There are parts of London where the volume is never quite dialled down, where the street performers keep going even when the rain does, where film premieres draw crowds on a regular Tuesday, and where the glow from shopfronts and theatres makes midnight feel like broad daylight. If you’re going to stay in Leicester Square, you either embrace the chaos or you retreat from it entirely. The W London? It does both. And does it, like other W hotels, with style.
Perched right on the corner of Wardour Street, W London stands out. The building – curved, chrome-flecked, and deliberately futuristic – feels like it’s landed in the middle of theatreland on a mission to seduce both tourists and Londoners alike. This is not a hotel you stumble across; it announces itself. Even with all of London right on the doorstep, W London has the confidence to offer experiences that keep you inside, such as a cocktail masterclass at Perception bar and the W Film Club in their own screening room.
And location-wise, it absolutely delivers. Within five minutes, you can be in Soho’s heart, queuing for fresh bao; in Covent Garden, sipping wine by the piazza; or on Regent Street, making poor financial decisions in the name of self-care. Chinatown is quite literally at your feet; the scent of London’s best dumplings and roast duck is part of the air you breathe.
There’s a performative glamour to W London that makes sense here, where the West End meets a late-night noodle bar. The interiors lean into a kind of sleek hedonism with smoked mirrors, bold lighting, and oversized statement chandeliers that say we know you didn’t come here for beige minimalism. In the main area, glossy black walls jostle alongside a display of unique painted plates and a gallery of historic photos of London. The Lounge, where breakfast is served, has enormous windows and bold teal booths, as well as unconventional high table seating.
Check-in was speedy but friendly, and our welcome was punctuated by warm conversation and thoughtful gestures (shout out to Welcome Manager Anna and Charlene at the front desk, who managed that rare balance between professional and personable). W London takes service seriously; the Whatever/Whenever concierge service does what it says on the tin, and they’ll even look after your pet if you’re out on the town. Balloons and mini cakes were waiting in our Cool Corner Suite too, an unexpected and sweet touch (in more ways than one!).
The suite itself was clever. A generous 33 square metres, bathed in light thanks to its curved, wraparound window, and offering a cinematic view of Chinatown below. There’s an intentional fluidity to the space – separate bathroom, yes, but the rest of the suite feels open and luxurious. A spiky, iridescent pillow caught the light (and the camera flash) with a futuristic shimmer, one of the little W-brand flourishes.
It feels modern and curated, right down to the Digivalet tablet system that controlled lighting, temperature, entertainment, and even mood, though we didn’t test it to its full “amplify your vibe” capabilities. That said, it’s satisfying to turn the room pink and order ice with a couple of swipes.
While the room was a cocoon from the street’s chaos, we were curious to explore the rest of the building. The AWAY Spa is small but functional, tucked away on the sixth floor. The steam room and sauna are straightforward and calming, and there’s a good menu of treatments available, though the spa area overall is more ‘city-break luxury pit stop’ than destination spa. You won’t find plunge pools or sweeping views here, but it knows that in this location, you’re not here to spend the whole day in the spa.
This is exactly what we did, after a decompressing steam session, heading down to The Perception bar for cocktails and dinner. The double-height ceilings and mirrored surfaces made for a dazzling, slightly theatrical space – again, very W London. There is a seating area with an indoor fire that creates a lovely, cosy nook for a group, as well as several areas that feel quite secluded. Neon signs reflect the bustling nightclub outside, and there’s a programme of DJs several nights a week. There’s even a giant (and I mean planetary) glitterball left over from the bar’s previous incarnation as a nightclub.
At the Perception Bar, Rakan, the food and beverage supervisor, brought warmth and enthusiasm to our evening, with charming chat and genuine insight into the cocktail menu. All four drinks we tried had personality and flair, with the Matcha Fizz being a surprise favourite – refreshing, light, and playful. The Smoky Lotus was grown-up and savoury, the Spice & Everything Nice came in a porcelain lucky cat (yes, really), and the “Hey, Daffy!”, a Negroni variation, arrived under a cloche of smoke. It was all drama and deliciousness.
Starters were generous – think American portions generous – with the taco dish offering chunks of excellent quality tuna and the shrimp delivering size and juiciness with a dense fish-and-chip style batter. A “tempura” of broccoli and cauliflower used the same thick batter as the shrimp, paired with a very creamy satay sauce. If you’re in the UK to sample British-style batter, you’re in luck, because it seems to feature on about half the small bites on the menu!
Mains had one clear highlight: the plant-based Redefine Meat burger. Juicy, satisfyingly messy thanks to the harissa and avocado, and paired with crisp sweet potato fries, it’s a genuinely good example of how vegan options can lead the charge. Sadly, the 6-oz fillet steak was less impressive as it arrived solidly medium-well, despite a request for medium-rare. The ginger rice was well flavoured and reflected the East-meets-West concept of the bar overall, but we definitely came away from the meal thinking the cocktails were the star!
The W London isn’t trying to be a hushed sanctuary or a bastion of classic English service. It knows exactly what it is – a bold, cheeky, tech-savvy bubble of indulgence, parked at the crossroads of some of London’s most electric neighbourhoods. That location? It deserves its own encore. You don’t just stay in the city at W London; you feel enveloped by it, in all its bustling, edgy, opulent excitement. From the late-night glow of Chinatown to the buzz of nearby bars, this hotel doesn’t insulate you from London’s energy – it reinterprets it, channels it, and reflects it right back at you through mirrored walls and moody lighting.
W London excels at mood, location, and service with sparkle. Go for the style, the cocktails and the people-watching. And of course, what better feature could a hotel have to make your city break than that unbeatable proximity to almost everything worth walking to in central London? Go now and have fun!
W London
10 Wardour Street
London W1D 6QF
United Kingdom
