London's best hairdressers

Best hairdressers in central London

• Andrew Barton Salon

  25 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8NA

  He may be a celeb and TV favourite, but there's nothing intimidating about Andrew Barton's eponymous salon - his Covent Garden venue is his friendly 'home away from home', with stylists and clients alike gabbing away to each other over tea and biscuits in a relaxed setting, complete with strokeable flock wallpaper puppies. See more details
• Atherton Cox

  18 New Cavendish St, London, W1G 8UR

  Think of Atherton Cox as the Jil Sander of hairdressers: beautiful cuts delivered without fuss. It was founded nearly a decade ago by Lisa Atherton and Paul Cox, and the team is now nearly 40-strong, catering predominantly for glamorous thirtysomething Marylebone professionals and yummy mummies. See more details
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  Aveda Institute

  High Holborn, London, WC1V 7AA

  For those who care about what is going into and on to their bodies, the Aveda Institute on High Holborn is hard to beat. One of the original purveyors of natural hair and skin products, the brand continues to deliver quality treatments at this vast, airy hair and beauty spa. Time Out has long been a fan of the salon, not only for its fabulous non-aggressive colour and great cuts, but the serene manicure and pedicure booths, tucked away at the back. See more details
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  The Barber at Alfred Dunhill

  Men's salon, 2 Davies St, London, W1K 3DJ

  You may feel a little self-conscious approaching the rather grand Bourdon House, home to luxury brand Alfred Dunhill’s flagship store, but a calm, unpretentious welcome makes you feel as though you’re a member of an exclusive men’s club (which, incidentally, is just what occupies the other half of the building). See more details
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  Charles Worthington

  7 Percy St, London, W1T 1DH

  For no-nonsense blow-dries, great colour and cuts in bright, comfortable surroundings, Charles Worthington is your man. We have long frequented the Percy Street outlet for lunchtime blow-dries (from £36) and can’t fault the customer service – a bowl of nuts and glass of bubbly is always offered within seconds of sitting down (you can have unlimited top-ups for a £2 charge. See more details
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  Daniel Hersheson

  45 Conduit St, London, W1F 2YN

  The Conduit Street flagship of Daniel Hersheson has been offering great blow-dries and cuts since it opened in in the early 1990s. The clientele range from Vogue staffers, who work just over the road, to brass-buttoned Mayfair inhabitants and a raft of out-of-towners who travel in for the superior services. See more details
• Gielly Green

  42-44 George St, London, W1U 7ES

  You can tell a fair bit about a salon from the calibre of towel on offer. At this swish Marylebone hairdressers they’re as thick as duvets and the colour of caramel highlights. See more details
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  It's Something Hells

  Men's salon, Kingly Court, 49 Carnaby Street, London, W1F 9PY

  Miss Betty and Mr Ducktail are London’s self-proclaimed ‘rock ‘n’ roll motherkutters’ – rockabilly hair experts who’ll coiffeur you back to the ’50s. Their small salon in Kingly Court offers a full menu of services for women – particularly colour treatments and brilliant, gravity-defying up-dos – but there’s just one coveted chair for men, where Mr Ducktail whips up pompadour quiffs with clippers, scissors and a switchblade. See more details
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  Joe & Co

  Men's salon, 7 Greens Court, London, W1F 0HQ

  With its bright pops of colour, bold, graphic branding and tattooed lady (in-house barber Hayley Betts), Joe & Co is a contemporary barbershop that eschews the stuffy wood panels and badger brushes of traditional-looking male salons. See more details
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  Jo Hansford

  19 Mount St, London, W1K 2RN

  Jo Hansford has carved a niche for herself in hair colour. She is the first person many celebs turn to when they are thinking about changing from buttercup to vanilla (including Angelina Jolie and, bizarrely, Tim Henman). See more details
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  Jones & Payne

  73 Curtain Rd, London, EC2A 3BS

  'Having previously always worked for other people, we've really paid attention to all the things that used to niggle at us!' says Stewart Payne, co-founder and manager of this 'East-Meets-West London' salon. Business partner, Ricky Lee Jones, co-founder and Master Stylist who trained at the likes of Trevor Sorbie and the nearby Taylor & Taylor, and the addition of a few 'little wow factors' borrowed from more exclusive establishments is what really sets this homely-feeling salon apart from its mid-range competitors. See more details
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  Michaeljohn

  25 Albermarle Street, London, W1S 4HU

  Despite a recent makeover, Michaeljohn remains the ultimate old-school Mayfair salon catering for royalty (currently patronised by Princess Beatrice), fashion editors (yup, Anna Wintour gets her fringe cut here by Charlie Chan), and the Hollywood set (from Cameron Diaz to Drew Barrymore). See more details
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  Murdock Shoreditch

  Old Street, London, EC1V 9DS

  With a full grooming package, from wet shaves, manicures and in-chair treatments to simple cuts and clever restyles, the décor may be old but consistent, high quality service is relaxed and contemporary. See more details
• Toni & Guy, Sloane Square

  49 Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AX

  For the original Toni & Guy experience, visit the Sloane Square salon. It’s been here for 30 years and harks back to the family roots of this global superbrand, and boasts a fiercely loyal clientele. See more details
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  Windle & Moodie

  41-45 Short's Gardens, London, WC2H 9AP

  ‘From catwalk to the kerb’ is Windle & Moodie’s mantra, and few are more qualified to do so. Following a revamp last year, its Covent Garden salon features 2,500 square feet of styling space, plastered with shots of its greatest cuts – from Kate Moss hair-swishing in Vogue to Gwyneth Paltrow’s enviable choppy bob. See more details