World's Best Archive 2019 Our Readers' Favorite 10 London City Hotels in 2019 By Flora Stubbs Flora Stubbs Flora Stubbs is the executive editor of Travel + Leisure. She has been a journalist for over 20 years, and a travel editor for over a decade. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on July 10, 2019 Close Photo: Jack Hardy/Courtesy of Corinthia Hotel London Perhaps it’s the Meghan and Harry effect, or the fault of Downton Abbey, but when it comes to the U.K. capital, Travel + Leisure readers can’t get enough of hotels that channel a very British sense of pomp and ceremony. Almost all the properties selected as the Top 10 London City Hotels in the 2019 World’s Best Awards deliver a grand, old-fashioned aesthetic (think: wood paneling, four-poster beds, and afternoon tea). Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities. It seems that, when traveling to England, a strong sense of place and history are what T+L readers want the most. In 2019, the top 10 properties our readers selected encompass both London’s most traditional hotels, such as the Ritz (No. 7) and the Connaught (No. 10), and newer properties with classic styling, like the Milestone (No. 2) and 41, London (No. 3). Also noteworthy: many are located a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, making them ideally placed for spotting the royals — and their new offspring. Service was another selling point for the top London properties selected for 2019. 41, London, a regular fixture on the list of London favorites, received a special callout. “If there was a ranking above ‘excellent’ for service, this hotel would get it,” one respondent said. The Milestone also ranked well for service, with one reader praising the bartenders in particular. “Best customer service out of any hotel that I have stayed at,” they went on. “This is my go-to hotel in London.” Read on for the full list of this year’s winning hotels in the British capital. 10. The Connaught Courtesy of The Connaught Score: 90.97 More information: the-connaught.co.uk 9. The Rubens at the Palace Courtesy of The Rubens at the Palace Score: 91.68 More information: rubenshotel.com 8. The Goring Courtesy of The Goring Score: 92.21 More information: thegoring.com 7. The Ritz London Courtesy of The Ritz London Score: 92.36 More information: theritzlondon.com 6. Corinthia London Jack Hardy/Courtesy of Corinthia Hotel London Score: 92.58 More information: corinthia.com The Simple Request That Will Get You a Bigger Hotel Room for Free 5. The Chesterfield Mayfair Courtesy of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection Score: 93.65 More information: chesterfieldmayfair.com 4. Ham Yard Hotel Courtesy of Score: 94.24 More information: firmdalehotels.com 3. 41, London Courtesy of Hotel 41 Score: 94.46 More information: 41hotel.com 2. The Milestone Hotel Courtesy of The Milestone Score: 95.33 More information: milestonehotel.com 1. The Lanesborough Courtesy of The Lanesborough Score: 95.80 More information: oetkercollection.com The Lanesborough has always had what realtors like to call “good bones.” Located just yards from Hyde Park Corner, this stately property — originally built for the 2nd Viscount Lanesborough — has been a city landmark since its construction in 1719. For over two centuries, the building was used as a hospital, and though it was converted to a hotel in the 1980s, it wasn’t until 2015 that a sweeping renovation returned the Lanesborough to its original Neoclassical glory. That renovation, along with new management by the Oetker Collection, has paid dividends. T+L readers love to stay in grand British hotels, and they don’t come much grander than this one: you’ll find gold leaf, intricate trompe l’oeil murals, grand 19th-century paintings, and era-appropriate furnishings, such as a four-poster bed upholstered in hand-stitched fabric. That’s not to say the property feels old-fashioned. More recent additions, such as a state-of-the-art fitness club and spa and the Michelin-starred Céleste restaurant, provide guests with a pleasing sense of old-meets-new. And isn’t that why we travel to London in the first place? See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards.