Hacking London's most exclusive hotels: how to get the best deals

London's top hotels can seem like an impenetrable fortress of big queues, waiting lists and bills - even to those who call the capital city home. But don't give up on joining the elite (for a night or two at least) just yet - here are five fab hacks to get you into the hottest places at the best rates. You're welcome.

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Book outside the box

Let's get the basics out of the way first - you're not going to get the best deals at the best (i.e. most popular) times. What you need to do is get creative: meet Sunday, the new Friday. The Firmdale group offers some great end-of-week deals at its London properties - 50 per cent off suites at The Soho Hotel, and 50 per cent off the Sunday for any stay of two nights or more at Haymarket Hotel being two of the best. It's also always a good idea to ask about late checkouts to maximise your time, and let the hotel know in advance if it's a special occasion to increase your chances of an upgrade or other gesture.

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Book inside the box

Making the most of small spaces is second-nature to Londoners - so live like a local, and check yourself into a so-called 'box room', one of the city's hottest hotel trends. These are particularly good if you're travelling solo, and so don't need to worry about bumping into anyone. 'Shoebox' rooms at The Hoxton, Holborn start from ￡99 - the next category, Snug, jumps up to ￡139. They still have double beds, so can even sleep two, and you don't lose out on little luxuries such as fresh milk and water, and a light breakfast bag in the morning.

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Embrace day drinking to avoid minimum spends and queues

Rooftop hotel bars in London are prime real estate - and notoriously hard to get into, unless you're willing to spend a lot of cash. During peak times at Radio Rooftop Bar, atop the five-star ME London hotel, queuing time can be up to two hours, and reservations come with a hefty minimum spend (￡100 per person after 9pm Thursday-Saturday). Our top tip - try rolling up for a walk-in on a Sunday afternoon, when chances are you'll be able to bag yourself a prime spot, order a bottle of fizz or tasty cocktail, and pretend you're on holiday.

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Go for lunch instead of dinner

Many of London's top restaurants can be found in its hotels - but a Michelin star or more tends to mean two things: pricey tasting menus and long waiting lists. Dinner menus at Hélène Darroze's two Michelin-starred restaurant in Mayfair's The Connaught start from ￡95, and reservations are normally required three to four weeks in advance - but a three-course weekday lunch including two glasses of wine, a bottle of water and tea or coffee costs just ￡55 per person, with much more flexibility.

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Book a spa package and save

If you want to enjoy a massage or beauty treatment during your stay in the capital, you will generally get much more bang for your buck if you book a spa package. And incredibly, even if you have no desire to go anywhere near a spa, you could still save money by booking in this way. ESPA Life at the Corinthia, for instance, offers a Relax & Rejuvenate spa package for two that includes one night's bed and breakfast, a glass of champagne and one-hour massage or facial, plus use of facilities, for ￡714. With room-only rates starting from ￡918, you've already saved ￡204 even if for some reason you don't fancy being pamered to within an inch of your life.

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