Bryan Mayes

Need a place to stay in London? We’re here to make it easy for you. Every year, a wealth of new hotels open in the capital which is a testament to the fact that London remains one of the most desirable places to visit in the world. However, that can make it tricky to decide which hotel to choose. But worry not because we have slept our way across the city and hand-picked our favourites for the ultimate list of London hotels, which covers locations right across the city, and every category from blowout luxury (including having your own butler, might we add) to budget basic and brilliant. In this mega list, we've listed everything from our favourite five-star hotels in Mayfair to more affordable hotels outside of zone 1. Plus you’ll be able to check out one or two of the capital's many Michelin-starred restaurants because yep, loads of them call London hotels their home. But if spending a small fortune on food isn’t your bag? There’s also an ever-increasing number of good-value food options for budgeteers, too. Throw great design and architecture into the mix, plus superb bars, world-class hospitality and the opportunity to have a home-from-home in the best city in the world and, well, you’re laughing.  Which area is best to stay in London? It's not just the range of hotels that's so impressive – you're also spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a neighbourhood to stay in London. The city is made up of a sprawling network of dynamic neighbourhoods, all with their own uniqu

Ahh, Barcelona. The city of dreams. Of sipping sangria on a rooftop, marvelling at medieval sights, attractions and architecture, and tucking into never-ending tiny plates of world-class tapas in a city replete with some of the best restaurants in the world. But for whatever reason you’re headed to this wonderfully vibrant city, make sure you choose the right place to stay. The good news? Hotels in Barcelona have it all, from jaw-dropping views and Michelin-starred dining to spa retreats and poolside luxury. One thing is for sure: there certainly is plenty of choice, whatever your budget and wherever you want to stay in Barca. But if it feels daunting, we get it – deciding the best out of a great bunch is hard work. So, put your feet up and grab a cuppa, because we’ve done the work for you. Read on for the best hotels in Barcelona to book right here right now. And let us know if we've missed any! Updated December 2024: Speaking of ones that almost slipped off our radar, we've added two new hotels into the mix: Seventy Barcelona and H10 Cubik Hotel. Enjoy! RECOMMENDED:🏝Check out Barcelona's best Airbnbs🍷 Discover the coolest things to do in Barcelona Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Like ’em, hate ’em or blast ’em 24 hours a day as soon as September starts, there’s no getting away from Christmas songs. And we’re not just talking about the classics – Christmas songs are an exhaustive genre, from weird ’40s jingles to brand-new bangers (yes, Sabrina Carpenter’s got one). Whatever gets you feeling festive, you’ll find it on this list.  What is the number one Christmas song ever? We are so glad you asked. And you’ve probably guessed it. You’re probably not even mad about it in the slightest. But yes, it’s Mariah Carey’s fabulous festive track, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. And hey, she’s pretty high up on our list too. It’s a classic, and she competes with Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ and The Pogues’s ‘Fairytale Of New York’ for the grand title every year. In our humble opinion, Pogues come out on top. But they’re both bangers.  RECOMMENDED:🔔 The worst Christmas songs of all time🎅 The best Christmas songs for kids🎄 The best Christmas movies of all time🎵 When is it too early to listen to Christmas music?🎤 The best karaoke songs

London is full of glitz, glamour, and very swanky places. And if you want to stay somewhere with character and individuality, give the chain hotels a day off and head to one of London’s gorgeous boutique hotels. There are plenty of brilliant smaller hotels in London to suit everyone’s taste, from cosy hipster hangouts to extravagant, super-central lodgings that give London’s five-star institutions a run for their money. With artfully designed rooms, well-considered service and quirky extra touches, London’s best boutique hotels are all about being a little less fusty and a lot more on-trend.  Looking for more options? Check out London’s best Airbnbs. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

With blockbuster exhibitions like ‘Marina Abramović’ at the RA and ‘Diva’ at the V&A, massive new shows including ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ and ‘A Little Life’, and the reopening of both Young V&A and the National Portrait Gallery, 2023 really feels like the year London’s arts and culture scene finally got over the lingering effects of the panny d. Got a culture-obsessed bestie who’s always on the way to the next big opening? Treat them to something from here. Looking for more inspiration? Check out our seriously cool Christmas Gift Guide

One of my greatest pleasures in life is watching documentaries in the bath. Laptop on the toilet seat, boiling hot water (I bring the kettle), candles and a cheap glass of wine. And Icon: Music Through the Lens is top of my bath-time greatest hits list. I discovered it when I randomly woke up at 4am. My mother-in-law was asleep in the living room of our one-bedroom flat, so I had no choice but to go hang out in the bathroom and see what I could find on Now TV. Icon is a six-part docuseries where each episode is dedicated to a different discipline of music photography. Album covers, live photography, backstage: it pretty much covers it all. The one that spoke to me most tackled the art of magazine covers but, frankly, they’re all utterly compelling. It was reassuring to hear that these prestigious photographers have had to deal with the same problems I have in my job. Musicians don’t all like having their photo taken. They don’t always want to smile, they’re often late and you don’t get much time with them. Listening to how different people approach these problems is fascinating. Although some of them have reached the holy grail of becoming mates and going down the pub with the stars afterwards, a lot of these photographers have had to do things to ‘get the shot’ that mean the subject doesn’t really like them at the end. The latter sounds more familiar. I mean, I’m pretty sure John Boyega thinks I’m a dick.Overall though, it’s just great to hear the stories behind the photogr

Sandwiched between the Gothic Cathedral and the artsy El Born district, the Grand Central Hotel offers a unique blend of historic opulence and contemporary luxury design. It’s a building once famous for being the tallest in Europe, and one that housed the private rooftop apartment and gardens of Francesc Cambó, a legendary patron of Catalan culture in the nineteenth century.  You can glimpse its lush foliage above you while lounging at the rooftop terrace and pool – our first stop after checking in, naturally, which we were carted up to in a charming restored 1920s elevator. The infinity pool and views will make you feel reassuringly smug. It’s a smart, versatile set up, which means they maximise the use of the space throughout the day and it’s always got a nice vibe motoring along: think relaxing poolside coffee and lunch spot by day, bustling rooftop bar by night.  At the time of visiting, the new Can Bo restaurant was not yet open, however the rooftop bar menu was more than fine. The ground floor breakfast lounge has just enough options to cater for most tastes before tipping over into a gluttonous all-you-can-eat brunch. They even have breakfast cake, a move that got the gold seal of approval from my sweet-toothed partner.  The rooms are chic, spacious and recently refurbished in a really thoughtful mid-century modern execution. We stayed in the junior suite, which is a quietly spectacular space. Beautiful clean lines and stylish modern wood panelling create a cool and cl

Situated on a quiet corner of Belgravia, The Hari offers laid-back luxury that’s a stones throw from the opulence of Knightsbridge and Sloane Square. Upon entry you’re welcomed by friendly staff and a stylish reception area that immediately lets you know you’re in good hands.  There’s a bit of a mid-century feel to the bar area, with cool and cosy fixtures and fittings. The wide collection of books covering the walls and tables is genuinely inviting and well curated. It’s warm, cosy and, frankly, makes you crave a cocktail immediately.  The rooms have a lighter, brighter feel, and as you’d expect from the hotel’s five-star rating, they want for absolutely nothing. We found a nicely stocked minibar, thoughtful treats for the kids and plenty of room to swing a cat… or child…. or lots of Harrods shopping bags, depending on your preference. Il Pampero, The Hari’s restaurant, is probably the highlight of any stay. It’s got a lovely trattoria vibe and when you’re at your table it in no way feels like a hotel. Dark green wood-panelled walls, cafe curtains, tasteful lighting and lots of cosy curved little booths for two, give it a warm and romantic feel. The kind of place you’d walk past, stop, peep through the window and then go in for a try.  Neighbourhood The hotel is nicely situated for exploring the central-west part of town. Ten minutes walk north and you’re in Hyde Park, for views of the Serpentine, art, great playgrounds and peaceful strolls. Ten minutes south and you’re in K

Whether you’re a family travelling from far-flung east London like ourselves, or a history buff out-of-towner looking to immerse yourself in some Tudor vibes, The Mitre is an ideal place to stay. Situated across the road from Henry VIII’s former gaff Hampton Court, you literally couldn’t be closer. Let’s be honest, you’re only really in this neck of the woods for one reason and that palace is bloody massive, so when you’ve finally found your way out of the maze, having this place a zebra crossing away from the main entrance is a blessed relief. Especially when you have two kids in tow, one of which ‘can’t walk anymore’ and needs to be carried.  The Mitre is a truly charming spot. Situated on the Thames, it has the comforting feel of a lovely English country hotel, while still having the convenience of red double-decker buses chugging past at five minute intervals. Historically, the building is centuries old, built in 1665 and was first used as a place to stay for folk who weren’t quite high enough on the social ladder to be staying within the walls of The Court. Perhaps the modern day equivalent would be knowing someone with a Soho House membership, but not actually having one yourself. The interior design and overall vibe plays into the building's history just enough without hitting you over the head with it. Subtle hints and cutely named rooms, rather than making you feel like you’re staying in some tacky mediaeval knights tourist trap. It has a wonderfully warm feel to it.

Photographer Aaron Parsons has been taking shots on London’s tube network as he’s used it during lockdown. The resulting series, ‘London’s Lonely Underground’ is a beguiling – sometimes unnerving – view of some of the busiest places in the capital empty of people. He explains how it came about, and what it means to him and to London. I keep hearing how this latest lockdown has been tougher for people than before. There were elements of the first one that I think some people actually embraced. The world stopping for a while: planes were grounded and our skies took a breather. Personally, my photographic eyes were opened to the simpler things in life on the walks that were in the close vicinity. Spring was springing and you had a proper chance to watch it bloom. But in complete polarity, this darker, winter lockdown has been a real challenge both in terms of mental health and for general photographic inspiration. I’ve been lucky enough to still have some work coming in and I’ve been involved in socially distanced shoots on location as well as capturing products in my home studio. For some of these shoots, I’ve had to travel on London Underground. This is a system, a world deep below the bustling capital, that I have always admired, both visually and in terms of its industrial prowess. However, travelling on the tube during a national lockdown proved an entirely different prospect so I decided to capture what I saw.  ‘London’s Lonely Underground’ is a photographic series documen

Ah, working from home. 'WFH' as some would have it. Sometimes it's alright. And sometimes it's absolutely unequivocally not alright. Never before have so many Londoners spent all their time behind the same four walls. A few months ago South London photographer Sam Mellish decided he wanted to dedicate a whole project to this bizarre yet historic phenomenon. We caught up with him and asked him to talk us through some of the photos. 'Created over five afternoons in late January, 'Home Work' is an observation of people working from home, taken from an outside perspective,' says Sam. 'Starting out from my home in West Norwood, I would spend about three hours wandering and on average capture about three images during that time. Having had newborn twins in the first lockdown, and keen to take them on daily walks, I began noticing more and more people, often sat in isolation by a window with a laptop or desktop, eyes glued to their screen. Lockdown has shifted the way people work and I wanted to document this moment.'  Photograph: Sam Mellish 'Jacob Alplund works in finance and proceeded to apologise for not wearing a suit when he answered the door. Captured in Tooting, 2021.'   Photograph: Sam Mellish 'Chloe Turner is working from home for the NHS track and trace team. Before lockdown, Chloe was working as a theatre stage manager. Dulwich, 2021.'   Photograph: Sam Mellish  'DJ working from home as a social impact investor in Dulwich. January, 2021.'   Photograph: Sam Mellish

While you've been sitting around in your pants having an existential crisis, London's fine illustrators have been... drawing pictures of themselves sat around in their pants having an existential crisis. Yes, many of the talented artists Time Out works with have spent the past year capturing the intricacies of lockdown in bright technicolour and embarrassing detail – and, to be honest, we're here for it. Nothing is more cathartic than seeing a pandemic habit you thought was weird, disgusting and unique to you, reflected back at you as a widespread trend. And for that we're very grateful. That's why we've decided to use our platform to give a shout out to some of our favourite London doodlers. We asked them to send over a piece of work they’ve made during lockdown and the results are bloody wonderful. Take a look through and if you like what you see chuck ’em a follow on Insta. We love them and we can’t wait to work with them again.   Kieran Glennon ‘This illustration sums up everyone’s boredom and impatience with the pandemic. Personally, I was looking forward to the introduction of 2021 but now I see that maybe I was a little naive. It isn't all doom and gloom though. The image was made whilst being excited about the future and what life could be after boring, old COVID.’ Follow Kieran on Instagram here.     Naomi Anderson-Subryan ‘My illustration is about the days which turn rapidly into nights, and before you know it you find yourself uttering those familiar words alm