Unique London Hotels

The Goring was the very last grand hotel of the Edwardian era to be built, completed in 1910. The 71 individually designed bedrooms range from Traditional Country House to Classic British. Overlooking private gardens, The Goring is London’s quintessentially family owned English hotel. The Garden Bar is the ideal destination for afternoon teas or Champagne

One of London's hidden gems, this Camberwell hotel is somewhat off the beaten track but within easy reach of the city centre and South London's attractions. The Church Street Hotel is the brainchild of brothers Jose and Mel Raido who wanted to create an inspirational meeting place for arty visitors and students (there are a few budget rooms available).

The drawing room of this super-relaxed first-floor Notting Hill hotel is an astonishing Aladdin's cave. Miller's is stacked with antiques and curiosities collected by furniture experts Martin and Ioana Miller, which glitter under dozens of candles at night. Bedrooms are more restrained but no less lovely and breakfast is served at a communal table.

The concept of shabby-chic might have been conceived at this Notting Hill bohemian bolthole. Popular with rock musicians in the early 1970s, The Portobello has since attracted an eclectic celebrity clientele. Bedrooms vary from tiny cabins to decadent suites. And if you crave scrambled eggs and champagne at 4am, just ask.

It can be an uphill walk to bed over sloping, creaking floorboards at this distinctive hotel. Hazlitt's spreads over three Georgian houses in Soho. It was once home to William Hazlitt (1778 –1830), the esteemed English literary critic and essayist. Furnished with antiques, busts and prints, the rooms are popular with authors, who traditionally leave signed copies of their works before checking out.