7 Chic Central London Hotel Stays

If you’re a fan of the classics, try The Stafford London. Found down an atmospheric alley, your first glimpse of the hotel is its pretty cobbled courtyard, surrounded by former 18th-century stables and hanging baskets. Inside, you’ll find comfortable rooms and suites with spacious living areas, huge beds and interesting artwork. As well as its restaurant – The Game Bird, headed up by Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin Allen – you’ll find The American Bar. An institution in its own right, The American Bar is regularly frequented by royalty, sporting legends and film stars and is best-known for having every available wall, surface and square inch of ceiling displaying an intriguing collection of artefacts, knick-knacks and signed celebrity photographs donated by patrons and guests over the years. It’s also the place to watch the Super Bowl in London every February. If wine’s more your thing, the hotel's 380-year-old wine cellars house up to 8,000 bottles of the finest wines, including many rare and precious vintages.

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With its handsome art-deco exterior, tail-coated doormen and Mayfair location, Claridge’s is the epitome of timeless elegance. Step through its impressive lobby and you’ll find bedrooms that are among the largest in London (we love the pretty-in-pink Bryan O’Sullivan Mayfair suites). Hand-stitched fabrics, antique furniture, marble bathrooms and luxurious details might not encourage you to leave your room, but the drinking and dining options here are renowned. In the centre of the Foyer & Reading Room, a striking Chihuly sculpture hangs like a chandelier and the walls are decked in original art deco mirrors. Its bar, The Painter’s Room, sits alongside the dark and glamorous Fumoir and the iconic Claridge’s Bar. With just 24 covers, the bar’s name pays homage to its space which was created in the 1930s with murals by renowned artist Mary Lea. More recent additions include the launch of the Claridge’s Spa, following a six-year project that saw teams of experts excavate five floors below; Claridge’s ArtSpace Café, a café designed by the renowned John Pawson with an Insta-ready patisserie counter and entry down to Claridge’s ArtSpace; plus, Claridge’s Restaurant, a striking space serving elite breakfasts and lunches worth lingering over.

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