“Pimlico, Cambridge Street. A five-story Regency terrace with exposed brick, quirky artwork, and a cocktail bar in the basement. Small and personal. Pimlico is quieter than most tourist neighborhoods, and that's the appeal.”

“Holborn, High Holborn. A grand Edwardian building with a courtyard entrance, a spa, and the Scarfes Bar. 262 rooms. The luxury hotel in London that manages to feel both big and private, depending on which corner you're in. Walking distance to the British Museum and Covent Garden.”

“South Kensington. A Firmdale hotel in a white-stucco Victorian townhouse. Private garden, a drawing room, and a location between the V&A, Natural History Museum, and Hyde Park. Quiet, residential, and designed for people who want Kensington without a lobby.”

“Soho, Frith Street. Three Georgian townhouses from 1718, restored with period antiques, freestanding bathtubs, and no restaurant because Soho has enough of them already. 30 rooms, each named after a former resident or visitor. The hotel for people who read and want their hotel to reflect that.”

“Russell Square, Bloomsbury. A design hostel near the British Museum and King's Cross. Private rooms and dorms, a bar, and a central location. The budget option that works because of where it is, not what it is.”

“Bethnal Green, East London. A converted Edwardian town hall with apartments and hotel rooms, a pool, and a restaurant. The East London option for people who want to eat and drink in Bethnal Green and Hackney rather than the West End.”

“Clerkenwell, St. John's Square. A 13-room Georgian townhouse with an award-winning cocktail lounge and complimentary bike hire. Eccentric interiors, bold colors, and antique furniture that looks collected rather than curated. Farringdon station is a six-minute walk.”

“Clerkenwell, Peter's Lane. 33 rooms in a row of Georgian houses near Smithfield Market and St. Paul's Cathedral. Wonky floors, open fires, an honesty bar, and bathrooms tiled in black and white. Neither trendy nor traditional, which is harder to pull off than either.”

“Holborn. The Hoxton formula: good design, reasonable prices, a ground-floor restaurant that draws non-guests, and rooms that are small but well thought through. Central location and the mid-range pick that most people end up recommending to friends.”

“King's Cross. A Brutalist former council building from 1974, converted into a 266-room hotel with 42 different room styles. Rooftop restaurant, a ground-floor bar, and a King's Cross location that puts you on the Eurostar's doorstep. Mid-range pricing for something genuinely unusual.”