London is cool again (and these six hotels prove it)

Step through the peachy townhouse door of Broadwick Soho and you’ll find yourself in a theatrical, avant-garde world where the staff greet you in jazzy leopard-print jackets. Masterminded by interior designer Martin Brudnizki, this place captures pure Soho glamour and is a maximalist’s dream. While the unique bedrooms demand a photograph of every corner – the mirrored mini bars with Torres crisps and other goodies are a highlight, as is the leopard-print wallpaper in the bathroom – the drama continues as you head downstairs. Follow the glowing neon sign to subterranean restaurant Dear Jackie, which channels Italian opulence (the amaretto tiramisu is not to be missed) and is a perfect spot for date night or catch-ups with friends.

However, the real magic happens at the hotel’s rooftop bar Flute, which offers wrap-around skyline views and a honeycomb-mirrored ceiling, and where bartenders in gold waistcoats shake up cocktails inspired by films shot in and around Soho. Even better? From now until August, Flute is hosting a summer residency with Morocco’s ultimate creative hangout, El Fenn. The terrace has been completely reimagined with El Fenn’s signature red-and-white stripes and giant suspended lanterns. Drop by to sip Marrakech Negronis, graze on lamb briouats and catch those holiday vibes in the heart of London.

High Life says: After soaking up the rooftop’s sensory collision of colours and flavours, guests can retreat to The Nook, a gorgeous clash of florals and velvet where you read a book or can spin vinyl curated by local Berwick Street record stores.

The moment you roll through those massive iron gates on High Holborn, the central London chaos just completely drops away. You’re left standing in a gorgeous, stately Edwardian courtyard that feels like a secret world. Rosewood London is a total masterclass in combining epic scale with quirky British personality, where interior design legend Tony Chi has breathed a sleek, contemporary soul into a grand 1914 landmark building. Honestly, the ultimate showstopper here is the breathtaking, seven-storey grand staircase made of solid Pavonazzo marble – it’s pure drama and practically begs you to stop for a photo. Upstairs, the bedrooms feel like an ultra-luxurious, moody city sanctuary, complete with slick lacquer furniture, impossibly plush linens and hidden, mirror-lined minibars packed with premium British snacks.

Downstairs, the ground floor is a theatrical destination all on its own. Follow the low-lit, copper-walled corridors to find Scarfes Bar, a buzzy, fire-lit drawing room named after the iconic political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe (his witty original caricatures cover the walls). A live jazz trio sets the vibe while bartenders shake up creative cocktails inspired by British pop culture. If you’re a fan of afternoon tea, the Mirror Room does a legendary, art-themed version that looks almost too pretty to eat. But for dinner, it’s all about the Holborn Dining Room, a grand brasserie full of red leather booths and home to the famous Pie Room. This place is a dedicated little pastry kitchen where chefs handcraft golden-crusted masterpieces that taste even better than they look.

High Life says: Make sure you swing by the Pie Room’s street-side hatch the next morning to grab a still-warm, gourmet sausage roll before heading off for a stroll around Covent Garden. 

Occupying the Grade II-listed former Bow Street magistrates’ court and police station in Covent Garden, NoMad London effortlessly marries Manhattan confidence with classic British heritage. The design team at Roman and Williams have created a moody, romantic triumph of plush red velvet drapes, a cosy residents-only library and over 1,600 curated artworks. You could easily spend all day exploring the sprawling, stunning interiors, but the ultimate stay requires checking into the wow-inducing Royal Opera House Suite, boasting incredible views, his-and-hers sinks and a mini-bar overflowing with treats. The atmosphere throughout the property is simultaneously electric and completely relaxed, making it all too easy to let the hours slip away.

For dining, head to the Insta-ready glass atrium restaurant, Twenty8, for dinner – though the venue truly shines at breakfast and brunch, where the light-as-air poppyseed pancakes are an absolute must. Later, grab a drink at Side Hustle, a super-fun neighbourhood pub serving up amazing margaritas (the 'Sergeant Pepper' is a firm favourite). To steep yourself in the building's history, wander the original corridors and peek into old holding cells at the hidden, on-site Bow Street Police Museum, which is well worth a visit.

High Life says: Ask very nicely if you can take a peek at the breathtaking ballroom, housed in one of the old magistrates' courts. It features a stunning bar and a ceiling meticulously painted to look like a magical night sky.

Situated in the creative enclave of Fitzrovia, The Newman is a hotel designed to be part of its neighbourhood, not just in it, with architecture inspired by the surrounding buildings. The property oozes Art Deco charm, and even features Virginia Woolf’s signature in the stairwell, while the walls are adorned with portraits of community residents.

Inside the rooms, triple-glazed Crittall windows block out the city noise, and custom headboard rungs are inspired by Nancy Cunard’s iconic bangles. Minibars are stocked with mindful adaptogen coffees and buckwheat teas, plus there are GHD styling tools and playful turndown gifts such as dice shakers or playing cards (plus an adorable trinket dish to take home). Downstairs, Brasserie Angelica focuses on live-fire, Scandi-inspired cooking – with the added luxury that every dish can be ordered straight to your room. The intimate Gambit Bar (named after The Queen’s Gambit) has chessboards on the tables and is primed for late-night drinks and live music. The experience is anchored by a subterranean spa using clean beauty products, complete with a salt halotherapy space, ice room, wellness classes and a recovery-focused gym.

High Life says: While all rooms delight with anatomē products (there's also the option to buy Kloris CBD treats) and bespoke illustrated tote bags, those looking to splash out should book the Penthouse for its walk-in wardrobe, outdoor sauna and vast, plant-walled terrace overlooking the BT Tower.

Perched right where the city’s financial hub collides with the creative chaos of the East End, Canopy by Hilton London City is basically the area’s cool younger sibling. It channels the artistic, industrial soul of Aldgate and Shoreditch, minus any pretentious hotel fluff. Instead of generic corporate décor, it champions a hyper-local approach, using sustainable textiles, bespoke woven fabrics and local artwork that give a stylish nod to the historic textile lanes right outside.

The ground floor is a total vibe, functioning as a buzzy spot to linger in where you can grab a killer artisan espresso by morning and rub shoulders with locals over a pint of East End craft beer by night. But the real star of the show is the rooftop terrace, offering sweeping skyline views alongside expertly shaken seasonal cocktails. It’s a brilliant, unpretentious launchpad for exploring the capital’s most creative pocket, whether you’re hunting for vintage treasures at Spitalfields or tracking down the latest street art. Plus, the staff are essentially walking neighbourhood cheat codes – always ready to point you towards a hidden gallery, a secret underground cocktail den or the absolute best Sunday morning bagel spot.

High Life says: Borrow one of the hotel’s complimentary, custom-designed bicycles from the lobby to explore the nearby vintage markets of Brick Lane like a true East London local.

A soothing stay at wellness wunderkind Six Senses London – inside Bayswater’s historic Whiteley’s building – will leave you feeling utterly reborn. At check-in, a herbal wisdom oracle card sets the scene (acting as an interactive ‘vibe check’) alongside home-brewed ginger kombucha, a fun nod to the building’s Victorian roots when founder William Whiteley sold his own ginger beer on this exact spot. The hotel’s butterfly mascot is everywhere, from homemade chocolate to knitted in-room dolls supporting habitat restoration. Design-wise, the lobby area houses a sweeping staircase surrounded by turtle footstools and lush plants, while rooms have a New York loft vibe with Crittall-style shower doors, pale teal tiles and wellness goodies including adaptogenic London Nootropics coffees and a cold-infusion lemongrass welcome drink (there’s also a sleepy serenity tea for turndown).

Don’t skip Whiteley’s Kitchen, a gorgeous, green velvet, conservatory-style space on the ground floor. Backed by a head of fermentation, the menu shines with milk kefir flatbreads, kimchi-jam hispi cabbage and a mind-blowing Marmite foam dessert. After boosting your vitamin levels, sneak upstairs to the exclusive, glass-roofed members’ lounge at Six Senses Place for a nightcap or to Whiteley’s Bar for inventive fusions (with or without alcohol, depending on your preference). Breakfast brings potent health shots and collagen-infused bone broth. Tip: grab a table in the central courtyard for alfresco dining on sunny mornings. Downstairs, the spa reception features a stunning installation of cascading porcelain droplets. Though the pioneering magnesium pool (the first of its kind in London) is still putting on its finishing touches, you can already sink into a traditional Turkish hammam or book a de Mamiel Lymphatic Body Reset.

High Life says: Pull up a stool at the Alchemy Bar, where a medical herbalist blends bespoke botanical tinctures and tailored herbal teas based on your health concerns. Be sure to try a glass of its peppery beetroot wine while you’re there.