Hotels
The 6 Best Hotels in Holborn
Grand assurance-house marble, a former telephone exchange and a converted Baptist church: Holborn does hotels with more theatre than its quiet streets let on.
In short: our top picks are Rosewood London, L'oscar London and The Hoxton, Holborn. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Holborn is the bit of central London people walk through on the way to somewhere else, which is exactly why its hotels are underrated. You get Covent Garden and the British Museum within ten minutes on foot, but pay a little less and queue a lot less than you would in Mayfair or Soho. The buildings do the heavy lifting here: a 1914 Pearl Assurance headquarters, a Grade II telephone exchange, an Edwardian Baroque church reborn under a Parisian decorator. Pick by the room you want to wake up in, because the location takes care of itself.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rosewood London | Holborn | ££££ |
| L'oscar London | Holborn | ££££ |
| The Hoxton, Holborn | Holborn | £££ |
| Kimpton Fitzroy London | Bloomsbury | £££ |
| NYX Hotel London Holborn | Holborn | £££ |
| The Z Hotel Holborn | Holborn | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Rosewood London
Why we pick itSet in a 1914 Pearl Assurance headquarters around a private courtyard, with Scarfes Bar and the Holborn Dining Room drawing locals as much as guests.
Worth knowingOver 300 rooms make it busier and less intimate than smaller luxury properties, and High Holborn lacks the prestige some guests are paying for.
5-star hotel
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L'oscar London
Why we pick itJacques Garcia turned a former Baptist church headquarters into 39 jewel-box rooms, all velvet and peacock motifs, with L'oscar Restaurant set under the original domed ceiling.
design hotel
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The Hoxton, Holborn
Why we pick itA Grade II former telephone exchange with parquet floors and a buzzy lobby; rooms run Shoebox to Roomy and the all-day Rondo restaurant pulls a steady crowd.
boutique hotel
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Kimpton Fitzroy London
Why we pick itCharles Fitzroy Doll's 1900 terracotta palace on the edge of Russell Square, now home to Fitz's cocktails, Galvin's bar and grill and the Palm Court for afternoon tea.
Worth knowingYou pay for the building and the postcode: standard rooms feel snug and the bathrooms are compact against the grandeur downstairs.
grand landmark hotel
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NYX Hotel London Holborn
Why we pick itA 213-room design stay topped by Sabine, a tenth-floor rooftop bar where the cocktails come with a rare open view across the central London skyline.
design hotel
-
The Z Hotel Holborn
Why we pick itCompact, well-run rooms a minute from Holborn station, with a free evening wine and cheese hour that makes the small footprint easy to forgive.
budget-chic hotel
Before you book
Holborn and Chancery Lane stations (Central line) put you a few minutes from each of these; Russell Square sits on the Piccadilly line for Heathrow runs. The area suits culture-first stays and business trips more than nightlife. Book the Rosewood or L’oscar well ahead for weekends, and ask the Z Hotel and Hoxton for a higher floor away from the High Holborn traffic.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Rosewood London is our editor's choice: Set in a 1914 Pearl Assurance headquarters around a private courtyard, with Scarfes Bar and the Holborn Dining Room drawing locals as much as guests. Rosewood London, L'oscar London and The Hoxton, Holborn lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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