Stunning design hotels in The UK

From sleek interiors with modern accents to quirky spaces featuring whimsical flourishes, these design hotels are more than just a place to lay your head. Check out our picks of some of London’s most attractive design hotels, perfect for the traveller with an eye for all things architecturally enticing.

St Martins Lane Hotel, London

Styled by interior design maven Phillipe Starck, St Martins Lane Hotel offers a vibrant, eclectic appeal that’s very much a signature of its creator. Its eccentric interiors highlight contemporary furnishings with playful designs, bold shapes and vibrant pop art. The hotel is also known for its whimsical Alice in Wonderland-inspired Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea, where you can sample a range of sweet and savoury delights.

Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London

Image: Town Hall Hotel & Apartments

Behind the handsome facade of Town Hall Hotel & Apartments lies a stunning Art Deco-inspired interior that harmoniously blends classic and modern designs. Its wood-panelled, marble-floored spaces are furnished with midcentury-modern furniture while stark aluminium and glass elements add a contemporary flair.

Spitbank Fort, Portsmouth

Image: Spitbank Fort

Easily the most unorthodox addition to the list, the Spitbank Fort is a luxury spa hotel built within an 1878 sea fort just off the coast of Solent, Portsmouth. The offshore retreat offers luxurious amenities including a contemporary fine dining restaurant, two bars and a spa – each featuring maritime-inspired decor that harkens back to the fort’s colourful history.

Tigerlily, Edinburgh

Image: Tigerlily

Rated among the ‘coolest 65 hotels in the world’ by Condé Nast Traveller, Tigerlily is undoubtedly one of Edinburgh’s hippest boutique hotels. Its vibrant, youthful interiors feature a clash of bold shapes and hues. The Black Room is a standout option here with its striking black walls and elegant touches like a modern fireplace and a cocoon swing chair.

Mondrian London at Sea Containers

Image: Mondrian London at Sea Containers

Perched on the edge of the Thames, this chic hotel draws inspiration from the Golden Age of transatlantic travel. Designed by acclaimed British designer Tom Dixon, the chic hotel features innovative, contemporary interiors with a Gatsby-esque appeal. Its main restaurant takes a more subdued approach with an abundance of brushed steel and sleek lines.

The Hoxton, Shoreditch, London

Image: The Hoxton, Shoreditch

A modish retreat in London’s lively arts district, the Hoxton is every bit as cool as the neighbourhood it calls home. Its common spaces take cues from London’s hippest cafes and feature plush oversize sofas, rough hewn brick walls and parquet flooring. Room options here differ only in size, each offering equivalent amenities along with stylish industrial touches and a dazzling monochrome bathroom.

Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Image: Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Parked along Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed waterfront and housed within a lovingly restored Grade II-listed warehouse, Titanic Hotel Liverpool is all about rustic charm and classic industrial appeal. Exposed beams, rough brick masonry and high vaulted ceilings define the hotel’s interiors. Nestled in the basement you’ll find Maya Blue Wellness – a hidden underground spa built around the hotel’s red brick foundations with a hydrotherapy pool, thermal suites and even a tea garden.