Looking for the best boutique hotels in central London? These are the places you should be booking.
You’ve planned a trip to Central London, maybe you’re watching a show, visiting a fancy restaurant, but where will you stay?
Central London has lots of hotels of course, but have you ever stayed at one of Central London’s boutique hotels?
We’ve curated a list of our favourite best boutique hotels in Central London featuring quirky decor, intriguing bars and amazing locations.
These are the best boutique hotels to stay at in Central London.
Best Boutique Hotels in Central London : At a Glance
| Best Boutique Hotels in Central London – Top Picks | Hotel |
| Best Overall Boutique Central London Hotel | Limehouse Library Hotel |
| Best Boutique Hotel in Central London for a Peaceful Stay | The Artist Residence |
| Best Boutique Hotel in Central London for Hotel Bar | Ruby Lucy Hotel & Bar |
| Best Boutique Hotel in Central London for Quirkiness | The Zetter Townhouse |
Best Boutique Hotels in Central London
L’Oscar London
£££
A stay at L’Oscar London is unique, sophisticated and a lot of fun. It’s easily one of the best luxury boutique hotels in Central London, it’s housed inside a grand sandstone building that used to be the headquarters of the Baptist Church.
Wandering around L’Oscar you’ll notice attention to detail is key at this boutique hotel, think velvet and leather furnishings, crystal champagne coupes, crystal butterfly-wing taps and a mesmerising seven-storey chandelier.
There’s absolutely no half measures at this hotel, deep reds, rich purples and burnished gold colours fill the rooms and each bedroom brings about its own distinct charm.
As you can already imagine, the hotel’s restaurant and bar follows the same mantra – intricate bold purple and red designs.
The Zetter Townhouse
£££
Fancy staying in a boutique townhouse? The Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone is quirky design mixed with outstanding hospitality.
From the outside this small boutique hotel in Central London looks quite unassuming, but still beautiful in all its Georgian glory.
Inside The Zetter Townhouse decor is vibrant with bold red walls with decorative ceilings and old paintings adorn the walls.
All rooms are individually designed, so you could find union jack flags draped over a four-poster bed, or bold reds, rich purples and intricate paisley patterns – they’re all just as fabulous as each other.
A trip to The Zetter Townhouse isn’t complete without sinking a few cocktails at Seymour’s Parlour, a dimly lit hotel bar – dark but inviting.
Once you taste the cocktails here to the sound of jazz it’s most likely you’ll stay for the night.
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Vintry & Mercer
£££
Fancy a stay in a 5-star boutique hotel in Central London? Vintry & Mercer sits along the Thames, draws inspiration from the area’s trade and commerce and throws in a taste of the contemporary.
There are 92 bespoke rooms designed to share Vintry & Mercer’s character, some are chic and comfortable with vibrant custom designed velvet headboards and others are intimate and stylish with ochre coloured headboards and matching cushions.
Eating and drinking here is pretty unique, the Mercer Roof Terrace enjoys outstanding views of the London skyline and the restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the terrace – good all year round.
Or, head down to the basement for a completely different vibe at Do No Disturb bar, think retro glamour, 1920’s prohibition and some forbidden cocktails.
Mimi’s Hotel Soho
Just a two minute walk from Oxford street is Mimi’s Hotel Soho, it’s an elegant and chic place to stay in Central London.
Mimi’s rooms come in four sizes, tiny, mini, cosy and lux, and they’re all filled with luxurious furnishings and the theme here is dark woods and deep reds.
We love the moody ambience of Mimi’s Hotel Soho, and more of that can be found in Henson’s bar.
The reclaimed oak flooring and roaring fireplace give off a bohemian chic vibe.
The bar doubles up as a cosy breakfast spot and in the evening transforms into a vibrant cocktail bar with a creative menu that you need to try during your stay here.
Artist Residence London
£££
The Artist Residence is a small and quirky boutique hotel in Central London, it’s house inside a beautiful townhouse and everything about this hotel is calming.
There’s only 10 bedrooms at this peaceful enclave, but that just adds to the tranquillity that you feel the moment you step inside the Artist Residence.
As the name suggests, rooms are filled with quirky art works and ornamental decor, and a calming green colour pallet for sofas and cushions.
Downstairs, you’ll find The Clubhouse, an all-day cafe, restaurant and neighbourhood hangout spot for hotel guests and locals alike.
From coffee to cocktails, this light and airy cafe was designed for chilling, eating and drinking all day long.
The Z Hotel City
££
The Z Hotel focuses on a few necessities and does them well, rooms are very compact but have been carefully thought out so that you have everything you need and more.
Handcrafted beds have been made to fit the rooms and you can lie in yours with the added comfort of the in-room entertainment system.
Walk in shower rooms always come with complimentary toiletries here, and sleep is the biggest priority. You won’t find better black out blinds than the ones in The Z Hotel rooms.
After a good night’s sleep, breakfast will most certainly be on your mind. Tuck into fresh pastries or a full English breakfast with a side of coffee and fresh juices.
Ruby Lucy Hotel & Bar
£££
Located along London’s southbank is the intriguing Ruby Lucy Hotel & Bar, think glamour mixed with a fairground theme.
The hotel bar here draws inspiration from London fairgrounds with vibrant and bold coloured sofas, a dark wood bar and brass accents.
Heading up to the rooms is a completely different story, you might even wonder if you’re still in the same home.
What awaits you upstairs is something much more calm, because nobody wants to sleep at a fairground, right?
Rooms at Ruby Lucy Hotel are elegant with crisp linen sheets and dark wood headboards with minimalist decor.
The Royal Horseguards
£££
The Royal Horseguards hotel is where old meets new and that’s what makes it so unique.
The hotel is full of history with modern touches, oil paintings adorn the bedroom walls and a Victorian elegance clear throughout the decor.
But, that’s where the Victorian era stops and The Royal Horseguards’ modern touches come into play.
Egyptian cotton sheets, heated bathroom flooring and towel rails, complimentary Elemis beauty products and a smart screen TV are standard here.
A stay here is only complete with a visit to the award winning One Twenty One Two restaurant.
The cocktails and light bites are divine and the atmosphere is sophisticated to match the elegant chic decor.
Sea Containers
£££
Is it a boutique hotel? Mayyyyybe. However you look at it, Sea Containers hotel next to Blackfriars Bridge is quite remarkable to look at, its design gives a nod to a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner, and like a cruise ship its interior is very glamorous.
It’s one of the best boutique hotels in Central London because it’s so much more than just a hotel, there’s food and drink outlets and even a cinema to entertain you.
Rooms here afford snapshot views of the Thames, chic decor with pops of colour and furniture designed by Tom Dixon.
Sea Containers Restaurant is exactly where you should head for any meal of the day, literally.
Boozy brunches are filled with bloody marys and prosecco and true to the oceanic origin of the restaurant the all day menu has sumptuous fish dishes.
The Kings Arms
£££
Amongst some rather average looking Victorian buildings is The Kings Arms, a duck-egg blue building with whimsical spire.
The Kings Arms Hotel in Fitzrovia sits above Kings Arms pub, it’s a traditional English pub with world beers and classic pub dishes.
Upstairs are boutique rooms all individually designed with wooden furnishings, outlandish headboards and even funkier wallpaper.
Expect to find antique bedside clocks and brightly coloured landline telephones attached to the walls and even old suitcases for bedside tables.
And even some rooms have Victorian-style freestanding copper baths. We love the quirkiness of this boutique hotel in Central London.
The Kings Arms also rustles up a delightful continental breakfast every morning.
Limehouse Library Hotel
£££
Just in case the name wasn’t already a give away, the Limehouse Library Hotel was indeed a library back in the early 1900s.
The historic building now houses 75 unique rooms spread over six floors, all taking inspiration from famous writers or figures from history.
Whether you choose to stay in the Charlotte Bronte or Marie Curie, all rooms are elegant, spacious and thoughtfully designed.
We particularly like the Virgina Woolf room, the bed is nestled inside a sheltered wood frame with ambient lighting, it looks ultra cosy.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the in-house restaurant is a grand dining space and upstairs the rooftop bar is where you’ll want to retreat to with a few cocktails.
Where to Stay in Central London: Frequently Asked Questions
Practical Tips to Consider Before Booking Your Central London Boutique Hotel
- Consider how lively you want your hotel location to be, Central London can be a very busy and noisy place to stay.
