London’s finest - five-star hotels in London that deliver the ultimate in luxury

The London Edition sits in one of my favourite London boroughs, Fitzrovia. It’s just a few streets from Oxford Street, Regent Street and oodles of shops, but it actually gives off a more serene, neighbourhood feel.

Inside, is everything you’d expect from a five star London hotel. A shiny black and white floor welcomes you into the eclectic lobby, where you can sink into a sumptuous green velvet sofa and sip on a Razzle Dazzle cocktail. A huge stainless steel orb hangs from the ceiling – art is scattered throughout the hotel. Punch Room bar is another interesting place to drink, designed with ancient dark wood panelling and giving off a members club vibe. They have some 30 varieties of punch, just try and make your way through those!

The restaurant is my favourite spot, it’s a beautiful inky toned space with an ornate 19th-century ceiling and hundreds of pictures hung on the walls, dinner here is like dining in an art gallery.

Rooms at The London Edition are beautifully refined. Minimalism is expertly implemented with oak floors, walnut walls and crisp white sheets, while the odd piece of fine art giving the place its eclectic edge (their in-room portraits have become somewhat of a talking point with guests, some think they’re a bit creepy, I think they’re awesome, you can always cover them up with a scarf!).

Soho Hotel‘s vibrant interior seems perfectly apt for this little corner of Soho, hidden just off Wardour Street in an old multi-storey car park. If you’re heading for theatreland, this is the place to be, but you’re also surrounded by a sprawling collection of restaurants, bars and boutiques.

Step inside Soho Hotel and you’ll immediately get an idea of what this five star London hotel is about. There’s a ten feet tall bronze cat to greet you, it’s a sculpture by Fernando Botero and definitely a sign of things to come from one of London’s coolest addresses.

Rooms are just as eclectic but with a homely feel, each is decorated differently and they include features such as patterned fabric headboards, quirky art on the walls, playful colour palettes and rustic furniture.

Head to Refuel for a Soho Spritz and dinner. This boldly decorated restaurant serves contemporary comfort food such as beer battered cod and chips and truffle mac and cheese. Local media types love this place, so be sure to reserve your table, and let the celeb watching commence…

Looking over Russell Square in a listed terracotta pile, recently refurbed Kimpton Fitzroy is one of London’s most exciting modern boutique hotels. Here, you’ll wake up right in the heart of London, with many rooms looking out over the square and lots of lovely nearby sights including the Brunswick Centre, Sir John Soane’s Museum and the British Museum.

Inside is a celebration of the Kimpton Fitzroy’s past, with grand stained glass windows and a brass dragon presiding over the staircase (I’m told his brother did a similar job on the Titanic, I think we can safely say his first week at work didn’t go so well). These are complemented by some opulent, modern touches, such as animal print lampshades and velvet banquet seating.

Head to the Neptune bar between 6-7pm for Oyster Happy Hour, you can devour half-price oysters and bottle shop price champagne, or you can enjoy some free bubbles during regular happy hour, between 5-6pm.

Bedrooms are elegant in their caramel and cream tones, art hangs on the walls, and bathrooms are an all white and marble affair, with gold accents just to remind you that you’re in the lap of luxury here.

Hipster haven The Ace Hotel sits in London’s Shoreditch, just a stone’s throw from lots of cool cafes, pop up restaurants and stylish shops.

Inside it’s a destination of its very own, with frequent music events in the basement bar, yoga on the roof terrace and a lobby that’s always filled with London locals on their laptops. I always feel fancy just walking into this hotel, its entrance leads in under a lightbulb laden ceiling, and inside you’re greeted by a cool haven of concrete, dark wood and chipboard.

Rooms at the Ace are achingly cool, design details include simple white walls, industrial lighting and mid-century modern furniture, and they have added extras like acoustic guitars, record players and stacks of vinyl. You can even buy most of what you see in the rooms in the hotel shop.

Housed in a former banking HQ and every bit as fancy as you’d expect, The Ned takes London city glamour to new heights.

This beautiful grand building has inspired a 1930s, opulent vibe, the Banking Hall is my favourite place, a sprawling space with black and white chequered floors, banquet seating, emerald green verdite columns, Grade I-listed tellers’ counters, a marble bar and a grand piano. It’s home to seven restaurants, Lottie’s bar with its pink scalloped booths gets my vote, but Malibu Kitchen is a mid-week treat with its Taco Tuesdays. Also vying for my favourite spot is Vault Bar, a member’s bar that you can visit as a hotel guest. It’s hidden in the former safety deposit box vault, behind a huge 20-tonne, metre-thick steel circular door. Inside you’ll find tufted seating, low lights and walls of locked boxes, it’s like no other place in London.

Rooms all have a vintage vibe, and suites are set in the former bank directors’ offices. They all ooze classic city chic styling, with features such as rich fabrics, 1930s style panelling, chintzy velvet furnishings and antique drinks cabinets with cut glass decanters and cocktail shakers. Wireless radios warble with old music, while flickering lights are designed especially to reflect 30s electricity – it’s all about the finer details here. Net-a-porter is also on speed dial from the retro bedside phones, shopaholics, you have been warned…

A classic London institution and one of the city’s timeless railway hotels, The Landmark London is a haven of colonial style thanks to its indoor winter garden atrium.

The lobby will transform you back to this hotel’s heyday from the off, which has been restored in honour of its original features. Expect lots of antique furniture, fine art on the walls, chandeliers and intricate frescos. It’s not all traditional here though, I’m impressed with its offering of superfood cocktails featuring ingredients such as cactus water and acai berries, it’s usually difficult to find something non-alcoholic, healthy and interesting to drink!

Outside you can discover the likes of London Zoo, Madame Tussauds and Regent’s Park, or you can sign up for the Landmark’s Duvet Day, Movie Night package for a great excuse to veg out in your room with a film and some gourmet popcorn.

Many of the hotel’s bedrooms look over the winter garden, its soaring palm trees and eight-story high glass roof. Rooms are decorated classically, with muted tones, cosy decor and luxe features such as cut crystal lamps, marble bathrooms and velvet curtains.

The spa is The Landmark’s hidden secret, with a 15m indoor pool, a jacuzzi and a sanarium (a slightly cooler sauna). There are plenty of treatment rooms so you can laze in luxury via innovative treatments such as Japanese Kobido Lifting Facials and exotic body exfoliations using eastern spices and resins. There’s also a relaxation room reserved exclusively for guests having treatments, you’d never guess you’re in the heart of the bustling Marylebone here.