Hotels • March 2017
The new classics: London’s modern hotel icons
Traditionally, London’s must-visit hotels were its grande dames: The Ritz, The Savoy, Claridge’s and The Connaught. Now, a new generation of stylish stays are joining the travel bucket list, says Lucy Thackray, commissioning editor at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine. Here are seven contemporary icons that will be leaving their mark in the decades ahead
Mondrian London at Sea Containers
Since opening in 2014, this modern, quirky hotel has carved out a niche among London’s more palatial stays, thanks to its design cool, top-notch bars and restaurants, and a ringside seat by the Thames. Get a feel for today’s London life in its botanicals-obsessed Dandelyan bar; inside the undulating copper of the steam-liner-inspired lobby, and at its cool events (check out the periodic literary salons in the Rumpus Room bar). There’s plenty to do nearby, too, with Borough Market for foodies, famous Shakespeare spot The Globe, and the newly extended Tate Modern gallery.
Rosewood London
Sashaying into this cobbled courtyard, hidden behind an impressive Edwardian façade, feels far more of an event than entering many of London’s grand old dames. Inside, snug, wood-panelled Scarfes Bar is the capital’s most romantic nightcap spot, and magnificent marble staircases lead to plush, understated suites: all crisp white linen and leather armchairs. You’ll feel like a celeb, but a press-shy one – more William and Kate than Kim and Kanye.
Shangri-La at The Shard
The hotel is inside the most iconic peak of London’s skyline, which means floor-to-ceiling glass walls, heady heights, and the best lofty view in town. Like its mixed home (a mishmash of Qatari funding and Italian design), the Shangri-La channels London’s international business scene: there’s a cosmopolitan Asian feel to the suites, with lashings of oyster and pale-gold satin, a traditional Chinese-feel tea salon and a 623ft-high infinity pool.
The Corinthia London
This former British government building has built-in romance and design features to die for, but hasn’t rested on its laurels, sealing its iconic status by opening London’s most devastatingly luxurious spa. With treatments from £140 it’s high-end stuff, but the polished granite and marble, amphitheatre-style sauna and minimalist fireplaces feel as decadent as a Bond villain’s underground lair. The location is sociable – strolling distance from West End theatres, Covent Garden shopping and dining, Trafalgar Square and the Thames – yet somehow feels sanctuary-like.
ME London
Listen closely and you can hear its history whispering through the walls – this striking corner building once housed London’s original BBC headquarters. Today, young professionals flock to sip martinis with river views at its exclusive Radio Rooftop Bar, and from the second you enter the glossy monochrome lobby, there’s a delicious designer scent that’s a wink to its European brand, Melia. The best bit? Its peaceful snow-white and dove-grey rooms overlook Somerset House, the river and artsy Covent Garden.
The London Edition
When this hot Fitzrovia property opened in 2013, the buzz was all about its sharp Ian Schrager design. Four years on, it’s just as loved by the fashion and culture crowd for its dimly lit, velvet-trimmed Punch Room bar, and wood-panelled, cream-curtained suites that feel like a particularly fabulous yacht cabin. Nab a table at A-list bistro Berners Tavern when you book – feasting on mac-and-cheese with smoky ox-cheek beneath high ceilings and gilt-framed portraits is a key part of the Edition experience.
Zetter Townhouse
A decade ago, no well-heeled visitor would have thought of staying in east London, but a flurry of comfy, stylish and on-trend hotels has changed all that, and the Zetter is the one to beat. There’s no mistaking that you’re in London as you sip a Flower Seller cocktail in the red-velvet ZTH bar, or tuck in beside artful clutter worthy of an eccentric Victorian explorer. The only catch? You can’t take the elephant pencil-sketches, tasselled lamps and Roberts radios home with you…
This article has been tagged Destination, Hotels