The super-chic Jen Ford, Fashion News and Features Director at shopping bible Lucky, packed her bags and hopped across the pond to find the most fabulous shops some of London‘s neighborhoods have to offer. (After, of course, she spilled her fave NYC hotels to us.) Ford explored two very different areas: Mayfair, “a borough of fancy boutiques and High Street finds,” as well as the up-and-coming Shoreditch ‘hood near London’s East End. But what would a proper shopping trip to London be without having a proper place to rest your head? Not a lot whole lot. So we teamed up with the editors at luckymag.com to find six chic spots to wind down after a whirlwind day of perusing London’s best stores.
If You’re a Mayfair Girl…
You like all things lovely, as the British would say, choosing to focus on both high-end chains like the epic Topshop flagship, as well as eclectic boutiques that have a hipster touch. Opulent interior design is a mainstay of shops in Mayfair, as are glamorous flea-market finds, like vintage Lacroix earrings or other divine sparklers. And with some of London’s top hotels dotted the neighborhood’s landscape, it’s easy to make the switch from serious shopper to gracious hotel guest. Here are three spots that’ll make any Lucky girl drool like a pair of sky-high Charlotte Olympia heels would.
Flemings Hotel, Mayfair
The bold, beautiful interior design of the space by Grant White is what sets this luxury property apart from its other Mayfair counterparts, in addition to its killer central location. There’s a gourmet restaurant plus several lounges on-site, not to mention swanky Gilchirst & Soames toiletries, which any beauty afficionado would gladly appreciate — and stash in her luggage home. And if you want to get your sweat on, the hotel offers free use of the gym facilities at the Fitness First Berkley Square.
The Cavendish London
The Cavendish London is a large, 231-room hotel in Mayfair. Rooms have a mix of classic and contemporary decor with plush linens, big flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks. The elegant design uses pops of color and rooms have great amenities including electric kettles, Nespresso machines, and minibars. The building is taller than many in the neighborhood, providing sweeping views over London’s rooftops. Located right near all the shopping, art galleries, and theater, this hotel is a good launching point for exploring central London.
Brown’s Hotel
This unique property is actually made up of 11 historic Georgian townhouses, and no two of the 117 rooms are the same. Spacious, elegant rooms have a soft, soothing color scheme along with stocked minibars, big flat-screen TVs, and upscale bathrooms. Hotel highlights include quality dining and drinking venues such as HIX at the Albemarle, the English Tea Room, and the Donovan Bar. With a spa and fitness center, Brown’s has all the features guests would expect at this price point.
If you’re a Shoreditch girl..
This suddenly-cool spot is incredibly edgy, despite being somewhat close to London’s main business and financial district. Once part of the “inner city,” Shoreditch has be built-up into a modern, hipster-friendly hood. Shoppers here should expect to find more unique pieces, considering the wild video for Gaga’s “Born This Way” was filled just above one of our fave boutiques, the Show Studio. And the vintage that’s abound has a decidedly 80’s vibe, perfect for those looking to avoid the bespoke suits of Savile Row.
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel London — Tower of London
Don’t get thrown off by the name: The Doubletree is actually a bastion of modern design. The minimalist-styled rooms are stocked with free Wi-Fi and iMac TVs so planning a day-long shopping adventure becomes NBD. If you need a break from shopping (you damn hipsters), there’s a ton of commissioned local art from the Whitechapel Gallery available to peruse at the hotel. Still not enough to entice you? How about 24-hour room service? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
Town Hall Hotel
A bit farther east from Shoreditch is the Town Hall Hotel, located in the heart of the East End area. Filled with chic design that mixes Edwarian and Art Deco style, the historic building features spacious, individually-designed rooms with vintage furniture but modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and stocked kitchens. And a kick-ass indoor pool, too! Plus, food snobs, rejoice: There’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, Corner Room, that serves forward-thinking Portuguese fare.
Apex London Wall Hotel
Even though it’s smack-dack in the biz district, the Apex manages to still retain an air of funky style. Tasteful furnishings in rooms have added value when combined with the flat-screen TV, stocked minibar, and soaking tubs available in each space. Despite the ‘hood’s tendency to be a bit quiet on weekends, the hotel is located super-close to the Liverpool and Bank tube stations.
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- Olympic Shopping: London It-Girls Edition
- The Top 100 Boutiques in New York
- The Lucky List: Best Cities for Shopping
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