When it comes to cool hotels in Central London to book a room in, you won’t be short of excellent options to choose from. The city is home to plenty of hotels that all bring something totally unique to the city; from the ship-inspired Sea Containers to the 18th-century Hazlitt’s Hotel, there’s a style of accommodation to suit every type of traveller. Here are our favourite hotels in central London to book a room in. Go wild.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image of Treehouse Hotel courtesy of Expedia
Treehouse Hotel, Marylebone
From the outside, Treehouse Hotel looks a little unassuming, but head inside and you’ll be greeted with a chic and contemporary space that also happens to feature epic city views. The aesthetic is aiming to be reminiscent of what it feels like to climb a tree as a child, think fun, playful decor with plenty of wooded accents. Rooms are equipped with marble bathrooms with walk-in showers, as well as full-length windows with a window seat so that you can watch as the city hums on below you. The main restaurant, Madera, serves top-notch elevated Mexican cuisine, like tequila prawn flatbreads and fajita bowls, as well as a tasty Mexican-inspired breakfast.
Image of Artist Residence London courtesy of Expedia
Artist Residence London, Pimlico
If you’re looking for a home-away-from-home style of accommodation, then look no further than Artist Residence. This stylish boutique hotel is located inside a cosy townhouse in the heart of the leafy Pimlico, on a street known for its grand 19th-century townhouses. Inside, walls are pasted with fun, contemporary art and each of the ten shabby-chic rooms is filled with vintage furniture, king-sized beds and limited edition artworks. The restaurant, Cambridge Street Kitchen, serves a seasonal menu inspired by cuisines from around the world. However, people flock from all over to enjoy drinks at the hotel’s cocktail cellar, a moody dim-lit basement bar serving a menu of fun cocktails.
Image of Zetter Townhouse courtesy of Expedia
The Zetter Clerkenwell, Clerkenwell
Two striking Georgian buildings make up The Zetter Clekenwell, a stylish and quirky hotel located moments from Farringdon tube station. There are 13 rooms and suites here, all featuring mismatched furniture, floor-length mirrors, and bathrooms with huge marble bathtubs. The Zetter Townhouse has made a name for itself for its cosy cocktail bar and parlour, with a menu of unique drinks such as the Bee Pollen Rum Old-fashioned and Pina Colada Royale.
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Image of The Henrietta courtesy of Expedia
Henrietta Experimental, Covent Garden
This 18-bedroom boutique bolthole is located in the buzzy Covent Garden district on Henrietta Street, where it’s all popping off. The hotel has been designed by renowned interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, who has gained a reputation for her use of prints with bold textures and colours. Rooms are trendy and slightly unusually decorated but in an entirely endearing way. All of them come with pink bathrooms featuring stand-out black and white tiled flooring and spacious double-ended baths. As for the food served at the hotel’s restaurant/cocktail bar Henri, you have London chef Ollie Dabbous to thank, who has created a menu of simple but delicious dishes made with high-quality ingredients.
Image of The Mandrake courtesy of Expedia
The Mandrake, Fitzrovia
If you want to be based close to some of the best foodie spots in the city, then this hotel might be the one for you. It’s located only a stone’s throw away from Soho, an area known for its excellent variety of high-quality restaurants; you’ve got Dishoom, Noble Rot, Bancone and Kiln only moments from your front door (and plenty more featured in The Casual Tourist Guide to Central London). As for the hotel itself, think deep purple velvet sofas teamed with a moody aesthetic and a kooky collection of art throughout. Perhaps the biggest draw here is the stunning indoor Jurema Terrace – a first-floor terrace adorned with hanging Tasmanian ferns and draped jasmine and passionflower – it’s a really special spot to grab a bite to drink or a cocktail. The hotel only has 34 rooms but they all make for a stylish and comfortable stay, including one luxurious penthouse decorated in bright white and gold with a huge marble bathtub that gives off romantic Pretty Women vibes.
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Image of Hazlitt’s courtesy of Expedia
Hazlitt’s, Soho
Next up on our list of cool hotels in Central London to book a room in is Hazlitt’s. This unique property is set in a dreamy Soho townhouse that pairs 18th-century style with modern luxury to bring a smidge of creative opulence to Frith Street. From the outside, you’d have no idea this building is a hotel, it’s well and truly in disguise and offers a welcoming sanctuary away from the busy Soho Square. It was the home of writer William Hazlitt until 1830 before being turned into a boutique hotel. However, the literary-themed artwork prominent throughout the hotel is a gentle nod to its literary past. If you’re a cat-lover then you’re in luck, there’s also a resident feline who lives here called Sir Godfrey who will be more than happy to say hello to you in exchange for a few pats.
Image of Ham Yard Hotel courtesy of Expedia
Ham Yard Hotel, Piccadilly
Ham Yard Hotel is utterly oozing with character and style and features casual cool interiors with gentle pops of colour. It’s all about textures here, think distressed wooden furniture, metallic ornaments and sleek marble bathrooms all adding to the overall vibe of the place. The hotel is nestled inside a tiny courtyard in Piccadilly, right in the heart and soul of Soho and just a few minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Circus Underground. If you head up four floors you’ll come across the lush rooftop garden with unparalleled views of the city skyline. Once you’ve had a cocktail or three, head downstairs where you’ll find an original 1950s bowling alley and dance floor for a late-night bowling and boogying session.
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Image of Sea Containers courtesy of Expedia
Sea Containers, Bankside
Last but not least on our list of cool hotels in central London to book a room in is this ship-inspired Southbank hotel, featuring excellent views of the Thames, twinkly city lights and the historic St. Paul’s Cathedral. The building the hotel is housed in used to be a maritime transport company, hence the nautical theme throughout. This continues through to the rooms, which are all a nod to ship cabins, think round mirrors and grey tones with hot pink accents. The ground-floor cocktail bar, Lyaness, is where it’s all happening, though, it recently won the award of the best bar in the world. Here, the drinks menu is creative, playful and based on five key ingredients: oyster honey, blood curaçao, green sauce liqueur, malt and grass amaze and fruit furikake. If you prefer to be up high, then the rooftop bar, 12th Knot, is also a few floors up and features epic views of the London skyline.
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