Special London hotel recommendations

[LondonTripPlanning]

I’m looking to plan a special trip to London for DH’s birthday (a special one).

I’m researching but overwhelmed with the choice and not being particularly knowledgeable about the city.

We want somewhere central,
a bit special, but not silly money. Budget can stretch to probably £500/night.

Can you help please? Also if you could throw in a great restaurant recommend too, that would be amazing!

DD just stayed at the Horseguards hotel... they had a room overlooking the Thames and the London Eye. Think she paid £180 for the night?

We're planning a trip later in the year to see Bruce Springsteen in Hyde Park and I'm booking the same hotel as it looked really nice and the location is amazing.

We have stayed at The Conrad in the past but it's very pricey.

Have a look at the Pan Pacific. It's in the city rather than the west end so seems to have better rates. We stayed for my husband's birthday and loved it - a real five star experience with free round of drinks and bottle of wine in the room for the birthday boy. It has a pool (didn't use it ourselves) and a spa, so you could spend a couple of hours there it that's your kind of thing.
There are a number of good restaurants in the city including a couple of Michelin starred ones.
The most spectacular stay I could recommend is at the
Shangri La in the Shard, but they certainly charge for it. Their restaurant Ting is great, so no need to leave those views at all during your stay!
Good luck,

Try Hazlitt's in Soho.
Small old hotel that's been created from a few townhouses that have been there since 1718.
No lifts, wonky stairs, old decor, but lovely.
Rooms from £300 and up.
www.hazlittshotel.com/

Town hall hotel or the Ned have some surprisingly affordable options that still feel like proper luxury! Your lucky DH ☺️

Second the Ned. Rooms are small but lovely place with bars and restaurants in and a good pool.

Sea Containers is cool on the Thames too.

There's usually deals to be had on 4 star hotels via group on or similar. 5 star hotels are harder to get for your budget though you might be able to get the Waldorf as it's rooms are cramped and not as posh

I enjoyed St James Court (a Taj hotel) plus nearby I also stayed at St Ermins which is nearby. Both near to St James Park for a lovely post breakfast stroll plus Sunday mornings get to see some practicing of the bands / horses etc

I love the Rookery in Clerkenwell - quirky little boutique type, and they have a resident cat!

Have a look at the Pan Pacific. It's in the city rather than the west end so seems to have better rates. We stayed for my husband's birthday and loved it - a real five star experience with free round of drinks and bottle of wine in the room for the birthday boy.

About to say the same thing, it fully deserves its ratings on TripAdvisor. Nothing is too much trouble.

If I'm being very picky, the pool could have been a bit warmer and the staff verged on embarrassingly sycophantic on occasions (raving about the colour of my very average gym kit at reception). But it was amazing and lovely views from the rooms.

My favourite restaurants are the Wolseley and the Delaunay (same company). Although afternoon tea at the Landmark comes a close second.

Really didn't rate the Duck and Waffle which seems to be recommended a lot. Loud music, weird food and they'd put stickers on the windows so we couldn't see the view.

Pan Pacific is lovely but far away from main attractions. Soho Hotel is fabulous but might be over budget, any of the Firmdale hotels in fact would be lovely (Charlotte St Hotel, Covent Garden Hotel etc).
St Ermin’s is nice but more 4 star

This is a lovely hotel, short walk from Covent Garden

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/england-united-kingdom/great-scotland-yard/lhrub?&src=bbmsemmbbmsearchhgoogleeameeroomsbranddengUniteddKingdomLondonnTheUnbounddCollectionHyatttLHRUBGreattScotlandYarddHotelgreat%20scotland%20yard%20hotel&mckv=s-dmmpcrid6388719704722mtid5297kx13790&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlZr71ssZQIV4YBQBh2ZEAs-EAAYASAAEgInFvDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

And it's just around the corner from Tom Kerridge restaurant in the Corinthia Hotel, which is fab for a special meal

I second firmdale hotels - my fave is Haymarket Hotel. It’s just off Piccadilly Circus. The breakfasts are epic & the decor is bright not just blandly chic like some places. I also like The Sanderson which is just off Oxford St. Restaurants depends what you’re looking for. Sushisamba Heron Tower branch has amazing views & great vibe with equally amazing food (Japanese/Peruvian). J Sheekey is very old fashioned luxury seafood. Expensive but so good.

The Royal Lancaster Hotel is lovely. They have a great Thai restaurant too. We went for my birthday and my partner let them know on arrival secretly, they put complimentary drinks vouchers, chocolates and balloons in the room as well as upgrading to a better room too. It was lovely. Right next to Hyde park and Lancaster Gate station so easy to get around. I think rooms are between £350-£500 per night.

I second horseguards but also loved the soho hotel. We enjoyed pollen st social for food and like the wolseley but not that special.