UPDATE

This is a piece dating from March 2020. Things have changed since it was written. The majority of UK hotels are currently closed. 

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause travel restrictions, social distancing advice and plummeting demand, London’s hotels are gradually either closing their doors or freeing up beds for the homeless or NHS staff.

Business Traveller will update this page as we are informed of London hotel closures in the coming weeks.

Dukes London

The boutique Mayfair property on St James’s Place closed on Friday March 20, and its website currently shows the following message:

“Dear DUKES LONDON guests, clients and friends,

“In a fast-changing crisis we have been working round the clock to ensure that our guests and staff are kept as safe as possible. New government restrictions mean that, with heavy hearts, we have taken the decision to close the hotel for the short term.

“What this means is that DUKES LONDON will close on Friday, 20th March at 12pm for a duration of one month, at which time we will review our position. While our doors are closed we will be dreaming up new menus for GBR (Great British Restaurant), keeping our Martini glasses chilled just so, perfecting our picnics, titivating our Afternoon Teas, and ensuring that every part of the hotel is maintained with love and care, ready to welcome you back with open arms.

“If you already have reservations with us, we ask you to email our Reservations team at [email protected] with the date of your reservation in the subject line. We will be working hard to respond to all of you in date order of your reservation. Any pre-paid reservations will be converted into credit to re-book at DUKES LONDON as soon as we are up and running once more.

“In anticipation of re-opening, we encourage all guests to rebook their stay with us. Bookings made between now and 31st May for stays between 1st June and 31st August will receive a 20% discount on the Best Flexible Rate. Contact our Reservations team at [email protected] to take advantage of this super offer and assure your place back in the DUKES LONDON family this summer.

“At this extraordinarily difficult time our hearts go out to our guests, clients and staff alike – as well as to the travel and hospitality industries worldwide: businesses so badly affected and working so hard to weather the storm. By keeping safe, we will ride this wave together and we look forward to celebrating summer with you once our doors are finally open again.”

The Ritz

The Ritz has closed its doors to guests for the first time since it opened in 1906.

The Ritz Restaurant, The Palm Court, The Rivoli Bar, William Kent House and Ritz London Cigars are also closed until further notice.

“It is with great sadness that we have taken the decision, following the Government’s advice, to temporarily close The Ritz London,” the hotel said on its website.

“This is the first time in the history of our great hotel that we have closed our doors to our loyal guests since we opened on Piccadilly in 1906.

“This is a very sad, but inevitable, decision and our priority during these unprecedented and challenging times is the health and well-being of our brilliant colleagues and much-loved clients.

“As soon as it is safe to do so, the entire Ritz team look forward to re-opening our revolving door. Until then, we thank you for your ongoing support, we really do appreciate it, and we wish all the very best for the difficult weeks ahead.”

The Langham 

The Regent Street hotel closed to all guests on March 27.

No cancellation fees will apply to anyone with bookings after that date, and any deposits made will be fully refunded for individual bookings up to and including May 31, 2020.

Rosewood London

The luxury hotel in London’s Holdborn district closed on Sunday March 22, and its website currently says:

“Rosewood London will temporarily halt operations effective Sunday 22nd March 2020. We have made this decision as a precautionary measure as advised by Government guidelines the COVID-19 situation continues to develop around the world. The safety and well-being of our guests and associates are of the utmost priority.

“For reservations booked from 22nd March, we will unfortunately need to reschedule your upcoming visit. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and a representative will contact you to provide assistance with a future reservation. Please note that no cancellation fees will apply, and any deposits made will be fully refunded. For immediate questions, please call Rosewood London’s reservations department at +44 20 7781 8888 or Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ reservations department at +1 888-767-3966

“We thank you for your patience and understanding during this period of global concern, as we continue to follow local and international protocols for the safety of our guests, associates and community at large. We will continue to stay in touch and provide updates as needed during this situation. We look forward to welcoming you back to Rosewood London in the near future.

Please note that this page will continue to be updated with the latest information as it becomes available.

“Please click here for the latest updates from Rosewood Hotels & Resorts regarding booking and cancellation policies.”

The Savoy

The iconic London hotel closed on Monday March 23.

Managing Director Philip M Barnes said:

“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am saddened to inform you that The Savoy will temporarily close from Monday March 23, 2020.

“We plan to reopen as soon as it is practical and in accordance with government advice.

“We will provide further information via our website and on our social media platforms. Our Guest Experience team will be able to answer any queries you may have during this closure period and you can reach our team at or by phone on + 44 (0)20 7836 4343.”

Biltmore Mayfair

The new luxury hotel on Grosvenor Square has suspended operations indefinitely, though bookings remain open for future stays.

The Resident 

Resident Hotels (formerly Nadler Hotels) has closed all its properties until April 30, “with the expectation that the temporary closure could last until Sunday June 21, 2020.”

It said that “in line with the UK government approach we will review the situation formally each month with our first review on Friday April 24, 2020.”

The group has four London hotels, and one in Liverpool.

The Standard

Standard Hotels has closed the Standard London, in King’s Cross, as well as its two properties in New York, the Standard High Line and the Standard East Village, and the Standard Miami, “with all services fully suspended until further notice”.

Its two Los Angeles hotels currently remain “open with limited guest capacity”, and all food and drink outlets closed.

Native Aparthotels

Serviced apartment brand Native has closed its aparthotels across London, Manchester and Glasgow to guests following government advice.

The apartments, however, will remain open to NHS staff in need of a place to rest between shifts.

Guy Nixon, CEO and founder of Native, added:

“Most importantly, none of the incredible employees that work across our buildings will have their contracts terminated, albeit that many will need to go slow as we wait for the pandemic to pass, as we know it will. You can be sure of a very warm welcome when we open again.”

Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels

Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland has temporarily closed almost all of its properties – which include Jurys Inn London Holborn and three Leonardo hotels in the capital: London City, St Paul’s and Tower Bridge – until further notice.

The exceptions, for now, are two properties in Aberdeen and four in Ireland. The Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport closes on March 26.

Managing director Jason Carruthers said that the group would reopen the hotels “as soon as business levels allow”.

Locke at Broken Wharf

Design-oriented serviced apartment brand Locke has closed its newest opening at Millennium Bridge and decided “to consolidate our guests from Locke at Broken Wharf to Leman Locke, where we can ensure high levels of care for them and our teams.”

London’s Leman Locke, Whitworth Locke in Manchester and Eden Locke in Edinburgh remain open.

In line with new UK Government guidelines, the hotels will only be accepting new arrivals if the guests are:

  • Using it as their permanent abode (e.g. long-term assignees, overseas workers or resident guests) or as their interim abode, while their primary residence is unavailable (e.g. due to a travel ban or being displaced from their permanent home).
  • A key worker

Guests will be required to self-certify prior to check-in.

Firmdale Hotels

The Firmdale group has temporarily closed its hotels and restaurants in London and New York “until further notice”.

Point A Hotels 

All of the Point A Hotels are now closed until further notice. For information on the group’s booking policy, visit this webpage.