legged guests, no matter their size – a rare touch of luxury with a heart.

Fitz’s Brasserie and Bar are the hotel’s glittering social hubs: think Titanic-inspired columns, caviar-topped classics, and cocktails that swing somewhere between jazz-age decadence and disco sparkle. In summer, the leafy terrace opens for aperitivi in the sun.

No spa or pool here, but a solid gym and unbeatable location more than make up for it. Step outside and you’re in bookish, bohemian Bloomsbury – all indie cinemas, noble pubs, and café-lined streets once haunted by Virginia Woolf.

The Kimpton Fitzroy is London at its most cinematic: a hotel that’s both steeped in history and totally of the moment, with just the right touch of gothic glamour.

Time Out tip: In the summer go outside for a drink on the Terrace, a shielded outdoor space for sunlit cocktails, wine and aperitivo. 

Address: 1-8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, WC1B 5BE

Price: Prices start at £450 per night

Closest transport: Russel Square is a two-minute walk away

What can you say about Claridge’s, really? That it is London’s most famous five-star hotel? That it’s grand, historic and effortlessly glamorous? All truel; but what makes Claridge’s truly miraculous isn’t just the chandeliers or the marble. It’s the feeling of total, unshakeable excellence that runs through every inch of the place. From the moment you glide through its revolving doors into that hushed Art Deco lobby, past black-and-white photographs of Winston Churchill and Grace Kelly, you know you’re somewhere special.

This is Mayfair luxury at its absolute peak; a perfect balance of grandeur and ease. The staff, many of whom have been here for decades, set the gold standard for service: formal when you want it, intuitive when you don’t. There’s no stiffness, just old-world polish done with genuine warmth. In today's world that’s what makes Claridge’s five stars feel earned, not ornamental.

The 269 rooms and suites are a masterclass in refined design, blending Victoriana with sleek Art Deco touches – mirrored walls, rich walnut, and the famous Deco toilet flushes. Every inch feels handcrafted for comfort. If you can, book one of the David Linley suites or a balcony room overlooking Bond Street – few luxuries top morning espresso with that view. Beneath it all lies the hotel’s vast new subterranean level (dug out by hand, no less), home to a serene spa, high-tech gym and impeccably stocked wine cellar – all quietly world-class.

Claridge’s Restaurant serves five-star dining that actually deserves the rating: seasonal British dishes, exquisite precision, and a room that glows with soft glamour. The Foyer is ideal for afternoon tea or champagne people-watching, while the pink vintage Claridge’s Bar is where off-duty stars sip martinis under low light.

Set in the heart of Mayfair – within strolling distance of Soho, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park – Claridge’s remains the benchmark for five-star London hospitality: heritage without arrogance, service without stuffiness, and luxury that still feels pumping and alive.

Time Out tip: You’d be a mug to miss out on the Fumoir, the hotel’s 1930s cocktail room.

Address: Claridges, Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

Price:  From £930 per night

Closest transport: Bond Street tube station is a four-minute walk away.

Sat opposite the Royal Opera House, NoMad London is pure five-star excellence. Housed in the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court – where everyone from the Kray twins to Oscar Wilde once stood trial – this Grade II-listed building has been reborn as one of London’s most stylish luxury hotels. Since opening in 2021, it’s transformed its checkered past into something effortlessly elegant: a moody, cinematic blend of New York glamour and London heritage.

Inside, the drama unfolds slowly. Think dark wood panelling, art-lined corridors and a soaring, glass-topped atrium at the heart of the hotel – a lush, light-filled restaurant that feels like the set of an opulent play. The vibe is indulgent but never overbearing; every corner whispers luxury rather than shouts it. The staff strike the same note; they’re warm, intuitive, and genuinely proud to show off their stage.

Rooms are plush sanctuaries, with velvet sofas, marble bathrooms and rich, inky tones. Some of the higher-end suites come with freestanding bathtubs and views directly into the Royal Opera House — a view so close you could almost hear the orchestra tuning up. Every detail, from the polished brass fixtures to the custom artwork, has the quiet precision that defines true five-star design.

Dining is a major act in itself. The NoMad Restaurant, set in that glorious glass atrium, serves seasonal British dishes (don’t miss the Sunday roast), while the sultry Side Hustle bar next door channels 1920s speakeasy energy – all leather booths, low lights and mezcal-laced cocktails alongside Californian-inspired small plates and short rib tacos.

Step outside and you’re moments from Covent Garden Market, Seven Dials, and London’s best theatres. NoMad doesn’t just deserve its five stars, it redefines them, turning a piece of legal history into one of the city’s most seductive stays.

Time Out tip: You might as well pop into the Royal Opera House to see a show while you're in the local area.

Address: 28 Bow Street, London, WC2E 7AW

Price: Prices start at £480 per night

Closest tube: Covent Garden is a short 2-3 minute walk away

For London’s best views, it’s a no-brainer: the five-star Shangri-La at The Shard is in a league of its own. Occupying floors 34 to 52 of Western Europe’s tallest building, the hotel offers a panorama so wide you half expect to see the curvature of the Earth. On a clear day, you can trace the city from Heathrow’s runways in the west to the green sprawl of Epping Forest in the east. And, if you squint hard enough, maybe even spot Birmingham. Each of the 202 rooms comes wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass, giving guests a front-row seat to London’s most breathtaking skyline.

Naturally, it’s a view that demands an equally dazzling setting. True to the Shangri-La name, this is five-star luxury done with serene Asian elegance; silk, marble and dark wood balanced against soft neutrals and light. Every element feels intentional: binoculars by the bed, sleek leather chairs angled perfectly towards the window, and marble bathrooms that glint like a modern palace (complete with a bath view that might just outshine the room service). For the shy, yes, there are blinds. But it’s hard to resist the spectacle for long.

The hotel’s service is the kind that quietly anticipates every need, from pillow firmness to restaurant reservations, without breaking its calm, polished stride. Speaking of restaurants: the Shangri-La’s afternoon tea has earned its place among London’s greats, served with elegance high above the Thames. But it’s the buffet breakfast that steals the show. A lavish spread of market-fresh produce, much of it sourced from nearby Borough Market, it turns the first meal of the day into a full-blown event.

The infinity pool that floats over the city to the hushed, glassy serenity of its rooms helps make Shangri-La one of the capital’s most elevated five-star stays. Quite literally. Few hotels catapult you this close to heaven.

Time Out tip: If food is your thing, Borough market is close by. We reccommend the sandwich from The Black Pig.

Address: 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9QU

Price: Prices start from £650

Closest tube: London Bridge is a two-minute walk.

Since the brand’s globally renowned lustre all harks back to its culinary history courtesy of namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa, you’d be a fool not to pull up a plate here. An open kitchen and sushi counter set a relaxed, sophisticated tone. At the same time, signature dishes like black cod miso, Matsuhisa sashimi salad and A5 wagyu beef remind you why Nobu became a global phenomenon in the first place. Later, head to the sleek bar or the heated concrete terrace for a nightcap. Or, if you’ve eaten your body weight in sashimi, the 24-hour fitness suite awaits.

Nobu Hotel London Portman Square is every inch the five-star sanctuary it promises to be. It's cosmopolitan, calm and impeccably curated. The lobby hums with quiet luxury: professionals in sharp tailoring tap out emails before sliding into the bar for a martini, while couples dressed to the nines share sake upstairs under the soft glow of pendant lights. It’s glamorous, yes, but never showy. Nobu’s brand of modern luxury is rooted in understatement.  It’s about precision, calm and quality rather than flash or fuss.

And that’s what makes it one of London’s most quietly confident five-star stays. The staff are effortlessly attentive, the service smooth and unpretentious, and despite the celebrity sparkle (you half expect to see a Kardashian glide past the sushi counter), the whole experience feels warm and human.

The rooms echo that same refined minimalism. Japanese elegance meets London modernity. There’s pale wood, soft lighting and meticulous attention to detail: electronic TOTO washlet toilets, waterfall showers, deep soaking tubs and vast, cloud-like beds that practically demand a lie-in. The effect is pure serenity; a space of pure stillness, remarkably, just steps from the chaos of Oxford Street.

Time Out Tip: Book into one of Nobu’s world-leading pilates classes designed by Marsha Lindsay. 

Address: 22 Portman Square, W1H 7BG

Price: From £550 a night.

Closest tube: Marble Arch is a five-minute walk away.

Three hundred and eighty splendid rooms. More than 150 years of gilded heritage. Five gleaming stars. The Langham isn’t just another London hotel – it’s the London hotel that has probably seen hundreds upon hundreds of A-listers sit down for a spot of afternoon tea. Sitting proudly on Portland Place, opposite the BBC’s Broadcasting House, it is the natural place for the stars to rest their weary heads before their big moment on the BBC screens. 

The building itself looms with quiet confidence in all its gothic, Italianate glory. Inside, history seeps through every marble pillar and chandelier. The lobby buzzes with the calm assurance of a place that’s seen it all the celeby drama before. Still, the staff remain as wonderfully welcoming as you’d hope them to be. The rooms here are elegant, serene and generously sized (a rare London luxury), and if you’re splurging on the bigger rooms, you might even get access to the Club (which if you ask us, is well worth it). There, you'll get champagne cocktails on tap and a relaxed lounge where everything glimmers in its opulence. 

Of course, The Langham’s five-star status also rests on its world-class wining and dining. The Palm Court – the birthplace of the modern afternoon tea – still sets the standard, while the Artesian bar is legendary. Once named the best in the world, it continues to push boundaries with drinks that range from classic perfection to beautifully bizarre (yes, the blue cheese cocktail works). If that sounds too fancy, the Wigmore gastropub next door offers pints, posh toasties and footie on the telly – proof that even the grandest hotels know how to let their hair down.

Downstairs, the Chuan Body + Soul spa is a haven of calm, blending traditional Chinese medicine with modern luxury. The pool, set in a former bank vault, feels secretive and soothing, like a little underworld of wellness.

And the location? Unbeatable. You’re sandwiched between the theatres and shops of the West End and the leafy calm of Regent’s Park. Fitzrovia and Marylebone High Street are a short stroll away, too.

Time Out tip: If you’re into your cooking stop on by at the Langham’s in-house cooking school, Sauce. The website gives you a full-view of all the programmes.

Address: 1C Portland Place, W1B 1JA

Price: From £700 a night

Closest transport: Oxford Circus is a four-minute walk

Five gleaming stars and nearly a century of unflinching excellence. The Dorchester looms loud and proud over Hyde Park like a vast, golden ship, that’s already sailed through decades of London life. Everything about it screams old-school glamour: the marble floors, the grand floral arrangements and the meticulous attention that’s given to just about everything you could possibly think of. All of it makes you feel like the most important person in the room. Yet despite all the grandeur, there’s a warmth here; staff who greet you with a smile and service that feels so unbelievably natural.

The 180 rooms and 57 suites are, predictably, palatial. Deep baths, silk drapes, and buttery carpets make even the standard rooms feel special. If you’re lucky enough to bag a suite overlooking Hyde Park, the view alone might bring a tear to your eye (though the price might too). And while the décor nods to tradition; all gold accents and rich textures, the technology is bang up to date. There’s automated toilets and the luxury of whisper-quiet air conditioning.

Dining is, as you’d expect, spectacular. Alain Ducasse’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant serves precision-engineered French cuisine, while Tom Booton’s modern take on the Dorchester Grill makes British comfort food feel fresh again. There’s also a buzzing sushi bar, a sleek steakhouse, and the Vesper Bar, a glamorous cocktail den where the martinis arrive cold, crisp and unarguably perfect.

The Dorchester Spa, with its soft lighting and scent of rose oil, feels like stepping into a dream. Between the diamond-infused facials, the marble plunge pools and the charmingly decadent Spatisserie tearoom, it makes itself into the kind of place you’ll never want to leave. 

It’s easy to see why The Dorchester remains one of the city’s most storied hotels: it does five-star luxury exactly as it should be done. It is indulgent, seamless and full of heart.

Time Out tip: If you're brave, go for a dip in the nearby Serpentine Lake.

Address: 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA

Price: From around £1,000 per night

Closest transport: Both Hyde Park and Marble Arch are a 10-minute walk away.

This positively splendid London institution is the place to head if you like the idea of a world where jeans and trainers are politely forbidden and gentlemen are required to don jackets at dinner. Everything about The Ritz is an ode to another era; one of refinement, ceremony and unapologetic glamour. The rooms have been restored to full Louis XVI glory, dripping with gold leaf, silk drapery and plush carpet so thick it feels almost disrespectful to tread on. Such opulence isn’t for everyone – and let’s be real, nor are the prices – but for those who want to step, however briefly, into a fantasy of old-world luxury, it’s hard to beat.

This is London’s five-star fairytale after all. The Ritz is so famous, it provides the standard by which every other luxury hotel is judged. Since it opened in 1906, it’s been synonymous with elegance; the kind that can feel a little intimidating. Inside, it’s a symphony of chandeliers, marble columns, mirrored walls and pristine white tablecloths. Even the air smells expensive, a blend of polish, perfume and pastry.

But if you’re paying the skyhigh prices (they range from about £700 in January to £2,000 in summer) you might ask well commit to the whole thing. The rooms are worth a gasp: all velvet and brocade, ornate headboards, and views that sweep across Green Park. There’s a sense that everything – the lighting, the linens, the temperature – has been calibrated to absolute perfection. Even the chocolates you’ll find in your room feel ceremonial.

The Ritz’s true heart lies downstairs in its dining rooms. Afternoon tea in the Palm Court is the kind of London ritual that feels almost sacred. A pianist plays softly as waiters glide between tables, replenishing towers of scones and teapots faster than you can say “more clotted cream, please.” There are 20 teas to choose from, and yes, they’ll bring you more sandwiches. At £80 a head, you’ll want to make the most of it, so arrive hungry (and wrap up those extra sandwiches to feast on later).

Dinner, though, is where the hotel goes wild. The Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant is a fever dream of marble, chandeliers and frescoes, a room so ornate it feels like eating inside a Fabergé egg. The menu is as indulgent as the décor: all foie gras, Dover sole and tableside crêpes suzette flambéed with theatrical flourish. Just don’t forget your jacket and tie: rules here are firm but fair.

Step outside and you’re slap bang in the centre of everything: Buckingham Palace, Fortnum & Mason, and the Royal Academy are all a short stroll away. Green Park station is next door, but honestly, you won’t want to leave the bubble. Because The Ritz isn’t just a hotel, it’s a perfectly polished slice of history. And for one glittering night, you get to be part of it, too.

Time Out tip: Order the crêpes suzette: the waiters will prepare it for you right a the table. 

Address: The Ritz, 150 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9BR.

Price: From £725 per night.

Nearest transport: Green Park station is a two-minute walk.

This next hotel needs no introduction. The Savoy is one of London’s finest, where Edwardian neoclassical meets Art Deco with a wink and a nod. Reopened in 2010 after a £100m revamp, this Grade II-listed beauty proves that old-school glamour can happily coexist with 21st-century luxury – though getting it right clearly took a while. Built in 1889 to house D’Oyly Carte’s Gilbert & Sullivan theatre audiences, it’s the hotel where Monet sketched the Thames, Vivien Leigh met Laurence Olivier, and martinis became a London institution.

Everything about The Savoy exudes luxury: the marble floors, the mirrored walls, the phone call before you arrive to check your pillow preferences. Rooms are a plush mix of Art Deco and Edwardian elegance, some gazing straight across the Thames with views so twinkly it’s almost indecent. It’s not cheap (prices hover between £650 and £850 a night), but the service is so smooth it’s practically an art form.

Food-wise, the new restaurant, Gallery, nods to the hotel’s history with buttery leather booths, moody lighting and a theatrical curtain drop to mark the start of evening revelry. Afternoon tea is a non-negotiable: £96 gets you cucumber sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and the smug satisfaction of ticking off one of London’s most iconic experiences.

Families are surprisingly well catered for too, with mini robes, child-sized slippers, and a pool under a glass atrium complete with a swim jet (for when you’re feeling sporty). There’s also a sauna, steam room and gym, but frankly, we’d recommend swapping the treadmill for another martini at the bar.

Location-wise, you’re golden: sandwiched between Covent Garden, Somerset House and the Southbank.

Time Out tip: After a few laps in the pool, treat yourself to Aire Ancient Baths nearby.

Address: The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EZ.

Price: Prices start at £650.

Closest transport: Charing Cross is a five-minute walk.