These three London hotels rank among the world’s 50 best

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 have been announced. Once again, London has made its mark on the global hotel scene, with three of the capital’s most storied properties securing a spot on the celebrated list. Claridge’s sits at number 13, Raffles London at The Owo at number 28, and The Connaught at number 49.

Representing the breadth on offer in the capital, Claridge is Mayfair’s most glamorous address, with Art Deco interiors and an old-school sense of occasion that’s lured in Hollywood icons (Audrey Hepburn and Alfred Hitchcock), music royalty (The Beatles and The Rolling Stones), and contemporary A-listers (Brad Pitt and Taylor Swift).

Raffles London at The OWO is a distinctly newer take on grandeur, occupying the former Old War Office in Whitehall and combining this formidable history with three Michelin-star restaurants, panoramic views, and a subterranean spa.

The Connaught is known internationally for its Connaught Bar. The hotel is a long-established Mayfair institution, beloved for its museum-quality art collection, French fine dining and signature martini, which is mixed up tableside on a silver martini trolley.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels list launched in London in 2023, but moved to Paris for the 2026 ceremony. More than 800 anonymous experts from the travel industry voted, with the Rosewood Hong Kong retaining the overall number one position,

Closer to home, here’s why London’s three entries are worth a sleepover.

Claridge’s has long enjoyed an esteemed reputation. Queen Victoria gave the hotel her royal stamp of approval in 1860, paving the way for it becoming the unofficial ‘Annex to Buckingham Palace’ for visiting European monarchs. Hollywood and music royalty continue to enjoy its elegance, quintessential Britishness and striking Art Deco design.

Known for its high-end dining, world-famous afternoon tea and legendary Claridge’s Bar, the 269 rooms feature restored vintage furniture, modern amenities and marble-clad bathrooms. Whether you’re staying for a week or a single night, few hotels offer a stay as decadent as Claridge’s.

When The Standard’s writer Alicia Miller stayed the night, she said: “Constantly pursuing the art of hospitality perfection, the crown jewel of the Maybourne group manages to continually keep itself in the zeitgeist with a magic blend of faultless service, enduringly high quality and non-stop innovation. Example in point: a recent pop up from NYC aperitivo legends Dante.”

When The Standard’s writer Alicia Miller bedded down at The Connaught for the night, she found it offered gourmet wow-factor. “When you’re visiting a culinary-powerhouse city like London, staying in your hotel to eat is a no-no – that is, unless you’re booked at The Connaught, where the dining venues are half the reason to come,” she said.

“At this Mayfair icon you’ll sip the world’s best martinis from Master Mixologist Agostino Perrone in the Connaught Bar, dine on three-Michelin-starred fare at Hélène Darroze’s wood-panelled restaurant and nibble impeccable patisserie from acclaimed pâtissier Nicolas Rouzaud’s in-house bakery. This being the Maybourne group – also of Claridge’s and The Emory fame – service is polished and design ageless, with rooms oozing cross-century glamour.”