The best pet-friendly hotels in London

Resembling a royal palace more than a hotel, the five-star Kimpton Fitzroy London is situated within a Grade II listed building at the heart of the upmarket Bloomsbury area. Located on the opposite side of Russell Square to the British Museum, the interior is just as lavishly decorated as its terracotta tiled exterior, with a sumptuous lobby and lounge. The spacious rooms are light and airy no matter what the British weather is doing beyond the large windows, while pets are welcomed at no extra cost. Even closer to the British Museum is Montague on the Gardens, which overlooks a secluded and private garden, and offers guests two sunrooms which vaunt some of the quirkiest décor around. Just a couple of minutes’ walk away from the national museums in Kensington – the Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Science Museum – Ampersand sits within a fine Victorian-era edifice of grey and white, hiding a homely interior ambience. Replete with over-sized headboards and a décor linked by a tasteful musical theme, bedrooms at Ampersand are all individually styled to balance the original nineteenth-century features with contemporary touches, while the downstairs bar has an equally warm vibe in which to relax with a coffee or catch up on emails.

Elsewhere, in trendy Shoreditch in east London, The Curtain (on Curtain Road) boasts a year-round outdoor pool – a truly unusual sight in a London hotel – just a few hundred metres from Hoxton Square and Brick Lane. The interior decor is what you might expect from London’s hippest and most creative district, with bare brick walls and a refined sense of industrial chic the order of the day. On The Strand, ME London by Melia is almost futuristic in its monochrome interior colour palette brought to life by Foster + Partners, the design team behind Berlin’s current Reichstag and the interior courtyard of London’s own British Museum. Dog baskets and canine treats are all part of the service for four-legged guests, while the two-legged kind might prefer the panoramic views from the Radio Rooftop Bar.

Ideal for anyone coming to town intent on a shopping spree, Chesterfield Mayfair is just 800 metres from the stores of Oxford Street. It blends traditional British hospitality – think tan leather button-back sofas, wooden panelling, and an impressive array of patterned carpets – with more contemporary options. Those travelling with their pets on business can opt for rooms with large desk spaces and luxury office chairs, while those here to relax can spring instead for a leisure room, which comes with a greater degree of luggage space and a good-sized seating area. An alternative option for those looking to splash the cash in London’s stores is Staybridge Suites London – Stratford, located inside east London’s Westfield shopping centre. Each suite includes a fully-equipped kitchen, as well as access to the on-site fitness centre, laundry room, lounge, and 24-hour pantry. Not only are pets welcome at Staybridge Suites, but Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a legacy of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – is immediately next door, offering some of the world’s finest walkies. Situated on the boundary between east London and the City, Motel One London – Tower Hill provides an excellent location whatever the reason for your London visit. Rooms at this new-build three-star offering are modern to their core, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows with impressive views across the capital.