| Blakes
Anouska Hempel's brilliant design and trendsetting sense is widely recognized throughout London. In this property, she has created a marvel out of a row of Victorian townhouses in "old" Kensington, just at the edge of Chelsea. Both lush and whimsical with billowy, gauzy curtains framing beds that might be made of an Egyptian funeral barge or a Venetian gondola, the hotel promises privacy to its famous guests... and because of this "paparazzi guard," it is highly sought after as a hip, cool, private place to stay. Some of the standard doubles and singles are really, really, REALLY tiny. The deluxe rooms and suites are much nicer.
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| Charlotte Street Hotel
One of the nicest things about this 52-guestroom hotel is that it IS hip, but it isn't pretentious. It's quietly, elegantly cool. Located between Soho and Bloomsbury, just a few short blocks from Oxford Street shopping, the hotel boasts lovely bedrooms and suites with bathrooms you can live in. All granite and oak, with bidet, separate tubs and showers, and even mini color televisions, they feature Molton Brown toiletries. The usual room amenities are included, of course, but the hotel thoughtfully provides a DVD/VCR player in the rooms as well. The business crowd isn't forgotten either, with two-line telphones, data ports, and large work desks. You can be hip and productive at the same time. Location Map
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| The Gore, 1892 Hotel
Created from two Italianate mansions, this small, elegant hotel's aim is to recreate the Victorian ambiance of the original properties. The 53 guestrooms are filled with antiques, but modern amenities have made their way into the accommodations. Baths are luxurious - some of them paneled in rich mahogany - and all have hair dryers and modern plumbing. Some of the rooms have balconies overlooking Queensgate. This eccentric little hotel is located within a 10-minute walk of Harrods and Hyde Park, right behind the Royal Albert Hall. Location Map
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| Great Eastern
This luxury hotel, a Wyndham Hotels property, was created from a Victorian-era bank building in the heart of "the City," London's financial district. Two floors were added in the makeover, contemporary in style, with high ceilings and porthole windows, while the rest of the hotel retains its Victorian ambiance. Limestone and chrome baths include mini-televisions; rooms have DVD and CD players, high speed Internet access, down duvets and Frette linens. With 269 rooms and suites, four restaurants and four bars, this trendy hotel is a destination in itself. Location Map
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| The Halkin
This wonder of a little hotel melds New Age philosophy with London chic. Air, Earth, Wind, Fire and Sky are the themes for each floor of the property; the 33 rooms and suites are designed for calm and stress-free relaxation. The top floor's rooms have concave ceilings for a soothing, "cocoon-like" atmosphere. Luxurious bathrooms are clad in marble, with separate shower and bath and über-upscale Bvlgari toiletries. Three telephones, a private fax number and Internet data point are just some of the room amenities included. The hotel is located in trendy Belgravia, just a short walk to Harrods and Harvey Nick.Location Map
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| Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
This grand hotel of stunningly beautiful Victorian architecture sits facing the juncture of Knightsbridge Road, Brompton Road and Sloan Street, across from Harvey Nichols, a few steps from Harrod's, and with its back facing the leafy paths of Hyde Park. All of its 200 guestrooms and suites have been meticulously restored; its bar is one of the hottest places in town. This is where British queens learned to dance in the grand ballrooms, and where pop stars choose to stay when visiting London today, not least because the hotel boasts the best and most exclusive spa in all of Britain. See our PHOTO ALBUM. Location Map
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| The Metropolitan
You might belong here if you have 'TUDE, and an appreciation for what has been referred to as "desperately trendy." Although the contemporary, minimalist decor is appealing, and the bathrooms are done in pearwood, featuring elegant bath products, and the location is great being equally distant from both Old Bond Street and the shops of Knightsbridge, The Metropolitan's snooty aspect is not for everyone. It is, on the other hand, THE in-spot to catch a celeb or two hanging out at the "members-only" bar, admittance to which is generously offered to hotel guests. Location Map
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| Sanderson
According to GQ magazine, this is "The hippest hotel in the world..." While that may or may not be true, it's certainly lauded as the hippest hotel in London, with the fashion and rock 'n roll crowd waiting to be seen in its chic lobby and trendy Purple Bar. The Ian Schrager/Philippe Starck hotel has 150 guestrooms with unique features: transparent glass bath enclosures with flowing silk privacy drapes, wide-screen Sony TVs, a fitness area in each room, silver and white 450-count Egyptian cotton bedsheets... there's a holistic spa, Agua, which also designed the bath amenities. Yes, it's pricey, but it's THE place to be. Location Map
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| St. Martin's Lane
Ian Schraeger brought his sense of fun and whimsy to London with this redevelopment of a 1960s office building into a 204 guestroom hotel. Everything is white, but the rooms have "mood modifier" lighting so you can turn your space into any color you want. It's trés hip, and you pay big for the privilege. Location Map
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