Last updated on March 27, 2024
Until recently, I’d never stayed in London as anything other than a resident with my own bed to return to. But now we’ve made the move to Bristol, I’ve had the opportunity to explore some of London’s hotels.
As always, I was on the hunt for some place special – creative hotels with unique design, stylish touches and something that makes you want to tell people about them.
There are all sorts of London boutique hotels that fit this bill, so I honed in on the ‘hipster’ category. I’m somewhat loathe to use that word as I know its definition is amorphous and contentious, but for the sake of this piece I’m referring to the genre of hipster that’s largely defined by artisanal coffee, craft beers, retro design, bearded men and a departure from the mainstream. It’s a style I enjoy and am fussy about, and the following six are the best examples I’ve found of hipster hotels in London.
Also see our guides to how to spend 24 hours in London as a Londoner, a perfect 3-day London itinerary for first timers, and how to spend 7 days in London with toddlers.
The most hipster hotels in London – London’s best boutique hotels
1. One Hundred Shoreditch
The Ace London used to hold the crown for most hipster hotel in London, following in the footsteps that the other Ace properties in Portland and Palm Springs.
However, the property closed during 2020, was sold, and recently reopened as One Hundred Shoreditch.
Despite the remodel and rebranding, the property remains one of the best boutique hotels in London. The 258 rooms and suites are decorated with neutral colors accented by bespoke and vintage pieces and custom artwork.
While the rooms are designed to be a personal retreat, all you need to do is hop down to the hotel’s bar if you’re feeling social!
Address: 100 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JQ
Price: From £225 for a double room.
2. The Hoxton
Just round the corner from One Hundred Shoreditch is the original The Hoxton, which is a similar magnet for creative types and popular as a pseudo office during the days. While living in London, I spent many an afternoon curled in one of its fireside armchairs, working among the crowds in the spacious yet cosy lobby. As such, I’d always been intrigued by what the hotel itself is like and it was a novelty to spend the night there.
Although not entirely to my taste aesthetically, our East London/punk rock inspired room was quirky and stylish with a three-sided, very comfortable “booth bed” as its centrepiece.
The rooms come with a handy guide to the local area, which point out some of Shoreditch’s most popular haunts as well as some hidden gems. For the morning, you can order a free “breakfast in a bag” to your room, which includes granola, yoghurt, orange juice and a banana.
The hotel has an on-site restaurant, the Hoxton Grill, as well as plenty of excellent options in the local area. Also, despite this hotel’s hipster credentials, it’s a friendly, welcoming place where you can feel at home.
There are three more Hoxton hotels in London: in Holborn, Southwark and Shepherd’s Bush, which all share the same vibe. Personally, I love the style of the Southwark one the most (I recently stayed there for night with Steve on a trip without the kids!)
Address: 81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU, London
Price: From £251 for a double room
Search prices and Hoxton Shoreditch and book now
3. Leman Locke
The Leman Locke design-led apart-hotel is an entire tower block of impeccably designed apartments that give you a taste of what home life might be like for a well-off London hipster. The rooms centre around a stylish pink, L-shaped sofa, and the fully-equipped kitchens come fitted with high-end appliances and all you need to cook at home. Best of all, are the floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide sweeping views across the city.
The whole apartment would look at home in an interiors magazine for hipsters. Added bonuses include complimentary T2 teas, Doisy&Dam chocolate, and Kinsey Apothecary products – there was even a gin and tonic on the table.
Downstairs is a similarly stylish lobby, where you can find a friendly cafe called Hyde, serving top-notch coffee and snacks. A restaurant, Trevis, is coming soon. There are also meeting rooms, a gym, in-room spa treatments, “Locke Coves” for yoga/meditation, and a cultural programme that includes cooking courses, craft beer tasting, cocktail masterclasses, DJ training and more. It’s a true hipster heaven where you could easily stay for months. I could definitely live there!
They now have a second equally stylish site, Bermonds Locke, in Bermondsey.
Address: 15 Leman St, London, E1 8EN
Price: From £180 per night
4. The Corner London City
Previously known as the Qbic hotel, The Corner London City may be much to look at from the outside. But the hotel truly outdoes itself inside, with fabulously quirky design, including lampshades made of colourful crates, shelves in the shape of cows, bright yellow sofas, and a floating head above one of the tables. And that’s just the restaurant/lobby.
The bedrooms themselves are designed in an original ‘Qbi’ pod concept with all the main elements – bed, bathroom, tv, and light – attached to a central frame with a huge colourful portrait as the centrepiece. It makes for one of the most striking hotels we’ve ever seen, feeling both futuristic and cosy. We stayed in a room without windows, but you can pay more for a room with a view.
The cafe/restaurant downstairs is a fun place to hang out, and the food/drinks are delicious and reasonably priced. This is the most budget of the hipster hotels on this list, and remarkably priced for its quality and location.
Address: 42 Adler Street, London, E1 1EE
Price: From £125 per night for a double room
5. The Artist Residence
Not all the hipster hotels are in East London and the Artist Residence in Pimlico, five minutes from Victoria station, is a great choice for those looking for something on the the south side of the river.
The ten-bedroom boutique hotel is hipster luxury at its best, with finely curated vintage furnishings, reclaimed wooden floors, exposed brickwork, and stylishly cosy design, supplied by the likes of Anthropologie.
We stayed in a medium room, which included a mini smeg fridge, egyptian cotton linens, and a wonderfully powerful rain shower.
Downstairs, there’s a quality restaurant serving seasonal food, and a trendy underground cocktail bar, as well as a ping pong room and lounge with lots of cosy spots to snuggle by the fire. Keep an eye out for the owners’ art collection that adorns all the walls and gives the hotel its name.
I’m a big fan of the Artist Residence in Bristol too.
Address: 52 Cambridge Street, Pimlico SW1V 4QQ
Price: From £180 for a double room
6. The Zetter Townhouse
The Zetter Townhouse may be one of the coolest hotels in London, decorated with a quirky British style. My favourite is one of the townhouse club rooms that comes complete with a Union Jack-emblazoned four-poster bed for a truly royal sleep. Others have fairground carousel design features, and all are decked out a luxurious, sumptuous style.
Downstairs is one of London’s best cocktail bars, which looks like the living room of an eccentric collector with a penchant for unusual taxidermy and renaissance art. The sophisticated cocktails are expertly prepared by some wonderfully dapper staff, and it’s worth a visit even if not staying in the hotel.
The Zetter Townhouse is part of The Zetter Group, which also runs Marabelle’s Hotel where we stayed recently with the kids. While not as iconic as the townhouse, it still has great style and comes at a friendlier price point. We stayed in interconnecting rooms with a third door in between, which made it feel like a large apartment. It’s ideal for travelling with kids.
Address: 49-50 St John’s Square, London EC1V 4JJ
Price: From £210 for a double
7. AMANO Convent Garden
A 2022 addition to the London boutique hotel scene, AMANO is located right in the centre of the city. The rooms feature neutral tones with pops of gold – in fact, in some you can even enjoy a soak in a gold claw-foot tub overlooking the city.
Downstairs you’ll find a posh bar but the true gem is the rooftop bar overlooking the Shard and Houses of Parliament.
Address: Drury House, 34-43 Russell St, London WC2B 5HA
Price: From £135 for a double
8. The Adria
The Adria is perhaps the fanciest on this list of boutique hotels in London but if you’re up for a 5-star splurge, it’s worth it.
Stepping into The Adria is a bit like stepping onto the set of The Crown. Each room is named after a English place or event and feature plush furnishings (lots of armchairs), heated floors, and Italian marble flooring – as you would expect in a 19th century townhouse.
You won’t need to go far for your London afternoon tea either, as they serve up a traditional tea by the fire each afternoon.
Address: 88-89 Queen’s Gate, Kensington and Chelsea, London, SW7 5AB
Price: From £477 for a double
9. The Soho Hotel
Part of designer Kit Kemp’s Firmdale Hotels brand, The Soho Hotel is both urban and quirky. It’s located on a side street in the center of Soho, putting you right in the center of London’s cultural scene without being a party hotel.
Rooms feature bespoke bedding and linens and floor-to-ceiling windows, each with the perfect combination of neutral colors and bright patterns. Other features include a private screening room, afternoon tea, and beauty treatment room.
Address: 4 Richmond Mews, London W1D 3DH
Price: From £550 for a double
Note: A few of these hotels invited us to stay, but that had no sway on our opinions. We recommend them all. 🙂 Read my policy on sponsored stays and affiliates.
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Thank you so much. Glad you benefited from the post!
Ya..They are all comfortable and convenient to stay at, uh huh? I like The Zetter Townhouse best cause I like its classical style. Thank you for your reviews.
Great Post. I really enjoyed it and learned from it. Thanks
These places look pretty cool, and very hipster!
Very helpful, thanks a lot
These hotels understand the current trend and what people really want. They understand the demographic, do the research and do the necessary changes in their hotels. However, people want value for their money. If they are satisfied and gains good reviews, that matters a lot for their reputation and helps to grow. Being an avid traveler, I love to stay in these kind of trendy hotels.
Very informative blog, I read your post and it is very helpful. Thanks for sharing the article
Great Read. At first, I also thought why hipsters!! But as I read deep that’s the best word you can symbolize budget-friendly comfort. Thanks for sharing your review and will come back for your new posts.
This was such a nice read! Love the interiors in most of these hotels
Seriously Amazing pictures… These hotels in London are undoubtedly Beautiful. I really loved the content and the way you have presented all these hotels with such mind-blowing photography. Just loved it !!!
Thanks for sharing it. I am planning a visit to london for some work. These hotels appear good to me for a stay. Will surey book it through your links. Keep writing.