I’m sure you’re all well aware that London is home to some pretty swanky places to take a kip. Home to an abundance of enchantingly elegant establishments; if you’re looking for a fancy bed to rest your weary head, our lovely capital city has got you covered like a cosy cashmere blanket. And as brilliant as that may be (says the girl who can barely afford a night in a Premier Inn), it does makes it rather difficult to know which of London’s lavish locales are actually worthy of the gasp-inducingly hefty price-tag that comes attached to them. But fear not, folks. The hard work has (yet again) been done for us.
The travel-afficionados over at The World’s 50 Best have scoured the length and breadth of the planet to uncover – you guessed it – the world’s 50 best hotels. As their name may suggest, they’re no strangers to ranking the best, brightest and most brilliant spots across the globe. And so to find yourself perched on one of their coveted lists means you’re definitely doing something right. Four London hotels managed to earn themselves a sought-after spot, and so naturally I’m going to spend the next few minutes waxing lyrical about them. Enjoy…
Claridge’s, Mayfair
One of London’s most iconic hotels, rather unsurprisingly, managed to earn itself a comfy spot on the list, coming in at number 16. Having been perched proudly in the heart of Mayfair since 1856; Claridge’s is a London landmark in its own right, and was hailed ‘the darling of the London luxury scene’ by The World’s 50 Best.
Oozing old-school charm and glamour, Claridge’s certainly knows a thing or two about showing guests a good time, and has hosted many famous faces in its time. The building is jam-packed with fascinating history, gorgeous decor, and – well – pretty much everything you’d ever want or need for the perfect night’s sleep.
You’ll find Claridge’s at Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HR.
Rooms at Claridge’s start at around £900 a night.
The Connaught, Mayfair
Another Mayfair hotel to have made the cut is The Connaught. Earning itself the 29th spot on the list, The Connaught has opulently occupied the corner of Mount Street and Carlos Place since 1897. The Connaught boasts 122 rooms and suites, each of which seamlessly blends timeless elegance and contemporary charm.
Praised by The World’s 50 Best for being ‘a bastion of London’s elite since the 1800s’; The Connaught boasts three bars, three restaurants (one of which has three shiny Michelin stars), an iconic martini trolley, an outrageously gorgeous spa, and one of the most impressive art collections in the entire city.
You’ll find The Connaught at Carlos Place, W1K 2AL.
Rooms at The Connaught start from around £800 a night.
Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall
Coming in at number 31 on the list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels is Raffles London at The OWO. Since setting up shop in 2023, following a six-year (and £1.5 million) glow-up, Raffles London at The OWO has earnt a great deal of praise. And so it comes as no surprise to us that it managed to earn itself a place on the list.
Being the first Raffles Hotel in the UK, we were expecting big things. And they delivered in spades. Celebrated for its ‘ornate opulence in historic London’; The OWO boasts 120 dreamy suites, a whopping nine restaurants, three bars, a beautiful spa (complete with a 65-foot swimming pool), and a whole load of history. The hotel occupies the former Old War Office on Whitehall, and one of the hotel’s bars is located inside what were once used as the underground interrogation rooms by MI5 and MI6 agents.
You’ll find Raffles London at The OWO at 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX.
Rooms at Raffles London at The OWO start from around £1000 a night.
The Emory, Belgravia
The final London establishment to have earnt itself a seat at the table of the world’s best hotels is a fairly new establishment on London’s luxury block. The Emory opened its doors in July last year, courtesy of the same team that are behind the aforementioned Claridge’s and Connaught. As London’s first all-suite hotel, the space is unbelievably gorgeous, and has been hailed by The World’s 50 Best as ‘a modern-heritage marvel for modern travellers’.
The Emory is home to 61 rooms, ranging from 600 to 3000 square-feet in size. And many of them offer sweeping views across Hyde Park from their humongous floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is also home to a rooftop bar, a private cigar lounge, a delicious restaurant, and a members club that spans four floors. And it was designed by the brains behind some of the world’s finest spaces; so if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, I don’t know what will.
📍 You’ll find The Emory at Old Barrack Yard, SW1X 7NP.
Rooms at The Emory start from around £1110 a night.
You can peruse the full list of this year’s World’s 50 Best Hotels here.