While the doors of the UK hospitality industry remain closed for the coming weeks following the recent increase in restrictions, a handful of boutique hotels in some of London’s most exclusive addresses are continuing to welcome key workers and business travellers on essential trips to the capital.
St. James’s Hotel & Club, Mayfair
This elegant Victorian townhouse is tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of picturesque Mayfair, with direct access to Green Park for socially distanced strolls around Buckingham Palace. The rooms and suites at St. James’s Hotel & Club are stylishly sleek, with handmade silk wallpaper in soft neutrals, black lacquered furniture and handcrafted Murano glass chandeliers, as well as iPod and iPhone docking stations – and can all currently be booked using an Essential Business Traveller rate. Although the recently renovated Seven Park Place restaurant remains closed, Executive Head Chef William Drabble’s Michelin-starred dishes can still be enjoyed in-room, or by take-away via luxury delivery service Supper London.
Flemings Mayfair
Blending English charm with cosmopolitan style, Flemings Mayfair was originally a terrace of elegant Georgian townhouses which have been lovingly refurbished with sumptuous interiors. Guests booking the Business Traveller rate will be welcomed into a boutique retreat with a home-from-home feel, with soothing shades of bronze and soft grey contrasting with vibrant fabrics in teal and indigo – and vintage-style patterned and textured wallpapers. Ormer Mayfair’s seasonal fine dining menu by Michelin-awarded chef Shaun Rankin and Great British Menu 2020 participant Kerth Gumbs is still available for delivery between Tuesday-Saturday, in addition to room service for residents between 12pm-9pm every day.
The Capital Hotel, Apartments & Townhouse, Knightsbridge
Perfectly positioned on a quiet tree-lined street in the heart of Knightsbridge, The Capital Hotel, Apartments & Townhouse is a quintessentially British bolthole with bags of charm and character. While the main townhouse is currently closed, the ten spacious self-catering apartments are open to essential travellers looking for their own private London residence, with all the bells and whistles of a luxury hotel.
Share this article
Latest stories
Solar eclipse: where to spot it and the best places to stay
Few natural phenomena inspire travel quite like a solar eclipse. Occurring when the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun, these rare celestial events transform familiar landscapes into moments of extraordinary stillness. On 12 August 2026, the eclipse will be best experienced from Iceland and Spain, including the
Independent Minds: Juan Tonconogy, Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort
For Juan Tonconogy, a love of wine has formed part of his story since childhood. Youthful summers spent in Mendoza left him captivated by the alchemy of winemaking, as he observed how the essence of the rugged Uco Valley, with its wide skies, Andean backdrop and sun-drenched vineyards, could be
Designed to experience: our pick of new boutique hotels for July
This month’s edit of new boutique hotels showcases remarkable stays rooted in their surroundings. Whether it’s a restored 14th-century convent in the UNESCO-protected hills of Cilento National Park, a Himalayan retreat in Ladakh shaped by local builders and artisans, or a contemporary hideaway carved into the ancient caves of Cappadocia,
Savouring the joy of Greek summers on the island of Crete
An immersive Greek getaway uncovers the enduring allure of Crete, an ancient, sun-dappled island in the southern Aegean, where mythic vistas, homegrown gastronomy and traditional crafts still shape everyday life. The feeling that the sea has been waiting for me grows stronger as I round the final bend on the
