The fifth London-based Locke aparthotel offering, this peachy pastel-hued Dalston escape has all the trappings expected by east Londoners, including its very own on-site microbrewery. Not just included to tick Locke’s cool quota, the addition of a brewery was also an eco-conscious move – the site reduces the property’s CO2 footprint by a mind-blowing 75 per cent. With a design-led, industrial edge, the 121 studio apartments offer some of the best views of London’s skyline, while the king-sized beds are without doubt the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in (and trust us, we’ve slept in a few). Come here to mingle with young, bright business travellers and the odd East End cool cat.

With its long-awaited European debut more than living up to its much-hallowed US siblings in Manhattan, Miami and Hollywood, The Standard is anything but what its name suggests. Bringing a good dose of edge to the recently refreshed neighbourhood of King’s Cross St Pancras, the building’s brutalist architecture sets a futuristic tone, while bright colours and retro flourishes spike interiors with a vintage feel. More than just a place to lay your head, the space has also become a trendy hangout for London’s creative set, with nine sprawling floors offering several options for those who wish to eat, drink and play until the early hours.

Set across a Victorian-era building, there is a focus on British
craftsmanship at this “café with rooms”. Many of the property’s
original features have been lovingly restored, including the rather
grand 200-year-old mahogany staircase that sweeps you to the
bedrooms upstairs. While rooms come up small, they are beautifully
executed, with Egyptian cotton sheets, plenty of plants and
reclaimed items continuing the old-yet-new feel, like the chevron
parquet flooring and cast-iron radiators dotted throughout. There’s
a modern take on hospitality here, with no reception or room
service but the staff are excellent and with the revamped and
revved up Paddington on your doorstep you’re not likely to need
more.

Soon to be one of three Hoxtons across London, the original in
the heart of
Shoreditch still remains one of the best. With its distinctive
design, friendly service and unbeatable location, myriad bars,
restaurants and markets to explore nearby, this is the place to get
to grips with that renowned East London vibe. Whether you’re in
town for work or leisure, the hotel’s communal areas offer the
perfect hang out with laptop and latte in hand and the Hoxton Grill
remains a popular spot with guests and locals alike. There is a
great calendar of events at the hotel – from yoga sessions to cake
decorating classes and, what’s more, soon your pooch will be
welcome too.

Nestled on the corner of leafy Brook Green, this traditional
London
pub has been tastefully tarted up to offer 17 stylish boutique
bedrooms. Rooms are cool and contemporary with a few quirks thrown
in and some of the pricier offerings include added luxuries like
freestanding bathtubs. True to its primary form, the food here is
hearty and wholesome – you can enjoy a supper of high-end pub grub
before heading down to the underground bar for a cocktail or
two.

The label of “aparthotel” may not immediately inspire but with
an aim of bridging the gap between home and hotel, there is a
decidedly modish feel to this cluster of studios out East. The
interiors are a study in pastel perfection, minimalist yet still
cosy, and the huge windows lend spaces an abundance of natural
light. Rather than fixating on the bedrooms (which are very
comfortable by the by), apartments revolve around the now iconic
Locke L-shaped sofa, offering the perfect nook to work, chat or
chill. Set in eclectic and increasingly exciting Whitechapel, there
is a big community element here with exhibitions from a rotating
“creative in residence”, a well-being programme offering
mindfulness and yoga classes and a weekly running club that takes
you round the ‘hood.

This smart spot offers excellent value in the heart of
Clerkenwell, with its plethora of bars, restaurants and
cutting-edge design. Set across a converted Victorian warehouse
with cool mid-century furnishings the hotel cuts a fitting figure
for the setting. If you’re here to impress, book a rooftop suite
for a terrace and outside tub and enjoy bubbles amid bubbles
beneath the city’s night skies. The Zetter Group take their
eco-creds seriously and the hotel is impressive in its efforts on
minimising energy usage including extensive recycling and its own
1,500-foot borehole beneath the building that provides all of its
water. Sustainability made stylish.

Built in 1851 by the current owner’s great great grandfather,
this family-run hotel offers a more traditional pick for your stay
in town. The converted Georgian townhouses deliver the perfect
blend of old and new with no two rooms the same and plenty of
original fireplaces, eclectic antiques and quirky wallpaper dotted
throughout. The location in the heart of Pimlico is perfect if
you’re here for art with the Saatchi Gallery, V&A and Tate
Britain all within walking distance. For those with a love of that
infamous wizard, book into one of the Wizard Chambers for the full
Harry Potter experience – just be quick, they have a tendency to
fill up fast.

Embracing the borough’s history, this cheap and cheerful hotel
is set across a converted textile factory and emotes a certain
industrial chic. While rooms are certainly compact, the space is
used cleverly with king-size beds across the board and high-quality
fittings, along with ultra-modern, glass-walled wet room bathrooms.
If you fancy splashing out (both literally and figuratively), opt
for the loft suite for your own jacuzzi and terrace with views out
over town. While we’re still not convinced by the on-site cereal
café, Marco Pierre White’s Chophouse is a popular spot and there is
an increasing number of great restaurants nearby along with the
excellent Whitechapel Gallery too, of course.

It must be said upfront that rooms here are small – very small
indeed with even an absence of windows in some – but, for this
price and this location, something’s got to give and, with the best
of Soho
on your doorstep, you’ll likely be late rolling home to bed. In
line with the limited space, rooms are lacking in wardrobes or a
kettle for a cuppa but the linen is lovely (Frette) and the richly
coloured wood-panelled walls give rather a sultry feel. While
you’re spoilt for choice on bars, boozers and brasseries nearby –
the opulent Henson’s bar down on the ground floor is an art-filled
delight, with original prints by Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse and
Pablo Picasso, perfect for a pre or postprandial snifter.

Set a little south of the city proper, Clapham is popular for
its green spaces, slower pace and plethora of pubs offering cosy
corners for a Sunday
roast or midweek supper. This 500-year-old establishment on the
Common is no different and boasts the addition of a cluster of
rooms for well-fed and weary travellers to lay their heads. The
style here is a mix of country and contemporary with rooms more
generously spacious than many London hotels and the pricier
offering freestanding bathtubs in the bedroom – a surprising treat
at this reasonable price.

Tucked away down in arty and eclectic Camberwell, enjoy a slice
of real London life at this neighbourhood spot. Do not be deceived,
however, this is no regular urban abode; with its Latin-American
inspired decor and an excellent tapas restaurant on site, there is
a decidedly fun and flamboyant feel to the place. Rooms are
dominated by brightly coloured walls, kitsch art and curio along
with hand-painted Mexican tile-clad bathrooms – all come with a pot
of the hotel’s signature hot sauce. While perhaps not everyone’s
cup of tequila, there is character in abundance, the staff are
charming and the trendy haunts of
Peckham, Brixton and East Dulwich are all just a hop, skip and
a jump away.

In London’s East End, this former Victorian pub brings an airy
escape to the streets of Spitalfields. Ideal for staycationers,
solo travellers and loved-up duos alike, The Buxton hotel invites
you to explore the streets of Shoreditch before heading to its
panoramic rooftop for sundown cocktails. From the team behind
nearby Spitalfields gastropub The Culpeper, of gigantic
rooftop-gherkin fame, architect Gareth Roberts and business partner
Nico Treguer have revamped the Victorian building. Adding two extra
floors, a rooftop terrace and a stonking street-level
restaurant/bar, the Buxton’s dining space is a much-needed addition
to the kebab shops that more commonly characterise this end of
Brick Lane. Rooms are compact to say the least, for a flat rate of
£100 (including a welcome drink and breakfast) it’s a seductive
option for those who fancy travelling no further than a few flights
of stairs when going from dinner to duvet.