Hotel openings in London are set to continue, with approximately 3,600 rooms due to enter the market in 2026, a 3% increase on last year’s deliveries.
High-end hotels are expected to make their mark, with the luxury sector seeing several highly anticipated properties open throughout 2026. CoStar looks at the new hotels that are likely to shake up the market in the coming months.
2026 Hotel Openings
The former Whiteley's shopping centre has undergone significant redevelopment to become a 109-room hotel, alongside 14 branded residences. Originally set to open in 2023, construction delays pushed the opening back several times, and the hotel finally opened this March. It is the brand’s first property in London, although Six Senses previously operated a spa in Canary Wharf many years ago, which has since closed.
The brand has a wellness focus and ethos, and as such, the property’s spa facilities are one of its core offerings. The spa is over 2,300 square metres and features some of the latest wellness technologies to meet the latest trends in the sector. The property aims to become a destination in itself, offering various other amenities and services, such as nanny and babysitting services, from which hotel and residence residents are set to benefit. Although its customer base is likely largely leisure-driven, business guests may also be drawn to the hotel, given the available coworking and meeting spaces. Given the hotel’s location, it will be interesting to follow its journey and how the area may be impacted in the coming months.
Office-to-hotel conversions have been on the rise over the past three years, especially in the City of London. Dominus Real Estate acquired the building in 2023 for approximately £27.5 million, which has since been under redevelopment to become the 234-room Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton. The lifestyle brand has been growing rapidly across the UK, with the hotel set to be its 10th in the UK. Opening in mid-April, the hotel is set to benefit from the area’s growing demand base, which is a mix of leisure and corporate business, with hotels in the City submarket outperforming other parts of London over the past 12 months.
The former 225-room Westbury Mayfair hotel closed during the pandemic and has since been undergoing extensive renovations to reposition the property to a St Regis hotel, one of Marriott International’s luxury brands. Originally due to open in 2024, the hotel is another one that has faced delays in opening dates, with the former property being completely redeveloped, including the addition of two floors. The hotel is expected to have 195 rooms, including 64 suites, food and beverage facilities, a spa and a fully equipped gym. Situated in Mayfair, the property is well-positioned to benefit both leisure and business guests, while its affiliation with Marriott is expected to drive an international customer base.
Launching its second property in London, The Other House is due to open in Covent Garden this year. The property will be set within seven historical buildings to offer 146 rooms, including their signature Club Flats, which not only offer a room but also ample living space, including a kitchenette. The group aims to showcase the brand’s Resident Club concept, which blends traditional hotel elements with serviced apartment accommodation and amenities while also offering a private members’ club with access to the house’s dining and wellness facilities, also open to residents. The sustainability-led development, with an Excellent BREEAM rating, aims to become a home-away-from-home for travellers, likely attracting long-stay guests seeking a more exclusive stay in central London.
Making its entry into the London luxury hotel market, the Cambridge House, Auberge Collection hotel is expected to open later in 2026. Owned by the Reuben Brothers, the redevelopment of the former In and Out Club (so called because the gates prominently read 'In' and 'Out') forms part of a wider £1.3 billion investment by its owners into the Piccadilly Estate. The hotel is expected to add to the ever-evolving luxury landscape of the capital, offering 102 rooms, a private members’ club, as well as various food and beverage outlets, event spaces, and a spa. Situated in the heart of the city, the hotel is expected to attract a diverse clientele, from leisure to business guests, who may be interested in the building’s heritage and a more traditional British stay, as well as local residents to its food and beverage and leisure amenities.
One of London's most anticipated hotels is due to open later this year: the 100-room Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch, another luxury hotel development led by the Reuben Brothers. The property, which is a Grade I listed building, is filled with heritage, situated on The Mall, facing Buckingham Palace, and formerly the Royal Navy’s Admiralty Offices. In addition to its rooms, the hotel will offer 17,500 square feet of private residences, a spa, destination restaurants and bars, and a range of event spaces, including a ballroom for up to 320 guests. Once open, the hotel is set to attract a large leisure base of affluent guests, while its facilities are set to attract external guests, including tourists and local residents.
The year ahead is expected to see another influx of luxury rooms entering the market, with some highly anticipated properties opening after significant delays. Although there could be some impact on performance at the top end of the market, demand has remained robust as affluent travellers continue to spend on travel and experiences. However, the competition is certainly increasing in the luxury space, with those who can differentiate themselves and deliver value and exceptional service most likely succeeding.