7 Hip Hotels in London I’ve Tried and Loved

7 Hip Hotels in London to Bookmark for Your Next Trip

I’ve written endless posts about my favorite city, London, but I felt it was high time I round up all the hip hotels I’ve tried and love so you can find them easily in one place. I’ve stayed in many different parts of the city from Trafalgar Square to Notting Hill, but South Kensington will always have my heart.

I love staying in South Kensington for many reasons—the gorgeous walkability and familiarity, but for practicality reasons, you’re also on the right side of town to easily access Heathrow airport. We often use London as a starting and stopping point to travel into Europe, so it’s ideal to have an easier commute to and fro. Whether you’re looking for luxury on a budget or a five-star experience, I stand by all of these London hotels for your next trip.

1. 1. Artists Residence – Behind every great brand, there is inevitably a great story. And so the story goes, co-founder Justin Salisbury dropped out of university to help run the family B&B in Brighton. Wanting to improve the business with very little budget, he put out an ad for local artists to decorate rooms in exchange for board. The plan worked, and hundreds of artists descended on the place, and thus, Artist Residence was born. They now have five locations across England.
      
   2. The Laslett – Located in Notting Hill, The Laslett combines British heritage with insanely hip modern design. I was lucky enough to score a private tour with the even-chicer hotelier Tracy Lowy, whose meticulous attention to detail can be found around every corner, from the curated British library to the playful art collection—a collaboration with local designers and artists. It’s smart. It’s elegant. Frankly, it’s cool as hell. Later, having returned as a guest, keep in mind that the basement rooms are not ideal. You lose some of the cool factor.
      
   3. Charlotte Street Hotel – Part of the luxury Firmdale hotel group, the Charlotte Street is perfectly located in Fitzrovia, just blocks from bustling Oxford Street. The decor will have you swooning and the Afternoon Tea is not to be missed! I highly recommend a Deluxe room. 
   4. Number Sixteen: Another beautiful Firmdale property, this is ideal if you are traveling alone and want a stylish hotel in South Kensington. The hotel is quite small (as are most of the rooms), but I stayed here on a trip with friends when I only needed space for myself. The garden is quaint and perfect for afternoon tea.

1. The Kensington – I have stayed at The Kensington enough times to tell you that it is consistently great and is my favorite hotel in London. It offers a unique townhouse experience with fashionable and elegant decor. My favorite room is the Deluxe, and I never miss the breakfast served continental buffet style in their gorgeous Town House. Located in South Kensington, it is the perfect location for getting a true Londoner experience.
   
2. The Corinthia – This is a five star hotel located near Trafalgar Square. It also happens to be one of the main hotels that the Hollywood studios send their talent, so I have gotten to stay here twice on someone else’s dime. While it’s not my favorite location (it’s more touristy, so it’s perfectly suitable if it’s your first time in London), the rooms are huge with soaking tubs and a closet bigger than many hotel rooms in London. The spa is one of my favorite spas of all time and is not to be missed!
3. The Cranley – The very first blog post I ever wrote was about this darling bed and breakfast located in South Kensington. It’s luxury at an affordable price in a gorgeous neighborhood–what more could you ask for?