12 High-End Hotels For A London Mini-Break

Discreetly occupying a Grade II-listed townhouse on Upper Berkeley Street, Henry’s was once owned by Jane Austen’s brother. It is widely thought that Jane’s visits to Henry in London were of great value, for it was through his support that her work was published. A design collaboration between owners Jane and Steven Collins and the award-winning Russell Sage Studio, Henry’s is an intelligent and glamorous re-imagining of the Regency period, featuring an array of carefully chosen colour palettes, abundant fabrics and beautiful furnishings – think modern four-poster beds, roll-top baths and antiques and artwork that tell a story. In all, there are seven lovely bedrooms, along with a reading room – where complimentary aperitifs are served each evening – plus the Carriage Snug, where guests can mix up a cocktail and play backgammon. Downstairs, you’ll find the kitchen and pantry, where we had one of the best breakfasts we can remember. Best of all, the townhouse is run almost like a lovely family home, with someone on hand to look after you as much or as little as you like.

Visit HenrysTownhouse.co.uk

If great food and drink is top of your priority list, book a stay at the Rosewood London on High Holborn. It has 45 suites and ‘houses’ to choose from, each of which has a beautifully modern look. The suites are some of the best rooms in the building – The Pearl in particular has a stunning bathroom and generous living area, while the Garden House is a smart, wood-panelled mega suite with a cosy reading nook, an area dedicated to cocktails and a killer terrace. We also love that the pillows in the bedroom come monogrammed with guests’ initials. When you’re ready to sit down and eat, there’s plenty to be excited about. From brasserie-style dishes in the magnificently grand Holborn Dining Room to creative cocktails at atmospheric Scarfes Bar – not forgetting the hotel’s special Art afternoon tea, which is currently dedicated to works by Hockney, Kusama, Warhol and Van Gough – you’ll want to make your way around each restaurant during a stay. For fine dining head to the Mirror Room, and for a hearty feast, book a private dinner in the Pie Room to enjoy seafood starters, traditional pies – make sure to order the comte and potato dauphinoise pastry – and delicate desserts. Guests can also escape to the Sense Spa for a bespoke facial at Face Place, which specialises in natural treatments.

Visit RosewoodHotels.com

This landmark five-star hotel has it all: a destination pastry restaurant, a rooftop pool overlooking Hyde Park and two of London’s best bars. One of these is the gorgeous Berkeley Bar & Terrace, which makes a real statement with its modern colour palette of soft corals, creams and pinks. Set away from the main bar is the Snug, which has a spectacular mural, painted by New York-based artist TM Davy, and comes with its own sound system and call-for-service button. The cooler sister to The Connaught and Claridge’s, we recommend kicking off a stay at The Berkeley with a tasting menu at Cédric Grolet’s counter, where you’ll sample all the French star baker’s viral dishes, such as his vanilla flower and lifelike fruits made of confectionery. If you’re after a knockout space to sleep, interior architect André Fu has designed four suites for the hotel. We love the Grand Pavilion Penthouse. With views over Belgravia, the light-filled space has glass walls on three sides and features a striking reception area, living room with an enormous TV, entertaining bar, two outdoor terraces – one with a firepit – master bedroom and stunning marble bathroom, study and two walk-in closets. Trust us, you won’t want to leave, but before you do make sure to book in for a revitalising 111SKIN facial at the spa, order in a room service breakfast from Cédric Grolet – and have a dip in that heated outdoor pool.

Visit The-Berkeley.co.uk

From hotels and trains to river cruises and safaris, Belmond is synonymous with luxury escapes. And from the moment you enter the light-filled lobby, The Cadogan’s affiliation with travel is clear – there’s a gorgeous wood-panelled train timetable and station clock that draws the eye on the way to the hotel’s pretty bar and the LaLee restaurant, which specialises in modern European dishes. In a striking corner building in Chelsea, each bedroom has high ceilings, luxury amenities and views over Cadogan Place Gardens. New for 2024, the hotel has launched a wellness package with super facialist Teresa Tarmey. Recently appointed on the advisory board of the British Beauty Council, Teresa has long been the expert of choice for an incredible array of A-list celebrities and beauty aficionados, seeking a results-driven approach to skincare. Home to Teresa’s only London residency, The Cadogan offers guests the chance to experience one of Teresa’s cult treatments – and trust us, you’ll really see results. Don’t forget to flick through the latest issue of Belmond’s excellent in-house magazine Monde while you’re saying – preferably in one of the suites’ extra-large bathtubs.

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One Hundred Shoreditch took over the modernist building previously occupied by Ace Hotel. With one a Palm Springs-inspired rooftop and bedrooms and suites filled with modern artwork and vintage furniture, this feels like a true east London escape. As well as views, cool bedrooms and rotating art displays, the hotel has another trick up its sleeve: Seed Library. In the low-slung and lounge-y 70s-styled basement of the hotel, Ryan Chetiyawardana and his team takes a ‘lo-fi, analogue’ approach to cocktail making – and we’ll vouch for the results. Especially the Moonlit Gimlet (Patron Silver, soured green peas and elderflower) and Copenhagen Fizz (Fords gin, macadamia milk, tropical cordial, NP Wild Rose Vinegar and soda). You’ll also find low-intervention wines and craft beers here, as well as easy going DJs like Max from Diggers Dozen. The hotel has recently relaunched its Lobby Lates. Every Thursday and Friday, the Lobby Bar is the place to kick off the weekend with £10 cocktails, as a selection of emerging artists provide the soundtrack for the night. The lobby is also a great place to grab a flat white the next morning – the in-house coffee shop comes courtesy of Origin.

Visit OneHundredShoreditch.com

It only opened three years ago, but the NoMad London has well established itself as a go-to destination for celebrities and those in the know. Inside, the former home of Bow Street magistrates’ court and police station has been transformed into a sophisticated space offering everything you’d expect from a top hotel. New York-based design studio Roman and Williams is behind the interiors and the rooms and suites are some of the most stylish on this list – we’d book the Royal Opera Suite which overlooks the famous Royal Opera House and has a generous living area plus a free-standing clawfoot bathtub. Guests can enjoy a leisurely breakfast in bed or have it in the library before making the most of the cultural highlights on the hotel’s doorstep.

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The Twenty Two is one of the capital’s hottest destinations right now, with everyone from Tom Cruise to Jeff Bezos spotted there since it opened two years ago. This hotel, restaurant and members club has transformed an Edwardian manor on Grosvenor Square into a richly decorated west London hideaway with 31 bedrooms and suites – including a mews house – in addition to the public restaurant and private club. The boldly designed bedrooms are made for romantic getaways – think red velvet furnishings, marble baths and well-stocked minibars. When it comes to food and drink, the restaurant is a striking blue space that serves everything from stylishly plated breakfasts to Sunday roasts. The private dining room is the place to book for a party – at one we attended, we tucked into excellent Devon crab salad with cucumber, radish and sea greens; slow-cooked beef pappardelle; and a perfect caramel tart.

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With its handsome art-deco exterior, tail-coated doormen and Mayfair location, Claridge’s is the epitome of timeless elegance. Step through its impressive lobby and you’ll find bedrooms that are among the largest in London (we love the pretty-in-pink Bryan O’Sullivan Mayfair suites). Hand-stitched fabrics, antique furniture, marble bathrooms and luxurious details might not encourage you to leave your room, but the drinking and dining options here are renowned. In the centre of the Foyer & Reading Room, a striking Chihuly sculpture hangs like a chandelier and the walls are decked in original art deco mirrors. Its newest bar, The Painter’s Room, sits alongside the dark and glamorous Fumoir and the iconic Claridge’s Bar. With just 24 covers, the bar’s name pays homage to its space which was created in the 1930s with murals by renowned artist Mary Lea. More recent additions include the launch of the Claridge’s Spa, following a six-year project that saw teams of experts excavate five floors below; Claridge’s ArtSpace Café, a café designed by the renowned John Pawson with an Insta-ready patisserie counter and entry down to Claridge’s ArtSpace; plus, Claridge’s Restaurant, a striking space serving elite breakfasts and lunches worth lingering over.

Visit Claridges.co.uk

From the team behind Cliveden House and Chewton Glen, The Mayfair Townhouse has all the glamour and luxury touches you’d expect, from quirky decorative accessories to an impressive bar and drinks menu. Rooms are stylishly opulent, but the suites are the real stars of the show – the Garden Suite has a beautiful marble bathroom and a private patio. With a range of all-day dining options, guests are spoilt for choice at The Dandy Bar, where dimly lit interiors create a wonderfully cosy atmosphere for breakfast, coffee, lunch or evening drinks. Look out for playful interior touches throughout the hotel – including the house’s mischievous motif, the fox.

Visit TheMayfairTownhouse.com

Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch reopened in 2022 after almost two years away. The relaunch coincided with an expansion that added a sixth floor and the striking Nobu Shoreditch Penthouse, which comes with a spacious private outdoor terrace. The refresh also saw the introduction of two new bedroom types, Yuhi and Yuhi Skyline, which offer more of a Japanese nod, with warm wood tones and brushed gold accents. In the centre of Shoreditch, the hotel and spa’s design perfectly blends industrial chic with Japanese simplicity. The property is also close to some of the capital’s best restaurants and bars – think Rochelle Canteen, Seed Library and The Clove Club. That said, foodies might well be inclined to stay put and sample some of Nobu Matsuhisa’s world-renowned dishes (including his iconic black miso cod) at the hotel’s signature restaurant, plus there’s Nami bar for excellent cocktails. New this month is Nobu Café, an eclectic Japanese café and bar. With an extensive list of speciality teas and hand-brewed coffees, this relaxed space serves breakfast, brunch and late lunches.

Visit London-Shoreditch.NobuHotels.com

If you’re a fan of the classics, try The Stafford London. Found down an atmospheric alley, your first glimpse of the hotel is its pretty cobbled courtyard, surrounded by former 18th-century stables and hanging baskets. Inside, you’ll find comfortable rooms and suites with spacious living areas, huge beds and interesting artwork. As well as its restaurant – The Game Bird, headed up by Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin Allen – you’ll find The American Bar. An institution in its own right, The American Bar is regularly frequented by royalty, sporting legends and film stars and is best-known for having every available wall, surface and square inch of ceiling displaying an intriguing collection of artefacts, knick-knacks and signed celebrity photographs donated by patrons and guests over the years. It’s also the place to watch the Super Bowl in London every February. If wine’s more your thing, the hotel's 380-year-old wine cellars house up to 8,000 bottles of the finest wines, including many rare and precious vintages.

Visit TheStaffordLondon.com