A Luxury Trip to London: Where to Stay & What to Do

London isn’t short on five-star hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, or private shopping experiences. The problem is knowing where to start. Do you check into a heritage property like Brown’s, or book a contemporary suite at Shangri-La with views across the Thames? Do you spend the evening in a discreet members’ club, or go all-in on West End glamour?

If you’re flying in for business, pleasure, or both, here’s a guide to the places and experiences that make London one of the world’s true capitals of luxury.

Where to Sleep

In London, your hotel sets the whole tone of your trip. Are you after Mayfair tradition, futuristic skyline views, or Chelsea privacy with champagne on standby? Here are the standouts:

Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair: London’s oldest hotel (and once Rudyard Kipling’s favorite) is pure Mayfair tradition: polished wood, perfectly mixed martinis, and suites that make you want to stay forever.

Raffles London at The OWO: The new jewel. The Old War Office, reborn as a five-star playground, offers marble corridors, multiple Michelin-level restaurants, and enough grandeur to make even seasoned travelers pause.

Shangri-La at The Shard: Waking up here feels like you’ve booked a corner of the sky. Floor-to-ceiling glass puts the entire city at your feet. At sunrise, it’s borderline spiritual.

Belmond Cadogan, Chelsea: Boutique glamour with old-world charm. Think discreet service, quiet garden terraces, and the feeling that you’ve slipped into a private members’ club.

Hotel Café Royal, Regent Street: If you want central London with old-school glamour and decadent dining, this is your spot. Oscar Wilde and Bowie both drank here—it’s timeless hedonism.

“People often ask how I manage to keep up appearances between long nights and busy days,” says Amelia, one of the high-class London escorts we spoke to for an insider’s perspective. “For me, it’s about where I check in. A suite at The Shard is as luxurious as they come. Waking up with one hell of a view will always leave me feeling like my best self again.”

Where to Eat 

London’s dining scene is as varied as its accents. You can eat an £8 curry on Brick Lane or a £500 tasting menu in Mayfair. For a luxury itinerary, lean towards the latter:

Climat: A rooftop wine-led restaurant with 300+ vintages on hand and panoramic views. Perfect for an indulgent lunch.

Sketch, Mayfair: The interiors are half the show. Afternoon tea in the art-clad Gallery or dinner in the Lecture Room (three Michelin stars) is pure theatre.

Nobu London: Still the benchmark for chic dining. Sushi, cocktails, and a room full of people who look like they know something you don’t.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay: For when you want precision, perfection, and food so rich it feels almost sinful.

Where to Escape the Noise

London can be overwhelming if you don’t punctuate the chaos with pockets of calm. That’s where its quieter luxuries come in:

Henry’s Townhouse: With only six bedrooms, this Georgian property feels more like a private mansion than a hotel. Perfect for those who prefer discretion over spectacle.

Day trip to the Cotswolds: Combine a London stay with countryside contrast—some Scott Dunn packages pair Raffles London with the rolling hills and honey-stone cottages of the Cotswolds. Your driver collects you from the city, and by the time you’ve finished the champagne in the backseat, you’re already worlds away.

Where to Play

Luxury in London isn’t just in the hotels and restaurants. It’s in the hidden pleasures…the places you go when you’re not chasing Instagram likes.

Soho’s speakeasies: From basement jazz to password-only cocktail dens, Soho remains the capital’s nocturnal heartbeat.

The Royal Opera House: Whether you’re into ballet or not, a night here drips with atmosphere. Black tie, velvet curtains, champagne in the interval—it’s a ritual as much as a performance.

Private shopping at Harrods: Skip the crowds. Book a private shopping suite, sip champagne, and let your concierge curate your wardrobe.

London on Your Terms

The thing about London is, it never hands you just one version of luxury. You can be sipping cocktails in Mayfair one night and dancing in Shoreditch the next. Breakfast in the clouds at The Shard, a private tour of Belgravia in the afternoon, and champagne in bed by midnight.

First visit? Lean into both sides—the tradition and the thrill. Back again? Push it further. The city changes fast, and every trip gives you a new angle.

At the end of the day, London is curating moments… where you stay, where you eat, and how you choose to indulge.