The BT Tower will remain a London landmark after MCR Hotels and BT Group agreed to a £275 million sale in 2024 as part of BT's cost-cutting measures, including downsizing the number of offices they have. Standing at 189 meters high, what was once the tallest building in London will soon also be an upscale hotel, operated by US-based company, MCR Hotels, which owns over 150 properties.
Located in Fitzrovia, the British Telecommunications Tower is a Grade II-listed building. When the tower first opened in 1965, it played a central role in communication networks around the city, though since mobile technology has evolved, BT now no longer relies on the tower to carry microwave signals across London and the UK. For the first six years, parts of the tower were even open to the public, and it famously had a revolving restaurant at the top. Recently it's only been open to the public for one day a year as part of London's Open House Festival.
When the sale first went through, architect Thomas Heatherwick (who also did Coal Drops Yard) was attached the project. He's since stepped back with Shoreditch-based firm Orms now leading on the hotel's design. And now we know some of the ideas it's been cooking up, including a rooftop swimming pool, public access to the top of the tower, a publicly accessible square, and new shops and restaurants.
Before any work begins, MCR is holding public consultations on the proposals on 11th, 12th and 16th May, so you can have your say here.
Sir Devonshire Square
Tucked inside the historic Devonshire Square courtyard, Sir Devonshire Square sits right on the line between Spitalfields and the City, which makes it a smart pick whether you are here for work, eating or a bit of both. The hotel has 81 boutique rooms, including 14 suites, plus two restaurants, a bar, a proper gym, a yoga studio, and The Cover, its members' club focused on culture and community. Interiors by Maison 191 lean into warm modernism, with London-based designer Samuel Wright taking cues from Terence Conran and the design optimism of 1980s Britain, when East London was starting to shake off austerity and find its creative confidence. There are generous public spaces too, including the Sir Shop, stocked with locally sourced pieces that reflect the city’s cultural mix, making it feel more like a neighbourhood hub than a sealed off hotel.
Address | 5 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YE For more information | Website
Raffles London at The Owo
Years in the making, Raffles London at The OWO is not only the first Raffles hotel in London but the rejuvenation of an iconic building with a remarkable history. Completed in 1906, the Old War Office carries long associations with great figures of the twentieth century, from Winston Churchill to Ian Fleming, who was inspired by the building’s resident spies to create the James Bond series. As well as luxury rooms and suites (plus some seriously swanky residencies), a Guerlain spa and high-spec wellness centre, the big draw at Raffles at The OWO is the food. Superstar chef Mauro Colagreco, who's behind the former World No 1 restaurant, the three Michelin-starred Mirazur in the south of France, has two spots here - the fine-dining self-titled Mauro Colagraco at Raffles London at The OWO and Saison - but there's also Paper Moon, Cafe Laperouse, Langosteria and Kioku by Endo to keep you busy.
Address | 57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX For more information | Website
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
One of the more prolific hotel groups, the Mandarin Oriental now boasts a second London site – not too far away from the other one. The new hotel is on Hanover Square, Mayfair’s oldest square, which is just under a 30 minute walk from the Hyde Park location. Unlike the first, however, the new Mandarin Oriental is housed inside a new build and offers a more intimate experience, with only 50 guest rooms (as opposed to 168 at Hyde Park) and 78 private residencies. There are also restaurants and a lounge by Michelin-starred chef Akira Back, a destination spa and large indoor swimming pool.
Address | Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, 22 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JP For more information | Website
The Peninsula London
190 bedrooms and suites, 25 opulent residencies, a spa, an indoor pool, a retail arcade and a ballroom makes for one hell of a hotel but The Peninsula London gets even more impressive when you look at the food and drink options. Claude Bosi oversees the two-star modern European rooftop restaurant Brooklands, inspired by classic British aviation and motorsport, with an overhead scale model of Concorde, rare motoring memorabilia and a rotating display of classic cars from the Brooklands racetrack inside. The ground floor of the hotel is home to Chinese restaurant Canton Blue, headed up by Chef Dicky To, which celebrates the spice trade link between Asia and Britain across the dining room and Little Blue Bar. You can also indulge in afternoon tea and an all-day menu of classic dishes to a soundtrack of live music at The Lobby restaurant, with grab-and-go food available at The Peninsula Boutique & Cafe.
Address | 1 Grosvenor Pl, London SW1X 7HJ For more information | Website
Checking In | The Mandrake Hotel
A night in the eclectic and mysterious five-star boutique hotel in Fitzrovia
It's a Saturday, the weekend bag is packed and I'm off for a very short, one-night stay in the city, which just so happens to be one of my favourite things to do in London. I hop on the Lizzie line, jump off at Tottenham Court Road and it's a quick 4-minute walk through Fitzrovia to the five-star luxury boutique Mandrake Hotel.
The hotel is a bit of a mysterious one, housed inside a converted RIBA award-winning building on Newman Street. The subdued corridor paves the way into the lobby where the dark interiors continue with a mix of art featuring mythological creatures and scenes of nature.
Check-in is short and sweet and I'm led straight to a terrace room on the first floor. Inside, my eye is immediately drawn to the windows, where jasmine and passionflower is cascading from the hanging gardens. The double doors open out to a semi-private, shared balcony overlooking the courtyard. The room has a few key features; a king-sized bed with exclusive Italian linens, an enclosed rainfall shower, Grown Alchemist products, a huge flatscreen TV, a two-seater sofa, coffee table books, and a coffee machine, which I use immediately. It's a nice space and the view of the hanging garden is amazing.
Early eve, it's dinner o'clock and just off the reception is The Mandrake's main restaurant Yopo. It's South American inspired, with Executive Chef George Scott-Toft drawing influence from his travels through Argentina, Chile and Peru. Seated at the table we're about four feet away from a giant ostrich-like beast, which has a rather impressive headdress and snakeskin running down its entire neck. As long as it stays there and doesn't move, it's quite interesting to look at.
We tuck into small plates of Portland crab with apple and caviar on soft brioche and Jamón Ibérico on salted butter crispbread. The yellowtail and ají tiradito is my favourite - sashimi of yellowtail with red chilli, sweet potato, green herbs and a yoghurt dressing served with plantain chips - and I think I could it eat all day and be quite happy. The pan-roasted day boat pollock sat on a bed of charred corn salsa, chickpeas and lime is beautiful and the josper-grilled sirloin with pebre salsa and spring onions is impressive. The service is also noticeable, casual without any awkwardness and the right amount of attentiveness.
After dins, the bar picks up as the DJ provides a backdrop of beats for the crowd gearing up for a night out - the hotel is a popular party destination Thursday through Saturday. If you love an early night, then maybe this isn't for you as it's all about joining in the experience at The Mandrake.
In-room brekkie is probably my favourite thing about staying over in hotels. So I robe up, get the slippers on and crack enough light through the curtains to open the door, let the goods be ushered in and plonked on the table in front of the sofa. There's coffee and it's hot and it fills the air with a blissful weekend scent that reminds me Sunday mornings are just the best. I've gone for the full English breakfast and lifted the silver lid from the plate to reveal eggs, tomato, mushroom, beans, bacon, hash brown, toast, and half a sausage. The half a sausage had me, I was tempted to get on to room service to see if the guy who delivered it had taken the other half hostage. Still, as hotel fry-ups go it hit the spot, half a sausage short of full marks I'd say. I swig down an orange juice while watching the end of Sunday Brunch, Ross Noble is still pretty funny isn't he?
Those looking for a base for weekend breaks or a little respite from the hustle and bustle (and Christmas music) then Fitzrovia’s finest five-star boutique hotel The Mandrake might be just what you're after.
The Hoxton has a brand new spot in Amsterdam, having taken over the iconic Lloyd hotel and restored it in to a new 136 bedroom beauty in the Eastern Docklands. The building is an Accidentally-Wes-Anderson stunner with an amazing history, having been a shipping company headquarters, and a shelter for Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in the Second World War, amongst many other things. Many original features of the building remain with colourful tiled walls and floors and the central clock tower that now houses one very unique 'Tower' bedroom. You can expect the usual Hoxton great design across the whole property, plus lively public spaces such as Breman Brasserie (see above) and Barbue, a cocktail bar created in partnership with drinks legend Tato Giovanni.
Address | The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam, Oostelijke Handelskade, Amsterdam, Netherlands For more information | Website
Maison Delano Paris
Maison Delano is a very luxurious new five-star luxury hotel in an 18th century mansion in the swanky 8th Arrondissement. There's 56 classically-styled suites, plus a restaurant from Michelin-starred Spanish chef Dani Garcia.
Address | Maison Delano Paris, Rue d'Anjou, Paris, France For more information | Website
The Hoxton, Poblenou
A beaut new outpost of The Hoxton located in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona. As well as the superbly designed, spacious bedrooms, there's a rooftop pool and restaurant (Tope), plus Four Corners Detroit-style pizza, and bikes to rent. Poblenou is a relaxed yet buzzing neighbourhood situated a little away from the centre – so you're free from the tourist hoards that clog up downtown Barca, but still just a quick cycle or taxi away.
Address | The Hoxton, Poblenou, Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain For more information | Website
CHECKING IN | MAMA SHELTER LA DEFENSE
We recently got our croissant, natural wine and gooey cheese fix by hopping over the channel to Paris. It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit, Paris will always deliver. When we weren’t hanging with the locals in hipster wine bars or carb-loading in bakeries, we were staying at Mama Shelter.
By the looks of it, Mama Shelter is currently on world domination, popping up in various cities across the globe. They have three sites in Paris, the home of the brand where it all started out back in 2008. We checked into their La Defense hotel, which is located out in the city's business district (it's the Paris equivalent of Canary Wharf). Although it may feel like you’re in the suburbs, La Defense is super accessible, only a 15-minute metro ride to the centre.
Mama Shelter injects a heavy dose of fun and personality into a relatively serious La Defense. The hotel’s playful and colourful branding is instantly recognisable and a welcomed contrast to its surrounding neighbours - think plenty of neon signs, bold interiors and a cheeky personality. This runs throughout the whole hotel, from the minute you step into reception right up to where you lay your head. Like at the sister sites, you’ll even have the classic cartoon masks hanging by your bed.
It’s a large hotel, with over 200 rooms. We stayed on the 11th floor, which came with a corker view of the Eiffel Tower and river Seine. The room also had a massive bed, an even bigger TV and plenty of amenities. Their TVs come loaded with some of the latest films and even x-rated vids - ooh la la. And if you’re looking for an extra couple of hours in the room, (perhaps you’ve painted the town a little too hard the night before) you can do what we did and opt for a 3pm checkout.
There are two restaurants housed in the hotel. Up top is the Mama Penthouse, which has panoramic views of Paris. As well as serving the breakfast buffet, they serve dinner and plenty of cocktails. During our trip to Mama Shelter, we visited the brand new retro diner located on the ground floor. Decked out like a fifties American diner, the restaurant makes for an Instagram dream with pastel pink decor, planet lights, jukeboxes and leather booths. The menu is packed full of naughty treats like burgers, tacos, nachos and mac & cheese, which you can wash down with one of their thick raspberry mascarpone shakes - heaven.
If we’re honest, pre-visiting Mama Shelter we’d never consider setting up camp in La Defense. That being said after visiting we were converts, and you should be too. A dose of playfulness in a hotel that doesn’t take itself too seriously is just what you need on a city break and exactly what we got from Mama Shelter La Defense.
Officially swinging open its doors back in September 2023, The BoTree hotel is all about conscious luxury set across 199 rooms, including 30 suites
But what is conscious luxury I hear you ask, well it's the balancing of the hotel's offering with the impact it has on the planet. Examples of this are in abundance throughout the hotel, such as the use of Jo Loves products, all vegan and natural with packaging made using Ocean Bound Plastic; pillows made from recycled post-consumer waste plastic bottles; and motion sensors to turn off the lights and heating.
A delightfully sunny Saturday morning, and a walk across Oxford Street and its endless stream of people, took me to The BoTree for a one night stay. The building, on the intersection of Marylebone and Mayfair, was transformed by award-winning EPR Architects into something luxurious but still in-keeping with the character of Marylebone Lane and Welbeck Street.
Once inside the first thing I noticed was that there was no check-in desk but more of a welcome bar, complete with champagne on ice. The lobby is stunning, filled with fashion flowers, comfy couches and art on every wall, and if there's no art then it's because the wall is, in fact, a floor-to-ceiling glass window.
Upstairs, I stepped into one of the Mayfair suite rooms, flooded with light from the huge windows overlooking central London. Inside there's light wood panelling, bold furniture, and marble with pops of colour from the soft furnishings. The separate bedroom is centred around the huge king-size bed and a second TV, with an en-suite that's almost the same size as the bedroom. It's got dual sinks, a walk-in rain shower and a separate toilet, and they could have easily fitted a tub in here so I wonder why they didn't. There's a Dyson hairdryer and Airwrap on the dresser and the marble floor stretches all the way up one wall to the ceiling. I've never been more excited about a bathroom, with its twin circular mirrors that overlap above the sinks and its neatly folded towels offering perfect symmetry.
After a stroll around Soho, including a popping into a record store and swinging by The George for a pint while waiting for the wife to return from a lunch, it was back to the hotel to Lavo, on the lower ground floor, for dinner. It's an Italian restaurant with a playful twist - there's a 500g wagyu and Italian pork sausage meatball with marinara sauce and fresh whipped ricotta on the menu. We got the massive meatball and its pool of rich tomato sauce to share, which I quite enjoyed even though it's a tad ridiculous.
The Silk Handkerchiefs with wild boar white bolognese, Parmigiano Reggiano and black truffle was another rich and tasty dish, and the Dover Sole also proved to be a good choice, cooked just right and served with capers, Sorrento lemon and a herb salad. Sadly, I underestimated the power of the 'The Meatball' and talked myself out of dessert. However I did mouth the words "WTAF" when seeing the 20 Layer Peanut Butter Cake, the restaurant's social media sensation, go past, making it probably one of my biggest regrets this year so far.
I really liked The BoTree for its modern approach to making spaces feel exciting and the seamless service. Given its location, The BoTree makes a fine choice (for those who can handle the price tag) for a spot of conscious luxury living in central London.
Rates start from £660 per night for a Deluxe Room The BoTree, 30 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2DR thebotree.com
Whether you’re a first timer or regular across the Channel, a trip to Paris is always a good idea. A short train from St Pancras and you’re in the heart of the city, ready for a weekend of croissants, vino and sightseeing. This is exactly what we did a couple of weeks ago and would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a short getaway out of London. During our stay, we checked into the boutique Hotel Wallace.
Hotel Wallace is part of the Orso group, founded by Anouk and Louis Solanet, a young cool couple that own a collective of seven Parisian boutique hotels and have plans to open more. Orso Group has a great ethos, using locally made, good produce throughout all its sites. It also has its own Orso guide, showcasing the 100 best neighbourhood spots less than 15 minutes away from the hotel, to check out during your trip - very handy if you want to live like a local!
Hotel Wallace has a prime location in the 15th arrondissement, around a 25-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. The building had a major makeover back in 2021, and, with the help of well-known interior gurus Hauvette & Madani, it was transformed into the riviera-inspired retro-chic hotel it is today. Think tasselled lamp shades, striped curtains, slick lacquered wooden headboards and terrazzo features throughout.
Hotel Wallace isn’t massive, with only 45 rooms throughout the whole building. That said, there are plenty of room options to choose from, including a single cabin for solo travellers through to junior suites with the Eiffel Tower view for those making a trip of it. When visiting we stayed in one of their Superior rooms, a cosy spot that had all the amenities we could need including a flat-screen TV, wardrobe and coffee machine. The bathroom was stocked full of their own skincare brand Colomba, which smells so good you’ll likely be tempted to take a bottle home with you from their hotel shop.
Don’t forget to pack your cozzy, as, after a day of sightseeing, you can take a much-needed dip in the hotel’s Scandinavian hot tub, which sits on their hidden terrace. Their terrace also offers the opportunity to escape the busy streets of the city and enjoy a relaxed al fresco drink or two in the Parisian sun.
If the weather isn’t on your side or you’d like to continue the evening elsewhere, why not head to the hotel’s chic basement bar? Housed beneath a whopping 8-metre glass roof, the Wallace cocktail bar is open from 3pm for aperitivos right through to 11:30pm nightcaps, making it the perfect spot to start or end your evening. We’d recommend trying Orso’s signature drink, made with cucumber mezcal, Ron Dianara, Paye ta Prune and Jasmine - delish.
It’s fair to say we j’adored our stay at Hotel Wallace. Following suit of the other Orso hotels we’ve stayed in, Hotel Wallace checks all the boxes you’d need when visiting Paris - tres chic interiors, located in the heart of the city and a cracking view of the Eiffel Tower from your bedroom window.
It’s London Fashion Week and Park Lane is its own kind of runway
Paparazzi swarm outside hotels, lenses clicking at impossibly well-dressed people teetering in stilettos while simultaneously swapping them for comfier trainers in the street. Fashionistas power walk with purpose, glued to their phones, dodging tourists and taxis with a precision that suggests this isn’t their first rodeo. In the midst of the madness, I arrive at 45 Park Lane, a hotel that feels both contemporary and quietly exclusive.
A Brief History
The building itself has had quite the glow-up. Originally designed as an office block by none other than Bauhaus legend Walter Gropius, it later transformed into the infamous Playboy Club, a hotspot for the rich and famous in the swinging ‘60s, lovingly nicknamed "the hutch on the park." These days, it’s a sleek, Art Deco-inspired hideaway, part of the Dorchester Collection, exuding an air of modern luxury without the pomp.
The Lobby & Silver Screen Icons
Step inside, and it’s less hotel lobby, more exclusive gallery space. The current exhibition, Icons of the Silver Screen, pays tribute to Hollywood’s golden era with stunning portraits of stars like Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, and Faye Dunaway lounging at The Beverly Hills Hotel the morning after her Oscar win. The whole space is a love letter to the glamour and storytelling of cinema, setting the tone for the hotel’s chic, art-driven personality.
Inside the Hotel
45 Park Lane is boutique in size, with just 46 rooms and suites, all overlooking Hyde Park. The design by Thierry Despont makes it feel like a swanky private residence; dark woods, buttery-soft fabrics, and gleaming Art Deco details that look expensive but still inviting. The hotel is also home to CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s first European restaurant; BAR 45, a lively cocktail spot; and a spa that boasts the biggest indoor swimming pool in any London hotel. Small but mighty, this place has serious credentials.
The Park Lane Suite
Then there’s the Park Lane Suite, my home for the night. This isn’t just a room; it’s a statement. Views of Hyde Park? Check. A dining table for six? Check. Art collection worthy of a Mayfair gallery? Double check. The butler greets me with a bottle of fizz, already earning bonus points. The space is both stylish and supremely comfortable, with an interactive touchscreen by the bed controlling everything from the curtains to the lighting. It’s the kind of suite that makes you wish you had a dinner party to host, though for now, watching life go by in Hyde Park from the window will do just fine.
Drinks at BAR 45
Downstairs, BAR 45 is buzzing. The Negroni menu is legendary, featuring vintage variations of the classic cocktail, each smoother than the last. The decor is moody and stylish, the service is sharp, and the crowd is the perfect mix of hotel guests, locals, and those who just know where to drink well in London.
Dinner at CUT
Dinner is at CUT, and if you know anything about Wolfgang Puck, you’ll know this place takes its steak seriously. To start, seared scallops are plump and sweet, while prawn spring rolls with honey dip are crisp perfection. Then comes the main event: New York strip and Irish ribeye, cooked to absolute perfection with that deep, smoky char that only a great steakhouse delivers. The interiors are slick, the crowd well-heeled, and every table is packed—there’s a distinct buzz in the air. The grand finale? A dark chocolate soufflé, made tableside with all the theatre you’d expect from a place like this.
Morning Rituals
Waking up in the Park Lane Suite, the first order of business is tapping the screen beside the bed to raise the blinds. The morning light floods in, casting a golden glow over Hyde Park. It’s the kind of view that makes you want to linger. But there’s a spa downstairs calling my name.
Dressing gown on, I head to The Spa at 45 Park Lane, a vast, 65ft indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi all to myself. It’s rare to have a London hotel spa feel this peaceful, and I make the most of it before heading back up for breakfast.
And what a breakfast it is. A full English, an acai bowl, a mountain of pastries, and endless coffee spread across the dining table for six. If there’s a better way to start the day, I haven’t found it.
Final Thoughts
The best part of a stay like this? Slowing down. Sitting by the window, watching the world go by over Hyde Park, and taking it all in at your own pace. 45 Park Lane is a hotel that knows exactly what it is; effortlessly stylish, supremely comfortable, and perfectly placed. Nestled on Park Lane, the most expensive street on the Monopoly board, let’s hope you passed “GO” before checking in. If you’re looking for a special stay in London, this is it.
To take a trip to The Beaumont hotel is to step into a calm, Art Deco retreat away from the chaos of nearby Oxford Street. Styled after the grand hotels of the 1920s, The Beaumont's interiors definitely fit the bill, with its walnut-panelled walls, marble furnishings and sleek rooms. Besides actually staying at the hotel, The Beaumont houses a pretty special selection of bars and restaurants. The Colony Grill Room is an old-school NYC-style restaurant with a timeless menu, Le Magritte Bar & Terrace pays homage to the American bars that were very popular in London and Paris during the 1920s and Gatsby's Room serves as more of a daytime venue, with an all-day menu that includes breakfast and afternoon tea.
Address | 8 Balderton Street, Brown Hart Gardens, London For more information | Website
One Hundred Shoreditch
One hotel closes, another one opens. One Hundred Shoreditch, from the Lore Group (who are also behind Sea Containers and Pulitzer Amsterdam) has moved into the site once occupied by the Ace Hotel. The property boasts 258 bedrooms and a whopping six restaurants and bars, including destination cocktail bar Seed Library from Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan, which’ll shake up new takes on classic serves; a lobby bar; a coffee shop; and a roof terrace with panoramic views over the city.
Address | 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ For more information | Website
CHECKING IN | NOBU SHOREDITCH
Nobu Hotel reopened in Shoreditch earlier this year a little taller than it was before, bringing a whole new penthouse to its six floors along with two new bedroom types: Yuhi and Yuhi Skyline. Keen to see the perfect blend of industrial chic and Japanese simplicity, we went along to spend a night in one of the new bedrooms.
With 164 guest rooms and suites, the world-renowned Nobu restaurant, NAMI bar, alfresco terrace and a tranquil spa and gym, Nobu Hotel has a lot to offer the short stay visitor, making more than jut a base to throw your bags in and head out again. Given its position in Shoreditch and near to the City, it is a great option location wise and with so much to explore right on the doorstep, there's plenty of fun to be found outside as well as inside Nobu.
The new penthouse boasts a spacious private rooftop terrace where you can take in those views across the city, you know, the ones that make London feel magical. But what else is new about the hotel? Well, the Yuhi bedrooms are a blend of Shoreditch loft and Japanese Ryokan with warm wood tones, brushed gold accents, dark parquet floors, a custom-designed ceiling and wallpaper by Shoreditch based-artist Richard Harding, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a step-out balcony. The king size beds are enormous, the walk-in rainfall shower is immense, and the Natura Bissé products add another luxury touch. The TV is worth a shout out, not just because it's massive, a whole 55 inches, but because it's positioned at the bottom of the bed and fully rotates so you can watch from the sofa or from the comfort of the king size. The room is really a gem.
The Nobu restaurant speaks for itself; pioneered and created by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and under the supervision of new Executive Chef Sandi Richmond, it's at the heart of the hotel. There are an array of dinning options, most notably the omakase experience with the chef’s choice menu and it's the ultimate way to experience the Nobu way of dining. Some of the standout dishes are were the lobster tempura with tamari honey sauce, the outrageously good signature black cod miso, and of course the wagyu beef, which you can cook on the hot plate if having it raw isn't your thing.
A hotel spa is probs our fave way to really relax and Nobu Hotel has a range of relaxation, fitness, wellness and beauty services aimed to do just that, including his and hers steam room facilities and five element aroma massages. With a blend of customised essential oil infusions, warm steam towels, heated stones, and skilful therapeutic techniques, it's the ultimate massage experience.
The penthouse and two new room types only add to the appeal of Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, which already offers a real touch of luxury in the heart of East London.
Chiltern Firehouse, the hotel and restaurant owned by Andre Balazs (the man behind Chateau Marmont and New York's Mercer), is a popular celeb haunt - remember when every man and his dog was papped falling out of the restaurant circa 2014? It does however live up to the hype. The 5-star hotel, housed in a Grade II-listed former fire station, features 26 luxury suites, a secret smoking lounge and a restaurant overseen by Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes. The food (dishes include crab doughnuts, fried chicken with ranch, and chargrilled Iberico pork with poblano chilli) is great, the cocktail menu is bang on trend and the place looks amazing too.
Henry’s Townhouse
Jane Austen’s brother Henry used to own a townhouse on Upper Berkeley Street and now the Grade II listed building has been turned into a boutique hotel named after him. Henry’s Townhouse has seven bedrooms, all with Georgian-inspired interiors courtesy of Russell Sage Studio and modern amenities like Nespresso coffee machines, flat-screen TVs, Dyson hairdryers and LA Bruket toiletries. Plus there’s a sharing table in the pantry kitchen where breakfast and private dinners are served as well as a cocktail snug, an outdoor terrace and a sitting room that pays homage to Jane Austen. The rooms are available to book individually or if you’re having a very fancy party (and you’ve got the dollar) you can hire the whole place for 14 people.
Address | 24 Upper Berkeley St, London W1H 7QH For more information | Website
The BT Tower Is Being Turned into a Hotel
And it could be getting a mega swimming pool
The BT Tower will remain a London landmark after MCR Hotels and BT Group agreed to a £275 million sale in 2024 as part of BT’s cost-cutting measures, including downsizing the number of offices they have. Standing at 189 meters high, what was once the tallest building in London will soon also be an upscale hotel, operated by US-based company, MCR Hotels, which owns over 150 properties.
Located in Fitzrovia, the British Telecommunications Tower is a Grade II-listed building. When the tower first opened in 1965, it played a central role in communication networks around the city, though since mobile technology has evolved, BT now no longer relies on the tower to carry microwave signals across London and the UK. For the first six years, parts of the tower were even open to the public, and it famously had a revolving restaurant at the top. Recently it’s only been open to the public for one day a year as part of London’s Open House Festival.
When the sale first went through, architect Thomas Heatherwick (who also did Coal Drops Yard) was attached the project. He’s since stepped back with Shoreditch-based firm Orms now leading on the hotel’s design. And now we know some of the ideas it’s been cooking up, including a rooftop swimming pool, public access to the top of the tower, a publicly accessible square, and new shops and restaurants.
Before any work begins, MCR is holding public consultations on the proposals on 11th, 12th and 16th May, so you can have your say here.
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Tucked inside the historic Devonshire Square courtyard, Sir Devonshire Square sits right on the line between Spitalfields and the City, which makes it a smart pick whether you are here for work, eating or a bit of both. The hotel has 81 boutique rooms, including 14 suites, plus two restaurants, a bar, a proper gym, a yoga studio, and The Cover, its members’ club focused on culture and community. Interiors by Maison 191 lean into warm modernism, with London-based designer Samuel Wright taking cues from Terence Conran and the design optimism of 1980s Britain, when East London was starting to shake off austerity and find its creative confidence. There are generous public spaces too, including the Sir Shop, stocked with locally sourced pieces that reflect the city’s cultural mix, making it feel more like a neighbourhood hub than a sealed off hotel.
Years in the making, Raffles London at The OWO is not only the first Raffles hotel in London but the rejuvenation of an iconic building with a remarkable history. Completed in 1906, the Old War Office carries long associations with great figures of the twentieth century, from Winston Churchill to Ian Fleming, who was inspired by the building’s resident spies to create the James Bond series. As well as luxury rooms and suites (plus some seriously swanky residencies), a Guerlain spa and high-spec wellness centre, the big draw at Raffles at The OWO is the food. Superstar chef Mauro Colagreco, who’s behind the former World No 1 restaurant, the three Michelin-starred Mirazur in the south of France, has two spots here – the fine-dining self-titled Mauro Colagraco at Raffles London at The OWO and Saison – but there’s also Paper Moon, Cafe Laperouse, Langosteria and Kioku by Endo to keep you busy.
One of the more prolific hotel groups, the Mandarin Oriental now boasts a second London site – not too far away from the other one. The new hotel is on Hanover Square, Mayfair’s oldest square, which is just under a 30 minute walk from the Hyde Park location. Unlike the first, however, the new Mandarin Oriental is housed inside a new build and offers a more intimate experience, with only 50 guest rooms (as opposed to 168 at Hyde Park) and 78 private residencies. There are also restaurants and a lounge by Michelin-starred chef Akira Back, a destination spa and large indoor swimming pool.
190 bedrooms and suites, 25 opulent residencies, a spa, an indoor pool, a retail arcade and a ballroom makes for one hell of a hotel but The Peninsula London gets even more impressive when you look at the food and drink options. Claude Bosi oversees the two-star modern European rooftop restaurant Brooklands, inspired by classic British aviation and motorsport, with an overhead scale model of Concorde, rare motoring memorabilia and a rotating display of classic cars from the Brooklands racetrack inside. The ground floor of the hotel is home to Chinese restaurant Canton Blue, headed up by Chef Dicky To, which celebrates the spice trade link between Asia and Britain across the dining room and Little Blue Bar. You can also indulge in afternoon tea and an all-day menu of classic dishes to a soundtrack of live music at The Lobby restaurant, with grab-and-go food available at The Peninsula Boutique & Cafe.
The five-star luxury boutique Mandrake Hotel is a bit of a mysterious one, housed inside a converted RIBA award-winning building on Newman Street. The subdued corridor paves the way into the lobby where the dark interiors continue with a mix of art featuring mythological creatures and scenes of nature. The rooms come with top amenities – big beds, Italian linens, rainfall showers, Grown Alchemist products, flatscreen TV – but if you can, you’ll want to nab one with a balcony overlooking the hanging garden and courtyard. The Mandrake’s main restaurant Yopo is South American-inspire, and there are more creatures to marvel at during a meal, including a giant ostrich-like beast, which has a rather impressive headdress and snakeskin running down its entire neck. After dins, the bar picks up as the DJ provides a backdrop of beats for the crowd gearing up for a night out – the hotel is a popular party destination Thursday through Saturday. If you love an early night, then maybe this isn’t for you as it’s all about joining in the experience at The Mandrake.
The Hoxton, Lloyd
The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam, Oostelijke Handelskade, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Hoxton has a brand new spot in Amsterdam, having taken over the iconic Lloyd hotel and restored it in to a new 136 bedroom beauty in the Eastern Docklands. The building is an Accidentally-Wes-Anderson stunner with an amazing history, having been a shipping company headquarters, and a shelter for Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in the Second World War, amongst many other things. Many original features of the building remain with colourful tiled walls and floors and the central clock tower that now houses one very unique ‘Tower’ bedroom. You can expect the usual Hoxton great design across the whole property, plus lively public spaces such as Breman Brasserie (see above) and Barbue, a cocktail bar created in partnership with drinks legend Tato Giovanni.
Maison Delano is a very luxurious new five-star luxury hotel in an 18th century mansion in the swanky 8th Arrondissement. There’s 56 classically-styled suites, plus a restaurant from Michelin-starred Spanish chef Dani Garcia.
The Hoxton, Poblenou
The Hoxton, Poblenou, Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain
A beaut new outpost of The Hoxton located in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona. As well as the superbly designed, spacious bedrooms, there’s a rooftop pool and restaurant (Tope), plus Four Corners Detroit-style pizza, and bikes to rent. Poblenou is a relaxed yet buzzing neighbourhood situated a little away from the centre – so you’re free from the tourist hoards that clog up downtown Barca, but still just a quick cycle or taxi away.
MAMA SHELTER LA DEFENSE
Mama Shelter La Defense hotel is located out in Paris’ business district, and although it may feel like you’re in the suburbs, La Defense is super accessible, only a 15-minute metro ride to the centre. Mama Shelter injects a heavy dose of fun and personality into a relatively serious La Defense. The hotel’s playful and colourful branding is instantly recognisable and a welcomed contrast to its surrounding neighbours – think plenty of neon signs, bold interiors and a cheeky personality. This runs throughout the whole hotel, from the minute you step into reception right up to where you lay your head. Like at the sister sites, you’ll even have the classic cartoon masks hanging by your bed. Their TVs come loaded with some of the latest films and even x-rated vids – ooh la la. And if you’re looking for an extra couple of hours in the room, (perhaps you’ve painted the town a little too hard the night before) you can opt for a 3pm checkout. There are two restaurants housed in the hotel. Up top is the Mama Penthouse, which has panoramic views of Paris, and a new retro diner located on the ground floor, which is an Instagram dream with pastel pink decor, planet lights, jukeboxes and leather booths.
The BoTree hotel is all about conscious luxury set across 199 rooms, including 30 suites. Examples of this are in abundance throughout the hotel, such as the use of Jo Loves products, all vegan and natural with packaging made using Ocean Bound Plastic; pillows made from recycled post-consumer waste plastic bottles; and motion sensors to turn off lights and heating. The lobby is stunning, filled with fashion flowers, comfy couches and art on every wall, and if there’s no art then it’s because it’s a floor-to-ceiling glass window. The suites are flooded with light from the huge windows overlooking central London and filled with light wood panelling, bold furniture, huge beds, dual sinks and walk-in rain showers in the bathroom, and Dyson appliances. The in-house restaurant Lavo is all about Italian food with a playful twist, which means massive 500g wagyu and Italian pork sausage meatballs with marinara sauce and 20-layer peanut butter cakes – skip this and you’ll have to live with the regrets.
HOTEL WALLACE
Hotel Wallace is part of the Orso group, founded by Anouk and Louis Solanet, a young cool couple that own a collective of seven Parisian boutique hotels and have plans to open more. Orso Group has a great ethos, using locally made, good produce throughout all its sites. It also has its own Orso guide, showcasing the 100 best neighbourhood spots less than 15 minutes away from the hotel, to check out during your trip – very handy if you want to live like a local! Hotel Wallace has a prime location in the 15th arrondissement, around a 25-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. The building had a major makeover back in 2021, and, with the help of well-known interior gurus Hauvette & Madani, it was transformed into the riviera-inspired retro-chic hotel it is today. Think tasselled lamp shades, striped curtains, slick lacquered wooden headboards and terrazzo features throughout, with mod cons in the rooms and their own-brand Colomba skincare in the bathroom. There’s even a Scandi hot tub on the terrace for you to soak in after a day of sightseeing and then you can head down to the Wallace bar for nightcap.
Originally designed as an office block by none other than Bauhaus legend Walter Gropius, and then home to the infamous Playboy Club, 45 Park Lane is now a sleek, Art Deco-inspired hideaway, part of the Dorchester Collection. The hotel is boutique in size, with just 46 rooms and suites, all overlooking Hyde Park. The design by Thierry Despont makes it feel like a swanky private residence—dark woods, buttery-soft fabrics, and gleaming Art Deco details that look expensive but still inviting. The hotel is also home to CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s first European restaurant; BAR 45, a lively cocktail spot; and a spa that boasts the biggest indoor swimming pool in any London hotel. Small but mighty, this place has serious credentials.
To take a trip to The Beaumont hotel is to step into a calm, Art Deco retreat away from the chaos of nearby Oxford Street. Styled after the grand hotels of the 1920s, The Beaumont’s interiors definitely fit the bill, with its walnut-panelled walls, marble furnishings and sleek rooms. Besides actually staying at the hotel, The Beaumont houses a pretty special selection of bars and restaurants. The Colony Grill Room is an old-school NYC-style restaurant with a timeless menu, Le Magritte Bar & Terrace pays homage to the American bars that were very popular in London and Paris during the 1920s and Gatsby’s Room serves as more of a daytime venue, with an all-day menu that includes breakfast and afternoon tea.
One hotel closes, another one opens. One Hundred Shoreditch, from the Lore Group (who are also behind Sea Containers and Pulitzer Amsterdam) has moved into the site once occupied by the Ace Hotel. The property boasts 258 bedrooms and a whopping six restaurants and bars, including destination cocktail bar Seed Library from Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan, which’ll shake up new takes on classic serves; a lobby bar; a coffee shop; and a roof terrace with panoramic views over the city.
NOBU HOTEL SHOREDITCH
10-50 Willow Street, London, EC2A 4BH
With 164 guest rooms and suites, the world-renowned Nobu restaurant, NAMI bar, alfresco terrace and a tranquil spa and gym, Nobu Hotel has a lot to offer the short stay visitor, making more than jut a base to throw your bags in and head out again. Given its position in Shoreditch and near to the City, it is a great option location wise and with so much to explore right on the doorstep, there’s plenty of fun to be found outside as well as inside Nobu. The Yuhi bedrooms are a blend of Shoreditch loft and Japanese Ryokan with warm wood tones, brushed gold accents, dark parquet floors, a custom-designed ceiling and wallpaper by Shoreditch based-artist Richard Harding, and huge king beds. You can dine on Nobu signatures like black cod miso and wagyu beef at the restaurant and then you can zen out at the hotel spa. A real touch of luxury in the heart of East London.
Chiltern Firehouse
Chiltern Firehouse, the hotel and restaurant owned by Andre Balazs (the man behind Chateau Marmont and New York’s Mercer), is a popular celeb haunt – remember when every man and his dog was papped falling out of the restaurant circa 2014? It does however live up to the hype. The 5-star hotel, housed in a Grade II-listed former fire station, features 26 luxury suites, a secret smoking lounge and a restaurant overseen by Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes. The food (dishes include crab doughnuts, fried chicken with ranch, and chargrilled Iberico pork with poblano chilli) is great, the cocktail menu is bang on trend and the place looks amazing too.
Jane Austen’s brother Henry used to own a townhouse on Upper Berkeley Street and now the Grade II listed building has been turned into a boutique hotel named after him. Henry’s Townhouse has seven bedrooms, all with Georgian-inspired interiors courtesy of Russell Sage Studio and modern amenities like Nespresso coffee machines, flat-screen TVs, Dyson hairdryers and LA Bruket toiletries. Plus there’s a sharing table in the pantry kitchen where breakfast and private dinners are served as well as a cocktail snug, an outdoor terrace and a sitting room that pays homage to Jane Austen. The rooms are available to book individually or if you’re having a very fancy party (and you’ve got the dollar) you can hire the whole place for 14 people.
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