There are dozens of five-star hotels in London, from the grand old names of Claridge’s, The Ritz and The Savoy, which have opened their doors to celebrities and dignitaries for over a century, to the latest wave of contemporary boutique offerings from the likes of the Red Carnation Group and Firmdale.
If you have the budget to spend over £300 for a night’s stay in London’s finest rooms, here are five of the best to try.
1. Hotel 41
Hotel 41 gets the popular vote, winning the 2014 Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award and with 88 per cent of Trip Advisor guests giving it an ‘excellent’ rating. Sitting next to the Queen’s Gallery and with views over the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, there can be few hotels with a more enviable location.
Hotel 41 is a modern luxury boutique hotel from the Red Carnation Group and its stunning black and white décor is expertly tied in with mahogany furniture and marble bathrooms. Each room is unique and there are lots of charming touches from plush, patterned carpets and wall-mounted candles to golden globes and ornate busts.
Service at the Hotel 41 is very ‘five star’ with attentive staff waiting to assist at every opportunity, and some room deals offer special treats such as romantic turndowns and champagne. For those guests who like the ‘all you can eat’ concept, Hotel 41 offers the unique ‘plunder the pantry’ service, whereby ravenous visitors can help themselves to cold meats, salads, breads, cookies and chutney.
Rooms at Hotel 41 range from £350 to £500 a night, with suites costing over £1,000 including their own spacious lounge complete with fireplace. Advance booking is recommended to take advantage of generous discounts.
2. Taj 51 Buckingham Gate
Staying in the same area, the Taj – which means ‘crown’ in India – offers a “home from home” experience which rarely disappoints. Guests can expect the same friendly, attentive service that the staff lavish on the celebrities, diplomats and royal visitors that grace the hotel. One top tip from those fortunate enough to have stayed at the Taj is to request a room high up in the building (6th floor and upwards) to avoid any disturbance from the nearby school.
The Taj boasts the only south-western coastal Indian restaurant to receive a Michelin star – the elegant Quilon – where you can enjoy an exotic menu teeming with fish and Indian spices. There are plenty of other places to eat, each with a different speciality including Hampton’s, from where you can enjoy the quintessential English afternoon tea; Courtyard, which offers sizzling barbecues in the summer; Zander, the longest bar in London and Bank Westminster, which serves up traditional British fare. Alternatively you can opt for the in-room dining while watching free DVDs on the flat-screen TVs.
Guests can also enjoy a luxury spa complete with bespoke pampering session created by Anne Semonin.
A double room at the Taj can cost a reasonable £300, while suites start at about £550 for a one bedroom (with options of up to nine bedrooms).
3. Corinthia
Situated within ten minutes walk of Big Ben, the Houses of Patliament, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square, the Corinthia is an ideal place to base yourself for your London sightseeing. The Corinthia is an expensive place to stay, even for a five-star, but it is another hotel that does like to provide the full ‘five star’ service ethic, so you can expect to be attended to diligently throughout your stay.
Comfortable beds and sizeable rooms make for a good night’s sleep, while the Espa Life spa and massage service can add a touch of indulgence to your stay. You may even bump into the occasional celebrity during your stay.
In terms of food, the Corinthia offers an a la carte and buffet option at the Northall restaurant, which serves British cuisine. For an international dish, mainly Italian, there is the Massimo & Oyster Bar, while in-room dining is also available.
4. The Goring
If you are looking for a classic English luxury hotel stay then you won’t go far wrong by booking a room at the charming Goring among the serene and elegant surroundings of Belgravia, one of the most exclusive areas of central London. Even if you can’t afford to stay at the hotel, setting some money aside to enjoy an afternoon tea there is a must.
The Goring staff manage to strike that skilful balance between being attentive and intrusive which will please guests who feel uncomfortable with the intense level of service provided by other five-star hotels.
What the simple, comfortable rooms lack in amenities are made up for by the helpful staff who will happily bring up countless cold drinks and steaming coffees to your room. In the summer, you can sit on the terrace, gazing out over the gardens with a glass of champagne in hand, while in the winter you can wrap up warm in the cosy bar and lounge. The Goring’s Dining Room restaurant is a favourite of guests and locals alike with its relaxed yet efficient ambience.
5. The Savoy
Situated on The Strand with stunning views over the Thames, the Savoy is the grand old dame of London hotels, having first opened its doors in 1889. The hotel design is part Edwardian and part Art Deco, with beautiful bedrooms, opulent marble bathrooms and restaurants bedecked with gold.
One of the highlights of a stay at the Savoy is afternoon tea. Despite its class, the Savoy manages to project an atmosphere of tranquility, allowing guests the rare treat of being able to relax and not worry about the time as they refill their teacups and gorge themselves on cream-laden scones and delicious cakes.
The Savoy is also the home of the Savoy Grill, Gordon Ramsey’s 1920s themed restaurant, restored to its former Escoffier-style glory. Other places to eat include Kaspars, the American Bar and Beaufort Bar complete with evening cabaret.
A stay at the Savoy will put guests in good company, as the hotel was a favourite of Winston Churchill, Fred Astaire and Claude Monet among others.
