The London Hotels We’re Most Excited About Right Now

It’s not a revelation to state that London is a major global metropolis that’s a favorite for tourists from all over the world.

Repeat travelers frequent the city to catch the latest West End shows, dine at the hottest restaurants of the moment, and check out what’s new on the arts scene.

Finding a solid hotel to stay at while they’re in town has never been an issue. “London has always had a huge variety of hotels that vie for attention from discerning travelers,” says Nicola Butler, the owner of NoteWorthy, a London travel company that specializes in insider European experiences.

Fast forward to today, Butler says that the options of accommodations have gotten even broader. “I am staggered by the amount of money pouring into hotels in London to make it even more of an attraction than it already is,” she says. “The investment was happening before the pandemic, continued during it, and resumed full-force as restrictions were lifted.”

This summer, to start, The Beaumont in Mayfair will debut a renovation led by Thierry Despont, the notable designer behind high-profile global projects such as the Ritz Paris.

The property will stay true to its original Art Deco aesthetic, a style that Despont also happens to be known for, but will have a refurbished bar, lounge, and lobby. These public areas will feature leather, velvet, bronze, and mahogany interspersed with chocolates, deep reds, and golds. As an example, the lobby will still have its signature checkerboard floor, but Despont has added gold-on-ivory curtains to the floor-to-ceiling windows and reupholstered the mahogany shell sofas in a velour fabric.

New spaces in the renovation include the Mayfair Suite, which overlooks Brown Hart Gardens and can be reconfigured to have one or two bedrooms, and The Terrace—also overlooking the gardens—which offers alfresco dining and drinking.

The Kensington, a collection of four adjoining Victorian town houses in South Kensington, also got a re-do with a new design of its suites. They are now decorated with bold Thibaut wallpapers and curtains in bright colors, and have leopard-print Louis style chairs; their bathrooms feature Calcutta marble, and free-standing roll-top baths.

In addition, the signature Brompton suite now has a living room at the entryway with mixed-metal wallpaper and a bedroom with Waterford-crystal chandeliers.

There’s also news from Claridge’s and The Berkley, both part of the Maybourne Hotel Group.

Claridge’s is in the midst of a significant reinvention that owner Paddy McKillen is unveiling bit by bit. For now, L’Epicerie is a new dining space for interactive masterclasses and wine dinners, and the new Mayfair Suites, from Irish interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan, feature turn of the 20th century furniture and a mix of Art Deco and Victorian aesthetics.

The Berkeley has new Pavilion Suites, two rooms designed by the celebrated interior architect Andre Fu and his studio Afso. They feature a soothing color theme with earthy tones, bronze accents, and carved woods. The property also debuted an alfresco restaurant, The Garden, that serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and an expansive menu of cocktails.

Looking beyond already-existing properties, London has several new and buzz-generating names to add to its lineup.

In May, the much hyped about NoMad London, in Convent Garden opposite the Royal Opera House, opened its doors to overnight guests. Situated in the former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station, the property was designed by the New York-based studio Roman and Williams. Highlights include a collection of more than 1,600 artworks by British and international artists; a late-night cocktail lounge named Common Decency that’s opening later this year; a restaurant with a three-story atrium that’s inspired by an Edwardian greenhouse and serves an eclectic menu using regional ingredients; and Side Hustle, the NoMad’s take on a classic British pub.

The Mayfair Townhouse, in the eponymous neighborhood, is another property that debuted in May. Located in 15 connected Georgian buildings on Half Moon Street, the setting of Oscar Wilde’s The Important of Being Earnest, the hotel has a big focus on art. The collection includes both well-established and emerging artists, and a striking peacock sculpture by the renowned contemporary painter Clarita Brinkerhoff that stands at 67 inches tall and was created with 25,000 Swarovski crystals.

A third hotel opening in May was Henry’s Townhouse in Marylebone. Formerly owned by Jane Austen’s brother Henry, the property has just seven rooms and a Regency-era design created in a collaboration between owners Jane and Steven Collins and the London interior design firm Russell Sage Studio. Guests can enjoy breakfast in the Pantry, drinks on the terrace, or a good book in the reading room where Jane Austen spent much of her time whenever she visited Henry.

The last hotel on our list of eight is The Londoner, in the heart of tourist-heavy Leicester Square and scheduled for a September opening. Yabu Pushelberg was in charge of the design. This is a property with a distinct British sensibility and features neutral color tones. Amenities include six eateries (one is a tavern with 50 local gins!), a members’s only club, and an entire floor dedicated to wellness with a swimming pool, nail bar, barbershop, and personal training studio.

Now, the question to ask yourself is: which one do you want to check into most—or maybe first—the next time you’re headed to London?

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest