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The best hotels to network and chill in... London, from experimental meeting rooms to the ultimate room service

The Allis, the all-day social space at White City House, makes working on-the-move a pleasure
The Allis, the all-day social space at White City House, makes working on-the-move a pleasure

Business travel used to be a luxury-lite experience, featuring trouser presses, UHT milk and conference calls in your dressing gown. However, times (and travellers' needs) are changing. The line between business and leisure has never been so blurred, and ‘bleisure’ – like the word or loathe it – is rife on the London hotel scene. From co-working spaces, round-the-clock amenities and fuss-free service, to destination restaurants and VIP transfers, here's our pick of the best business hotels in London for globetrotting worker bees looking for somewhere with style.

The Curtain, Shoreditch, London
The Curtain, Shoreditch, London

The Curtain

Shoreditch, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

When superstar hotelier Michael Achenbaum opened this hotel and members club, it provided east London with another of the capital's most exclusive hot spots. Exposed brickwork, warehouse interiors and the in-house Tattoo Studio make it the perfect match for its Shoreditch surrounds. Its co-working space – Design Studio – is open to members and hotel guests alike and comes with a private boardroom, meaning those travelling with colleagues can talk shop in more intimate environs. A dip in the plunge pool post-meeting is non-negotiable. Read expert review From £163 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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White City House hotel, Shepherd's Bush, London, England
White City House hotel, Shepherd's Bush, London, England

White City House

Shepherd's Bush, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

White City House, another big-hitter from 'bleisure' pioneers Soho House, is in the old BBC Television Centre. The 45-bedroom members' club and hotel is decked out in mid-century style furnishings – and filled with hot-desking professionals. The Allis, its all-day social space which is open to all, makes working on-the-move a pleasure: there’s an outdoor terrace for business travellers who are really looking for an out-of-office experience, while the open kitchen makes for an informal communal meeting area. The bedrooms are all former offices too. Read expert review From £195 per night

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CitizenM London Bankside
CitizenM London Bankside

citizenM London Bankside

South Bank, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This cool, young brand is a favourite of business travellers who don’t want any fuss. Its DIY-style service means that guests check in using screens and there's also serve-yourself-style dining and a co-working space. In the bedrooms, screens by the bed control temperature, lighting (which can be coloured to enhance your mood) and curtains. If you're after trouser presses, bellboys and pillow chocolates you won’t find them here – and that’s a good thing. Read expert review From £117 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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Principal London hotel
Principal London hotel

Kimpton Fitzroy London

Bloomsbury, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Travelling for business can be frazzling. Not at Kimpton Fitzroy London though. Originally the Hotel Russell, it underwent a £75m refurb and is now one of London’s most luxurious hotels. It’s the amenities that really make this hotel stand out for busy business travellers. There’s a 24-hour concierge for middle-of-the-night emergencies (phone chargers, anyone?), in-room massages and yoga mats for pre-presentation meditating. 'Forgot it? We go it!' bathroom cards mean the concierge will go out and buy you any overlooked toiletries. Read expert review From £232 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Pilgrm, London
The Pilgrm, London

The Pilgrm

Paddington, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This cool neighbourhood-feel hotel is right next door to Paddington station (and the Heathrow Express) and it's a no-brainer for professionals with packed itineraries. Check-in and out are a no fuss affair: it’s all done online and a 24-hour key pickup service means not relying on reception staff to be on-hand – ideal for those arriving at ungodly hours. Two-hundred-year old parquet flooring and a mix of new and vintage furnishings in rooms give this place a laid-back charm, and each floor has its own open all hours pantry with snacks and hot drinks. The outpost of Workshop Coffee on the ground floor will provide fuel for a day of meetings. Read expert review From £112 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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Ace Hotel London Shoreditch
Ace Hotel London Shoreditch

Ace Hotel London Shoreditch

Shoreditch, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Arguably the original 'bleisure' hotel, Ace Hotel London has been attracting a stream of nomadic workers (and their Macbooks) since it opened. Why? Its lobby/co-working space is one of the best in the captial. Covered in greenery and styled with mid-century pieces, it feels distinctly non-corporate, not least because of its cool coffee shop serving Square Mile Coffee and kale salads. Teeming with locals (and their equally cool pooches), Ace is a buzzy yet functional place to do business and regularly changing events give it a real energy. Fun amenities in the bedrooms (vinyl players, guitars) encourage further creativity. Read expert review From £157 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Ned, London, England
The Ned, London, England

The Ned

The City, London, England

7Telegraph expert rating

The Ned is by far the most fun place to do business in the City. Located right next to Bank station (and the only hotel in the vicinity), it's the spot for organising business lunches, dinners and drinks with Square Mile workers. Eight restaurants on the colossal, marble-laden main floor serve a myriad of cuisines from New York deli-style fare to refined Japanese. French-inspired Café Sou is a laid-back spot for nomadic workers to set up shop. It is also worth noting that hotel guests have access to members' zones when they need to catch up on emails. Bedrooms might be on the small side but you’ll hardly spend any time in them. Read expert review From £208 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, London
Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, London

Nobu Hotel Shoreditch

Shoreditch, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Robert de Niro’s side-hustle as a hotelier served London a trump card when he opened the Nobu Hotel Shoreditch. Of course, the famed in-house restaurant is reason enough for those after a memorable dining experience to stay at the cutting-edge cool hotel but it's gone one better. Room service here is of the highest calibre, serving guests too busy or tired to leave their rooms with the same food served in the restaurant – even the world-famous miso black cod. Perfect for the ultimate dinner for one. Read expert review From £187 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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Hilton London Bankside, England
Hilton London Bankside, England

Hilton London Bankside

Waterloo, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This Hilton outpost, located near Borough Market, the Tate Modern and Flat Iron Square, is one of the chain's quirkiest. Its meeting spaces are extensive (taking over the whole bottom floor) with one having been recently designed by experiential mavericks Bompas & Parr. The Agora, dubbed the 'world’s best meeting room', features a scent-dispensing 'push for creativity' button, brain-boosting teas with bee pollen and kelp, and some serious tech. Bedrooms are calm, spacious and seriously comfortable. Read expert review From £127 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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London Edition, London, England
London Edition, London, England

The London EDITION

Soho, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Ian Schrager's London EDITION, set on a quiet street in convenient Fitzrovia, has built up a serious fan base among globe-trotting professionals. Portable computers, mobile phones and fax machines are all available to guests on request, as well as an executive butler service and 24-hour multilingual secretarial staff. The other reason? Jason Atherton's Berners Tavern, which is always full and particularly popular with glossy magazine editors and fashion types enjoying power breakfasts, lunches or dinners. Read expert review From £281 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

48 hours in East London

dorsett city, london, england
dorsett city, london, england

Dorsett City

The City, London, England

7Telegraph expert rating

Offering a mix of British charm and Asian hospitality, this 13-storey hotel in Aldgate makes the minutiae of travelling abroad for work as hassle-free as possible. Dorsett City provides every one of its guests with a 'Handy' smartphone, allowing them to make international phone calls and use the internet at no additional cost – very handy indeed. A 24-hour restaurant also means that those flying at unsociable hours can get a hot meal (think fish and chips, chicken Kiev and other comfort food classics) when they leave or arrive. Access to the City is a doddle by foot. Read expert review From £100 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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Sea Containers London

South Bank, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

The Slick Sea Containers is a dominating presence on the South Bank and has a hard-to-rival list of extras that make it attractive to modern business travellers. Its brand new Lyaness bar (replacing the legendary Dandelyan) is the talk of the town and a swish place to entertain colleagues or clients; the in-house Curzon cinema gives those who don't know anyone in London a good place to unwind; and the huge Agua spa comes with glamourous treatments for guests who need pampering before important business events. Read expert review From £168 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Berkeley, London
The Berkeley, London

The Berkeley Hotel

Knightsbridge, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Serious CEO's should head Knightsbridge-way to The Berkeley hotel. As well as its elegant décor, faultless service and swish rooftop pool, it is the hotel's travel perks that make it stand out for smart business travellers on the move. Its VIP premier service operates between the hotel and London Heathrow Airport: guests are welcomed straight off the aircraft before being taken to a suite while chauffeurs deal with security. There's even an option of organising private jet travel. Read expert review From £480 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com