All hail London’s rooftop season. On May 1, The Berkeley opened its rooftop to non-guests for the summer. The return of its “Capri in the city” pop-up – this year in collaboration with Acqua di Parma – brings lemon trees, striped loungers and Amalfi-hued spritzes to one of London’s most coveted pools, with wide-angle views stretching across Hyde Park and the red-brick crescents of Knightsbridge and Belgravia.
A lift ride up from the street, it’s a space that feels both elevated and escapist, pairing Riviera-inspired cocktails with poolside plates and a distinctly Italian sense of ease. It’s also a reminder that, in a city not short on sky-high drinking dens, hotel rooftops still hold a particular allure; more polished, often harder to access and with the best views in town. From cinematic infinity pools to kitchen gardens and skyline bars, these are London’s hotel rooftops worth booking.
How we review
All our reviewers are either resident destination experts or travel writers that specialise in hotels. Often they will have stayed at a hotel many times and so can see how it has changed for better or worse over the years. They know what makes a great hotel in that particular destination and will compare it contextually against local competition. When our reviewers first visit a hotel, they stay for at least one night, eat one meal in addition to breakfast and will experience all of the facilities on offer. Whichever category of room they stay in, they will see the entry-level rooms in order to assess them.
After their stay, our reviewers then give the hotel six scores out of 10, rating its location, style and character, service and facilities, rooms, food and drink, and value for money. The average of these scores then determines the overall score. Our experts then select reviews for curated lists like this – the best hotels in a particular destination for families, for instance – together with the Telegraph Hotels team.
The Berkeley
Knightsbridge
8/10
The most fun-loving of the Maybourne Group’s three London hotels was founded back in 1867 but has kept up with the times ever since. On hot summer days its main draw is the little rooftop pool; which has just been opened for the summer season to the public with its themed “Capri in the city” collaboration with Acqua di Parma. Surrounded by lemon trees and unrivalled views of Hyde Park and the London skyline, the poolside pop up is inspired by the island’s picturesque coastline and its endless blue Mediterranean sea views. It will be open to the book tables Wednesday to Sunday from 7:30pm, every week.
The Broadwick
Soho
8/10
Whimsy is in the air at Broadwick Soho; a theatrical 57-bed boutique hotel in Soho, founded by entrepreneur Noel Hayden. The maximalist design, by Martin Brudnizki, was inspired by Hayden’s childhood at his parents’ eccentric Bournemouth hotel. Expect visual splendour and great views of London from the rooftop champagne bar, Flute.
The latter of which has just announced a collaboration for the summer with El Fenn in Marrakech (another spectacular hotel rooftop). Launching on June 1, the space will become a living extension of the eclectic Moroccan hotel with all of the colours, textures, fun and spirit of this special place, including its famous sharing dishes and cocktails (charcoal-grilled octopus and hibiscus margaritas).
The Ned
City of London
8/10
The Ned is a spectacle of a hotel. Located in the former Midland Bank HQ, designed by Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens (with many original architectural details in place), it’s now a party palace – with restaurants, bars and a magnificent lobby offering live music. The rooftop is unfortunately members only, but they do sometimes allow hotel guests up to experience the space which is a boon because it has recently expanded to be the largest rooftop in the City of London. The new area features a mix of dining and relaxed seating inspired by an English garden with pretty parasols and sweeping city views, and let’s not forget the heated pool which is surely one of the best in the capital.
Sea Containers London
South Bank
8/10
This curvaceous cruise liner-like hotel adds glamour to the South Bank, and manages to be both warm and inviting, despite its sheer scale. There’s much to explore here, with brand new themed cabin suites – including one devoted to 1980s soap opera, Dynasty – a raft of river-view restaurants and bars, a heavenly spa, and a cinema. This is a place for views of – and easy access to – major London landmarks such as the London Eye, Tate Modern and Borough Market, all reachable in under 15-minutes on foot. The place to see all of these with a bird’s eye view? The top-floor 12th Knot bar armed with a cocktail and a camera. Or perhaps a glass of Laurent-Perrier with whom the hotel is partnering again this summer season to create a stylish terrace experience.
art’otel Battersea
Battersea Power Station
9/10
This hotel gets full marks for sense of place, with views onto neighbouring Battersea Power Station and the Frank Gehry-designed Cubist residential towers, as well as sweeping panoramas over the London skyline. And it all looks at its best viewed from Joia Rooftop: a stylish bar and terrace located beside the pool deck (its heated and also has a bonus hot tub, too), which serves as perfect backdrop for a sundowner. Highlights include the Aventurina, a gin-based cocktail with mint, cucumber and lime; the Pimenta, made with tequila, agave and chilli; and chilled sharing pitchers of vibrant sangria and Iberian spritz.
White City House
Shepherd’s Bush
8/10
West London’s outpost of Soho House is housed in the eminently recognisable old BBC Television Centre and pays homage to its 1960s heyday. Like its east London counterpart, there’s a sceney rooftop pool, plus an indoor one with a small spa, not to mention plenty of prime spots in which to work, socialise, drink and eat. That rooftop area though, festooned with twinkling lights and surrounded by striped sunbeds and tasselled umbrellas, is the best place in the area to be for a cocktail when the sun is shining. They host “pool parties” with special DJs and themed nights throughout the summer, but the pool itself is open year-round to hotel guests (and Soho House members of course).
Ham Yard Hotel
Soho
9/10
An arty boutique hotel with colour and personality etched onto every space and surface. Stylish interiors fashioned by designer Kit Kemp, a buzzy bar and restaurant, bowling alley, spa, cinema welcome you in from the surrounding bustle of Soho. And you’re right in the heart of Soho, near myriad theatres, shops, bars, restaurants and galleries, and a hop from Mayfair. Piccadilly Circus Underground is within 30 seconds’ walk away, Leicester Square is two minutes, and it’s about 10 minutes’ walk to Covent Garden. Its jewel in its crown though is the hidden away, guests-only roof terrace and superbly pretty kitchen garden on the fourth floor. There’s no bar, but service is available via the phone just inside the door.
The Standard
King’s Cross
9/10
It’s all Seventies groove and immaculate vibes inside this hotel’s bold brutalist walls. Think colourful retro spaces that are as welcoming as they are cool, vibey penthouse dining and dancing, and suites with supreme city views. A ride in the hotel’s iconic red pill lift whisks you up to the 10th floor, where a handsome crowd buzzes over impeccable Mexican-Spanish sharing plates at the low-lit, vibey Decimo. While another floor up on the roof takes you to a wraparound summer terrace where guests and locals alike spend their sunny days sprawled on colourful furniture (or, indeed, the astroturf), cocktails in hand soaking up the swell city skyline.
The Hoxton
Southwark
8/10
This high-rise Hoxton hotel south of the River Thames is the best of the bunch in the capital, not least on account of its rooftop destination restaurant Seabird. Dinner here is very much the main event. Start with a cocktail or glass of cava on the terrace to admire the views of the London skyline before moving inside. It’s an extremely chic space and the central feature, a square bar with scallop shells stacked on a towering mound of ice, gives a playful, decadent feel. Fish is obviously the dish of the day here – you could come just for the oyster happy hour (3pm-6pm Tues-Sat) but easily stay and work your way through the Mediterranean-leaning menu.
One Hundred Shoreditch
Shoreditch
8/10
This photogenic hotel has revamped the old bones of a hipster hangout, bringing a grown-up vibe to playful Shoreditch. The rooftop bar here is a fun, fabulous feature particularly as this space was not available for public use under the hotel’s previous guise. Named Kaso bar and kitchen it serves Eastern Mediterranean food with cocktails and DJs playing at weekends. Looking out over the city skyline sipping on spicy margaritas and watermelon spritzes is a joy. This summer though, Kaso Rooftop teams up with Patrón Tequila to unveil the ultimate tequila terrace.
Virgin Hotel Shoreditch
Hackney
8/10
This five-star hotel echoes its East London surroundings, with bold artwork and classic Virgin-red touches. The 1970s-style bar is a standout feature, and the hotel’s attentive service and comfortable rooms make it a great choice for travellers who want to explore Shoreditch or beyond. Rooftop pool bar and restaurant Marlins is a gem with its Ibiza-style vibe, stringed lights, rattan chandeliers and lounge area. It has a real “weekend brunch atmosphere”, with DJs and usually awash with 20-somethings; a proper party scene.
The Chancery Rosewood
Mayfair
9/10
Opportunities to secure prime plots in Mayfair are essentially non-existent, but The Chancery managed it. The building sits on the site that formerly housed the American embassy, immediately beside Grosvenor Square and just around the corner from Hyde Park. More impressive still are the hotel’s facilities, among the best you’ll encounter within any capital-city hotel within Europe, but a drink at the rooftop Eagle Bar is an essential part of any stay. This large space (room for 190 people on either side) is where the “special relationship” is felt most keenly, in drinks such as “Pretty in Pink”, named for First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. If the weather is fine, try and secure a table outside close to the giant gold eagle.
The Peninsula
Hyde Park
8/10
The Peninsula kick-started London’s venture into the new generation of uber-luxury hotels, with its multi-Michelin-starred rooftop dining at Brooklands a highlight. It’s fun, event fine dining, with a cleverly executed motoring and aviation theme; ideal for special occasions. Theatre begins on the journey up, passing a real Concorde nose and Napier-Railton on display on the way to the lift, which resembles a hot air balloon. The dining room itself channels the heyday of Concorde, with a scaled replica of the aircraft suspended from the ceiling, but in summer you can also eat and drink out on the beautiful terrace with sky high views elevating the “flight”experience.
Contributions by Emma Beaumont, Jade Conroy, Rachel Cranshaw, Charlotte Eggleston-Johnstone, Jo Fernandez, Alison Harvey Barretto, Mary Luissiana, Megan Murray, Lizzie Pook, Oliver Smith