You’ve probably seen the photos. Those towering, fabric-covered headboards that seem to defy gravity. The clash of polka dots against 18th-century botanical prints that somehow doesn't make your head hurt. If you've spent any time looking for a place to stay in the UK capital, you've run into the phenomenon of Kit Kemp hotels London.
Honestly, people often mistake these spots for just another set of "boutique" hotels. They aren't. Not really. Most luxury hotels in London feel like they were designed by a committee of people who really, really love the color beige. Kit Kemp—the creative force behind Firmdale Hotels—basically took a sledgehammer to that entire concept back in the 80s and never looked back.
The "Not-So-Secret" List of Kit Kemp Hotels London
If you’re trying to keep them straight, it’s a bit of a maze. There are eight of them scattered across the city’s most expensive postcodes. You’ve got the heavy hitters like Ham Yard Hotel and The Soho Hotel, which feel like the beating heart of the West End. Then there are the "townhouse" style ones—Number Sixteen in South Kensington or Knightsbridge Hotel—where you half-expect to see a local resident walking their corgi through the lobby.
Here is the thing: they all feel like a private home, but a home owned by a very wealthy, very eccentric aunt who travels to India three times a year and refuses to buy anything mass-produced.
- Ham Yard Hotel: This is the big one. It’s basically an "urban village" tucked behind Piccadilly Circus. It’s got a bowling alley from the 1950s imported from Texas.
- Haymarket Hotel: Right next to the Theatre Royal. The swimming pool here has a light installation that changes color, which is kinda trippy after a few martinis at Brumus.
- Covent Garden Hotel: Deep in the theatre district. It’s got a very "English library" vibe but with more leopard print than you'd expect.
- Charlotte Street Hotel: This is the Bloomsbury Group's spiritual home. It’s covered in murals that celebrate 20th-century British art.
- Dorset Square Hotel: This was actually Kit and Tim Kemp’s first hotel. They sold it, then bought it back years later. It’s built on the site of Thomas Lord’s first cricket ground, so you’ll see cricket bats everywhere.
Why the Design Actually Works (and Isn't Just Clutter)
A lot of critics call this style "maximalism." Kit herself usually leans toward "modern British."
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But let’s be real—it’s about the layers. If you look closely at a room in The Soho Hotel, you aren't just looking at wallpaper. You're looking at fabric-walled rooms. It’s a genius move for London because those old buildings have thin walls, and the fabric acts as incredible soundproofing. It’s quiet. Like, "I forgot I'm in the middle of a city of 9 million people" quiet.
She uses a "Five C's" philosophy: Character, Comfort, Craft, Color, and Curation.
It sounds like marketing fluff, but you see it in the details. The door handles at Dorset Square are miniature cricket balls. The "Croc" bowling alley at Ham Yard has vintage shoes and bowling pin lamps. It’s that level of obsession that stops it from feeling like a generic Marriott.
The Myth of the "Stuffy" Luxury Hotel
Most people assume that because a room costs £600 a night, they need to wear a suit to breakfast. Firmdale hotels have always pushed back against that. Tim and Kit Kemp famously said that "hotels should be living things, not stuffy institutions."
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You’ll see it in the service. It’s professional, sure, but it’s not "white glove and a bow" professional. It’s more "we know your name and how you like your eggs" professional.
The Food Scene
Every one of these hotels has a restaurant that locals actually go to. That’s the litmus test for a good hotel, isn't it? If the neighbors won't eat there, why should you? Brasserie Max at Covent Garden or The Potting Shed at Dorset Square are constantly buzzing. They do a "Martini Hour" at Covent Garden from 5 pm to 6 pm that is basically a rite of passage for West End actors.
What Most Travelers Get Wrong
The biggest mistake? Thinking they are all the same.
If you want a party, you go to Soho or Ham Yard. If you want to hide from the world with a book and a pot of Earl Grey, you book Number Sixteen. That hotel has a private garden with a koi pond and mulberry trees that feels like a total glitch in the Matrix. You’re two minutes from the South Kensington tube station, yet you can’t hear a single car.
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Also, don't ignore the art. Kit Kemp is basically a curator who happens to own hotels. She commissions pieces from artists like Tony Cragg and Martha Freud. The 192 ceramic cups at Dorset Square, each decorated with cricketing phrases, weren't bought at a gift shop. They were made for that specific wall.
Practical Steps for Your Next London Trip
If you’re actually planning to book one of the Kit Kemp hotels London offers, don't just go to a third-party booking site.
- Check the "What's On" Calendar: Firmdale runs a "Film Club" in their private screening rooms. You can get a dinner-and-movie deal that is way better value than just a room night.
- The Afternoon Tea Trick: You don’t have to stay there to experience the design. The Afternoon Tea at Haymarket Hotel (the "London Calling" tea) is a solid way to soak in the aesthetic for a fraction of the room price.
- Ask for a Room Tour: If the hotel isn't at 100% occupancy, the staff are usually weirdly proud to show you a few different rooms. Since every single room is designed differently, you might find one with a color scheme that speaks to you more than the one you were assigned.
- Look for the Anniversary Specials: In 2026, they are still celebrating their 40th anniversary with specific cocktails like the "Ruby Rascal" across all bars. It's a small detail, but it usually comes with a bit of history from the staff.
The reality of London's hotel scene is that it's getting more corporate by the day. Large chains are buying up historical townhouses and stripping the soul out of them. Staying at a Kit Kemp property is essentially a vote for the "weird and wonderful" over the "safe and predictable." It’s not for everyone—minimalists will probably feel a bit claustrophobic—but for anyone who thinks a hotel should be as interesting as the city outside its front door, there isn't really a better choice.
To get the most out of your stay, book a table at the Ham Yard roof terrace early; it’s one of the few places in Soho where you can actually breathe and see the skyline without a glass barrier in your way.