No city in the world does luxury hotels quite like London. The Swinging City’s oldest five-star guesthouses, like Claridge’s and Brown’s, date back to the Georgian era. Next came the Victorian age and the rise of the illustrious railway hotel, which is the Landmark London and Andaz Liverpool Street. Then, of course, there are the grand dames – the Lanesborough, the Langhma, the Ritz, and the Savoy – but the list of the most expensive hotels in London doesn’t quite end here. Today, London’s most splashy stays also include contemporary sanctuaries and boutique boltholes, besides the bygone-era iconic hotels, of course. Given the amounts of money sloshing around from the financial sector, it’s not surprising that the home of Big Ben has a swathe of seriously indulgent accommodations.
So, whether you’re looking for cutting-edge cool or historical splendour, the splashiest, flashiest digs in London know how to pamper you. In fact, they’re so expensive that a one-night sojourn here could cost you as much as the deposit on a small house! Cost of living crisis, what? Here’s a lowdown on the most expensive staying options in jolly old London.
Table of contents
- 45 Park Lane, Mayfair
- Claridge’s, Mayfair
- The Bulgari Hotel, Knightsbridge
- The Connaught, Carlos Place
- Brown’s, Mayfair
- The Goring, Belgravia
- Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
- The Savoy, Strand
- The Ritz, Piccadilly
- The Langham
- The Lanesborough
- Where do celebrities stay in London, England?
- What is the most expensive hotel per night in London?
- Where are most of London’s most expensive hotels located?
45 Park Lane, Mayfair
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Art Deco American glamour comes to central London in the form of 45 Park Lane in Mayfair. The entire hotel gives off a sense of excess in every aspect and is famed for its wraparound luxury, with all 45 rooms and suites overlooking Hyde Park. In fact, it was formerly one of the city’s most famous nightclubs.
The amenities here are equally excessive in looking – and feeling. The swimming pool is spectacular, to say the least, and it’s also the longest swimming pool in Park Lane. The spa is equally indulgent and employs exclusive Valmont and Aromatherapy Associates products that help you rejuvenate, unwind, and relax. The Library serves complimentary nibbles and coffee throughout the day. The centrepiece, though, is Wolfgang Puck’s first restaurant in Europe, the ultra-glossy Cut. Its steak is billed as the best in all of London and even has an alfresco dining terrace. Also, the hotel even has a rotating gallery of global artists who sometimes offer personal art tours.
The slick rooms and suites are the highlight, featuring glitzy chandeliers, soaring drapes, and wood panelling. Despite being traditionally clad top-to-toe in marble, the bathrooms are secretly state-of-the-art, with mirror-integrated TVs and underfloor heating. Even in the off-season, if there is any, entry-level rooms begin from GBP 1,200/night. Its top floor is entirely dedicated to the GBP 10,000/night penthouse, where a private lift opens to sweeping 360-degree views of Hyde Park and the neighbourhood. Oh, did we mention the personal, wraparound terrace? Yep.
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Claridge’s, Mayfair
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Claridge’s has featured not just on the list of London’s top luxury hotels in 2020 but also since it opened way back in 1856. This timeless masterpiece and a beacon of Art Deco elegance lies in the very heart of Mayfair and is the height of sophistication in the city. That’s why it’s also one of London’s oldest hotels and has an eminent guest roster featuring the likes of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
Your eyes will pop at the sheer lavishness the minute you step inside the glitzy revolving doors. It pays homage to the Roaring 20s with its dramatically curved staircases, towering floristry displays, glittering chandeliers and a gleaming chequerboard marble floor that you won’t feel like stepping on. Afternoon tea at Claridge’s is one of the city’s best, and a rite of passage is having a drink at the ineffably elegant Claridge’s Bar. Meanwhile, the upscale L’Epicerie restaurant is celebration-central. On the other hand, the darkly decadent Le Fumoir bar, with its glamorous sultry interiors, is for indulgent nightcaps. Finally, the serene rooftop spa is a huge draw, too, offering a smorgasbord of beauty treatments from Sisley.
Of the 5-star’s 200+ rooms and suites, nowhere is more opulent (and expensive) than the Claridge‘s Royal Suite, which does old-school luxury like no other. Historical and regal motifs abound throughout, such as an original Gilbert and Sullivan grand piano and design elements reflecting Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. All this, combined with round-the-clock butler service, and it’s no wonder that this suite is priced at GBP 25,600 per night!
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The Bulgari Hotel, Knightsbridge
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Bulgari’s timeless glamour just happens to be one of London’s best-kept – and most expensive – secrets. We’re talking about the contemporary extravaganza of the Bulgari Hotel, where the vibe is less ostentatious than the brand’s brilliant jewellery. Instead, the hotel champions a slick, elegant, mid-century modern aesthetic. Think lots of silver metalwork, polished mahogany, and shiny black marble flooring. At just nine years old, the building itself is a baby in Knightsbridge terms, but the interiors are a unique take on luxury.
On the ground floor, the flagship restaurant Sette serves hearty Italian dishes, while the basement bar Nolita Social is best for elevated cocktails with DJ parties, followed by nightcaps. Imagine a central London hotel having a private cinema – the Bulgari has a 47-seater theatre that’s perfect for special occasions. The pinnacle of opulence is the Bvlgari Spa, which is one of the city’s most impressive wellness destinations. Keeping the brand’s Italian heritage in mind, the serene swimming pool area features showers tiled with gold leaf and Vicenza stone textures. Sigh.
85 rooms are spread over the top 6 floors, with 2 private apartments taking up the top 2 storeys. The most exclusive accommodations are the Bulgari Suites, all of which offer king beds and furnishings that belong in a museum – in a good way. The Bulgari Suite I, which costs a cool GBP 16,000/night, is the king, complete with a custom-made Bulgari Bar, an eight-seater dining room, and an oversized living area with an open fireplace. But that’s not all; it’s home to the Marquina marble bathroom with an onyx marble rain shower and freestanding bathtub. And, of course, the views across Hyde Park and Knightsbridge are unparalleled.
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The Connaught, Carlos Place
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Everything about The Connaught screams mystery, right from its introduction through clouds of mist. We aren’t kidding; a granite-edged water feature enveloping two London Plane trees in the hotel’s piazza emits clouds of vapour every 15 minutes for 15 seconds. Not only is it mesmerising, but it’s also a fitting introduction to a hotel that blends traditional hospitality with modern taste.
The 1897-opened hotel retains much of its Edwardian-era charm. It’s said that Ralph Lauren was so besotted with the lobby staircase that he installed a replica in his Madison Avenue flagship store. The amenities, though, are thoroughly modern, elevated by the GBP 70 million facelift it underwent more than a decade ago. In fact, this revamp saw the opening of the renowned Aman Spa, which wears the crown of being the first Aman Spa existing outside the Aman resorts. What’s more, the dining and drinking are also cutting-edge, with a three Michelin-star restaurant and the Coburg Bar, which Time Out magazine voted London’s best bar. Meanwhile, the other bar, the Connaught Bar, was crowned Europe’s best bar! If that wasn’t enough, there are two more restaurants here, which are amongst London’s most celebrated restaurants.
While it has rooms and suites, the four Signature Suites take the cake. Supposedly, Gwyneth Paltrow loved the Apartment Suite here so much that she had the same lacquered dressing table ordered for her own house. This serene white-and-blue space impresses right from the moment one steps through the magnificent carved doors. You’d think that a marble fireplace would be the highlight, but wait until you feast on the views from the wraparound balcony – then you get the GBP 20,400/night.
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Brown’s, Mayfair
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The 1837-opened Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair is considered one of London’s oldest hotels. In fact, it was fondly known as a ‘family hotel’ in the 19th century as, unlike many clubs at that time, women were welcome there. That said, the hotel is chic and has everything that five-star London digs should have, but without the stuffiness. The credit for the punchy design goes to a 2007 refurbishment and designer-architect Olga Polizzi. She even brought in a coveted contemporary art collection to complement the hotel’s original architecture! However, the most interesting tidbit about the hotel is that Rudyard Kipling wrote “The Jungle Book” here!
Of all the amenities, the spa here punches above its weight, just what you’d expect from a Rocco Forte hotel. The classic afternoon tea at the Donovan Bar and an indulgent dinner at Charlie’s will have you thanking your stars for the presence of the 24-hour gym.
While the rooms and suites are all amazing, we have to talk about the Kipling Suite, which is an aesthetic delight. Think floor-to-ceiling windows with stupendous views and nods to the Jungle Book in the form of floral hand-painted wallpapers and even a monkey statue! Everything about the suite is special, right from the grand entrance hall and the sitting room to the Italian Arabescato marble bathroom.
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The Goring, Belgravia
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London’s only privately owned luxury hotel, The Goring, is also the city’s only hotel to be still owned and operated by the founding family, the fifth-generation Goring family. But that’s not its claim to fame. It’s the only hotel in the world to have been awarded a royal warrant from the late Queen Elizabeth II, which it held from 2013 until the Queen’s death in 2022. However, what really put the Goring on the map is the fact that in 2011, Kate Middleton stayed in the Royal Suite here the night before her wedding to Prince William.
That said, the hotel has been catering to the rich and famous since as long back as 1910. It’s a resolutely English hotel, with the common areas and rooms designed by British designers and featuring bespoke furniture, fine Italian linen, and elegant wallpapers. What’s more, its Dining Room sports a Michelin star, and even the Afternoon Tea has a trove of awards up its sleeve. Since it’s an older-style hotel, it doesn’t have an indoor swimming pool and a fitness centre, but in the face of the hotel’s splendour, style, and service, you’ll never notice it.
The regal connotations are embodied in the double-bedroomed, dining-room-equipped expanse that is the Royal Suite, which we mentioned earlier. Here, the devil is in the details, with a green silk wall a la the Titanic, a bevy of royal artefacts, and even Georgian glassware. It’s no wonder that this suite costs a cool GBP 9,500/night. Even if you aren’t the Queen – or married to her grandson – then the hotel has 67 other equally indulgent rooms and suites.
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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
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The posh pad that is the Mandarin Oriental impresses from its Hyde Park postcode alone. But, after a top-to-bottom refurbishment, the hotel will have you ooh-ing and aah-ing at every turn. Think grand sweeping staircases, top-to-toe marble, and gilded antique mirrors etched with feathers. Hence, it’s clear that no expense has been spared in transforming it into one of London’s classiest hotels. The amenities are no less; it’s home to celebrated British chef Heston Blumenthal’s two Michelin-star Dinner. Plus, the slick Mandarin Bar boasts a sick cocktail menu. Moreover, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, in its subterranean alcoves, boasts not just an expansive spa but also a slickly kitted-out fitness centre and a drop-dead gorgeous spa pool.
After the refurbishment, the reimagined digs transformed into sleek contemporary spaces with Nespresso coffeemakers, GHD hair straighteners, iHome stations and Bang & Olufsen flatscreen TVs. But nothing holds a candle to the Royal Suite, which is so exclusive that the price is disclosed only upon request. However, we’ve come to know through a celebrated travel publication that it’s a whopping GBP 18,000/night. The three-bed space boasts luxurious touches like a restored original fireplace, a bespoke rock crystal chandelier, and Maya Romanoff wallpaper. If that doesn’t impress you, then maybe the fact that it has private butler service will.
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The Savoy, Strand
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The Savoy – sigh, where do we even start? The 1889-built hotel retains its famous grandiose character of the old but with huge swathes of modern indulgence. As Britain’s first luxury hotel, the Savoy is famed for its staff and hospitality and was the first to establish a school for training professionals. And when you have rooms approved by Edward VII and Frank Sinatra with mattresses worth GBP 40,000, you know you can rest easy.
It’s the attention to detail that sets the hotel apart from its other five-star peers. For instance, which other hotel do you know that has a ’employs a ‘’Literary Ambassador’ to choose novels for guests? We would stay here in a jiffy just for this! What’s more, there’s even a writers-in-residence programme along with nightly music performances.
Staying here means you’re spoiled for choice with dining options, too, right from the dark, seductive Beaufort Bar to Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill. However, the winner is the American Bar, which is a siren call to the Jazz Age, with former guests including everybody from James Dean to the Queen. The best bit? London’s most beautifully staged afternoon tea takes place here, under the Thames Foyer’s domed glass roof.
The rooms and suites here are typically Art Deco or Edwardian in style, and the ones overlooking the Thames boast particularly amazing panoramas at night. However, the standout is the Edwardian fantasy that is the Royal Suite, which is adorned with chandeliers, crown moulding, wood, and marble. For nearly GBP 24,000/night, guests are treated to a marble-clad bathroom, an opulent dressing room, pieces by the Gucci Décor Collection, and unparalleled Thames views. One of the most interesting pieces of trivia about the suite is that it’s been kitted out by fashion house Gucci to celebrate its centennial. But even fewer people know that Guccio Gucci began his career as a luggage porter at The Savoy. It was this experience that inspired Gucci!
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The Ritz, Piccadilly
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Sitting in the heart of London in Piccadilly, the Ritz London is the Ritz. It’s one of the world’s most historic hotels, and we’ll tell you why. For one, there are very few big names who haven’t put their feet up here for the night. It was where Charles de Gaulle and Winston Churchill met to discuss operations during WWII. It was also where Margaret Thatcher spent her final days. Heck, it’s where the late Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday party! While opulence is the motto at this Piccadilly stalwart, it’s the service that really stands out here, with requests ranging from champagne to helicopter transfers.
Amenities
The Ritz turns 118 years old this year, and in that time, its elegance and splendour are matched and complemented ably by its offerings. In fact, it was London’s first hotel to be awarded a Royal Warrant for its catering and banquet services. It’s not surprising, given that the Ritz Restaurant holds a Michelin star. On Friday and Saturday evenings, there’s ‘Live at The Ritz’ with dancers and musicians performing as you tuck into a four-course feast. What’s more, afternoon tea in the Palm Court is considered a quintessential Ritz experience, where you can choose more than 18 different types of loose-leaf tea. And yes, it’s true that Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, regularly dined here, requesting her favourite song to be played on the piano.
Rooms
Staying at the Ritz is more akin to staying in a palace than a hotel, what with its opulent cream-coloured Louis XVI setting with gilded frames and panelled mirrors. The ultimate way to experience its grandeur is by staying at the Prince of Wales Suite, a.k.a. the Green Park Suite. This vast penthouse suite with Green Park views – hence the name – can be yours for a whopping GBP 8,000/night. Puttin’ on the Ritz, indeed.
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The Langham
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The historic Langham has kept up with the times – and how. When the turetted neo-baroque structure opened in 1865, it touted itself as the first ‘Grand Hotel’ of the continent. In any case, it was then London’s largest hotel, complete with England’s first hydraulic lifts. The likes of Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, and Princess Diana have not just been guests, but patrons at that, and the recent GBP 200 million refurbishment upped the ante on the hotel’s glory even further.
Amenities
The Langham has two very big draws, one being its enviable location; it’s right in the heart of Marylebone and a 10-minute drive to St. James’. The second is its sublime food and drink offering. For one, its Artesian bar was voted the “World’s Best Bar” between 2011 and 2015 consecutively. Moreover, London’s finest French cuisine is served at Roux at the Landau, while the highly-welcoming Wigmore has an equally fantastic menu. In fact, the original palm court still serves elegant afternoon tea. But the amenities don’t stop here. The hotel is also home to the Chuan Health Club, which boasts an utterly gorgeous subterranean swimming pool and a spa. In fact, it was the first in London to employ traditional Chinese medicine and its principles in its signature treatments.
Rooms
The bustling, marble-clad, column-lined common areas give way to 380 rooms and branded residences, all of which boast a sense of luxurious intimacy. The jewel in the Langham’s crown is the GBP 24,000/night Sterling Suite, which boasts fabulous views of Marylebone and the city beyond. The six-bedroom apartment is a heavenly escape from the hustle and bustle. Clad entirely in marble furnishings, every room is themed in white, blue, and gold, making it one of London’s largest penthouses. Besides a 24-hour butler (duh), the expansive drawing and dining rooms and the innovative private media lounge are highlighted.
The Langham also happens to be one of London’s best family hotels.
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The Lanesborough
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Tucked inside a neoclassical, Grade II-listed structure that was once a hospital, The Lanesborough came back to life after a massive restoration in 2015. As promised, this 1844-built hotel took patrons back in time to the early 19th century. Just like its Regency-era façade, the hotel has been reimagined in the same way on the inside. Think 42,000 sheets of gold leaf in the decor, top-to-toe marble, ornamental Greek columns, and crystal chandeliers.
Amenities
Food and drinks are the highlights here, right from the cognacs-stocked clubby Library Bar to the ornate-interior restaurant. The bar has cognacs dating back to 1770 (and priced up to a staggering GBP 10,000/per pour), along with an impressive 18th-century artwork collection. If you’re lucky, the hotel’s resident cat, Lilibet, might come and say hello. Moreover, the ground-floor restaurant is thoroughly Instagrammable, with black balustrades, ornate cornicing, a white and light-blue palette, and a glass roof. Don’t miss the breakfast here; it’s a classic five-star affair. Rounding up the revelry offerings is the Garden Room, where cigars and snacks abound. It’s one of the few London five-stars to have the full-blown Lanesborough Club & Spa, which was crowned the “World’s Best New Hotel Spa” the very year it was launched.
Rooms
It says a lot about a hotel where all rooms have TVs artfully hidden behind replica oil paintings and come with butlers, but that’s the Lanesborough for you. Its piece de resistance, though, is the seven-bedroom Royal Suite, which is truly a haven fit for kings and queens. Costing a jaw-dropping GBP 26,000/night, this apartment offers grand views of the Buckingham Palace Gardens and boasts exquisite period detailing. A dedicated butler welcomes guests in, serving the quintessentially British G&T on the fly. What’s more, one can book the opulent digs partly or wholly, and the hotel’s chauffeur-driven fleet is available complementarity to those booking the entire place. For a GBP 26,000/night price, we’d say it’s the least they can do!
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Where do celebrities stay in London, England?
Many celebrities, like Oprah Winfrey and even Justin Bieber, seem to prefer the ultra-posh Rosewood London, which happens to be one of the city’s top celebrity hotels for 2024.
What is the most expensive hotel per night in London?
The Lanesborough Hotel’s exclusive Royal Suite costs a heart-stopping GBP 26,000 per night. In fact, it’s not just the most expensive hotel in London, but all of the UK. It even offers a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce Phantom for its guests!
Where are most of London’s most expensive hotels located?
The City of Westminster, which includes some of London’s most prestigious areas like Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, and Mayfair, is where most of its expensive hotels are located.
