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Business travel used to mean staying in soulless chain hotels – properties that all looked the same. You could walk into the sterile lobby or your uninspiring room and literally be in any city in the world, thanks to the hotel’s absence of character and identity.
But gone are the days of bland business hotels. They still exist, of course, but nowadays it’s possible to stay somewhere that has character and style, that retains the amenities a business traveller will need, without all the beige paint and industrial carpet.
And in London, a global city that’s one of the world’s most popular business travel destinations, there are so many incredible, charming and downright cool hotels to choose from that there’s really no need to step inside a soulless chain. Here are some of our favourites.
Business Hotels in London for Under £200 per Night
citizenM
citizenM call themselves ‘a different kind of hotel’, and ‘a million miles from the Hilton’, and these descriptions are spot on. It may be a chain, but it feels more like a hip boutique property, with quirky features throughout. Set your room lighting with an in-room tablet, waste no time thanks to super fast check in and check out using the screens in the foyer, and enjoy a sound night’s sleep thanks to blackout shades.
With locations in Bankside, Shoreditch and Tower of London, you can pick which area suits you best (although keep in mind that Shoreditch offers less facilities for business travellers). The other two locations feature meeting and co-working spaces, known as societyM, which are designed to be the sort of place where you actually want to work, with trendy design, art, lots of natural light and food and beverage packages available.
As well as work spaces, there are comfortable common areas, free wifi throughout, and food and drink available 24/7, which makes citizenM the perfect choice for a business trip that’s anything but traditional.
Rooms from £99 per night.
Native
If you’re really not a fan of hotels, consider staying in a serviced apartment instead, which will help you to feel more at home in London (and will give you a taste of living like a local, too).
Native has properties all around London, from bustling Covent Garden to leafy, residential Fulham, and plenty in between. In whichever area takes your fancy, you’ll find a serviced apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen, so you can visit some of London’s best markets and pick up the best ingredients to enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals on the road.
The apartments are all beautifully furnished, with quirky design touches and all of the amenities you’d expect, including free wifi, a washing machine and weekly cleaning.
Rooms from £129 per night.
Mondrian London at Sea Containers
Right on the banks of the River Thames, in the heart of the city, and tucked into the famous Sea Containers building is a hotel that’s as sophisticated as it is modern. Created to emulate 1920s cruise ship glamour – to preserve the building’s history as a marine container business – the interiors were designed under the creative direction of renowned British designer Tom Dixon, whose quirky touches are evident throughout the property.
Guests at the Mondrian can enjoy spa treatments at the agua Bathhouse & Spa, views over the river on the rooftop bar, Rumpus Room, meals at the Sea Containers restaurant, and cocktails at Dandelyan, which has been named the best hotel bar in the world. The whole place oozes cool, and a stay at Mondrian London at Sea Containers will make you feel like you’re on a luxury cruise rather than a business trip!
You might also like: How to turn a business trip into your next holiday.
Rooms from £141 per night.
The Nadler Soho
There are 78 rooms in this stylish and minimalist central London hotel, each of which is modern and comes with the facilities and amenities a business traveller would expect: free Wi-Fi, free UK phone calls, a TV that can stream content from your mobile or tablet, GHD hair straighteners, USB charging points, a mini kitchen with microwave and fridge, and a Nespresso coffee machine with free capsules.
When it comes to dining, instead of offering a limited room service menu, The Nadler encourages guests to use delivery services like Deliveroo or Uber Eats so they can try food from some of the incredible restaurants in the area. Or, if you’d prefer to arrive to a fridge full of fresh groceries, you can arrange that, too.
Rooms from £161 per night
Artist Residence
This boutique hotel is a far cry from business hotels of days gone by. Its chic, designer rooms feel more like being in (as the name suggests) an artist’s home. There are only ten rooms, but each one is decorated individually, with modern art and stunning furnishing that you’ll definitely wish you could take home with you.
Located near Victoria, this hotel is conveniently positioned near major public transport hubs, although you probably won’t want to leave, thanks to the on-site restaurant 64 Degrees (created by chef Michael Bremner) and the hip speakeasy-style bar, 64 Below.
Rooms from £175 per night
The Grazing Goat
For an exceptionally British experience, stay at this hotel above a London pub, tucked into the streets of the gorgeous area of Marylebone, just steps from the bustle of Oxford Street. You might forget that you’re in the centre of London in the country-inspired rooms – think exposed wooden beams and antler chandeliers – but the amenities are exactly what you’d expect in a city hotel.
There’s free wifi throughout, Aesop toiletries, and free bottled water. And of course, there’s the gastropub downstairs, which offers hearty and delicious meals that are the perfect way to end a busy day.
Rooms from £190 per night
Whether you’re looking for city glamour or country chic, or simply business hotels in London that aren’t the same as every other property in the world, you’ll find plenty of choice for your next trip to the English capital.
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