Luxury hotels promise a lot. Beautiful rooms, impeccable service, incredible restaurants, over-the-top amenities. Sometimes they live up to the hype. Other times, you leave wondering what exactly earned them five stars in the first place.
The Londoner had me convinced before I even made it to the check-in desk.
The moment we walked through the doors, there were multiple staff members ready to greet us, take our luggage, and help with whatever we needed. Just beyond them, the gorgeous lobby buzzed with people enjoying cocktails at the hotel’s centerpiece bar, immediately giving the space an energy that felt lively without being overwhelming.
Then I noticed something that would become a theme throughout our stay.
Whenever we asked where something was, whether it was the restroom, The Residence, or one of the hotel’s restaurants, nobody simply pointed us in the right direction. They walked us there.
It’s a small detail, but after it happened over and over again, I realized that’s just how The Londoner operates. The service doesn’t feel forced or overly formal. It just feels genuinely thoughtful.
After spending several nights here, I can confidently say it’s the nicest hotel I’ve stayed at in London.
Right in the heart of London’s West End
If you’re visiting London for the first time, or the tenth, it’s hard to beat The Londoner’s location.
Sitting directly on Leicester Square, you’re surrounded by theaters, restaurants, museums, shopping, and some of London’s most iconic neighborhoods. During our stay, we walked almost everywhere. Soho was just a few minutes away, Covent Garden was an easy stroll, and when we wanted to venture farther across the city, the nearest Tube station was only about a five-minute walk.
As busy as Leicester Square can be, stepping back inside the hotel felt like flipping a switch.
The lobby is constantly buzzing, but in a sophisticated way. People are meeting for drinks, checking in, or simply relaxing with a cocktail before heading out for the evening. It somehow captures London’s energy while still feeling like a place you actually want to spend time.
Don’t skip The Residence
One of the hotel’s best perks is also one that many people probably don’t know about.
The Residence is a collection of guest-only spaces tucked away from the main hotel, and we found ourselves returning there several times throughout our stay.
Since our room wasn’t quite ready when we arrived, we settled into The Drawing Room, one of several lounges inside The Residence. Complimentary drinks and snacks are available throughout the day, so we grabbed a few bites and enjoyed having a quiet place to unwind while the excitement of Leicester Square continued outside.
It ended up becoming one of my favorite spaces in the entire hotel.
Later that evening, we made our way into The Whisky Room.
Hidden behind a discreet entrance, the intimate speakeasy-style lounge houses more than 50 whiskies ranging from Scottish classics to rare Japanese bottles. We happened to stop by on a Monday night and, for a little while, had the entire room to ourselves. And I must say, there’s something pretty cool about sipping whisky in a hidden room that feels like you’ve stumbled onto one of London’s best-kept secrets.
The Tower Penthouse Suite completely spoiled us
Our room for the stay was The Tower Penthouse Suite, and calling it a hotel room almost feels inaccurate.
Spread across two floors, the suite feels more like a stylish London apartment with some of the best views in the city. One side looks directly toward Big Ben and the London Eye, while the other overlooks Leicester Square.
We also happened to visit during a London heat wave, so the suite became more than just a place to sleep. Between the air conditioning, the panoramic views, and a well-stocked bar, it was the perfect place to cool off for an hour with a glass of wine before heading back out to explore.
Every detail felt incredibly well thought out. The marble bar was stocked nightly, making it almost too easy to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail without ever leaving the room. The lighting could be adjusted with just a few taps, letting us switch from bright daylight to a cozy evening atmosphere in seconds. There was even a television built into the bathtub, which felt wonderfully over the top.
The technology throughout the suite was equally impressive. From the television, we could order room service, check in and out, turn on Do Not Disturb, and manage just about everything without ever picking up the phone.
And yes, we absolutely took advantage of the room service. After a concert one evening, we ordered a club sandwich for me and a curry for my partner. The club sandwich hit the spot after a long day exploring London, while my partner immediately declared the curry one of the best he’d ever had.
That’s about as glowing a review as you can get.
The Tower Penthouse also comes with perks like private airport transfers, guaranteed restaurant reservations, personalized itineraries, evening housekeeping, and 24-hour concierge assistance. While we didn’t use all of those services ourselves, it’s easy to see how they elevate an already incredible stay.
That said, I don’t think you need to book the penthouse to appreciate what makes The Londoner special.
The room was unforgettable, but it was really the service and the guest experience as a whole that won me over. Those are things every guest gets to enjoy.
A wellness floor you’ll actually want to spend time in
Normally, hotel pools are something I look at for five minutes before moving on, but The Retreat changed that.
Occupying an entire wellness floor, it includes an indoor pool, hydropool, spa, salon, fitness center, yoga studio, and Refuel, a café serving smoothies, fresh juices, and lighter meals.
We reserved a private cabana one morning and ended up spending several hours by the pool, escaping London’s unusually hot weather. Being able to order food and drinks directly to the cabana made it easy to lose track of time.
The fitness center deserves its own shoutout, too. I’ve worked out in plenty of hotel gyms where you’re lucky to find a treadmill and a few dumbbells. This wasn’t that. The gym rivals many standalone fitness clubs, with a huge selection of equipment, personal training, and dedicated studio space for yoga and classes.
If you’re someone who likes to keep up your routine while traveling, you’ll have absolutely no problem doing it here.
Breakfast alone is worth setting an alarm for
Our schedule kept us so busy that we unfortunately didn’t have the chance to try many of The Londoner’s restaurants, which is probably my biggest reason for wanting to come back.
We did, however, make time for breakfast.
Alongside an impressive buffet filled with fresh pastries, fruit, breads, and just about everything else you could want to start the day, I ordered pancakes that were every bit as good as they looked.
The hotel is also home to Mediterranean restaurant Whitcomb’s, rooftop cocktail bar 8 at The Londoner, Champagne destination The Stage, and Joshua’s Tavern, a cozy gin and beer bar just off Leicester Square.
They’re all firmly on my list for next time.
Is The Londoner worth the splurge?
Luxury hotels are supposed to make travel feel effortless, and The Londoner actually does.
Every interaction with the staff felt warm without being overbearing. Every space felt intentionally designed. Even after long days wandering around London, the hotel somehow managed to feel like a destination in itself rather than simply somewhere to sleep.
Yes, it’s a splurge. But if you’re celebrating something special, planning your dream trip to London, or simply want to experience one of the city’s best luxury hotels, I genuinely think it’s worth it.
I’ve stayed at quite a few hotels in London over the years, and this is the first one that had me hoping I’d find an excuse to come back before I had even checked out.
