The 7 best new hotels in London

For the fifth time in seven years, London has been named the most popular city for international visitors.
According to MasterCard’s Global Destination Cities Index, the British capital is expected to end the year with 18.82 million overnight visitors, beating out Bangkok, Paris, Dubai, and Istanbul.
It’s a good thing, then, that London’s hotel scene is hotter than ever, with a dizzying number of new properties opening every year to accommodate the ever-growing tourist numbers.
There are still several highly anticipated openings later this year—The Old Street Courthouse Hotel, The Tobacco Dock Hotel, and citizenM Tower of London among them—but our list includes the best of the bunch that have opened since fall 2013.
With private butler services, eye-popping décor, bars with dramatic views, and cutting-edge technology, these are London’s best new hotels.

The Hoxton Holborn

Courtesy of The Hoxton Holborn

The Hoxton, born in Shoreditch in 2006, has brought its brand of sophisticated cool to the relatively quiet environs of Holborn, not far from the British Museum. Opened in September 2014, the Hoxton Holborn houses 174 rooms in an unglamorous-looking five-story building that was formerly a BT office block. Inside, however, there’s a handsome lobby that’s bustling no matter what time of day, stylishly distressed vintage furniture throughout the hotel, and smartly appointed guestrooms with wallpaper designed by East London artist Toby Triumph.
There are four room options—Shoebox, Snug, Cozy, and Roomy—yet aside from size they all feature the same plush beds, sleek bathrooms, and winning décor, not to mention free Wi-Fi and a breakfast bag that arrives at your door at the time of your choosing. The property is also home to Hubbard & Bell, Chicken Shop, and Holborn Grind, all of which have become local favorites. The Holborn location was just the beginning of an expansion plan, with an Amsterdam property set to open in July and outposts in Paris and New York City scheduled to follow in 2016.

Ace Hotel London Shoreditch

Andrew Meredith

As if to cement gritty East London’s status as the epicenter of cool, the Ace Hotel London Shoreditch opened its doors here in September 2013, making it the American brand’s first foray into Europe. Like many of its Shoreditch neighbors, the Ace has taken a setting that was once dreary—in this case, a hulking Crowne Plaza—and transformed it into one that is extremely desirable. As with other Ace properties, the lobby here is just as much for the locals as it for hotel guests, if not more so; in addition to a communal working space, the lobby houses a bar, coffee shop, florist, gallery, restaurant, and a front desk that doubles as a gift shop.
Upstairs, seven types of rooms and suites—there are 258 guestrooms in total—feature minimalist design schemes, patchwork quilts designed by French brand APC, and long, built-in benches that invite lounging. Vintage-looking Revo satellite radios, wall murals inspired by street art, and guitars and turntables are other standout aesthetic touches. The somewhat industrial feel may not appeal to all travelers, but if it’s scene you’re after, the Ace can’t be topped.

Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard

Courtesy of Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London

South of the Thames, Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard occupies floors 34–52 of the Renzo Piano–designed skyscraper and impresses all guests with its jaw-dropping views of the city. This is London's first high-rise hotel, the tallest in Western Europe, and home to the city’s highest cocktail bar and infinity pool. This is a luxury property, no doubt, with prices to match, but all rooms feature elegantly understated décor, Asian influences, large marble bathrooms with heated floors, and, of course, that view.

With regards to which of the four room types to choose (there are also six suites), the Iconic City View Room offers the best vistas of the city, and you’ll be able to spot just about any landmark you can think of with the binoculars provided to you at check-in. It should be noted that an early design flaw that inadvertently allowed guests to see into other rooms has been corrected, and staying here is still a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Lanesborough

Courtesy of The Lanesborough

Tthere’s no doubt The Lanesborough will be a stunner. Having closed in late 2013, this iconic Knightsbridge property will reopen as part of the prestigious Oetker Collection, which also operates Le Bristol in Paris and Eden Rockin St. Barts, among others.
Housing ninety-three rooms and suites that have been thoroughly restored to their original Georgian splendor by designer Alberto Pinto, the hotel will be the only one in London to offer its pampered guests twenty-four-hour butler service. In addition to a spa, The Lanesborough is also home to two bars, a cigar lounge, and Apsleys, a grand dining space where you can enjoy the hotel’s award-winning tea service every afternoon.

Ham Yard Hotel

Courtesy of Ham Yard Hotel

Tucked away in always-bustling Soho, Ham Yard Hotel offers something of a quiet retreat from busy city streets. Ham Yard Village, a tree-filled courtyard just outside the hotel, is home to independent boutiques, a restaurant, and a theater that are all hidden away from the crowds of nearby Piccadilly Circus. Because this is a new build, all ninety-one rooms are huge (by London standards, anyway), with soundproof, floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of light.
The décor is playful, not pretentious, and you’ll find bursts of color anywhere you look. The property is also home to a lobby restaurant, cocktail bar, full-service spa, well-equipped gym, and a subterranean '50s-style bowling alley that was imported from Texas. Best of all is the rooftop terrace, where there’s a blooming garden and great views of the skyline.

The Zetter Townhouse, Marylebone

Andreas von Einsiedel

Known for its eclectic interiors and cool cocktail programs, the Zetter Group has brought its signature flair to a six-story, double-wide Georgian townhouse. In the posh environs of Marylebone, the just-opened Zetter Townhouse offers twenty-one guestrooms, two suites, and one spectacular rooftop apartment.
While the sister property in Clerkenwell was designed as the home of “Zetter’s great aunt Wilhelmina,” the Marylebone house is the residence of “wicked uncle Semour.” The namesake cocktail lounge, Seymour’s Parlour, is done up in the style of a Georgian drawing room and features menus from renowned French chef Bruno Loubet and drinks designed by Tony Conigliaro. Each bedroom has been individually decorated with antique furniture and curios from “Uncle Seymour’s days as a loveable rogue and gambler.”

The Laslett

Courtesy of The Laslett

Proving a welcome addition to Notting Hill’s lacking boutique hotel scene, The Laslett occupies five Victorian mansions on Pembridge Gardens and houses fifty-one bedrooms and suites designed to look like a “stylish friend’s townhouse.” Interiors feature modern furniture, locally sourced antiques, and contemporary artwork, aiming to reflect the neighborhood’s rich cultural heritage.
The ground floor aims to be a local hangout more than a hotel lobby, with a coffee shop, library, bar, and gallery featuring The Laslett’s collaborations with designers and artists. Celebrated chef Sally Clarke, whose dishes have heretofore only been available in her eponymous restaurant, oversees the food program.

Source: Business Insider