Where to Stay and Eat in London for the Holidays

Traveling to London is always a best bet and now, even more so, as 2023 closes with a burst of celeb-favored luxury offerings from the biggest names in hospitality. From new routes and hotels to private clubs, legendary shopping, designer trees, a must-see West End production and an upcoming debut to keep on the radar, the city that was recently crowned by TikTok as the top destination for Christmas markets is alive in lights and festive cheer. Here are the can’t-miss places for a holiday trip and beyond.

Where to Stay 

Since The Londoner (from $571 a night) opened in the heart of Leicester Square’s theater district in 2021, it has attracted a parade of notables including Ryan Gosling, Adele, Patrick Dempsey, Sylvester Stallone, Ed Sheeran and more. It was the home base for this summer’s pink paradise-themed Barbie premiere and party as well as the TAG Heuer 60th anniversary fete last spring. Branding itself as the world’s first super boutique hotel in the epicenter of the city’s cinema and theater hub, this sublime and unassuming getaway features 350 bedrooms and suites, six restaurants and bars, and private screening room access. This is the type of hotel where you can completely disappear or be seen in a big way depending on the current objective. With furniture and art in warm and neutral color palettes, there is a lack of pretension in the design, a bit of humor and a natural calm within every environment. Architecture by Woods Bagot and interiors from Yabu Pushelberg, who also created the new Moxy and AC Hotels in downtown Los Angeles, capture the character of London — a little cheeky, a little quirky and just the right amount of sophistication.

For the star accommodations, book the 2,100 square-foot Tower Penthouse with a floor-to-ceiling view of Leicester Square — one of the largest suites in London — or the 1,200 square-foot Trafalgar Suites. All of these have a living area, kitchenette and foyer, customized for both entertaining and relaxing.

The Londoner offers guests The Residence, a dedicated private members club-style space hidden above the main floor. Grab a refresher at its Y Bar with its continental breakfast cart and an afternoon tea and snack spread, an ideal place for coffee and catch-ups that evolve throughout the day into cocktails and snacks at night. The Viewing Gallery is a hub of creativity, surrounding a permanent exhibition of emerging and acclaimed art from Britain and beyond. A secret passage through the bathrooms leads the way to The Whisky Bar, a speakeasy-style 16-seat hidden enclave.

It is a rarity to find so much food and beverage variety under one roof in a boutique hotel, but that is where the “super boutique” moniker comes in. Start the morning with breakfast or lunch at Whitcomb’s, have afternoon tea and bubbles at The Stage, just off the lobby; or grab terroir-led gin and tonics at Joshua’s Tavern with 52 varieties of the spirit. On the rooftop, izakaya lounge 8 at The Londoner is moody, modern Japanese.

The Retreat is The Londoner’s wellness ecosystem focusing on fitness, nutrition and results-driven therapies taking up an entire floor, including a private training gym, indoor pool, treatment rooms and Refuel, a spot for detoxifying smoothies, beauty juices and ayurvedic morning ritual bowls. 

Two private screening rooms, located at the adjacent Odeon Luxe, can be used by Londoner guests.

The art collection throughout is an eclectic mix of price points, mediums and genres — and highly photographable in its placements. A giant moon hangs above the reception desk — and wherever the moon is the sun will follow. In this case, it hangs over seating in the marble and velvet lobby. 

Walking through the bustling lobby and up the staircase, much of the selected artwork has an almost set design feel, a nod to the West End theatrical vibes. 

James Robertson curated artworks for the collection from local artists and galleries. On the staircase, discover an Anton Gormley woodcut print. Krishma Singh Dear, The Londoner’s head of design, characterizes it as “the private collection of a global traveler whose roots belong in London’s West End.” According to the hotel’s many Easter eggs, the sun and moon are recurring themes that refer to Wyld’s Great Globe — a major attraction of Leicester Square in the 19th century. 

The colorful photography by Carolina Mizrahi in the Penthouse Suite features the hotel’s employees. In The Residence there is a hand-painted magical garden mural by En Viu. Original pieces from artists such as Tim Walker, Donovan Davis, Frida Wannerberger, Marc Quinn and Edd Pearman round out the list. 

The art also extends to that famous London holiday decor. This year, London fashion designer Huishan Zhang, formerly of Dior Couture atelier, created the lavish Christmas tree for The Londoner, which is adorned with large black and white roses.

From Dec. 24 to 27 celebrate the “Ultimate Christmas Experience at The Londoner,” encompassing a spectacular city break with welcome drinks and nibbles in The Residence; Christmas Eve carol service at St Paul’s; Christmas Eve mass at St Martin-in-the-Fields and breakfast in bed on Christmas morning with presents; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner from Whitcomb’s; a St. James Park tree walk; and a spa treatment as well as many more experiences.

See Designer Christmas Trees

London features a sea of legendary hotels, and the historic The Connaught (from $895) in Mayfair ticks every box to earn distinction. In the ninth year that the hotel has partnered with a featured artist on its Christmas tree, British artist and sculptor Dame Rachel Whiteread has helmed this year’s design. The British-sourced premier Nordmann fir tree stands 31 feet tall on Carlos Place and features 102 circular neon white hoops, illuminating the streets of Mayfair. It is meant to encourage the feeling of togetherness and the creation of rings of positive brightness.

Over at the Claridege’s Hotel (from $990), the annual tree receives trimming from Louis Vuitton. Both brands are celebrated in the art of travel after having been founded in 1854. The Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2023 by Louis Vuitton is adorned in two Malles Vestiaire wardrobe trunks on top of each other. Each trunk is accented with Claridge’s travel stickers and an oversized Louis Vuitton luggage tag. The tree is composed of 15 vertically placed chrome repurposed trunks of varying heights inspired by Art Deco design.

At the peak of the tree is Asnières, the historic Louis Vuitton family home and atelier. Scattered throughout, there are 21 Louis Vuitton Vivienne mascots. In the 1850s, monsieur Louis Vuitton was appointed personal layetier (the person who packs the trucks) to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. Claridge’s was her winter residence. The first London Louis Vuitton store opened in 1885 around the corner from Claridge’s. This is the 13th year Claridge’s has invited a guest artist to reinterpret the tree.

Where to Eat and Drink

London wrote the book on private clubs. Riding the current private-club popularity wave, the new The Twenty Two — which opened last year in Mayfair in an Edwardian manor with 18th-century classical French design — has quickly become a hideaway for guests such as Tom Cruise, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, Kylie Jenner and Post Malone. There are 31 bedrooms and suites, an all-day neighborhood restaurant and members-only spaces.

The Club at The Twenty Two unfolds over the ground and lower ground floor with four rooms: The Living Room and outdoor terrace overlooking Grosvenor Square, The Dining Room for dinner, The Music Room for dancing and The Vault Bar.

Where to Relax

Luxury wellness practices define the experience at Nobu Portman Square hotel (from $463) in Marylebone, including the eclectic Stretch and Sushi experience. It’s the 13th hotel from the esteemed hospitality collective of Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper. Nobu’s Wellness & Fitness center features high-tech treatments alongside facials, massages and body journeys. Choose from ‘The Maharani’ full body scrub and treatment with tri-herbal triphala for toning and exfoliation or the ‘Urban De-Stress’ with targeted massage for lymphatic stimulation and myofascial release.

The hotel is also the birthplace of Nobu Pilates, developed by creative director Marsha Lindsay. It takes inspiration from Nobu’s principles of passion, integrity and growth, offering three classes: Power, Precision and Pure Pilates. Nobu Portman Square features a Nobu Bar & Restaurant and terrace and Nobu Lounge, while the Zen Suite, Saijoukai Suite and the two-bedroom Nobu Penthouse offer 360-degree views.

What to Watch in the West End

Onstage in the West End since 2021, Cabaret will make the move to Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre in spring 2024, with Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley debuting the lead roles of the Emcee and Sally Bowles at the start of the run. Currently, Maude Apatow stars as Sally and Mason Park as the Emcee at Playhouse Theatre with tickets through June 2024. Looking ahead to 2024, London’s West End comes alive with new content including the stage adaptation of Suzanne Collins‘ acclaimed novel The Hunger Games, set to debut next fall.

How to Get There

In 2022, Virgin Atlantic introduced the Retreat Suite, an innovative way to fly on the newest members of its fleet, the clean and green Airbus 330neo planes on routes from New York City, Boston, Tampa and Atlanta to London. Located in the front of the Upper Class cabin, there are two exclusive Retreat Suites with 27-inch touch screens and storage, wireless charging and Bluetooth, and a private onboard social space. With ottomans that double up as extra seats, up to four people can dine, talk, play games and watch movies. Another benefit is the privacy factor with electronic dividers and fully closing aisle doors.

Also in the Upper Class cabin, The Loft invites passengers to come together to sit, chat, drink or grab a snack. Bluetooth headphones connect to touch screens — and passengers can watch content together. 

On all U.S. routes, Virgin also revealed its winter in-flight dining menu. Over the last decade, airlines upped the ante on their dining, enlisting celebrity chefs, like Air France with Daniel Boulud. Virgin passengers with Upper Class status are now able to build their own breakfast with wellness drinks such as sparkling tea, kombucha and matcha, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.