Back in April, the Michelin Guide announced a big push into the hospitality sector with the launch of its Michelin Key awards. Aiming to do for hotels what the Guide's Stars do for restaurants – namely, boost their profile and declare them as the best of the best while establishing the Guide as the pre-eminent authority on hotels and maintaining its relevance in a rapidly changing world – the Michelin Keys highlight the most outstanding hotels in the world, enhancing travellers' experiences and ensuring memorable stays.
While it remains to be seen how successful the Michelin Guide's bid for relevance will be, the Michelin Keys are still a prestigious award recognising excellence in the hotel business. On 1 October, the Guide revealed the inaugural Michelin Key selection in the UK in Ireland, and we've listed the London recipients below.
Three Keys (signifying an extraordinary stay)
- Bulgari Hotel London
- Claridge's
- Four Seasons London at Park Lane
- Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
- Raffles London at The OWO
- The Connaught
- The Peninsula London
- The Savoy London
Two Keys (signifying an exceptional stay)
- 45 Park Lane
- Brown's Hotel
- Corinthia London
- Covent Garden Hotel
- Ham Yard Hotel
- Haymarket Hotel
- Hotel Café Royal
- Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
- Rosewood London
- The Beaumont
- The Berkeley
- The Cadogan
- The Dorchester
- The Langham
- The Twenty Two
One Key (signifying a very special stay)
- 1 Hotel Mayfair
- Artist Residence London
- Baglioni Hotel London
- Beaverbrook Town House
- Broadwick Soho
- Charlotte Street Hotel
- Chiltern Firehouse
- Como The Halkin
- Flemings Mayfair
- Four Seasons London at Ten Trinity Square
- Knightsbridge Hotel
- L'oscar London
- NoMad London
- Number Sixteen
- One Aldwych
- Redchurch Townhouse
- Shangri-La The Shard
- Sofitel London St James
- The Emory
- The Soho Hotel
London hotels make up a third of the full Michelin Keys 2024 in the UK and Ireland list, and have received a total of 74 Keys, immediately establishing the capital as one of the best cities in the world when it comes to luxury hotel accommodation.
You can find out more about the Michelin Keys and peruse the full list here. Congratulations to all the newly minted Key bearers!