Come Christmastime, London’s best hotels pull out all the stops. Every year, it welcomes bigger, better, and more elaborate decor, and every year, the Condé Nast Traveler UK team waits with baited breath to discover where might be the first to unveil its Christmas tree, as well as its seasonal events calendar. Once the elves have finished their shift and the secrets behind the designs are out, London is officially open for festive business.
I’m not one to shy away from dragging out a celebration, and last year I decided December 1 was too long to wait to unearth my sequins and indulge in a mince pie or three. I kick-started my joviality early with a wonderfully spoiling stay at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in November, where the team treated the children as if they’d been on the “nice list” all year, and surpassed any display our household could conjure up come the morning of the 25th. Despite being close to home, it felt special to be in central London surrounded by hordes of people shopping for gifts, wrapped in layer upon layer of clothing, and fizzing with anticipation for what the following weeks had in store. This year, it’s Raffles at The OWO that’s on my wishlist for an overnight stay, as well as a visit to the much-anticipated display on the entrance of Broadwick Soho, plus an evening at The Ned to get me in the spirit of things.
Because no matter the distance traveled, arriving at a hotel brings a sense of immediate escapism from everyday life. It’s a chance to check out for a definitive amount of time, and check in wholeheartedly to a fantasy—trimmed with gilded accents, strung with twinkling fairy lights, and backed by a nostalgic soundtrack. Hotels are special, and never more so than when there’s reason to celebrate collectively. This is our pick of the best hotels in London at Christmas.