London is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and frequented cities around the globe. Rich with history and heritage, England’s capital city welcomes millions of visitors every month. From the old to the new, London is oozing with all the luxury you could want, from national museums, to Michelin star restaurants, to botanical gardens, to five-star hotels, and so much more. Luxury finds itself in the historic and traditional, and in the modern and contemporary in this ever-bustling metropolis. With so much to choose from, we have compiled just a few of the best, most luxurious experiences for you.
Where to stay
Whether it’s for a spontaneous whirlwind weekend visit or a 2-week long immersive vacation, London has everything for your luxurious accommodation needs.
The world-famous Savoy hotel is the only luxury hotel located right on the banks of the Thames. This renowned hotel, which first opened in 1889, boasts a beautiful Edwardian-meets-Art-Déco style throughout its 195 guest rooms and 73 suites, as well as some of London’s best-known restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill and the American Bar (the oldest surviving cocktail bar in Britain and largely regarded as the one of the best in the world). The Savoy even caters for all beauty and fitness regimes with a pool, gym, sauna and steam rooms, and spa treatments. From Hollywood royalty to actual royalty, this lavish hotel has greeted the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn, Winston Churchill and Edward, Prince of Wales through its doors – so why not you next?
Verified in the World’s Most Luxurious Hotels in the Forbes Travel Guide 2018, and voted the Number 1 Top Luxury Hotel in Europe in 2019 by TripAdvisor, Hotel 41 offers exquisite accommodation with views over the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. Each of the 30 rooms and suites slip into a consistent stylish black and white theme with double and king size beds available. Five different restaurants and bars within the hotel offer visitors a range of international cuisines and beverages, from Indian and African flavours in The Curry Room, to 200 whiskies and sushi in the Leopard Bar. As such a small and prestigious hotel, you are sure to feel a sense of intimacy and exclusivity during your stay here.
If you are looking for something a little bit different for your stay in London, we have just the place. Go from land to sea on the Sunborn London Yacht Hotel. Located a little further from the city centre in the Docklands, this unique hotel offers you a different perspective of the exciting city, with perhaps a little less noise. The sleek and elegant exterior of this superyacht screams luxury. With 10,000m2 of pristine and polished floorspace, the Sunborn offers guest rooms and suites, a champagne and cigar lounge, a restaurant, a bar and the Symphony spa, all with a beautiful sea view.
Finally, for those seeking a more personalised experience, staying in short-term rentals in London offers a wonderful alternative. These accommodations provide the flexibility to live like a local, with the comfort and amenities of a home away from home. Whether you’re nestled in a charming neighbourhood or amidst the bustling city, short-term rentals allow you to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and lifestyle that London uniquely offers, all while enjoying a more intimate and personal stay.
Where to eat
With a restaurant to cater to any and all cravings you could possibly have located practically on your doorstep in London, food is of no shortage in this city. Ranked as one of the top fine dining cities in the world, the 70 Michelin starred restaurants here are sure to credit this.
For those with a more acquired taste, The Araki in Mayfair is an intimate, ten-seat sushi restaurant with a limited, but stunning, set menu. With only two sittings a day (6pm and 8:30pm) and a dining experience that last over 2 hours, this is one of only three restaurants in London that have been awarded three of the coveted Michelin stars.
Core by Clare Smyth is located in the heart of Notting Hill and first opened in 2017. In 2019, the restaurant received two Michelin stars as a new entry and Clare herself has received the World’s Best Female Chef Award by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. After leaving Restaurant Gordan Ramsay, Clare created an elegant and informal dining experience of her own, sourcing her produce from the best British farms and producers – a restaurant that values sustainability as well as beautiful food.
The Ritz London in Piccadilly is mostly recognised for its reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious and well-known hotels, but it is also home to the Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant, considered by many to be the most beautiful dining room in the world. In the Ritz you can enjoy gourmet cooking from seasonal menus that use the best of British produce, all the while surrounded by a breath-taking décor. The Ritz really is a symbol of high society and luxury.
What to see and do
There is an endless number of things to see and do in this great city. Our recommendation is to see as much as you can in the time you have, from the moment you get there until the moment you leave, and if it’s your luggage that’s holding you back, we even have that sorted. LuggageHero is a premium luggage storage service in London that allows you to drop your bags at one of the conveniently distributed stores – whether that’s before check in when you arrive or after check out before you leave – so you can do as much exploring as possible without your luggage weighing you down. For more information on LuggageHero as well as the likes of Stasher and Nannybag, we suggest reading this in-depth guide about luggage storage in London.
London is a city full of museums: if you have an interest in art there is the Tate Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate Modern; if you like history there is the National History Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the London Transport Museum; even if you’d just like something a bit more light-hearted you have Madame Tussauds, the museum of life like wax figures. There is a museum for everyone in this city.
If you are a fan of stage productions, look to the West End. With countless musical and drama performances happening every day and night you are sure to find something you love. Perhaps an infamous musical like Les Misérables? Or a dance orientated performance like Stomp? Or even just a straight play like The Woman in Black? Day or night, London has your fix of live shows.
If the hustle and bustle of this dazzling city gets just a bit too much, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is just a 40-minute train ride away. With the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world”, this experience will be just what you need to escape to somewhere even more magical.
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