Image courtesy of Raffles London at The OWO
London’s 2025 Michelin Key list reads like a love letter to the city’s hotels—a mix of landmark icons and fresh arrivals that prove luxury here is as much about character as it is comfort. From grand addresses steeped in history to design-forward boltholes hidden on quiet West End lanes, these are the stays that define London now. If you’re planning a trip to London, don’t miss our Definitive Guide to London and Things to Do in London for where to start exploring.
Our Three Key Picks
Eight London hotels earned the top distinction this year, each setting a high bar for hospitality. Two standouts capture what we love most about London stays—one reviving a royal landmark, the other redefining modern-day glamour.
Raffles London at The OWO
Image courtesy of Raffles London at The OWO
Few hotels in London carry as much history—or grandeur—as Raffles London at The OWO. Once the Old War Office, this 1906 Edwardian landmark has been meticulously restored, its two-and-a-half miles of oak-panelled corridors now leading to 120 rooms and suites, each with triple-height ceilings and a distinctly stately calm. The marble Grand Staircase, once trodden by Churchill himself, now gleams beneath an iDOGI chandelier, while the vast Guerlain Spa stretches across 27,000 square feet with a 20-meter pool and Pillar Wellbeing centre. Dining is equally ambitious, with nine restaurants and three bars, including Mauro Colagreco’s fine-dining debut and the subterranean Spy Bar. For true legend status, book the six-bedroom Whitehall Wing—Churchill’s former office, now one of London’s most remarkable suites.
Fora's Accor Preferred partner perks include a $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Peninsula London
Image courtesy of The Peninsula London
The Peninsula’s long-anticipated London debut, which opened in late 2023, is every bit as refined as you would expect from the iconic Asian hotel group. Rising eight stories above Hyde Park Corner, the newly built hotel blends contemporary architecture with quiet, old-world poise. Peter Marino’s design is all soft light and symmetry—pale oak, creamy stone, and hand-painted de Gournay murals inspired by nearby parks. Even the entry rooms feel generous, outfitted with marble baths, Dyson dryers, and intuitive tablets that adjust lighting, curtains and music. Service is seamless yet personal—from Rolls-Royce house cars waiting in the courtyard to afternoon tea beneath chandeliers in the lobby. On the rooftop, Brooklands by Claude Bosi holds two Michelin Stars, while Canton Blue serves refined Cantonese flavors in softly lit interiors.
Fora's PenClub partner perks include a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, a guaranteed upgrade at time of booking, and check-in/out anytime.
Other Three Key winners
Bvlgari Hotel London
Claridge’s
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
The Connaught
The Savoy
Our Two Michelin Key picks
The Two Key hotels are pure London—elegant but full of personality. They’re the places where history meets high design, where the bar is as memorable as the suite, and where service feels more like friendship than formality. From Mayfair townhouses to Soho hideaways, these are the stays that remind you why London never goes out of style.
Ham Yard Hotel, Firmdale Hotels
Image courtesy of Ham Yard Hotel
Steps from Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street, Ham Yard Hotel is a colorful, art-filled hideaway from Kit Kemp’s beloved Firmdale Hotels. Built around a leafy courtyard anchored by Tony Cragg’s bronze sculpture, the hotel buzzes from breakfast through late-night cocktails. Inside, every space reflects Kemp’s eye for texture and whimsy: patterned fabrics, bold artwork, and mismatched prints that somehow feel perfectly at home together. Guests drift between the bar, private bowling alley, and Soholistic Spa, or retreat to rooms that feel like well-traveled apartments. The rooftop garden, with views across Soho’s rooftops (and home to two honey-producing beehives), is a serene escape in the heart of it all. Read more about Firmdale Hotels’ singular London style here.
Fora Perks include a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Rosewood London
Image courtesy of Rosewood London
Rosewood London feels like a country estate tucked behind Holborn’s busy streets. Guests enter through a grand archway into a tranquil Edwardian courtyard—the first hint that this isn’t your typical city hotel. Inside, Tony Chi’s interiors pair marble staircases and mahogany panelling with the comfort of an English manor: roaring fires, jewel-toned velvet chairs, and shelves lined with curiosities. The rooms are large for London, with marble baths and Rivolta Carmignani linens, while Scarfes Bar remains one of the city’s great drinking spots. Don’t miss the Holborn Dining Room’s famous pies (they even have a dedicated Pie Room). Rosewood recently expanded with a second London address, but this one remains a Fora favourite—we love it so much, we wrote a Hotel Spotlight on it here.
Fora's Rosewood Elite partner perks include a £85 food and beverage or spa credit, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and a guaranteed upgrade at the time of booking.
Other Two Key winners
Brown's Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Corinthia Hotel London
45 Park Lane, Dorchester Collection
Covent Garden Hotel, Firmdale Hotels
Haymarket Hotel, Firmdale Hotels
Hotel Café Royal
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
The Beaumont Hotel
The Berkeley
The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London
The Dorchester, Dorchester Collection
The Lanesborough
The Langham, London
The Ritz London
The Twenty Two
Our One Michelin Key picks
The One Key hotels prove that London’s charm doesn’t rely on scale. Scattered across the city’s most character-filled corners, they’re intimate, imaginative, and effortlessly stylish. Some hide behind Georgian façades, others go bold and modern, but all share the same London spirit: welcoming, witty, and wonderfully individual.
Flemings Mayfair
Image courtesy of Flemings Mayfair
Flemings Mayfair captures the charm of old-school London with a quietly contemporary edge. Set across 13 Georgian townhouses, it’s one of the city’s oldest family-owned hotels—and one of Fora’s most-booked stays for good reason. The look is polished Art Deco: velvet armchairs, statement lamps, and portraits of British icons lining the walls. Downstairs, the Michelin-starred Ormer Mayfair by Sofian serves intricate tasting menus showcasing British ingredients, while the moody Manetta’s Bar mixes literary-inspired cocktails. Rooms range from cozy singles to multi-bedroom apartments and even a private townhouse, all impeccably styled and comfortably luxurious. It’s classic Mayfair, with none of the fuss—refined, relaxed, and conveniently located.
Fora Reserve perks include a $50 food and beverage credit, a complimentary one-way airport transfer, a welcome amenity, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
L’oscar London
Image courtesy of L'oscar London
Decadent, dramatic, and delightfully unapologetic, L’oscar London channels Oscar Wilde’s spirit through the imagination of designer Jacques Garcia. Housed in a former Baroque church, the 39-room hotel glows with deep jewel tones, intricate detailing, and Lalique hummingbird lamps that scatter warm light across oak panelling and velvet drapery. The mirrored L’oscar Restaurant feels like dining inside a jewel box, while the glowing onyx bar downstairs is pure theatre—the kind of place where you lose track of time over a cocktail. Upstairs, marble baths, rich fabrics, and whimsical touches turn every room into a romantic retreat. Set in Holborn, steps from Covent Garden and the British Museum, it stands among Central London’s most unforgettable small hotels.
Fora Reserve perks include a $100 food and beverage credit, a welcome amenity and drink, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Other One Michelin Key winners
...At Sloane
Artist Residence London
Beaverbrook Town House
Broadwick Soho
Charlotte Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels
COMO The Halkin
Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge
Knightsbridge Hotel, Firmdale Hotels
NoMad London
Number Sixteen, Firmdale Hotels
One Aldwych
1 Hotel Mayfair
Redchurch Townhouse
Shangri-La The Shard London
Sofitel London St James
The Adria
The Emory
The Soho Hotel, Firmdale Hotels
For more great stays that won’t break the bank, check out Hotels under $500: London.