Did you miss any of our 26 central London hotel reviews?

Despite running a travel website where we usually cover ways to get away from the UK, we do occasionally get around to reviewing hotels on our doorstep. And let’s face it: in London, we are spoiled for choice ….

A couple of months ago we reminded readers of all of the great hotels that were reader-reviewed during the pandemic as part of our ‘My Favourite Hotel’ series. The article was very popular and helped a lot of readers to discover content that they never knew we had.

We’ve decided to run more of these articles occasionally. Today, I want to look back at the 26 London hotel reviews we have done since 2019.

We have not included airport hotels which will be covered in a later article.

West London: Battersea, Mayfair, Kensington and Westminster

The West End has long been a popular location for hotels; none moreso than Mayfair and Park Lane, where virtually every building is a grand (and often historic) hotel.

• JW Marriott Grosvenor House: one of London’s largest five-star hotels, this is one of the many luxury hotels to grace Park Lane – the historic centre of luxury in London (and now with The Peninsula just across Hyde Park Corner)

In Westminster:

• citizenM Victoria: the newest of citizenM’s capsule-style hotels in London, close to Buckingham Palace and Westminster, with high-tech rooms

• The Westminster London, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection: a full refurbishment of a former DoubleTree, The Westminster features cleverly designed rooms and an STK steakhouse restaurant

In Kensington:

• 100 Queen’s Gate: mere minutes from the Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Science Museum, 100 Queen’s Gate is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection and offers boutique rooms in a row of converted townhouses

And, south of the river:

• art’otel Battersea Power Station: directly opposite the restored Battersea Power Station, this hotel looks like it could have been styled by Mondrian, with boldly-coloured rooms and a rooftop pool

The Square Mile

The ancient Roman centre of London now forms a major business district, with steel and glass skyscrapers contrasting mediaeval churches and imposing neoclassical buildings.

Whilst few people live here – although it is becoming more popular, with many bars and restaurants now open at weekends – the area has seen a number of new hotels open as developers realise how well connected the area is.

• Lost Property St Pauls, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection: the latest in a series of new hotels in the City, Lost Property sports an unusual name and stylish rooms

• Andaz London Liverpool Street: this was Hyatt’s first Andaz hotel when it opened in the original railway hotel building at Liverpool Street Station. Historic features and an exceptional breakfast set it apart.

• Westin London City: Marriott’s wellness brand comes to London with a riverside hotel featuring an extensive spa and pool in the heart of the City

• citizenM Tower of London: citizenM’s flagship hotel in London, this capsule-style property offers small, high-tech rooms and a rooftop bar with views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

• DoubleTree Tower of London: this is a discreet property tucked in between Fenchurch Street Station and the Tower of London. The SkyLounge rooftop bar has views across the city.

Central London: Soho, Trafalgar Square and the South Bank

In Bloomsbury, the fashionable residential area around the British Museum:

• Kimpton Fitzroy: this stunning Victorian hotel is a landmark in itself. It’s as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside, with grand marble entrances and a stunning palm court – although beware the small standard rooms

Just north of Oxford Street at the Soho end, one of London’s busiest neighbourhoods for restaurants, bars and shops:

• The London EDITION: hotelier Ian Shrager’s outpost in London, the brand’s luxurious minimalist rooms with wood panelling contrast the magnificent 19th century features in the lobby and restaurant

• Hotel Cafe Royal: this luxury hotel is right on Regents Street and Piccadilly Circus, with a storied history and underground spa

On the South Bank and Bankside you have:

• Marriott County Hall: you can see many of London’s top attractions from its prime location on the South Bank of the Thames opposite the London Eye.

• Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo: Hilton’s no-frills brand, this hotel is good value and well located, just south of Waterloo Station and the Old Vic Theatre, with independent restaurants and bars a two minute walk away on The Cut

• Sea Containers: this luxury nautical themed hotel takes is inspired by the building’s previous incarnation as the offices for the container transport company. The hotel features Tom Dixon-designed rooms and excellent views across the Thames to St Pauls.

• Hilton Bankside: the faux-industrial style of this hotel is a far cry from your average Hilton; the location, just round the corner from the Tate Modern, is discreet yet central.

• Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection: a new-build Marriott hotel at the base of the One Blackfriars skyscraper near Tate Modern

In Whitehall, between Trafalgar Square and the Thames:

• Great Scotland Yard, part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection: this hotel leans into its history as the Victorian headquarters for the Metropolitan Police, with Sherlock-Holmes themed decor

• Trafalgar St James part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, this sits on the South West corner of Trafalgar Square and offers a rooftop bar with views across the city skyline

East London: Canary Wharf, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Stratford

East London contains a growing number of hotels and is becoming a popular spot thanks to its easy connections to the West End via the Elizabeth Line and trendy bars, restaurants and markets.

We have seen a number of new hotel openings over the past few years with no end in sight.

Closest to Bank and the City of London you have:

• Canopy London City: this is Hilton’s first Canopy hotel in the UK and offers a trendy, boutique-style four-star hotel

• Hampton by Hilton London City East: located on the southern stretch of Brick Lane, this is a brand-new Hampton

• Hyatt Place London City East: Hyatt’s answer to a Hampton Hotel, this Hyatt Place is close to Whitechapel and Brick Lane and offers budget accommodation that isn’t boring

In Shoreditch, we’ve reviewed:

• Hart Shoreditch, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection: with industrial decor inspired by the building’s history

• citizenM Shoreditch: one of four citizenM hotels in the city with high-tech capsule-style hotel rooms

• One Hundred Shoreditch: the new occupant of the old Ace Hotels site

And slightly further we’ve visited:

• Marriott Canary Wharf: refurbished just before the pandemic and handy both for amenties of the Wharf and Central London via the Jubilee Line

• Hyatt Regency Stratford: this conversion of an IHG hotel is right in the middle of Stratford’s Westfield shopping centre and within walking distance of the London Stadium

• The Gantry, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection: just opposite Stratford International Station, this property sports an industrial aesthetic and large rooms

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