The Foodie Travel Guide> Places to Stay UK> Best Places to Stay in London

Best Places to Stay in London

Artist Residence London

Pimlico, London, England

A quirky boutique bolthole in a quiet residential street in Pimlico. The Artist Residence Hotel is a pretty, stylish and highly Instagrammable townhouse hotel, with the feel of a restaurant with rooms. Downstairs, there’s the buzzy Cambridge Street Kitchen, once a local pub. Upstairs, 10 hip bedrooms. Both are run by the same young and friendly team. Expect paired down luxury, an eclectic art collection and delicious food. This is an intimate and cosy place to stay in London.

Foodies will love:

• All day dining
• The cute cocktail bar
• Exploring the restaurants, pubs and cafes along Wilton street

Rooms from £175 per night

The Orange Public House & Hotel

Pimlico, London, England

An upmarket and sophisticated gastropub in a smart London neighbourhood. The Orange in Pimlico overlooks a pretty little square lined with antique shops, flower stalls and restaurants. There are 4 cosy bedrooms. Pimlico is the largest with dual aspect windows, vaulted ceiling and stylish bathroom. Location wise, it’s a quick walk to Sloane Square, the shops of the King’s Road and Chelsea Physic Garden. Victoria station is 10 minutes by foot. On the menu, British classics with a modern twist and wood-fired pizzas, all with Pimlico prices.

Foodies will love:

• A cocktail in the bar – try a British bellini with Chase elderflower liqueur
• The quieter and elegant dining rooms upstairs

Rooms from £205 per night

The Brook Green Hotel

Hammersmith, London, England

A friendly local gastro pub in a pleasant West London neighbourhood. The Brook Green Hotel, near Shepherd’s Bush, is in a great spot if you’re heading to an event at Kensington Olympia or a concert at Hammersmith Apollo. The pub with rooms has nineteen light and tastefully appointed bedrooms in varying sizes (accessible via stairs). You get a comfy bed, a smart bathroom, good coffee and tea, fresh milk in the fridge and lots of power sockets. Begin your day by filling up with a generous breakfast before walking to Hammersmith tube to start your day’s sightseeing.

Foodies will love:

• A Full English breakfast
• Tasty pub dishes – perhaps Sunday roast followed by apple crumble with custard
• Proximity to the River Café Restaurant where Jamie Oliver started his career

Rooms from £99 a night.

Portobello House

Notting Hill, London, England

A friendly neighbourhood gastropub with rooms. Portobello House is in an excellent location. You can explore trendy Notting Hill and the famous Portobello Road, walk to Hyde Park or hop on the underground at Ladbroke Grove tube. Stay in the Percy room and you’ll have a huge four-poster bed. White Stuff bath products and Nespresso machines add a touch of home comfort. There’s a cool bar for hanging out with the locals, regular live music sessions and a bistro. A simple breakfast is served buffet style.

Foodies will love:

• Pub classics, tapas dishes and sharing boards in the bistro
• Exploring Notting Hill’s excellent cafes, restaurants and artisan food shops

Rooms from £120 a night.

The Portobello Hotel

Notting Hill, London, England

If walls could talk, the charming Portobello Hotel in trendy Notting Hill would have some fascinating stories to tell. Since the late 1960s, it’s been a favourite haunt of musicians, models and film stars. It’s still a hip and happening place to stay in this Bohemian neighbourhood. Each of the hotel’s 21 bedrooms is individually designed but Regency chic is the general vibe. There’s no restaurant but light snacks are available to order. London’s famous Portobello Road market is on your doorstep.

Foodies will love:

• Breakfast in the drawing room overlooking Stanley Gardens
• Drinking a G&T made with Portobello Gin
• Exploring the shops and cafes along Westbourne Grove

Rooms from £175 a night.

The Z Hotel 

Marylebone, London, England

If you like the sound of a central London location without the price tag, the Z Hotel in Gloucester Place is a great choice. It’s a stylish and modern conversion of five individual London townhouses offering guests an affordable stay. The property is part of the small but growing Z Hotel Group. The winning formula: out-of-town prices right in the city, compact rooms with showers, TV, free wifi and a buffet breakfast. Location-wise, The Z Hotel in Gloucester Place is just a short walk from Baker Street, Marylebone High Street and Oxford Street. Save your pennies for eating out in London’s fantastic restaurants.

Foodies will love:

• Starting the day with a buffet breakfast
• Exploring the area’s great bars, restaurants and shopping

Rooms from £75 per night

The Grazing Goat

Marylebone, London, England

A hidden treasure on a quiet street right in the heart of London. The Grazing Goat in chi-chi Marylebone is an upmarket and rustic gastropub with rooms. It’s a homely alternative to a traditional central London hotel stay. The bedrooms are beautifully done with the feel of a cosy ski chalet. You’ll be reaching for your phone to snap the design details. Aesop bath products, powerful showers and huge comfy beds add to the luxury. On the first floor, a more formal restaurant for quieter dining. Downstairs, a wood-panelled bar with a real buzz. Shop ‘til you drop on Oxford Street and then relax with a cheeky cocktail.

Foodies will love:

• Modern British classics – try the beer-battered fish & chips
• The excellent breakfast choices

Rooms from £210 a night.

The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone

Marylebone, London, England

A quirky and eccentric townhouse hotel with 24 bedrooms, and a big personality, quietly tucked away in Marylebone. The Zetter Townhouse has the feel of a gentleman’s club or private residence. The hotel’s interior has been inspired by Sir John Soane, a renowned architect and collector of unusual objects. Evenings kick off here with a cocktail in Seymour’s Parlour, a dark and sumptuous cocktail lounge that’s popular with non-residents. The location, just north of Oxford Street, is excellent. Go for a stroll around Hyde Park or hit the shops. There’s no restaurant but bar snacks are available.

Foodies will love:

• The cocktails – ‘The Last Laugh’ is made with Somerset cider brandy
• Exploring Marylebone’s artisan food shops, restaurants and farmers’ market

Rooms from £254 a night.

St Pancras Hotel Renaissance

St Pancras Station, London, England

Nostalgic and glamorous, the St Pancras Renaissance hotel is simply one of a kind. It will take you back to the Victorian era, to the birth of the steam train and the Grand Tour. The magnificent gothic pile is literally on the concourse of St Pancras Station. You can step out in the morning and board the Eurostar to Paris. If you’re visiting London and can’t afford the price tag for a room, a drink in The Booking Room bar is a must. Try one of their ‘Tails of Discovery’ cocktails such as the Cherry Blossom Swirl, inspired by the Japanese Hanami Festival.

Foodies will love:

• Dinner in The Gilbert Scott restaurant headed up by Marcus Wareing
• Exploring the local foodie hotspots – try Caravan for coffee, Fortnum & Mason for afternoon tea or Waitrose Cookery School in Granary Square for a hands-on cookery session

Rooms from £260 a night.

The Hoxton

Holborn, London, England

In the heart of Holborn and a stone’s throw from London’s West End and theatre land, is the Hoxton hotel. One of four ‘Open House’ hotels in London, Paris and Amsterdam, each one comes with the same Hox Perks. You get: a breakfast bag delivered to your door each morning, fresh milk and water in your fridge, a minibar with High Street prices, free wifi and an hour’s free international calls. There are 174 rooms available in four different sizes from Shoebox to Roomy. The décor is thoughtful, modern and arty– the Charles Dickens-inspired wallpaper is designed by local illustrators and the artwork on the walls, by students at Central St Martins School of Art.

Foodies will love:

• The rotisserie chicken served in The Chicken Shop
• All-day dining in Hubbard & Bell restaurant

Rooms from £99 a night.

Hazlitt’s

Soho, London, England

Step back in time and experience a taste of old London luxury at this unique and historic hotel. Hazlitt’s, once the home of essayist, William Hazlitt, is Soho’s oldest hotel. Stay here and you will be seduced by its charm. Wonky stairs, creaking floorboards, clawfoot baths, four-poster beds and a resident cat, called Sir Godfrey, all add to its rich character. The location in the heart of Soho, is fabulous. For peace in the city, spend the afternoon reading in the library snuggled up next to the fire. Although London awaits outside, you won’t want to leave. Worth the price tag.

Foodies will love:

• Breakfast served in your room
• A pre-dinner drink from The Honesty Bar
• Eating out in vibrant Soho

Rooms from £180 a night.

The Z Hotel Soho

Soho, London, England

An excellent value for money choice in an unbeatable location. If you’re a budget traveller, this is one of the best places to stay in central London. Right in the heart of Soho, the Z Hotel has the location wow factor. Covent Garden, London’s theatre land, Soho and Oxford Street is all a quick walk away. The formula is simple: modern, compact but clean and functional rooms. Housed in 12 converted Georgian townhouses, there are 85 in total. Top tip – make sure you book one with a window. Don’t expect a fancy restaurant but there is a cute café serving breakfast (charged extra) and light snacks.

Foodies will love:

• Complimentary wine and cheese in the evening
• Eating out in Soho – Try Café Boheme and Kettners

Rooms from £70 per night

The Rookery

Clerkenwell, London, England

A hidden period gem in the City of London. The Rookery oozes with real charm and character. Traditional England, combined with a touch of eccentricity, makes this one of the best places to stay in London if the anonymous hotel chain experience isn’t your thing. A boutique experience with personal service means they’ll deliver a complimentary tea tray whenever you need one, or secure you a great restaurant booking. There are welcoming lounges and a terrace for sunny days. You’ll feel like you’re staying in a friend’s house where you can just pour yourself an evening drink when you fancy one. Located next to Faringdon tube and Smithfield Market, it’s easy to step out and visit St Paul’s Cathedral and Tate Modern.

Foodies will love:

• Tea and cake served each afternoon
• The Honesty Bar with wine from Berry Bros
• Breakfast delivered to your room – try the bacon sandwich

Rooms from £149 a night.

The Zetter Hotel

Clerkenwell, London, England

A fun and vibrant hotel in trendy Clerkenwell, home to London’s creative and media types. Housed in a converted Victorian warehouse, The Zetter Hotel is a hip place to hang out and smell the coffee. Think cutting edge design, contemporary artwork on the walls, pops of colour and playful touches. They even have a members’ only collaborative working space. There are sixty bright and airy bedrooms including fab rooftop studios with terraces and views of the London skyline. Uniquely, the hotel has water from its very own well.

Foodies will love:

• Cocktails at The Happiest Hour – try a London Sour
• Weekend brunch with bottomless Bloody Marys and Prosecco
• Exploring the local bars and eateries in Exmouth Market – Try Café Kick and Moro

Rooms from £135 a night.

The Tommyfield

Kennington, London, England

The Tommyfield gastro pub in Kennington is named after the 19th-century market that was home to Britain’s first fish and chip shop. It’s a friendly and lively neighbourhood pub that attracts a younger crowd. If you’re looking for a taste of authentic London pub life, stay in one of its six en-suite bedrooms. The decor is modern warehouse style with bare bricks walls and trendy lighting. No frills service means that, during the week, a simple continental breakfast is left in your fridge (porridge pot, fruit and juice). Hop on the tube at Kennington station and you’ll quickly get to Borough Market and the major attractions along the South Bank. Energetic types, may prefer to walk.

Foodies will love:

• Tasty pub classics with 50% off for residents (try the pies)
• Full English breakfast (weekends only)
• The easy walk to London’s oldest distillery where you can do the Beefeater Gin Distillery Tour

Rooms from £99 a night.

The Mad Hatter Hotel

South Bank, London England

It’s the location of this little hotel that makes it such a convenient place to stay in London. All of which means the attractions along the South Bank of the River Thames such as The Globe, Tate Modern, The London Eye and Borough Food Market, are all a short walk away. If you need to hop on the tube, there are three stations nearby to choose from. Once a hat making factory, The Mad Hatter hotel offers guests clean, comfortable and spacious rooms for an affordable price. Alice-in-Wonderland décor adds to the character. The hotel is owned by Fuller’s brewery. Beer-lovers should head to Chiswick in West London to do the Fuller’s brewery tour.

Foodies will love:

• Complimentary drinks in the fridge
• A pint of London Pride in the hotel’s pub next door
• Exploring the bars and restaurants along the South Bank (try Skylon at the Royal Festival Hall)

Rooms from £80 a night.

Premier Inn Southwark

Southwark, London, England

Sometimes a cookie-cutter hotel chain experience is what you want. This is especially true if you plan to spend all your time sightseeing and eating out. All you need is a place to rest your weary head and a power shower to wake you up in the morning. The Premier Inn, in Southwark, makes an ideal London base if you want to maximise your time in the capital and enjoy eating out. With a handy midday check out, you’ll have plenty of time to see all the main attractions along the South Bank such as Shakespeare’s Globe, the London Eye  and the Cutty Sark. For serious food lovers, it has the ultimate address right next to Borough Market.

Foodies will love:

• Grabbing a morning coffee from Monmouth Coffee Company
• Browsing the artisan food stalls at Borough Market
• Afternoon tea on the balcony at Rabot 1745
• Dining out with a view – Try Skylon, the Oxo Tower or the Shard

Rooms from £74 a night

The Alma Hotel 

Wandsworth, London, England

Named after The Battle of the Alma in the Crimean War, The Alma Hotel in Wandsworth is a traditional and friendly neighbourhood pub offering guests a real taste of London life. Its award-winning pub cuisine and spacious modern hotel rooms make it a popular choice with both locals and visitors to the capital. Stay here if you want to experience peace in the city but still have quick access to central London. Trains from Wandsworth Town station, located opposite the pub, will whizz you to Waterloo station in 15 minutes.

Foodies will love:

• A pint in the mahogany bar
• The Alma Full English breakfast
• Tasty pub food. Try the steak and ale pie with chips and gravy

Read our Expert Review of the Alma Hotel Wandsworth.

Rooms from £99 a night.

Hotel du Vin Cannizaro

Wimbledon Common, London, England

This is Hotel Du Vin in the country. You’ll have the best of both worlds if you stay here. The huge expanse of Wimbledon Common for bracing walks, with its cosy pubs and charming village life. But also, relatively easy access to central London. Wimbledon station is a walk or quick bus ride down the hill. Expect Hotel du Vin’s signature style and service: monsoon showers, huge beds and bistro dining. The hotel is also one of the best places to stay in London if you’re attending the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament.

Foodies will love:

• Afternoon tea in the Orangery overlooking the garden
• A pint in the Crooked Billet pub
• Dining out in Wimbledon village – Try The White Onion or The Giggling Squid

Rooms from £124 a night.

The Bingham

Richmond Upon Thames, London, England

A boutique retreat in the ‘country’ with lovely views overlooking the River Thames. More a restaurant with rooms than a hotel, The Bingham is beautifully situated in leafy Richmond-Upon-Thames. It’s one of the best places to stay in London if you want to escape from the city. Go for long walks in Richmond Park or a stroll along the river for lunch at Petersham Nurseries Cafe or afternoon tea at Kew Gardens. The bright lights of central London are never far away, reachable in 20 minutes by train. The bedrooms are exquisite. Stay in the Baudelaire room and you’ll have a slipper bathtub facing the river. With impeccable service and a restaurant serving modern British cuisine, it’s perfect for a peaceful and romantic city break.

Foodies will love:

• An aperitif on the lovely terrace
• The Bingham’s afternoon tea
• Exploring Richmond’s shops, cafes and pubs

Rooms from £92 a night.

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