A favourite hangout of the England football team, the former home of Lord Louis Mountbatten has contemporary bedrooms, cosseting suites, a good choice of eating and drinking spaces, and a magnificent spa.

Filled with vintage glassware, ornaments and curios, Annie Rowley's B&B in a historic market town is full of Georgian elegance, and has three top-floor bedrooms, a drawing room, and indulgent treats. Breakfast is taken communally.

Handy for Eurostar thanks to its position on a square in vibrant King's Cross, this Victorian townhouse hotel mixes comfort with studied eccentricity – expect upcycled coal-hole covers and repurposed airline trolleys alongside modern air con, smart TVs, good wines and platters in the B&B lounge.

With four boutique bedrooms, an atmospheric bar hung with modern artworks, a light-filled conservatory, lovely courtyard, seafood bar, and creative Mediterranean-inspired cooking, this Victorian pub is a great local drop-in and base for anyone wanting to stay over and explore Notting Hill.

A Bloomsbury Group theme runs through this lively hotel north of Soho, styled by Kit Kemp, with original artworks from that era, beautifully designed and thoughtfully equipped bedrooms and suites, a lounge, library, heated terrace, all-day dining, and Parisian-style pavement café tables

Close to West End shops and theatres, this pub with rooms has a relaxed vibe, a pavement terrace, stripped-back chic style, a first-floor dining room serving modern dishes alongside classics, comfortable bedrooms over three floors, and pleasant, efficient staff.

Beyond the Doric portico of a white stucco neo-classical mansion, this boutique hotel captures the eclectic charms of glamorous and bohemian Notting Hill.

With the feel of a private club rather than a hotel, this beautifully restored Georgian property lies behind the 18th-century facade of three shop-houses in a once-notorious area that is now filled with hip eateries and bars.