Late Checkout: 5 of the Best Boutique Hotels in London

High-Level Breakdown of the Best Areas to Stay in London:

Not a news flash to anyone but London is HUGE. There are roughly 48 different neighborhoods and it can take hours to get from one end to the other. When you’re starting to look for where to stay, the best place to start is by picking a few general areas to focus on.

Notting Hill / Chelsea / Kensington / Belgravia: These are considered “bougie” areas of London, think beautiful streets lined with white and pastel facades, usually a seasonal flower blooming across the front of homes, grabbing a croissant at your favorite bakery before hitting the shops. If you want to feel a little more like a local, I’d go for one of these spots.

Marylebone / Mayfair: Consider these areas the older sisters of the above. Upscale, lots of shopping, (re: Oxford Street), and restaurants. Marylebone is home to Regent’s Park and Mayfair has some ultra-luxe brands if you’re into that sort of thing. The best areas if you like the finer things in life and a great short for visiting London.

Soho / Covent Garden / Central West End: In a way these areas feel like the heart of the city. You’re going to be a short walk or tube ride away from most of London’s main attractions, plus in the epicenter of theater, art, and nightlife. Definitely going to be loud and a bit more touristy.

‍South Bank / Southwark / Borough: Nice area on the river, close to the London Eye, Tate Modern, The Shard, & Borough Market – some highlights for any first-timer's trip to London.

Shoreditch / Spitalfields / Hoxton: I was always told that Shoreditch was the “hipster” (does anyone still use that word?) area of London and it tracks. Picture graffiti-lined streets, cool cocktail bars, & funky art galleries. One extra point goes to this area for having Spitalfields Market – an amazing covered market that has some of the best food stalls and artisan shopping.

The City (not very descriptive but on a map it will literally say “City of London” in this area): This is the true HEART of London. Tourist attractions on your doorstep from the Tower of London to Sky Garden to Tower Bridge. Ideal to be centrally located if you’re packing a lot in a short time.

Of course there are TONS more neighborhoods than this, but as a traveler visiting London, I would choose from one of these.

Vintry & Mercer:

Location: The City

Average Price: $380-$600/night

Best For: Being central

When you turn down the unassuming side street that leads to this hotel you may be slightly confused, but as you enter the brick and plant-lined foyer you will be hit with the pleasant surprise that is Vintry & Mercer.

Vintry & Mercer has somehow nailed the perfect combination of classic London elegance with modern luxury. The lobby is filled with colorful furniture and big hanging plants that truly make you forget you were just walking on the busy streets of London. You can’t miss the standout chandelier that takes residence in the center of the stairwell.

Vintry has 5 different types of rooms: Standard, Superior, Deluxe, Deluxe Studio, and Studio Suites. We stayed in a lovely Studio Suite with a plush King Bed, a desk, a little den area, and a bathroom with a full-size bathtub (tell me what’s better than putting on a cozy hotel robe after a nice bath). What I love about this room is that it feels like vintage London without being completely over the top and extravagant. And the bed…truly the hotel bed that dreams are made of.

I will say, Vintry has the exact 3 types of restaurants you’d want for a hotel stay – a casual breakfast spot, a low-lit cocktail lounge, and a beautiful rooftop bar. The best part is that you can experience a classic London high tea without leaving the property – imagine sipping tea on a rooftop with some of the best views of the city. The Crown Afternoon Tea has everything you’d want in a high tea service – sweets, sandwiches, scones, and Champagne.

Vintry & Mercer is the perfect boutique hotel if you’re looking to stay in the heart of the city without all the hustle and bustle and noise.

‍South Place Hotel:

Location: Between The City and Spitalfields

Average Price: $220-$550

Best For: Luxury on a budget 

I’m always shocked (in the best way) at the price tag that comes with a stay at South Place Hotel. I think it might be one of the most underrated deals in the city. For such a sleek, modern, eclectic hotel in an ideal location in London, it feels like a steal.

South Place Hotel has 80 bedrooms, five bars, and a Michelin-starred restaurant on the rooftop. It’s located steps away from the tube which makes it so convenient to get anywhere in the city.  If you’re a design-junkie, you’re going to love it here. You can just imagine the designers collecting different pieces from all over the world to create little artsy moments that nod to the city itself.

The rooms are beautifully lit with tall windows, big cozy beds, and dark, sleek bathrooms. It feels like the room I’d want to end my day in if I was a tall businessman in a suit who just had a day of meetings and dealings.

On the ground floor you have 3 Bar for drinks, 3SP for breakfast/lunch/dinner options, or the Secret Garden for a little happy hour spritz. If you head up to the rooftop, you’ll walk out into the stunning Angler restaurant & rooftop terrace where you can indulge in the Michelin-starred tasting menu.

South Place Hotel is perfect if you like something a bit more modern and luxe that won’t break the bank.

The Hoxton - Southwark

Location: Southwark

Average Price: $280-$600/night (very dependant on what month)

Best For: Boutique hotel feel, chain hotel service

Okay so I don’t know if we’re counting The Hoxton as a *boutique hotel* since they have around 20 hotels around the world, but it FEELS like a boutique hotel so here we are. The Hoxton actually has 4 different locations in London – Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch, Holburn, and Southwark. Each hotel is different from the next which makes them uniquely charming, but for this review I checked out the Southwark location.

Walking into the lobby feels like you’re entering a buzzy cafe and restaurant in New York City. People cozied up in different corners working on their laptops, having meetings, or mid-day drinks with friends. Hoxton hotels are notorious for having great lobby restaurants/bars that are the perfect spot to work remote or grab a bite.

If you head up to the secret second floor there are even more luscious couches and corner tables to set up office for the day. Filled with lush greenery, eclectic artwork, and natural light, they’re excellent places to work.

Now to the rooms. There are 192 creatively-designed rooms at this location spanning 5 different bedroom types and sizes. There’s: Shoebox, Snug, Cozy, Roomy, Roomy-Up, and Biggy. Take the names literally. No matter the size, all the rooms are designed with an industrial-modern style with luxurious touches and curated art. The smaller rooms are SMALL, but if you’re traveling alone and want to save some dollars, they’re totally worth it. As you go up in size, the rooms become more desirable and make you feel like you’re at your coolest friend's loft apartment.

The star of the show (in my humble opinion) at The Hoxton, Southwark is the rooftop restaurant/bar. Seabird is a coastal-inspired restaurant with “sea-to-table” fare and panoramic views of the city. I was actually speechless for a second upon entering this insanely gorgeous restaurant. Each table, chair, glass, plate, cushion, curtain feels like it was born to be in this space. It truly feels like you’ve entered a chic beachside cafe in Ibiza and not like you’re in the center of London. Even if you don’t stay at the Hoxton, I highly recommend heading over to Seabird for some drinks and Tapas during your time in the city.

The Hoxton is the perfect mid-range hotel that feels like a unique boutique stay but gives the service of a 5-star chain.

One Hundred Shoreditch 

Location: Shoreditch

Average Price: $350-$700/night

Best For: Trendy & sexy

If you’re walking down Shoreditch High Street it’s near impossible to miss the facade of One Hundred Shoreditch with its dramatic black and white hexagonal windows and spotlights. The lobby houses a coffeehouse, a cocktail bar, cozy lounge chairs, and a long wooden communal table which was full of post-work dwellers at 7:30pm on this particular Thursday night.

One Hundred Shoreditch is located in the heart of the bustling neighborhood situated next to some of London’s trendiest spots and eateries. They have a rooftop bar and kitchen, Kaso Rooftop, that transports you to Palm Springs and makes it feel like summer year-round. Then if you head downstairs you’ll enter Seed Library, a laid-back speakeasy with delicious cocktails (one of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK).

I was actually shocked walking into the hotel room. The style of the lobby and the bars is a lot more dark, moody, and sleek while the rooms felt more coastal chic. Think plush white pillows, light wood finishes, and a big cozy white duvet. This was 10/10 my favorite room of any of the hotels I went to (I’m biased because the simple, white, beachy look is 100% my style and interior design aesthetic). One Hundred Shoreditch has 9 different room types that range in size. If you’re alone, I’d go for their Studio or Studio Pad, if you want to splurge a little, book the Studio Plus or Studio Loft. But really any room you go with here is going to be gorgeous.

One Hundred Shoreditch is the perfect hotel if you like to be in the middle of the “scene,” but come home to a clean, cozy room that will scoop you up after a long day of exploring.

Lime Tree Hotel

‍Location: Belgravia (Victoria)

Average Price: $280-450

Best For: Boutique hideaway

From the outside, the Lime Tree Hotel could be mistaken for another one of London’s beautiful townhouses. Upon entering it feels like you’ve gone into your favorite aunt’s house where you’ll be staying for the next few days. It’s rustic, it’s cozy, it’s exactly what you want a boutique hotel to feel like.

There are only 26 rooms (so it books up fast), each a different size, shape, and layout. The smallest room, the Single, is SMALL. While cute, it is little and only has a twin bed. When you move up to the Cosy Double, Comfy Double, or Generous Double, you’ll get much more space. These rooms are very cute, every detail has been hand-picked and some even have little fireplaces or great big paneled windows.

The best surprise of the Lime Tree was the secret garden in the back. It’s truly the perfect little oasis from the city. Lime Tree is also home to renowned brunch restaurant, The Buttery, which has tables inside and out back. The rustic-chic cafe is worth a visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

The best part of this hotel is probably the location – surrounded by tons of cafes and dining in one of London’s most elegant neighborhoods.

Lime Tree is perfect if you want that intimate, cozy B&B feel in a great neighborhood.

With a city so big and so filled with great hotels, it can be incredibly overwhelming to choose where to stay in London. The best advice I can give is choose your area, then decide what style you’re going for, and narrow down your list from there. Or you can’t go wrong with one of these five!