London remains a hotbed of development, with one of the largest pipelines in Europe with 77 projects and 13,699 rooms in the works, according to Lodging Econometrics’ Q4 2023 results. Further, occupancy hit 80.5 percent in December, a 5.7 percent year-over-year increase, according to CoStar, a global provider of real estate data, analytics, and news.

A massive circular lighting piece by French artist Patrick Nadeau hangs in the 1 Hotel Mayfair, London lobby

In fact, several global brands have made their debuts in the UK capital. This fall saw the opening of the 1 Hotel Mayfair. The first European property for the nature-inspired brand, it boasts a design by G.A Group’s local office in collaboration with the in-house team at SH Hotels & Resorts.

Also new in town: two venerable brands with their roots in Asia. The 190-room Peninsula London—a palazzo-inspired new build by London-based Hopkins Architects—is situated on a highly desirable corner of Hyde Park and features interiors by Peter Marino Architects; while the long-awaited 120-room Raffles London at the OWO is an adaptive reuse of the historic 19th-century Old War Office building, with interiors by the late Thierry Despont that bring together wood paneling and chandeliers with the rich masculinity of the government building’s bones and Whitehall location.

The four-level spa at the Raffles London at the OWO, spearheaded by Goddard Littlefair, features a vitality pool

Additionally, Paris-based Francois-Joseph Graf’s design for the 30-room One Sloane, a Costes brothers conversion of a late 19th-century mansion on the Cadogan estate, nods to the arts and crafts heritage of its Chelsea neighborhood. Not far from the property is the Chelsea Townhouse. Overseen by architect Gary Kellett, the restoration of the former Draycott Hotel is now a 36-room boutique operated by Iconic Luxury Hotels that spans three 19th-century red brick townhouses with a modern aesthetic.

In Notting Hill, the Ruby Zoe Hotel & Bar opened last summer, a collaboration with Squire & Partners and the brand’s in-house designer Matthew Balon. The second Ruby hotel to open in London, this six-story, 173-room property is resplendent in bright colors, nodding to the area’s history and Caribbean heritage.

Further out, more highly anticipated hotels from major brands are scheduled to come online, including the 203-room Park Hyatt London River Thames, part of the One Nine Elms development, and an urban hotel and residences from Six Senses, a rehab of the iconic Whiteley department store by AvroKO.

Walnut-paneled walls will wrap the spa at the Store Oxford, shown in a rendering

The 101-room Store Oxford will open this April in another former department store, once home to Boswells. From the team behind the Hotel Dame des Arts and Hotel des Grands Voyageurs in Paris, the design from local firm UrbanR channels a retail store with whimsical vignettes like the lobby’s fireside nook.

The unveiling of the 60-room Emory, courtesy of the Maybourne Hotel Group, which owns London’s Claridge’s, Connaught, and Berkeley hotels, will debut this spring. A new build from global firm RSHP, it was a labor of love from a top-tier roster of firms, including Champalimaud Design, André Fu, Pierre-Yves Rochon, Rémi Tessier, and Patricia Urquiola.

A rendering of the rooftop lounge at the Emory

Paul Brackley, founder and CEO of newly formed London-based hospitality company Kinsfolk & Co. is bullish on London’s booming hotel scene. “The city’s appeal lies in its rich and diverse culture, as well as its welcoming demeanor,” he says. “Each neighborhood offers its own authentic and unique experience, complemented by a range of independent and international businesses. Combined with ease of movement through the boroughs, this is why it is one of the most visited cities in the world.”

The Newman

A rendering of the Newman, a new-build hotel in the city’s Fitzrovia neighborhood

At the end of the year, Kinsfolk & Co. will bring the Newman to London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood, where locally based Lind + Almond will adorn the 81 rooms in an Art Deco style while peppering in references to the area’s most well-known residents, such as the polka dots loved by 20th-century writer Nancy Cunard.

“The design vision is stylish and unfussy,” says Brackley, “with bohemian quirks throughout that nod to the area’s inspiring character.” Moreover, the hotel is deeply rooted in its location, celebrating the neighborhood’s creative essence via design cues that are eccentric yet accessible. “Fitzrovia and London’s artists also inspire and decorate the walls of the Newman through their artwork,” adds Brackley. “The crafted offering feels new and intriguing, but Fitzrovian through and through.”

The Dorchester

The Artists’ Bar at the Dorchester is illuminated by a Lalique crystal bar

Pierre-Yves Rochon is also behind a major rehab for the Dorchester that attempts to restore the Hyde Park hotel’s original DNA, which, he says, “had faded to a whisper. The owners wanted to chart a course back to the Dorchester’s roots, but with a compass that pointed to the British style of today.”

At the core of the firm’s revitalization—including a revamp of the iconic Promenade; a restoration of Liberace’s mirrored piano in the Artists’ Bar; and a refresh of the 241 rooms—is a “judicious use of color,” Rochon continues. For inspiration, the design team turned to a palette of pale leafy green, rosy pink, and heather blue, pulled from the prototypical English garden. A standout is the marble tile and black and gold pillars of the Promenade that leads to the glowing Lalique crystal bar in the Artists’ Bar. London- and New York-based Martin Brudnizki took on the Vesper Bar, embodied by a palladium leaf ceiling, sienna marble bar, timber marquetry panels, and a series of Cecil Beaton drawings.

Broadwick Soho

Vintage pieces, including a Murano glass chandelier, adorn the Nook at the Broadwick Soho

Brudnizki also brought his signature vision to the West End with the Broadwick Soho. To house the 57 guestrooms and the hotel’s F&B venues, London architects ICA Studio preserved the façade of an older building then added an extension. Inspired by the gritty glamour of Soho, Brudnizki aimed for a “Studio 54 meets your grandmother’s townhouse vibe,” he says. “To capture an eclectic look, we mixed a variation of materials, colors, and textures that felt significant to this design theme, our muses, and these chapters in time,” he adds.

Guestrooms are adorned in pastel hues of sky blue and dusty pink, while bathrooms take a moodier approach with navy tiles and chrome fixtures. The public spaces double as an elegant funhouse of ornamentation, offering floral and animal prints mixed with shades of blue, green, and red. Further, the Flute Bar features a mirrored mosaic ceiling with contrasting cork panels on the walls, while the Nook’s coffered tent ceiling is upholstered in a rich, exotic fabric with geometric accents. “The finishes, although very different, complement each other wonderfully and bring the spaces to life,” says Brudnizki.

The BoTree

Soft colors meet whimsical lighting at Tao Hospitality Group’s Lavo restaurant at the BoTree London

Another independent hotel, the BoTree in Marylebone, is the first property from eco-conscious Place III Hotels. The 199-key new build from London firm EPR Architects (which also worked on the OWO conversion) opened last fall with interiors by Amsterdam-based Concrete. Natural tones, light oak, lush foliage, and sustainable materials—like the vegan leather for headboards and the eucalyptus Tencel for bedding—are used throughout.

“The BoTree is designed to emphasize craftsmanship, consciousness of nature, and the unique floral-infused lifestyle of Marylebone,” says Concrete project architect Melanie Knüwer, who singles out the lobby’s handmade terrazzo flooring and the custom headboards, which were “inspired by the vibrant flower displays outside Marylebone’s specialty shops. [The] intricate floral motifs were created with a weaving jacquard technique that provides a 3D-like effect and a beautiful tactile quality.”

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Bronze accents wrap the pool at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, shown in a rendering

After debuting in Knightsbridge in a 19th-century red brick stunner nearly 25 years ago, Mandarin Oriental is opening its second property this spring. This time, the brand has gone thoroughly modern with architecture from RSHP and guestroom and corridor design by locally based Studio Indigo for its 50-room Hanover Square locale. “We found inspiration from the verticality of the RSHP building’s design,” says Studio Indigo creative director Mike Fisher. “We created depth and opulence with materials such as fine timbers, marbles, fabrics, bespoke lighting, and furniture.”

While the hotel’s public spaces, designed by Tokyo-based Curiosity, favor darker and more mysterious tones and materials such as bronze accents and mesh veiling, other spaces take on a more glamorous tone. “The juxtaposition of veined and colored marble alongside textured burl wood creates a palpable sense of luxury,” Fisher says, “while the handpainted silk de Gournay wallpaper is a true testament to craftsmanship that also acts as a beautiful art piece.”

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This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2024 issue.