Tried and tested, these are the most romantic hotels in London for special occasions

London is a city with romance beating through its streets. It’s hard not to feel enchanted when wandering along the cobbled pavements of old London Bridge, browsing boutiques in Notting Hill, or wining and dining in the glitzy West End. The hotels too, provide the base for a romantic getaway. These sumptuous stays have just the spa treatments, deep soaking bathtubs, champagne bars, and glorious views to make any occasion that extra bit more special. Whether checking in with the spouse on your anniversary, romancing a new squeeze, or hanging with the bestie on Galentine’s Day, you’ll fall head over heels in love with the best romantic hotels in London.

The best romantic hotels in London, England

1. Flemings Mayfair

Flemings is an exquisite boutique experience through and through. This is one of the oldest family-owned hotels in the city, dating back to 1851 when it was converted from 13 Georgian townhouses. From concierge to turn-down service to the recently Michelin-anointed Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, every interaction is flawless. 

All 129 rooms and suites are a chic blend of modern Art Deco style touched with Georgian elegance. Each is a plush Mayfair boudoir that exudes romance. Bespoke furniture in silver-stained fiddle-back sycamore, wireless and modern connectivity throughout, soothing grey slate bathrooms heated by marble mosaic floors, and The White Company essentials, are just some of the elements of the overnight experience. Studio suites and apartments have gin ‘honesty’ bars with premium gins, fine tonics, and bitters. Though, if you prefer a professional to do the mixing, swanky Manetta’s Bar is a top choice pre- or post-extravaganza at Ormer or afternoon tea in The Drawing Room. 

Find out more about Flemings Mayfair

2. The Londoner

Leicester Square, previously just a destination for film premieres, today the stars are staying beyond the promotional trail thanks to The Londoner. This super boutique hotel towers with 16 storeys of regal navy facade. 350 rooms, six concept eateries and bars, a member’s club-style private area, cinemas, and an expansive wellness retreat are for guest pleasure. Rooms are stylised in modern neutral tones with British touches. Enjoy twinkling views via an inviting chaise and a cup of East India Company tea, or roll the blinds up in the comfort of your handcrafted Vispring king bed.  Original pieces by Edd Pearman and The Connor Brothers add character.

Couples: snag a table at Whitcomb’s, a sexy Mediterranean escape to feast with a glass of Gusbourne. It particularly swoons pre-theatre. Or treat yourselves with a spa treatment at The Retreat (or at least a dip in the 25-metre pool). 

Find out more about The Londoner 

3. The Lanesborough London

Art museum or hotel? The Lanesborough London is a welcome trick. This is the former home of Viscount Lanesborough given an Oetker Collection makeover. Breeze through hallways draped in fine art and lined with sculpture, right up to your boudoir which itself is an extension of the regal social spaces.

Each room is outfitted with neo-classical touches, embroidery, and chandeliers for a fairytale stay. Smart TVs are cleverly concealed behind a framed painting to turn the room back in time once digital devices have done their job, and heated marble bathrooms remind you to give thanks to modern genius. 

The Lanesborough Grill is the revamped home of Exec Chef Shay Cooper’s exquisite British gastronomy. Don’t miss the Beef Wellington, and if you’ve space, spill lunch into afternoon tea. A huge wellness centre, located basement level, provides a sumptuous (and heavily awarded) retreat for 360-degree R&R. 

Find out more about The Lanesborough London

4. Royal Lancaster London

Sometimes you need a hideaway that’s close to everything yet feels like a city escape. Enter the Royal Lancaster London. It’s just a brisk stroll from Kensington Palace, overlooking Hyde Park, an extra romantic destination when the festive lights twinkle at Winter Wonderland.  All 411 rooms and suites at this independent gem are recently renovated with a soothing classic palate, alongside modern desk-side and bed-side tech, and marble bathrooms stocked with bespoke Jo Loves products. Not to mention the impressive city or garden views.

This is British sophistication at its best, and the service is always impeccable, resulting in a forever loyal guest list. Dining options include the long-running and deliciously authentic Nipa Thai, and spa treatments can be ordered to room thanks to the hotel’s partnership with London Serenity.

Find out more about Royal Lancaster London 

5. Pan Pacific London

For swooning in the style of a Crazy Rich Asians rom-com, check your love into Pan Pacific London, a gleaming tower in the heart of FiDi Square Mile. Opened in 2021, this is the Singaporean luxury brand’s first foray into Europe, sprinkling Asian hospitality and attention to detail, design, and of course gastronomy, on the traveler’s British plate.  There are 237 guestrooms, including 42 suites and a signature Pan Pacific Suite, each basking in natural light and inspiring city views via floor-to-ceiling windows, which guests comfortably enjoy in the company of robes, Diptyque pamper products, and fine Chinese teas.

All-Day dining restaurant, Straits Kitchen, celebrates the flavours from the Straits of Malacca—the soft shell crab brings out the theatrics. Meanwhile, The Orchid Lounge serves afternoon tea, and there’s a Ginger Lily Bar with an outside terrace. A dedicated wellness floor on level four is a tranquil escape for two—with an 18.5-metre infinity pool, treatment rooms, relaxation pods, studios, saunas, and steam rooms at your service. 

Find out more about Pan Pacific London

6. The Clermont

The Clermont London, Charing Cross is a four-star hotel that oozes five-star luxe. You’ll notice that the moment you witness their grand staircase, a ballroom-esque spiral plucked right out of a Ritz. Clermont’s history dates back to the 1800s, originally built as a status symbol for a wealthy railway firm, today marvellously kept to stand in line alongside modern hoteliers.

The location, steps from Trafalgar Square and the big city greats, is unbeatable, and rooms are tranquil despite the outside buzz. This is helped by a calming neutral palette, a classic harmonious design, and all the amenities you’d need to hideout: Nespresso machine, essential oil-infused toiletries, complimentary mini-bar with wine, beer, and spirits (yes, really!), and fluffy robes you never want to take off. Service is exceptional: add impressive views and a very fair rate, and you’ll be back again and again.

Find out more about The Clermont

7. Georgian House Hotel

Georgian House Hotel is the kind of London boutique build you see in the movies; blending Victorian charm in a fashionable townhouse style, the Grade II-listed property is romance all corners. 63 rooms and apartments are uniquely decorated, including classy doubles that feature original 19th-century notes uplifted with a contemporary palette and modern functions like USB charging and Smart TVs. The White Company goodies make the bathroom extra inviting, and post-soak, fluffy robes, and slippers await. 

A breakfast selection comprising a la carte and buffet options is served every day in the Pimlico Pantry. Afternoon tea, themed to wizardry, is served on weekends, and guests can extend spellbinding endeavours with overnights in a lower-ground wizard chamber. A cinema is also available to get lost in movie magic.

Find out more about Georgian House Hotel

8. Great Scotland Yard Hotel

A townhouse turned luxury hotel, Great Scotland Yard is hidden behind the bustle of Whitehall, and that means it’s conveniently located by London’s biggest landmarks from Big Ben to Trafalgar Square. Couples travelling with kids can opt for the two-bedroom residence; a separate wing with a private entrance and five stories so each member has ample space, particularly the parents. Ekstedt at The Yard is the flagship hotel restaurant, but we love afternoon tea in The Parlour. Look out for seasonal themes: camera rolls will need to tuck in first.

Read our review on Great Scotland Yard Hotel.

Find out more about Great Scotland Yard Hotel

9. Hotel Café Royal

For over 150 years, Café Royal has welcomed notable names in history, from Princess Diana to Winston Churchill, so it’s only right that the hotel it has become today should house guests with equally discerning taste. Despite the historic exterior running along Regent Street right up to the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, inside you’ll discover a beautifully modern contrast. 

Sleek hallways infuse Far East Zen with European comfort, as key touchpads lead guests into contemporary rooms panelled in fumed English Oak, and there are Carrara marble bathrooms for the soaking. Dining options include Cakes & Bubbles by the ‘World’s Best Pastry Chef’, Albert Adrià, and the bucket list-worthy, Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal; while the underground spa is a sanctuary in the heart of the city.

Find out more about Hotel Café Royal

10. Shangri-La The Shard, London

Occupying 18 floors of the tallest building in the capital, every room at the Shangri-La radiates with observatory-level views no matter what tier you fall upon. Select rooms and suites even feature window-adjacent bathtubs for the sexiest of soaks. Think postcard views of St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge as you lather in Jo Loves bubbles, or sip on the Laurent Perrier variety. 

52 stories high is another wet deck in the clouds: the infinity Sky Pool, officially the highest hotel pool in Western Europe. It sits alongside a Sky Sauna and expansive gym. When hunger pangs hit, the British-Asian restaurant, TING (level 35), and GONG bar (level 52), continue the feast for all the senses.

Find out more about Shangri-La The Shard, London

11. Sunborn London

For a unique East London couples experience, hop aboard Sunborn, the UK’s one and only super yacht hotel. It has a platter of maritime delights, like water views to an O2 Arena backlit by Canary Wharf, and plush wide cabins reminiscent of a boutique cruise. 

Lands End is the ship’s signature restaurant, allowing casual attire for comfort and therefore retaining cruise perks. After your Sunborn Fish ‘n’ Chips, mosey upstairs to the terrace and perch inside (or outside) the gin and champagne bar, a glorious way to soak distant sky traffic of DLR and cable car movement across the arena. Sunborn’s London’s low-key treasure, a quirky staycation for locals, and an alternative city escape for the repeat overseas visitor. 

This unique stay also features on our list of the world’s best boat hotels.

Find out more about Sunborn London

12. Hotel AMANO Covent Garden

A chance to charm lovers with an interest in design, date-night hangouts, and quality gastronomy. For those unfamiliar, AMANO is a Berlin-based hotelier, and this is their first British foray. 141 rooms have a lounge feel, with black and gold colour scheme and contemporary tech. Goldy Rooms come with freestanding golden bathtubs by the window.

AMANO Rooftop Bar is a Covent Garden gem, DJ soundtracked and showcasing London from an alternative vantage point, one off the beaten lift button. Try the signature The Rooftop cocktail, spiked with Grey Goose and Champagne. Penelope’s on the ground floor serves a duet of the Middle East and the Mediterranean, including a baklava cheesecake to change your life. 

Find out more about Hotel AMANO Covent Garden

13. The Hoxton Southwark

The Hoxton Southwark successfully marries millennial cool with business chic. All 192 rooms beam with Thames-side light and rustic industrial materials harmonised by velvet furnishings. There’s plenty of eye candy: Jealous Gallery-curated art and provoking literature pepper each room. They’re small, but you came for the social spaces, which are where it’s at. Head up to the hot seat, Seabird, Hox’s 14th-floor rooftop restaurant, for delicious Shard views and an extensive oyster list for the slurp.

But wait, there’s more…

• If you’re thinking of hitting the West End, consider the iconic The Savoy
• Spoil your love at one of our favourite restaurants in London
• Travelling with little ones? Here’s our pick of the best family hotels in London