The best hotels near Somerset House

With a tablet, smart TV, Nespresso coffee machine and free minibar, plus heated mirrors and rainfall showers in the bathroom, the rooms here are comfy and well equipped. The Victorian building has its period charms too, and the all-day restaurant overlooks the Strand. But it’s the location that’s the winner: you’re almost inside Charing Cross station, within sight of Trafalgar Square and a hop, skip and a jump from the Thames.

Hidden away off Fleet Street in a quiet courtyard, this is a smart, stylish choice in a handsome red-brick building. There’s a sophisticated European vibe to the place, partly due to the sleek contemporary design – notable for its use of rich colours, boldly patterned carpets and funky light fittings. There’s a chic restaurant and bar too, with seating in the secluded courtyard. You can walk to Somerset House (or St Paul’s, in the other direction) in ten minutes.

Hard to believe that this grand hotel near the Embankment, its lobby resplendent with a central dome and spectacular chandelier, once housed government offices. High-spec rooms come with luxurious marble bathrooms, there are excellent Italian and British restaurants, and everything is done with a light, modern touch that avoids stuffiness. The Espa spa and subterranean pools complex (with spa bath, steam room, sauna and hot seats) is a destination in itself.

Rooms at this deluxe modern beauty – designed from top to bottom by Foster & Partners – overlook Somerset House from the opposite side of the Strand. Design throughout is in sleek black and white, including a breathtaking nine-storey pyramid atrium in white marble that is the hotel reception. There’s also a 24-hour gym, a buzzing steakhouse and a sophisticated rooftop cocktail bar with white loungers and exceptional skyline views.

Housed in an ornate Edwardian building that once served as the HQ of the Morning Post newspaper, One Aldwych has a stately yet stylish air. The breathtaking Lobby Bar and much-heralded Eneko restaurant (the first London venture for three-Michelin-starred Spanish chef Eneko Atxa) set a suitably exclusive tone. Admire the abundance of contemporary art and outsized flower arrangements while heading for a dip in the basement swimming pool with its underwater music system.

Philippe Starck’s flamboyant, playful decor made St Martins Lane Hotel a hip destination when it opened in the 1990s. It’s still a looker, though in a calmer way, thanks to some clever updating that includes mood-interactive light displays, smart TVs and media hubs in the bedrooms. The floor to ceiling windows offer fabulous city views. Fusion restaurant Asia de Cuba (also with a new design) and cocktail bar Blind Spot still draw a fashionable crowd.

London hotels don’t come much more iconic than the Savoy, long favoured by movie stars and celebrities from Charlie Chaplin to Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill to George Clooney. Combining Art Deco design (on the Strand side) with neoclassical (on the river side), the hotel upped its luxury levels even further following a £220m restoration a few years ago. Suites come with butler service, and the black and gold Beaufort Bar specialises in champagne and cabaret.

Located on the other side of the Strand from the Savoy, this large hotel (in business since 1909) doesn’t have much in the way of palatial touches, despite its grand name. Decor may be unmemorable, but the price is good for the area – Covent Garden’s shops and entertainments are on the doorstep – and rooms are comfortable. Six bars and restaurants, free wi-fi, a free gym and 24-hour room service add to the appeal.

The City outpost of this budget chain (there are five other sites in London) has a brilliant location on Fleet Street, in an ex-office building near Temple Church. At this price, who cares if the rooms are small and there’s no phone or proper wardrobe… they’re clean-lined and modern, with en suite shower and a large TV with Sky Sports and Movies, and range in size from single to family. Cheapest are the windowless ‘inside’ rooms.

Premier Inn’s Hub concept is aimed at tech-savvy budget travellers. Download the app to your phone or tablet and you’re all set, from booking your room to controlling the temperature, to working out what to do nearby. Rooms are compact but well-designed with under-bed storage and an en suite shower, and there’s an on-site café and lounge. This branch (there are four others in London) is superbly located, opposite the ENO, with Covent Garden and Soho on your doorstep.