I love staying in accommodation with a difference, and unless you’re on a million-dollar luxury budget, I think the best way to stay in an authentic, memorable place is to look for a boutique hotel or B&B.

With less rooms, no corridor mazes and much more local flavor, staying somewhere a little different will make the moments spent inside your room just as memorable as your time exploring.

I’ve visited London a few times now, and I can attest to the importance of finding the neighbourhood that suits you – London is such a big city that you’ll have a much more memorable time if you stay in the area you want to hang out in the most. As part of Hipmunk’s City Love initiative, I’m sharing the coolest boutique hotels in London, for your consideration. 

The Hoxton, Shoreditch 

In one of London’s coolest neighbourhoods, The Hoxton keeps you at the heart of the action, especially if you’d rather spend your stay checking out cool cafes, bars, galleries, and shops, rather than ticking off the most touristy sights. The hotel has earned a reputation for it’s fresh design that is emblematic of London’s quirky brand of offbeat cool. All of the rooms are the same size, but for something a little stronger, try one of the eight Random Rooms, which have an even bolder design. The rooms come with rainmaker showers, free Wi-Fi, an hour of free telephone calls, and a daily breakfast drop of orange juice, granola, and a banana.

Haymarket Hotel, Soho

Minutes from Trafalgar Square and Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket Hotel is in the heart and soul of London’s theatre district. The stylish design hotel fuses contemporary and classic English style throughout each of the striking rooms and suites, with art from British treasures like Tony Cragg and John Virtue in the public spaces and in the uber-cool subterranean sixty-metre swimming pool.

Hotel Indigo, Tower Hill

Hotel Indigo in Tower Hill has the perfect location for seeing London’s icons, as it is just a short walk from iconic London sights like The Gherkin, London Bridge, the London Dungeon, and the Tower of London. Each of the 46 individually-designed rooms has their own flair to make every stay memorable.

Egerton House Hotel, Knightsbridge

For old-school Britannia, look no further than the Egerton House Hotel in the posh Central London suburb of Knightsbridge. The five-star hotel is a short stroll from Harrods, the V&A Museum, and Royal Albert Hall. The hotel’s 28 rooms, and warm lounge, and bar are elegant and inviting, feeling more like a home away from home than an impersonal hotel. Complimentary wi-fi, pet-friendly rooms, and immaculate service with two staff members per every one guest makes the Egerton House Hotel the perfect choice for experiencing classic English hospitality.

41, Buckingham Palace (Almost)

Make like a monarch, and stay in Buckingham Palace – or just behind it, anyway. The five-star hotel is opposite the Royal Mews and not far from other quintessential London sights like Westminster Abbey and Piccadilly Circus. 41 feels more like an exclusive executive club than a hotel, with striking rooms, wood-panelled walls in the Executive Lounge, and a glass-roofed dining area for dining under the sunshine and moonlight.

Where is your favourite place to stay in London?