The best four-star hotels in London, England offer exceptional value and oodles of style

A city as vast and varied as London routinely stacks itineraries no matter what your notch. First-timers are served a dizzying array of world-famous sights; returners have a labyrinth of entertainment venues and eateries to navigate; and locals are forever uncovering under-the-radar gems. So in this big smoke, a five-star hotel stay may seem a bit of a waste to the busy explorer. Do you really need turndown service when you’re out all day? Opt, instead, for one of the best four-star hotels in London and enjoy plush amenities and designer decor.

The best four-star hotels in London, England

1. The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush

East may have all the cool but now that West has a Hoxton that’s all changed. The Shepherd’s Bush edition of the famed brand opened in 2022, giving artfully minded travellers a base to explore the likes of Shepherd’s Bush Market, the Empire, Portobello, Notting Hill, and Westfield.

237 retro bedrooms are inspired by this diverse neighbourhood, blushed with scalloped motifs, warm-toned timbers, and pistachio walls. ‘Cosy’ or ‘Snug’ in name and nature. Hoxton regulars will spot works from London artist Laura Wickstead. Bathrooms come with signature Blank products.

What’s special about this Hox is the delicious Thai-Americana offering for dinner. Chet’s serves fiery flavours, spicy shakes, and natural wines. You won’t find fried Khao Soi better anywhere else in the city. This all-day destination is also a breakfast spot (unless you decide on the trusted brekkie bag to-go). Try a cocktail from the central wraparound bar, or flex that Dis-loyalty card for a coffee in the lobby. Nobody checks into a Hox just to sleep.

Find out more about The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush

2. Hotel AMANO Covent Garden

A chance to charm travellers with an interest in design, date-worthy hangouts, and quality gastronomy. For those unfamiliar, AMANO is a Berlin-based hotelier, and this is their first British foray. You wouldn’t know it though—they’re integrated into each city’s culture and it feels like a Covent Garden fixture. 

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, and Daluma products and robes accompany all soaks. Every boudoir is soundproofed for a restful sleep within king-sized beds. Digital check-in and out pick-up pace.

AMANO Rooftop Bar is a gem, DJ soundtracked and showcasing London from an alternative vantage point, one off the beaten lift button. 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

3. 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 sumptuous, 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 the spellbinding experience with overnights in a lower-ground wizard chamber. A cinema is also available for movie magic

Find out more about Georgian House Hotel

4. Sunborn London

For a unique East London experience, hop aboard Sunborn, the UK’s one and only super yacht hotel. Here, you’re offered a platter of maritime delights. Think water views to an O2 Arena backlit by Canary Wharf and plush wide cabins reminiscent of a boutique cruise.  There are 138 rooms, ranging from standard guestrooms to executive suites carrying private sundecks. All guests enjoy the mainstays: Prija exotics for the bathroom, Lavazza and Twinings for the brew drawer, and soft whites from rail to bed. Thick, for London chill. Icon photography adds to Sunborn’s city aesthetic, you’re, after all, docked (permanently) at the Royal Victoria Docks. 

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.  

Find out more about Sunborn London

5. The Stratford

Stratford’s good enough reason to stay on the Central Line, thanks to heavyweight attractions and this, the area’s most luxurious hotel. Seven floors of Manhattan-style glamour tower beside Westfield, where Easties come to play. They’re refuelling on hangouts like sky terrace Allegra, ground floor Kitchen E20, and the Mezzanine cocktail bar. 

Overnight guests choose from 145 rooms, spanning intimate Standard to Manhattan Studio. They have a Scandinavian cool about them, and pendant fixtures and bold fabric furnishings add pizazz. Standing smart TVs are Chromecast compatible, and there are pod coffee machines and tea kettles. Bed sides also have snazzy native Union wireless chargers. In the bathroom you’ll find a pastel and stone colour scheme, with Rituals for the cleanse. On floor M, the gym’s where to work off Stratford feasting. Equipment comes from Technogym, and there are private studios for personal training and fitness classes. 

Find out more about The Stratford

6. citizenM London Bankside Hotel

citizenM is one for the work hard, play hard. Check-in at Bankside and be productive in the name of sights, catching up, and business.  There are 192 smart rooms at this property, one of four London outposts, splashed with contemporary art and bold and bright furnishing. Rooms are admittedly on the smaller side, but they’re cleverly designed in a way that space is maximised. What do you expect for such a prime location? XL king-sized beds full of bounce make clear that sleep’s the thing citizenM takes seriously. Showers come with adjustable mood lighting at the touch of your trusted iPad.

Food and beverage options are available 24/7 from canteenM, including grab-and-go counter and a buffet breakfast served daily 6-11 am. There is no gym, but guests can borrow or stream workout videos, though, it’s likely that your typical citizenM’er gets more than enough physical exertion in a day.

Find out more about citizenM London Bankside Hotel

7. Mama Shelter London Shoreditch 

Mama Shelter is high-energy and vibrantly coloured from graphic carpet to graffiti ceiling. Playful touches, like cartoon masks dangling in-room, ‘Mama says’ advice, and karaoke, encourage guests to unleash a cheeky side. Mama Restaurant’s one of the places to let loose, and she cooks up a scrumptious, and generously portioned, British Sunday roast FYI. A central bar and garden bar also offer room to kick back, and there are games (table football and classic arcades).

You’ll find here a steady mix of pals, couples, and singles—the funseekers. 194 rooms accommodate any party configuration, including triple singles, stylized as a box of Liquorice allsorts. Bold prints, free movies (including the sexy variety), and backlit mirroring bring pop tour vibes. When you’re ready to rest, use Mama’s frothy bar of shampoo and soap, before finding refuge deep in king-size. Though you’re in the heart of Shoreditch, these rooms are well-proofed for quality shut-eye. 

Find out more about Mama Shelter London Shoreditch 

8. The Waldorf Hilton, London

There are plenty of Hilton-branded hotels in London, but The Waldorf’s their most special. Dating back to 1908 and graced with Edwardian grandeur, guests are treated to a visual spectacle from Aldwych pavement.  Beyond the lobby, it’s the Hilton that Honors clubbers know in a style that leans more on traditional business. The decor is neutral for the mind’s focus, with signature brand blues on a number of furniture pieces. Black and white stage siren photography pays homage to the heyday of West End glitz. 

Bathrooms are stocked with Temple Spa amenities, and plain white robes and slippers are provided. For a workout, follow the lower ground route to next door’s gym managed by Fitness First. Indoor pool sauna and steam rooms are available. Breakfast is held on the ground floor British restaurant, Homage.

Find out more about The Waldorf Hilton, London

9. Good Hotel London

Good in name, good in nature. This hotel’s all about giving back. 100% of profits go toward causes ranging The Good Global Foundation, and The Good Training Program, which trains local residents out of unemployment. Operational focus is centred around sustainability too—all guests need to do is check-in and sleep to make a difference. 

Once a derelict building floating in The Netherlands, the vessel was towed all the way to London’s Victoria Docks and given a new lease of life as a hotel. It’s industrial chic with contemporary art, storyboards, and some good humour. A large open plan Living Room offers an inviting space for the community to mingle and co-work, and a rooftop bar offers O2 views when the weather holds up.  There are 148 rooms on board, including waterside view rooms with Nordic scenes. None of them have televisions, welcoming true tech disconnect. Instead, bring a book or simply enjoy the water views. Free unlimited Wi-Fi’s available if you absolutely must tag the laptop along. 

Find out more about Good Hotel London

10. The Hoxton Southwark

Like the Blackfriars Road inhabitants it’s situated amongst, The Hoxton Southwark successfully marries millennial cool with business chic. All 192 rooms beam with Thames-side light and rustic industrial materials harmonized 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. 

The hot seat is up at Seabird, Hox’s 14th-floor rooftop restaurant, for delicious Shard views and an extensive oyster list for the slurp. The lobby restaurant, Albie, is one of those all-day spots that backdrops remote working laptops, publicist meetings, and after-work wine. Multi-functional meeting space and a coworking office round off the excellent amenities. Some could say they’re comparable to Soho House, without the chi-chi.

Find out more about The Hoxton Southwark

11 Malmaison London

Malmaison is a hotel that feels like a (plush) personal home. Farringdon, being a hearty mix of business, pleasure, and boutique residential, is one contributing factor. Inside ‘maison’ are 97 rooms and suites thoughtful to the last detail; little treats of Ferrero Rocher and intriguing shelf literature are at your perusal, sat amongst bold, pop art pieces and velvety fabrics that scream cuddles… and whatever else. 

Monsoon showers foam with Arron Aromatics to remedy any big day out, and of course, signature Malmaison Sealy Posturepedic beds covered in Egyptian cotton are nighttime soothers. The tech is up-to-date and easy to use, and the room comes with a handy tip sheet on how to be a greener guest. Don’t miss The Malmaison Bar & Grill downstairs, a neon-lit modern British restaurant with exceedingly good prices for this area. 

Find out more about Malmaison London

12. Richmond Hill Hotel

A rare chance to breathe, really breathe, in London, Richmond may be in zone four, but Richmond Hill Hotel feels planets away from smoke and concrete. You’re veiled by the sweet sound of nature: ancient oak trees, free-roaming red deer, and an abundance of bird species make up some of Royal Richmond Park’s beloved inhabitants. 

There are two themes of room; the Hill Collection, a snuggle feast of luxury down duvets; and the Georgian Collection; combining heritage notes with clean lines to catch every ounce of natural light. Both are well equipped with Elemis skincare, Samsung TVs, and mini fridge. Underfloor heating aids winter. Dogs are welcome, and parking is free. On-site eaterie, 144 On The Hill, offers season-driven all-day dining.

Find out more about Richmond Hill Hotel

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