TravelDiari matches your credit cards to every hotel booking — saving you points you'd otherwise miss.

Destination + card

The best credit card for hotels in London.

Updated

Why this card

Hilton Honors Aspire for hotels in London.

London is a Hilton and IHG town at the high end. Conrad London St James, Waldorf, and the InterContinental Park Lane are the marquee properties.

Annual fee

$550

Best earn rate

14 points per dollar at Hiltons, Diamond status, free weekend night annually

Signup bonus

175,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 months

Hilton has roughly 50 properties in greater London, including the Conrad St James, the Waldorf Aldwych, and several Curio and LXR collection independents. The Aspire's automatic Diamond status gets you free breakfast for two daily at any of them, which in London is a real $80 per day saving. Use the annual free night cert at the Conrad or LXR Biltmore on a Friday or Saturday in spring and you cover the $550 annual fee on a single night.

See this cardarrow_forward

If the top pick is not right

Alternative: IHG One Rewards Premier.

InterContinental Park Lane and Kimpton Fitzroy are both in London. The Premier gets you fourth-night-free on points stays and a free anniversary night up to 40,000 points, which covers a full night at most London Holiday Inns or a heavy discount on the IC.

ChaseAnnual fee $99

Skip this one

Not the right card for hotels in London: World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Hyatt's London footprint is thin (Andaz Liverpool Street, Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment, Great Scotland Yard). If London is your only trip, the chain card is not worth it.

At a glance

Side by side.

SpecHilton Honors AspireIHG One Rewards Premier
Annual fee$550$99
Best earn rate14 points per dollar at Hiltons, Diamond status, free weekend night annuallySee alternative section above
Signup bonus175,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 monthsVaries by month

Local tip

What to know before you book.

London hotels run a heavy weekend-discount pattern because the business crowd clears out. Saturday and Sunday rates at Hiltons in the City and Canary Wharf are often half of the Monday rate. Time your free night cert accordingly.

Questions

Frequently asked.

What is the best credit card for hotels in London?

expand_more

Hilton Honors Aspire from American Express. Hilton has roughly 50 properties in greater London, including the Conrad St James, the Waldorf Aldwych, and several Curio and LXR collection independents. Annual fee is $550.

How many points do you need for a free night in London?

expand_more

Roughly 80,000 points per night at the recommended chain for London. Cash rate is around $380 per night, so the points stay is a meaningful discount versus paying cash.

Is the IHG One Rewards Premier a better choice for hotels in London?

expand_more

InterContinental Park Lane and Kimpton Fitzroy are both in London. The Premier gets you fourth-night-free on points stays and a free anniversary night up to 40,000 points, which covers a full night at most London Holiday Inns or a heavy discount on the IC. Annual fee is $99.