Lick’s picks of London’s 6 best eco-friendly hotels
With more luxury hotels than you can shake a stick at, London is overwhelmed with five-star stays. And with all those extra amenities come additional waste. In addition to service with a smile, we’re here to find out which are the most eco-friendly stays across the city. And with an estimated 123,000 rooms to rest your head, few of them make the cut. So, if you’re looking to stay, visit, dine or drink in one of London’s most eco-friendly hotels, read on.
Treehouse London
Location: 14-15 Langham Pl, W1B 2QS
Created with the idea in mind that a hotel stay should evoke as much fun and adventure as a child's treehouse, Treehouse London is designed with nostalgia in mind. Transforming an uninspiring ‘60s office block into a magical treehouse hideaway, just off Oxford Street and one of the city’s biggest thoroughfares— it is nothing short of miraculous. With its mix of biophilic and industrial decor, it succeeds in marrying its urban location with its eco-friendly ethos. With an astringent composting and recycling programme, single-use plastics are out and water refilling stations are in. A perfect example of a hotel that looks good and does good too. The Nest is the place to nestle down by day and dance into the early hours by night, whilst taking in 360° of the capital city. You really get a bird’s eye view from up here.
Take a tour of Treehouse Hotel and learn more about its biophilic design here.
Ham Yard Hotel
Location: 1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT
Straddled between Soho and Mayfair, in London’s beating heart, Ham Yard Hotel has it all: a cinema, bowling alley, a spa, roof terrace, and some of London’s best shopping right on your doorstep. Yet, founded by interior designer and Creative Director, Kit Kemp, it’s the decor that sets Ham Yard Hotel apart. Known for her idiosyncratic designs and nature-inspired motifs, the hotel was awarded the BREEAM Excellent rating upon opening—demonstrating strong eco-morals long before the travel industry began doing its sustainable laundry. From solar panels and a roof terrace complete with a vegetable garden and beehive to the smaller scale: bamboo toothbrushes, reclaimed wood coat hangers, and laundry bags made out of recycled plastic. Not to mention a zero-tolerance policy on single-use plastics.
One Aldwych
Location: 1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ Behind One Aldwych’s imposing Edwardian facade, there is nothing historic about its credentials. With its classic contemporary interiors its eco-initiatives set is the gold standard in sustainable travel (quite literally—it received the Gold accreditation from the Green Tourism Business Scheme). Since the hotel’s inception in 1998, One Aldwych has had an ever-growing list of eco-credentials. From its rooftop urban bees to an underground chlorine-free swimming pool, it’s committed to the environment, floor-to-ceiling. Not preoccupied with the sexy stuff, one of the most significant implementations was an EVAC drainage system which uses 70% less water than conventional drainage. A sleek and stylish hotel in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, this is one for the contemporary decor eco-warrior.
The Zetter Hotels
Locations: Clerkenwell and Marylebone Don’t be fooled by appearances. Though Zetter Hotels interiors might be thoroughly maximalist, their ethos is entirely eco-friendly. With locations in Clerkenwell and Marylebone, they were founding members of the Sustainable Restaurant Association. One of the city’s most sustainable hotel brands, they operate an ‘energy loop system’. In their words it’s “a bit technical”, but essentially as you heat your room it helps them cool their fridges. What’s more, the power in each room automatically cuts out—lights, air-conditioning—whilst you’re not in. But don’t worry your phone will still charge. Oh, and they even source water for flushing loos from their own boreholes. All this plus interiors worthy of an Arthur Conan-Doyle novel and some of the best cocktails in town.
The Good Hotel
Location: Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, E16 1FA
A stay on board a floating hotel—where do we sign up? Good by name, good by nature, The Good Hotel aims to do their bit by providing long-term unemployed people with the opportunity to build a career in hospitality. Committed to reusing and upcycling, much of the furniture in their rooms is repurposed, whilst the food served is locally and sustainably sourced. The sun-soaked roof terrace (weather permitting) has front row seats of the River Thames, as do all of the room. A social enterprise, all of their additional profits provide funding to their charity partner, Niños de Guatemala, with a portion of every booking going towards education for low-income families. There’s nothing quite like it in town, The Good Hotel is a totally unique stay.
Whilst you’re in the city, why not take a look at our picks of London’s best environmentally friendly activities, sustainable bars and restaurants, and eco-friendly shopping.