17 Best Boutique Hotels in London for a Stylish City Stay
London has no shortage of hotels, but boutique properties offer something the big chains often struggle to provide: personality.
From townhouse hotels hidden on quiet residential streets to colourful design-led stays in Soho and intimate properties filled with original artwork, the capital’s boutique hotel scene is wonderfully varied. Here are 17 of the best boutique hotels in London to consider for your next stay.
Best Boutique Hotels in London by Style
| If you want… | Try… |
|---|---|
| The newest design | The Newman |
| Historic charm | Hazlitt’s |
| Notting Hill | The Laslett |
| Creative interiors | Artist Residence |
| Soho glamour | Broadwick Soho |
| Dramatic design | The Mandrake |
| Chelsea luxury | 11 Cadogan Gardens |
| Romance | The Portobello Hotel |
| East London energy | The Hoxton Shoreditch |
| South Bank | The Hoxton Southwark |
| Covent Garden luxury | NoMad London |
| Victorian character | The Gore |
| Mayfair | The Mayfair Townhouse |
| Playful design | Treehouse Hotel |
| Cosy Soho stay | Mimi’s |
| South London atmosphere | The Half Moon |
1. The Newman
📍 Address: 50 Newman Street, London W1T 3DZ
The Newman is one of London’s newer boutique hotels and has quickly attracted attention for its intimate, neighbourhood-inspired design.
Located in Fitzrovia, the hotel takes visual cues from the surrounding area, combining earthy colours, timber, artwork and contemporary furnishings.
It works particularly well for travellers who want a central location without the atmosphere of a huge luxury hotel.
Best for: Design lovers, couples and central London stays.
2. The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone
📍 Address: 28–30 Seymour Street, London W1H 7JB
The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone feels more like a wonderfully eccentric private home than a conventional hotel.
Its rooms are packed with vintage-inspired furniture, artwork and quirky decorative details, while the cocktail lounge adds another layer of personality.
It is particularly good for travellers who find minimalist hotels a little too predictable.
Best for: Quirky interiors, cocktails and couples.
3. Hazlitt’s
📍 Address: 6 Frith Street, London W1D 3JA
For old-fashioned London atmosphere, Hazlitt’s is difficult to beat.
Set in a group of historic Georgian houses in Soho, the hotel features antique furniture, four-poster beds, fireplaces and richly decorated rooms.
Rather than trying to look modern, Hazlitt’s embraces its history, making it particularly appealing for travellers who want a hotel with a story.
Best for: Historic interiors, romance and Soho.
4. The Laslett
📍 Address: 8 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4DU
The Laslett occupies several Victorian townhouses around Pembridge Gardens in Notting Hill.
The result is an intimate property that feels deeply connected to its neighbourhood. Rooms combine contemporary comfort with artwork, books and carefully selected furniture.
Its location is excellent for exploring Portobello Road, Notting Hill’s colourful streets and nearby restaurants.
Best for: Notting Hill, couples and residential London.
5. Artist Residence London
📍 Address: 52 Cambridge Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 4QQ
Artist Residence is a great choice if you want your hotel to feel creative rather than corporate.
The Pimlico property has individually designed rooms featuring artwork, vintage furniture and plenty of character.
The neighbourhood itself is quieter than nearby Westminster and Victoria, making this a good base for travellers who want central access without staying in the busiest tourist streets.
Best for: Art lovers, couples and creative travellers.
6. Broadwick Soho
📍 Address: 20 Broadwick Street, London W1F 8HT
Broadwick Soho brings a highly theatrical approach to boutique hospitality.
The 57-room hotel was designed by Martin Brudnizki and is packed with bold colours, patterned fabrics, artwork and glamorous details.
It is a particularly good option if you want to be surrounded by Soho’s restaurants, bars, theatres and nightlife.
Best for: Luxury, design and nightlife.
7. The Mandrake
📍 Address: 20–21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG
The Mandrake is one of London’s most visually distinctive boutique hotels.
The design combines dramatic artwork, rich textures, plants and theatrical spaces. Its central Fitzrovia location is also convenient for Oxford Street, Soho and the West End.
This is a hotel for travellers who want something memorable rather than understated.
Best for: Design enthusiasts, couples and nightlife.
8. 11 Cadogan Gardens
📍 Address: 11 Cadogan Gardens, London SW3 2RJ
Hidden among the elegant streets of Chelsea, 11 Cadogan Gardens is made up of several Victorian townhouses.
The rooms have a richly decorated, residential character, while the intimate size gives the property a much more personal atmosphere than a large five-star hotel.
It is also well positioned for King’s Road, Sloane Square and London’s upscale shopping.
Best for: Chelsea, romantic weekends and traditional luxury.
9. The Portobello Hotel
📍 Address: 22 Stanley Gardens, London W11 2NG
The Portobello Hotel is an intimate Notting Hill property with a distinctly romantic feel.
Its townhouse setting, individually styled rooms and vintage-inspired interiors make it a good alternative to more conventional luxury hotels.
It is particularly suited to couples looking for a memorable weekend stay.
Best for: Romance and Notting Hill.
10. The Hoxton, Shoreditch
📍 Address: 199–206 High Holborn, London EC1V 9BD
The Hoxton helped popularise London’s modern, design-led boutique hotel style.
Its Shoreditch property combines industrial-inspired design with comfortable communal spaces, restaurants and bars, making it as much a social hub as a place to sleep.
It is particularly convenient for exploring Shoreditch, Spitalfields and the City.
Best for: Younger travellers, nightlife and East London.
11. The Hoxton, Southwark
📍 Address: 40 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NY
The Southwark branch offers the same relaxed Hoxton atmosphere but puts you closer to the South Bank, Tate Modern, Borough Market and the Thames.
Its design blends industrial references with warmer, residential touches.
Best for: South Bank sightseeing, food lovers and design-conscious travellers.
12. NoMad London
📍 Address: 28 Bow Street, London WC2E 7AW
NoMad London occupies a historic building overlooking Covent Garden and combines heritage architecture with contemporary design.
Its dramatic interiors, restaurant spaces and glass-covered courtyard make it feel much more intimate than many large luxury hotels.
The location is especially convenient for theatre lovers, restaurants and West End sightseeing.
Best for: Luxury, design and Covent Garden.
13. The Gore London
📍 Address: 190 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5EX
The Gore offers a very different interpretation of boutique luxury.
Its Victorian interiors feature rich colours, antique furniture and dramatic decorative details. The hotel is also ideally positioned for the museums of South Kensington and Hyde Park.
If you prefer character and history over contemporary minimalism, this is an excellent choice.
Best for: History, traditional interiors and South Kensington.
14. The Mayfair Townhouse
📍 Address: 27–41 Half Moon Street, London W1J 7BG
The Mayfair Townhouse brings together several historic buildings in one stylish boutique property.
Its interiors are playful but sophisticated, with artwork and decorative details inspired by London’s literary and artistic heritage.
The location is hard to beat if shopping, galleries, restaurants and Hyde Park are high on your itinerary.
Best for: Mayfair, shopping and luxury city breaks.
15. Treehouse Hotel London
📍 Address: 14–15 Langham Place, London W1B 2QS
Treehouse Hotel takes a playful approach to boutique hospitality.
The design is inspired by childhood treehouses, with natural materials, quirky details and views across central London.
Its location beside Oxford Circus makes it especially convenient for shopping and exploring the West End.
Best for: Families, couples and playful design.
16. Mimi’s Hotel Soho
📍 Address: 56–57 Frith Street, London W1D 3JG
Mimi’s is a small Soho hotel with a deliberately intimate atmosphere.
The rooms are compact but stylish, making it particularly suitable for travellers who plan to spend most of their time exploring rather than relaxing in a huge hotel room.
Being on Frith Street also puts you directly in the middle of Soho’s restaurants, bars and nightlife.
Best for: Solo travellers, couples and Soho weekends.
17. The Half Moon, Herne Hill
📍 Address: 10 Half Moon Lane, London SE24 9HU
For something outside central London’s usual hotel districts, The Half Moon in Herne Hill is worth considering.
The historic pub and hotel combines accommodation with a lively local atmosphere, making it feel more like staying in a London neighbourhood than a conventional tourist hotel.
It is particularly appealing if you want to explore South London and experience a less touristy side of the capital.
Best for: Local atmosphere, South London and relaxed weekends.
How to Choose a Boutique Hotel in London
The biggest advantage of boutique hotels is that location and personality can be just as important as star rating.
For a first London visit, staying around Soho, Covent Garden, Mayfair or Fitzrovia puts you close to many major attractions, restaurants and theatres.
If you want a more residential atmosphere, consider Notting Hill, Chelsea, Pimlico or Herne Hill.
And if design is your priority, properties such as The Newman, Broadwick Soho, The Mandrake and Artist Residence are particularly worth considering.
Hotel prices vary significantly depending on dates, events and room type, so it’s worth comparing rates before booking.
Final Thoughts
The best boutique hotels in London aren’t simply smaller versions of big luxury hotels. Their appeal comes from character, individuality and a strong sense of place.
Whether you want a historic townhouse in Soho, a colourful hideaway in Notting Hill, a glamorous stay in Mayfair or a design-led base in Fitzrovia, London’s boutique hotel scene has plenty to offer.
For a particularly memorable stay, The Newman, Hazlitt’s, The Laslett, Broadwick Soho and The Mandrake are among the standout choices, while The Half Moon offers something quite different for travellers wanting to experience South London’s neighbourhood atmosphere.
