Quirky hotels in London range from cool and trendy venues to funky hotels with a unique atmosphere and specific clientele. In a city filled with an ancient and glamorous culture, you will be amiss not to spend a night in historic hotels filled with antique goods and artistic décor.
If luxurious and primitive décor isn’t your special sweet spot, how about a hotel floating on the water? Or a cheap pod-style hotel reminiscent of some Japanese hotels. If you are in for socializing in an expensive hotel, then you won’t miss one with retro arcade games, peg tables, and an open bar.
Please take a look at our top picks when it comes to memorable and unique hotels in London. Please get to know all the controversial and exquisite designs in all of them. Compare them with each other and pick the most Instagram-worthy room for yourself.
22 Best Unique Hotels in London
For our list, we have focused on a few fundamentals that make up a cool place to stay in London. Quirky hotels in London have to offer something you won’t readily find in most cities, let alone London.
The peculiar venues need unexpected characters and eccentric designs that are hard to come by. Some may be unorthodox in a good way, and others may seem a bit pretentious. Regardless, these quirky hotels attract thousands of visitors yearly with a huge fan base on their eccentricity.
The Mandrake
- Address: 2021 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG
- Phone: 020 3146 7770
- Known for: an art gallery and atrium
The Mandrake speaks for itself with its stylish 30 rooms, a luxurious penthouse and three luxury suites. The boutique-style hotel is luxurious and upscale, just a few minutes away from Oxford Street in the middle of London.
The Mandrake’s uniqueness starts with its botanical garden-themed atrium that invites you into a warmly lit interior. Candle-lit tables immerse you in an unforgettable atmosphere that combines nature and luxury.
Its award-winning penthouse is one of a kind and decorated with nature-inspired art, furniture, and décor. Dine in YOPO to taste special South American dishes or visit the bars for ethnobotanical cocktails.
The Sunborn
- Address: Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1AA
- Phone: 020 3714 8111
- Known for: yacht hotel design on top of Royal Victoria Dock
The Sunborn is a unique romantic hotel in London that popularises the yacht hotel concept. It is a classy destination that incorporates luxurious décor with modern high-tech.
Spiral staircases take you through the expansive interior filled with classically decorated rooms with wood panels. Some exclusive rooms feature saunas and Jacuzzis with impressive views of the river. Enjoy an afternoon tea between 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm as you take in the vast views of London.
Mama Shelter
- Address: 437 Hackney Road, London E2 8PP
- Phone: 020 7613 6500
- Known for: budget-friendly, full equipped hotel tailored for Millennials and Gen Z
Mama Shelter has several locations worldwide in nine countries plus fourteen cities. It is a movement from the Trigano family aiming to bring the world quirky yet unique places to rest in, socialize, and eat & drink.
Mama Shelter in Shoreditch London features décor made by Dion & Arles and modern-luxury living comforts for a cosy stay.
The hotel’s focus on Millennials and Gen Z generations is unique. It is surrounded by vibrant restaurants that serve trendy foods and drinks. Free Wi-Fi and rooms with huge flat-screen TVs are attractive to young folks trying to relax.
A bar section makes the venue an eclectic and lively place to catch up with friends and meet new people. Karaoke rooms are available for wilding out, and the cheap prices of all the amenities make it a budget-friendly venue for those in their 20s and 30s.
Artist Residence
- Address: 52 Cambridge Street, London SW1V 4QQ
- Phone: 020 3019 8610
- Known for: impeccable art pieces in each room
This quaint, quirky boutique hotel is located in central London. It is beloved by the locals because of its classy décor that makes for a relaxing and luxurious stay.
No single room in Artist Residence shares its design with another. All rooms come with individually curated art prints and vintage furniture. The rooms combine modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, antique accents, and décor.
Enjoy all-day coffee with the Nespresso coffee machine in all the rooms and have a cool bath with organic bath products. Have your meals at the hangout downstairs amidst neon décor and pop art.
Zetter Townhouse
- Address: 86-88 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5RJ
- Phone: 020 7324 4567
- Known for: eco-friendly amenities, hip culture, romantic venue, extensive vending machines
Zetter Townhouse has two venues, one in Clerkenwell and another at Marylebone. Clerkenwell is the original location at the heart of the creative region of London. The hotel shines its light as the beacon of creativity in the town by having uniquely decorated rooms with eco-friendly systems.
The Rooftops are the names of the suites located on the top-most floor. They come with spectacular views of London and geometric details on the linen and soft-coloured furniture. Quirky wall frames and paintings decorate the walls, most of which are salvages from the early 1800s.
Hazlitt’s
- Address: 6 Frith Street, Soho Square, London W1D 3JA
- Phone: 020 7434 1771
- Known for: Georgian décor and old-fashioned hospitality
Hazlitt’s is the sister hotel to other popular London destinations: The Rookery and Batty Langley’s. Like its sister hotels, Hazlitt’s is an old-fashioned dime that offers civilized old-fashioned hospitality in a venue far away from the city’s business and huge traffic.
Hazlitt was once described as ‘an opulent den of Georgian decadence’. You can tell the historic Georgian era designs the minute you enter the hotel. The murals, art pieces, fireplace, furniture, paintings, and architecture are reminiscent of a time long gone, designed to attract the old souls.
Batty Langley’s
- Address: 12 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6BX
- Phone: 020 7377 4390
- Known for: antique furniture and a loyalty setting with a charming ambience
Batty Langley is an old London hotel established in 1724 and named after Batty Langley, who was a publisher in the early 18th century. Langley’s books contributed greatly to the Georgian era houses you see to date in London and across the UK.
Travel & Leisure rated Batty Langley in the world’s 50 Best New Hotels list owing to its magnificent design and Georgian architecture. The antiques in the rooms & suites are what drive people to stay longer in Batty.
This is the place to be if you want to see one-of-a-kind murals and art pieces. You will get acquainted with old-fashioned hospitality at its best. Lounge in the exquisite artistic meeting rooms and read some of the world’s best book collections.
Good Hotel London
- Address: Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, London E16 1FA
- Phone: 020 3637 7401
- Known for: a floating hotel with impeccable London skyline views
The Good Hotel may sound like a boring place to rest, but it is one of the unique places Londoners choose to reside in. The hotel has two locations, one at the Royal Vitoria Dock and another in Antigua, filled with Dutch-inspired designs.
Good Hotel London is close to the City Airport and Canary Wharf Business District in case you fancy a conveniently situated venue. Using a Cable Car, you can easily get to North Greenwich in under 10 minutes.
Rooms at Good Hotel are smaller than your typical London hotel. However, they are well designed using natural and durable repurposed materials.
It is a Dutch design hotel with bathrooms that come with rain-showers. There are different types of rooms, some of which have a view of the dockside and others of the waterfront.
The Megaro
- Address: Belgrove Street King’s Cross, London WC1H 8AB England
- Phone: 020 7843 2222
- Known for: punk-themed rooms
Located across the street from Kings Cross, the Megaro Hotel is filled with murals on its walls and has a bar section in the reception area. The New-York style bar is excellent for a quick drink before hitting the town to have fun.
The exterior is colourfully decorated with contemporary colours and artistic patterns. The rooms are where the quirkiness begins. All suites are functional, featuring dark interiors, dim but warm lighting, and modern décor.
Some rooms are punk-themed with petrol-coloured walls and lacquered oak on the furniture. You can expect technology-focused rooms at Megaro with many amenities, from TVs, kettles, espresso machines, hairdryers, modern tech bathrooms, and other smart appliances.
Treehouse Hotel London
- Address: 14-15 Langham Place, London W1B 2QS
- Phone: 020 7580 1111
- Known for: rooftop oasis with great views of the London Eye and Regent’s Park.
Treehouse Hotel is exactly what you imagine it to be: tons of greenery, wooden designs, vintage furniture, and contemporary décor.
The hotel is whimsical and aims to give you the nostalgia of climbing trees as a kid. It is a sustainability-oriented venue that encourages using single-use plastics and refillable water bottles.
Wooden accents are found in almost every part of the hotel, from the bathrooms to the lounge areas, rooftop, and restaurant. Various plant species adorn the ceilings, tables, terraces, and suites. If you are someone looking to get in touch with nature in a modern city setting, then Treehouse is the place to be.
The Standard
- Address: 10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG
- Phone: 020 3981 8888
- Known for: seventies décor in an American fashion
The Standard is a piece of America in London with 266 rooms, proximity to major exhibitions in the city, and bottomless brunch venues. It is a popular establishment known for its white exterior and industrial design.
The swanky rooms & suites boast décor from the 1970s. Curved walls are the theme in all rooms, all of which share the same retro lamps and pick-black tiled washrooms. Free-standing bathtubs are well built into the suites next to leather-packed furniture and Bang & Olufsen speaker system to suit all your entertainment needs.
The Exhibitionist
- Address: 8-10 Queensbury Place, South Kensington, London
- Phone: 020 7915 0000
- Known for: top-of-the-line artistic boutique hotel
The Telegraph ranked the Exhibitionist as one of the coolest hotels in the United Kingdom when it launched in 2020. It is a 37-bedroom boutique hotel with a cocktail bar and cool art that encompasses the entire venue.
The whole hotel is an art exhibition by itself. You are introduced to these pieces in the lobby with the Che Guevara portrait. Another great piece in the lobby is the full-sized bull sculpture that serves as the hotel’s marker.
St. Christopher Inn
- Address: 161-165 Borough High Street, London SE1 1HR
- Phone: 020 7939 9710
- Known for: capsule hotel design
Have you ever heard of Japanese capsule hotels? St. Christopher’s at the Village in London Bridge brings the same compact hostel-type hotel to Londoners. It is the first capsule hotel in the UK with Japanese-inspired capsule beds for light travellers seeking affordable and convenient accommodation.
Pod beds are located in rows stacked on top of each, where you get to sleep close to other guests. There are locker rooms for storing your belongings, and you can get their free breakfast by booking directly on their site.
See Also: Best Capsule(Pod) Hotels in London
nhow Hotel
- Address: Macclesfield Road, London, EC1V 8DG
- Phone: 020 3907 8100
- Known for: a lifestyle-oriented hotel that combines the love of art and fashion
nhow London has its roots in Berlin, Germany. The lifestyle hotel opened in London to offer a versatile venue where you can experience art, music, fashion, and Instagram-worthy architecture under one roof.
The design is funky and filled with colourful décor and art. Graffiti decorates a huge chunk of the hotel, from the lobby to the rooms. You need to keep your camera phone on the ready when visiting nhow as you wouldn’t want to miss taking shots of the exquisite cool concept.
Hard Rock Hotel
- Address: Great Cumberland PI, Marylebone, London, W1H 7DL
- Phone: 020 7523 5053
- Known for: trendy music-inspired hotel
Hard Rock Café Inc. started the creation of rock & roll themed restaurants in 1971. The Hard Rock Hotel in London is one of the company’s newest music-inspired venues, located close to Buckingham Palace, Speaker’s Corner, and Hyde Park.
Hard Rock Hotel is quirky: its amenities from the live pop music events, signature sound body wellness programs, Rock Shop with signature rock & roll swag, signature VIP pet programs, guitar & record player rentals, and a funky music memorabilia section.
Clink78
- Address: 78 King’s Cross Road, London WC1X 9QG
- Phone: 020 7183 9400
- Known for: hostel-type hotel located in a former courthouse
Do you fancy the idea of staying in a refurbished prison cell? The Clink78 stands in a former courthouse where the punk rock band, The Clash, was tried in 1978. Today, the courthouse, now a hotel, serves as a hostel-type venue with shared rooms of 14 beds and private rooms that were former prison cells.
The décor has different coloured floors ranging from green to blue and purple. There are female-only dorms and private lockers. Clink78 is beloved because of its value for money since you can get a place to sleep for as cheap as £15.
The Portobello Hotel
- Address: 22 Stanley Gardens, Notting Hill, London, W11 2NG
- Phone: 020 7727 2777
- Known for: world-class luxury boutique hotel
The Portobello Hotel in Notting Hill has hosted notable figures from celebrity actor Johnny Depp to Alice Cooper. It is a luxurious and charming venue that boasts a bohemian ambience fit for an exclusive clientele in the fashion, movie, music, and business world.
Elegance as its finest shines through the beautiful paintings in each room, antique furniture, marvellous wallpapers, and posh linen.
Andaz London Liverpool Street
- Address: 40 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7QN
- Phone: 020 7961 1234
- Known for: stylish design and architecture
As part of the Hyatt group of hotels, Andaz London on Liverpool Street boasts 5-Star luxury amenities and impressive world-class service. Rooms grace you with the vibrant artistic side of London, from the historical design to décor that shows off the venue’s heritage.
It is one of the most visited places for hosting meetings and conferences in the 14 meeting spaces. The entire establishment shows its personality through its unique art and furniture. Style is all Andaz London is about, and you can tell from the tiny touches that make everything stand out from other modern hotels.
CitizenM Hotel
- Address: 40 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4Dj
- Phone: 020 3519 4830
- Known for: funky and colourful
CitizenM has various chains of hotels across Europe. Some popular destinations include Victoria Station, Shoreditch, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Bankside hotel, and the Tower of London.
The CitizenM Tower of London is a Dutch-inspired hotel with a colourful interior and quirky atmosphere with contemporary décor and art. Rooms are compact in a pod-style fashion. Guests love the rooms because of how quiet they can get, which is great for a good night’s sleep.
Most tech in the venue is controlled by an in-room iPad connected to the lights, Televisions, and curtains, just to mention a few. CitizenM is a millennial-oriented hotel that brings together tech-forward progress and sustainable amenities/services.
W London
- Address: 10 Wardour Street, London W1D 6QF
- Phone: 020 7758 1000
- Known for: shiny mirrors and walls
W London by Marriot is located in Soho at the booming stage of the busy cultural hub in London. It is a great place to stay for those who want to immerse themselves in an energetic social setting.
You have probably seen the W London building somewhere since it is widely known for its glass exterior that shines bright. Its glass façade is complimented by the custom artwork found all over the hotel and the custom beds unique to each room.
Leman Locke
- Address: 15 Leman Street, London E1 8EN
- Phone: 011 7974 5936
- Known for: aesthetically pleasing colour schemes and furniture
You will be forgiven for thinking of candy the moment you step into a room in Leman Locke. The colour schemes used in the design of this cosy hotel give you the sense of something sweet and minimalistic.
Leman Locke is part of the Locke Living chain of hotels located across London. The aesthetics of the venue aim to please with a great selection of colour matching items and soothing trendy textures.
Hux Hotel
- Address: 7-9 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5NP
- Phone: 020 7600 2000
- Known for: jungle themed décor
The Hux Hotel has a live lounge area where you can sip on some signature cocktails and dance to live music among some of the most prominent personnel in London. It is a hedonistic forward atmosphere where you can transport yourself into a dreamy decadence away from the busy streets of London.
With that said, the décor is what sets Hux Hotel as a quirky place to stay. The walls, art, décor, and furniture embrace a jungle theme with lots of dark but greedy colours and dim lighting. Posh seats are fitted with the most exquisite linen and velvet materials, making for a comfy place to relax.
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Final Thoughts
When looking for quirky and cool places to stay in London, it is important to remember that there is a plethora of options. The list just covers a small margin of the extraordinary hotel offerings in London. Below are some of the honourable mentions you may want to check out:
- Sea Containers
- The Ned
- Stylotel
- The Londoner
- The Rookery
- Zedwell Piccadilly
- Ermins Hotel
- Hotel 41
- Town Hall & Apartments
- Haymarket Hotel
- Harm Yard Hotel
- The Pilgrim
- Ruby Lucy
- Amano Covent Garden
- The Courthouse Hotel
- Moxy Stratford
- The ZSL London