14 of the best hotels with a view in London The Times Faith Strickland | Yasmin Choudhury 14 of the best hotels with a view in London Whether you're seeking a fresh perspective on the city's architectural wonders or all-out luxury overlooking Buckingham Palace, London has a hotel to suit — binoculars optional Radio rooftop bar at ME by Meliá London Faith Strickland and Yasmin Choudhury Monday October 12 2026, 5.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 13:03 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save L ondon is a city that rewards looking up. Gothic spires, glass towers, and the Thames winding between them. It's a skyline you've seen countless times on screen, but there's still a thrill in witnessing it laid out before you — particularly from the comfort of your hotel room. Some of London's best stays make the most of their surroundings, with bedrooms framing landmarks, terraces seemingly suspended above the streets and rooftop bars where the panorama comes with a cracking cocktail. And it isn't all about being sky-high. Some of the most memorable outlooks are closer to ground level: the greenery of Hyde Park, the yachts of Chelsea Harbour or Tower Bridge looming outside your window. Better still, a memorable view doesn't have to come with a five-star price tag. These are the best London hotels with a view. Most commented 1 Zelensky repeats offer to hold elections if Russia agrees to ceasefire Russia-Ukraine war 2,022 comments 2 Tiger kills man who 'jumped' into pen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park 792 comments All recommendations within this article are informed by independent expert editorial opinion. This article contains affiliate links and links to our in-house travel agency, Times Holidays, all of which will earn us revenue. Editors' choice Best for value Good Hotel Best for families Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Best for luxury The Savoy Best for couples Shangri-La at the Shard Best for the vibe The Hoxton, Southwark 1. The Standard London, King's Cross ￡￡ | Best for retro cool Top stories 1 Starbucks 'explores takeover' of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business It's hard to miss the Standard, housed in the brutalist former Camden Town Hall Annexe — not least because of the bright-red exterior lift. Inside, the concrete gives way to playful, retro interiors. It's all bold colours, curved furniture and Seventies flourishes. For a striking outlook, book a Premium King View room, where huge bay windows frame the red-brick gothic revival splendour of St Pancras station. Eighth-floor terrace suites go one better, with outdoor bathtubs and tables and chairs for sitting out and admiring the London skyline. Whichever room you opt for, don't miss Decimo, the glamorous and immensely fun tenth-floor Mexican restaurant, where flavour-packed dishes such as smoky tuna tostadas come with floor-to-ceiling views. Above it, the seasonal rooftop offers cocktails and 360-degree panoramas across the capital. Advertisement Best rooftop bars in London 2. The Hoxton, Southwark ￡ | Best for digital nomads Top stories 1 Mortgage rates dip after weeks of painful rises Mortgages The Hoxton's 17-storey SE1 outpost looks good whichever side of its floor-to-ceiling windows you consider it from. Yes, you can spy on the Houses of Parliament while eating breakfast, but interiors are pretty spectacular too, featuring a hip, Brooklyn-esque design throughout. Spanning Shoebox to Biggy, the 192 rooms are thoughtfully appointed, while hot-deskers can look forward to a next-level working space boasting cosy corners, libraries and enough greenery to fill a Kew botanical house. Sip negronis and slurp oysters at the rooftop restaurant Seabird, or indulge in a midnight feast in bed (with snacks bought from the lobby shop). Either way, you'll enjoy the same breathtaking London views. Best brunch spots in London 3. One Hundred Shoreditch Expedia ￡￡ | Best for buzzy creativity Advertisement Framing the ever-evolving east London through its striking oriel windows, this modern, 258-key temple of cool overlooks a dynamic swirl of neon billboards, double-decker buses and 21st-century architectural greats. Soothing interiors promise muted luxury: think whisky-coloured furnishings, oversized beds and plush Berber carpeting. Highlights include the rooftop bar Kaso on the seventh floor, a buzzy hangout offering East Mediterranean small plates alongside craft cocktails, plus a soundtrack of deep house and Balearic beats, and showstopping Gherkin-to-Canary Wharf views. Those with vertigo won't miss out either: the basement bar Seed Library has cocktails and DJ sets and the lobby bar offers light bites and live music events. The coolest hotels in London 4. Shangri-La at the Shard, London Bridge ￡￡￡ | SPA | POOL | Best for a romantic celebration Zoom up in the glass lift to one of the 18 floors that Shangri-La occupies in the Shard. Split between standard rooms and butler-serviced suites, the hotel rooms have one thing in common: striking vistas across the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows mean that London Bridge, the Thames and the rest of the capital's famous sites are on display from just about everywhere — including the big marble bathtubs. On lower floors, restaurants such as Aqua Shard and Hutong are the perfect place for dinner with an unforgettable backdrop. Travel newsletter Your weekly round-up of the best travel inspiration, guides, hotel reviews and advice from our experts. Sign up with one click You've successfully signed up to the Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters 5. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Knightsbridge Mandarin Oriental ￡￡￡ | SPA | POOL | Best for family breaks Advertisement With its Corinthian-esque white columns and red-brick façade, Mandarin Oriental is nearly as regal as its nearby neighbour Buckingham Palace. The five-star Edwardian hotel continues to feel palatial inside with marble lobbies, corniced ceilings and a ballroom where the Queen and Princess Margaret learnt to dance. Rooms were designed by Joyce Wang and blend calming pastels with art deco fixtures such as onyx chandeliers and velvet sofas. Let the hotel know if you're travelling with children so that touches such as mini bathrobes and colouring-in can be arranged. More great hotels in London 6. Treehouse London, Marylebone uk.hotels.com ￡￡ | Best for a central London location The clue's in the title with this stay just off Oxford and Regent streets. Formerly a 1960s office block, Treehouse London is now a cool LA-inspired hotel. Bedrooms juxtapose teddy bears (a nod to childhood tree-climbing) and brushed concrete walls and ceilings. Mayfair and Marylebone may be a stone's throw away but it's worth planning a dinner at Madera, the hotel's zingy Mexican restaurant. Alongside spicy margaritas and grilled dishes, the dining room has wraparound windows that provide plenty of opportunities to play I-spy with some of London's most famous landmarks. Best boutique hotels in London Advertisement 7. Four Seasons at Park Lane, Mayfair uk.hotels.com ￡￡￡ | SPA | POOL | Best for sightseeing With Hyde Park on one side and Green Park on the other, Four Seasons Park Lane has such verdant views you might just forget you're in one of Europe's biggest cities. There is a range of superlative suites that feature fireplaces, the choice to add bedrooms, and in one instance, a huge outdoor terrace. The spa's rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows so you can you take in the sights while you enjoy treatments such as a hot stone or deep-tissue massage. If you haven't spotted enough of London's landmarks through your windows, Buckingham Palace, Belgravia and Knightsbridge are all within walking distance. Most romantic hotels in London 8. Sea Containers, Southwark Booking.com ￡￡ | SPA | Best for cracking cocktails Designed by the renowned American architect Warren Platner, Sea Containers is inspired by 1920s transatlantic ocean liners. Muted greys and backlit mirrors are found in bedrooms, alongside marble bathrooms and views of St Paul's Cathedral in river-facing suites. The hotel's in-house bar is run by Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known as Mr Lyan. Lyaness has a cocktail menu with ingredients you've most likely not seen or heard of before, from golden levain (a toasty, brioche-flavoured syrup) and nixtamalised blue corn (cooked and soaked in an alkaline solution to enhance its flavour). Advertisement Best hotels in London with a pool 9. ME by Meliá London, Covent Garden ￡￡ | Best for a great rooftop bar Moments from Somerset House and the Thames, ME London's exterior does well at hiding its wow-factor interiors. Step inside the five-star hotel, however, and any worries around drabness are quickly dispelled. The pyramid-shaped white marble lobby reaches nearly 30m high, with art projections beamed onto walls, while black marble corridors create a dramatic runway to bright, light rooms. With its house music, views over the river, and smart cocktail list, Radio is one of the capital's most in-demand rooftop bars — fortunately, hotel guests get priority. 10. The Savoy, Charing Cross Jack Hardy ￡￡￡ | SPA | POOL | Best for all-out luxury From British royalty to Hollywood kings and queens, the Savoy has hosted many stars since it opened in 1889 and a ￡220 million restoration only brightened the hotel's shine in 2010. The food and drink are excellent; Gordon Ramsay is behind three of the restaurants, afternoon tea is still served in the same way as it was in the 1840s and the American Bar is frequently recognised as one of the best in the world (though the Beaufort Bar is more beautiful). A mix of art deco and Edwardian style is found in the 263 bedrooms and suites, with river-facing rooms having prime views over the London Eye. The hotel is within walking distance of Leicester Square and Covent Garden, but with a gym, spa, tea store and small museum, you may find you don't leave the Savoy during your stay. 11. Novotel London Canary Wharf ￡ | POOL | Best for an elevated business stay This outpost in Canary Wharf has the distinction of being Novotel's tallest building, standing at 127m. Bedrooms look out over neighbouring skyscrapers, while an upgrade to a terrace room provides an outdoor view of east London's industrial architecture. Up on the 37th floor, AA rosette winner Bokan 37 serves a seasonal Mediterranean menu with more of those incredible vistas. Post-dinner cocktails on the rooftop terrace should be timed with sundown; thanks to its west-facing position, the spot has spectacular views of the sun setting over the city. Best affordable hotels in London under ￡200 12. Good Hotel, Royal Victoria Dock Booking.com ￡ | Best for an affordable stay Good Hotel's name is no accident — the floating hotel looks to do good in just about every aspect of its running. Formerly a detention centre in Amsterdam, the hotel has been given a minimalist redesign that includes industrial pipes that run along the ceiling and bright airy bedrooms. Through the Good Training Program, local unemployed people are trained in various aspects of hospitality, while all excess profits from the space go to Good Global Foundation. If you're still not feeling smug about your altruistic stay, head up to the hotel's rooftop. One of the best-kept secrets in London, the summer-only space has got views over the O2 and Royal Docks, which is a guaranteed good start or end to your day. 13. Chelsea Harbour Hotel booking.com ￡ | SPA | POOL | Best for a relaxing spa experience Come summer and you could be fooled into thinking that this spot is somewhere in the south of France or Monaco, thanks to the number of yachts bobbing on the water. In reality, the all-suite hotel has been built on a former industrial site in Chelsea. A small astroturfed terrace has views of the water and is a lovely setting for light lunch or afternoon tea. An impressive hotel spa can be found on lower levels, with a 17m swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, alongside a comprehensive treatment menu. The hotel's location may be a little quiet but it's only a short ride on the Thames Clipper to central London. 14. citizenM Tower of London, Tower Hill Booking.com ￡ | Best for getting around London Identifiable by its red and black interiors, citizenM is above Tower Hill Tube station, making journeys around the capital a doddle. All 370 bedrooms are identically designed, with super king-size beds, blackout blinds and power showers. The Dutch brand prides itself on “affordable luxury” — and with rooms coming in at under ￡200 a night during low season, the spot is cheaper than many similar options. From Union Jacks strung in alcoves and rattan footrests to disco-ball lights, common areas are a fun take on British culture, while rooftop bar cloudM has close-up views of the Tower of London. Best dog-friendly hotels in London We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration What's your favourite London hotel with a view? Let us know in the comments Travel Destinations UK England London London Hotels UK hotels London hotels Hotel reviews Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save