New high-end hotels in London's top-notch neighbourhoods

The London Renaissance continues. As new restaurants heat up the range, stores revamp their offerings, and the city's museums go into overdrive, the hospitality industry is having its heyday, too. Here are some of the latest, greatest and most luxurious recent openings in London's hotel lineup.

Inspired by London's flagship museums, the Ampersand Hotel's contemporary interiors play nice with its Victorian heritage and restored original architecture, which in turn fit beautifully into historic, upmarket South Kensington. Hyde Park is just a stroll away, perfect for a summer picnic when you're not having an artisanal coffee, perusing the Champagne list or ordering up sweets and savouries at The Drawing Rooms, outfitted with Papa Bear-sized armchairs and avian accents. Dinnertime is well-spent at the cocktail room and restaurant Apero, where small dishes and boutique drinks take their cues from Mediterranean traditions. Any small sins can be undone at the hotel's full gym attended by personal trainers and yoga instructors on request.
More on the Ampersand Hotel at their website

Having re-acquired the hotel they opened in 1985 (and sold in 2002), hotelier pair Tim and Kit Kemp have once again stamped this Regency townhouse with their boldly coloured signature. The 38 uniquely appointed guest rooms house one-off and bespoke furnishings complemented by pleasantly contrasting hues and textures. Most guests have views of the private garden that was once legendary cricketer Thomas Lord's first playing pitch, the others look out into the charming Marylebone neighbourhood, an affluent and centrally located part of London lined with au courant shops, galleries and restaurants. Guests won't have to wander far, though, as the hotel has its own bar and all-day dining room, The Potting Shed.
Go to the Dorset Square Hotel homepage
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Aside from a name that implies high-end industry aristocracy, London's Bvlgari Hotel also carries the honour of a few 'firsts'. For one, it's the first new luxury hotel to be built in London in the past 40 years. It's also the first project in the UK to save on carbon emissions by building geothermal ground source heat pumps into the building. Bvlgari pulled out all the sustainable stops for their London outpost, going for BREEAM-approved design and providing electric car charging stations in addition to complimentary bikes for guests. Sustainability wasn't the only priority in design, though. The 85 rooms and suites got a dose of Bvlgari style with nostalgic notes like silk draperies inspired by classic Bvlgari jewellery designs, and nightstand lamps paying tribute to the brand's silver candlesticks. Reminiscing on the label's founder, silversmith Sotirio Bulgari, and honouring the British handicraft tradition, the interiors shimmer with silver not only in private rooms, but also in public spaces like the cinema with its extensive film selection, Il Bar with its cigar shop and Il Ristorante with its authentic Italian food and wine.
Visit the Bvlgari London online

Having been up and running since February, we expect posh Belgravia's newcomer has already worked out the usual opening kinks and are finding their hospitality groove. They began on a solid foundation, starting with smooth, almost masculine interiors dotted with specially commissioned contemporary art. The 85 guest rooms – from King Superior to the Penthouse – are all home to striking interiors like marble bathrooms and lush linens, as well as the latest technology including iHome docking stations. Dining and drinking are done at HIX Belgravia and Mark's Bar, respectively, both of which are housed under the brand of popular London chef Mark Hix. His food is British based yet internationally influenced, and his cocktail list was actually designed by eminent mixologist Nick Strangeway. Guests can also simply pick a smoke from the cigar menu and enjoy it in the smoking garden, as this hotel was made to be a playground for all the senses.
View The Belgraves website