London’s new wave of luxury hotels

The UK capital is set for a boom in five-star hotels in 2023, as world-leading hospitality brands plan openings in some of the city’s most prime locations. Here’s our pick of London’s new luxury hotels to book for your next trip.

Raffles London at the OWO

Scheduled to open in London’s springtime, between March and June 2023, is Raffles London at the OWO. It signifies the first Raffles property in London, in an enviable location within the Old War Office, built in 1906, on the corner of Whitehall and Horse Guards Avenue. Legendary characters of history have walked the halls of the building, including Sir Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming, inspired by his time as a liaison officer in the OWO to create the James Bond character and timeless spy novels. Its 120 rooms and suites have been designed by New York-based French architect and interior designer, Thierry Despont. Stay for the 11 restaurants and bars helmed by leading chefs and mixologists, with some that overlook the Mall and Buckingham Palace; a four-storey Guerlain Wellness Centre; or the 20m indoor infinity pool. Sought-after suites will be in the building’s corner turrets, offering vistas over Horse Guards and St. James’s Park. Katrina Holden

The Peninsula London

The highly anticipated Peninsula London will open in 2023, marking the brand’s first hotel in the UK. Set in Belgravia on Hyde Park Corner the property will occupy one of London’s most prestigious addresses overlooking Buckingham Palace. In addition to 190 guest rooms and suites, 25 luxury residences will be available for private ownership, reflecting an increasing trend in residential accommodation within luxury hotel developments. The architecture and design of the completed hotel will reflect the distinctive heritage and grandeur of Belgravia. Acclaimed designer Peter Marino is conceptualising the interiors for the project, which will include a collonaded courtyard lobby and other features that reflect the location’s heritage and grandeur. Luxe amenities will include restaurants, a spa and wellness centre, and a grand ballroom.

The BoTree

Set between the elegant neighbourhoods of Mayfair and Marylebone, The BoTree will open in July 2023 with 199 rooms and 29 suites. A member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection, the property will have two restaurants, including one with rooftop city views, a live music club, a boutique screening room, and a fitness centre, among other amenities. Amsterdam-based designer Concrete is leading the design of the property, with guest spaces finished in colourful natural fabrics and dynamic textures. Each room will feature a welcome space separated by sliding panels that lead to bathroom and lounge areas to provide additional privacy. Suites will range from 31m² to 78m², each with a lounge, balcony, personal bar, and integrated cocktail station. An expansive presidential suite is set to have a private elevator lobby, guest entrance, and an outdoor terrace, with the possibility to include adjoining suites to create a 350m² private wing.

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Mandarin Oriental’s second hotel in the capital will open in Spring 2023 as a boutique sister to the brand’s fabled hotel in Knightsbridge, overlooking Hyde Park. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair will be set in the heart of Hanover Square with 50 guestrooms and 78 private residences, as well as the first restaurant in the UK from the award-winning chef, Akira Back. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (whose other renowned projects have included the ‘Cheesegrater’ building in the City of London and Paris’ Pompidou Centre) is leading the design of the building, with interiors conceptualised by Tokyo-based Curiosity. Unique furnishings curated by Curiosity Founder Gwenael Nicolas will be complemented by artworks created by British artists in the hotel spaces, while guest rooms have been designed by Studio Indigo in a British style. A spa will feature a 25-metre swimming pool, sauna, vitality pool, relaxation room, and curated wellness treatments.

Six Senses London

Located in the leafy West London neighbourhood of Bayswater, close to Hyde Park and Kensington Palace, Six Senses is set to open its first UK hotel in 2023 within the Art Deco building that was formerly Whiteleys department store. The hotel will feature 110 guest rooms and suites, starting from 33m², as well as 14 branded residences. A sensitive renovation project is being led by British architectural firm Foster + Partners, which is renowned for its responsible approach to design. The original Grade II façade, central courtyard and dome will be preserved along with the centrepiece internal staircase, which is modelled on the La Scala Opera House in Milan. Interiors are being designed by AvroKO in collaboration with EPR architects to combine modern touches with the building’s art deco detailing. A lobby bar and lounge, an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen, and courtyard seating will be available for guests in an expansive lobby space. In keeping with Six Senses’ emphasis on wellness, a signature spa will be set in a space reminiscent of an old-fashioned tube station, with varying environments offering different wellbeing experiences. A fitness space will be set over 325m², complemented by a 20m swimming pool, and a relaxation room; while upstairs, a social and wellness club will feature co-working spaces, a restaurant and wellness rooms, and a bar and lounge.

Coming in 2024

St. Regis London

Marriott International will open a St. Regis hotel in Mayfair in 2024, set in the former Westbury Mayfair Hotel on the corner of Bond Street and Conduit Street. The design of the 196-key property is being led by Peter Newman-Earp of Morrison Design with interiors by Richmond International. The iconic Polo Bar restaurant, which was originally designed for the Phipps family, creators of the Westbury in London and New York, will be retained for the new hotel.

Park Hyatt London River Thames

Expected to open in early 2024, the Park Hyatt will return to London on the banks of the Thames, within the One Nine Elms precinct opposite Westminster. The hotel will feature 203 rooms and suites, with the design being led by Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) and Allies and Morrison and interiors by Super Potato.