There are London hotels with history — and then there’s Corinthia.
Dating back to the 19th century, this landmark building has shaped chapters of Britain’s story before reemerging as the flagship property of Corinthia Hotels in 2011. Today, it blends classical architecture with cool, contemporary indulgence, hosting everyone from visiting dignitaries to homegrown creatives.
Its location is quietly unbeatable: a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square and the South Bank, yet surrounded by surprisingly calm streets that offer guests rare city-centre tranquillity. Inside, expansive rooms and signature suites are refined without being ostentatious, and public areas — from the Crystal Moon Lounge to the seasonal Garden restaurant—balance drama with intimacy.
Those in the know can speak on the Corinthia’s spa being one of London’s finest escapes, while the arrival of Tom Kerridge’s Bar & Grill has elevated the hotel's culinary offering to destination-dining status. For visitors after exceptional service wrapped in old-world charm, Corinthia London offers capital luxury with soul.
In Short: Chic, discreet and slap bang in the centre of London, this lauded hotel is one of the most finessed five-stars you’ll find in the city.
The Location
Set on the intersection between Whitehall Place and Northumberland Avenue, it’s bizarre how quiet the streets immediately surrounding the Corinthia can be given you’re a minute’s walk from Trafalgar Square, officially notarised as the centre of the city. That works out well for tourists who can amble uphill to the National Gallery and Soho, home to the city’s most diverse dining possibilities, or slip downwards to the Thames, seconds away, for riverside sightseeing.
The hotel really comes into its own on New Year’s Eve. Parts of the property, including some signature suites, face the London Eye and provide what might well be the most comfortable vantage point possible for punters who want to enjoy midnight’s fireworks display - the crowds out on street level are hellish.
The Background
One of the grandest hotels in the city, Corinthia London’s origins stretch to the 19th century. Opened as the Metropole Hotel in the 1880s, right from the off the property catered to socialites and royalty (the Prince of Wales, later King Edward, was a regular). But the party ended when war broke out in Europe and the building was requisitioned by the government, ultimately accommodating the Ministry of Defence over subsequent decades. Strictly off limits to the public, the building played a significant part in Britain’s history: Sir Winston Churchill was here when World War I ended; right up until the early 2000s, one office was dedicated to researching potential UFO sightings.
Then, unceremoniously, the building was relinquished by the government and lay abandoned before Corinthia Hotels secured the landmark and transformed it into the group’s global flagship. The revived hotel opened in 2011 and has remained one of the capital’s top luxury piles ever since.
The Guests
From Hollywood A-listers to European high society and discreet Middle Eastern guests, Corinthia London has form when it comes to catering to the needs of privacy-conscious VIPs. The property is much loved by locals too: unshowy but moneyed Brits enjoy weekend stays, while Londoners often pop in to celebrate special occasions over afternoon tea.
The Rooms
If you’re a film buff you may have already seen some of the Corinthia’s inventory. When promoting films in London, Hollywood megastars commonly pose for press photos from the terrace of the hotel’s Royal Penthouse – its sensational view that extends from the City of London and along the Thames to the London Eye is one of the best you’ll find in the city.
Other signature suites are similarly fancy, while standard rooms are spacious for London and, dressed with flowers and in sunny creams and greens, could just as easily sit within an English country-house hotel as bang in the centre of the country’s biggest city.
Of course, all of this is underpinned by the expected luxuries: marble bathrooms with underfloor heating, bathtubs with built-in TVs, fluffy robes and in-room Nespresso machines.
The Dining
The first London restaurant from renowned English chef Tom Kerridge, Kerridge’s Bar & Grill delivers an elevated take on proper British grub. Think delicately braised ox cheek and extra luscious mash made with a generous dollop of clotted cream, or, for pudding, a zesty lemon marmalade sponge drizzled with Earl Grey custard.
A semi-enclosed setting for al-fresco dining, The Garden serves limited-edition menus in settings that change with the seasons. Think venison ragu and flaky apple strudel in a Swiss ski chalet-style setting in winter, and crab salad or light minestrone soup dishes come summer.
In next door’s Crystal Moon Lounge, a gigantic globe-shaped chandelier, formed of 1,001 suspended crystal pendants, provides a dramatic backdrop for a classic afternoon tea. Breakfast includes a lavish buffet laden with homemade granola, fluffy pastries and mountains of fresh berries.
Wellness & Spa
When the Corinthia opened it was often cited as having the best hotel spa in the city. A more recent slew of mega-bucks hotel openings with no-expense-spared spa and fitness offerings means that doesn’t hold true anymore, but it nonetheless provides a handsome retreat for relaxing breaks: its spa features a swimming pool and vitality pools, there’s a comprehensive portfolio of spa treatments to choose from, and a modern gym hosts regular fitness classes.
The Staff
Service is stellar - proactive and professional without being stuffy. Given the team’s experience catering to proper megastars like George Clooney and Beyonce, they’re used to dealing with all manner of outlandish and extravagant requests. Discretion is guaranteed.
Sustainability & Accessibility
Comprehensive waste-disposal and recycling strategies are among the hotel’s sustainability efforts.
A number of rooms and suites are accessible, as are the hotel’s penthouses. All of the hotel’s social and dining spaces are fully accessible. Though I didn’t see any in situ, the hotel actively welcomes families, who can choose from a range of family and interconnecting rooms alongside the hotel’s collection of suites. Children’s amenities, like miniature bathrobes, slippers and colouring books, are available.
How would you describe it to a friend?
One of the capital’s poshest properties, Corinthia London still feels personable, unpretentious and welcoming - it’s a solid choice for an expertly managed stay in the city.
Corinthia London
Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2BD, United Kingdom
Prices from £800 per night, including breakfast
Book your stay here
