Five of the best naughty hotels in London

The several interconnecting townhouses that make up this seriously romantic hotel look rather different today than they would have in 1837 when Mr and Mrs Brown opened the hotel, but we think the far-sighted couple would approve of the Rocco Forte touches here – particularly in the Donovan Bar. This darkly sexy space is filled with brooding 1960s works by the celebrated photographer Terence Donovan; make for the ‘naughty corner’ filled with his more risqué black and white shots, and let the photos and space work their desired magic on you.

Few things scream sexy so much as a secret and South Place has two. One is their secret garden, a surprise oasis with a waterfall and palm trees. The other is their Prohibition era inspired speakeasy Le Chiffre, a sleek salon with cute cocktails that look good enough to eat (and often are). Events are hosted regularly here, from live DJs to boozy pop-ups, so you can party the night away just moments from your bed. You’ll be happy to know that all rooms come with at least a king-size bed and baths big enough for too, but if you save up for Suite 610 you’ll be in for a real treat. This one-bed apartment is huge, has a glass-sided bath (as well as a separate marble en suite) and artwork created from vintage porn. Ooh la la.

Book in at Sanctum's Junior Suite for a bit of slinky disco sexiness. There are mirrors just about everywhere, so you can admire your beautiful selves from many angles, and the bath tub, which is right by the bed, is uplit, abutted by a mirrored column and flanked by a voyeuristic shimmering silver curtain. Serious fun is the name of the game here. Elsewhere, there’s a rooftop bar and another room (Junior Deluxe) with big round bed.

This charming hotel may seem unassuming at first, with good rates, free wifi and a confusing name – the whole shebang – but it has one special feature that makes it perfect for whirlwind romances: its day stay option. Check in at 10am, check out at 4pm. It’s probably mostly there for photo-shoots or to give hurried business folk somewhere to set up base for the day, but let’s not pretend you can’t find a much, much better use for it – especially if you book a Shoebox room, which the website describes as ‘ideal for one (or for two, but be prepared to get up close and personal…)’.

Opened in an eighteenth-century hospital building as an exclusive space for creative people, Covent Garden’s Hospital Club consists of 15 boutique rooms across a range of categories, from the windowless but well-designed Sleeper to the ‘presidential suite’ with a private terrace. All feature high-quality toiletries, artworks courtesy of an art programme that sees different artists curate and exhibit their work in individual rooms, upscale retro tech and, best of all, a cocktail bar turndown service. Hotel guests get full access to the club’s facilities too, including a hip restaurant focused on sustainable British produce, a screening room and a rooftop terrace.