Can I book a hotel room in London and smoke cigarettes inside?

A hotel in-room cigarette arrangement may be legally possible subject to conditions, but it is not something to assume. Confirm whether the specific room offered for your dates permits smoking before booking.

Can I smoke at a London restaurant?

Cigarette smoking is prohibited indoors in London restaurants, with no blanket whole-venue smoking permission. An outdoor terrace may be available subject to applicable conditions.

Are private apartments or serviced apartments an option for cigarette smokers in London?

In-room smoking in private apartments and serviced apartments may be legally possible subject to conditions. Ask the host or operator for written confirmation of the smoking arrangement for the specific stay.

London — destination hero image — Photo: Steff . · CC BY-SA 3.0

SmokingOn Guides

London Hotels for Smokers: Smoking Rooms & Rules

London is a destination where your smoking arrangement needs to be planned before you book. A hotel in-room cigarette arrangement may be legally possible subject to conditions, but the individual property must agree to it for your dates. For a smoother stay, make the precise smoking location part of your booking request and get the property’s answer in writing.

London United KingdomCigarettesHotelsServiced apartmentsPrivate apartmentsVillas

Reviewed September 2026 · Official sources

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SmokingOn Score™

Regulatory watch: England has a pending tobacco-law reform (+1 more monitored). Current rules are unchanged. View details

Quick verdict

Lawful in-room smoking may be possible, but property permission and room category still need confirmation.

Could still work if

You can confirm a smoking-permitted room category before you travel.

Where can I smoke?

A quick read of what current law allows for travellers—not what every property offers.

Hotel room smoking: Possible, with restrictions
Indoor restaurants & cafés: Prohibited
Indoor bars: Prohibited
Indoor nightclubs: Prohibited

Practical reality

Practical smoking experience

How usable this destination is in practice — separate from what the law permits.

Cigarettes

Limited

For cigarette smokers, expect to smoke outdoors rather than inside bars, restaurants, transport facilities, or other enclosed public places. Whether an outdoor table, terrace, hotel, or other property permits smoking remains venue- or property-specific.

What cigarette smokers should plan for in London

Build your London stay around a confirmed accommodation arrangement rather than an assumption. Indoor smoking in hospitality settings is restricted, so a dependable plan starts with the room or accommodation arrangement you have agreed directly with the property.

Hotels: ask specifically about the room

For hotels, cigarette smoking in a room may be legally possible subject to conditions. That does not mean every hotel offers the arrangement. Ask whether smoking is permitted in the exact room offered for your stay, and have the answer confirmed in writing before you book.

Private apartments, serviced apartments and villas

For private apartments, serviced apartments and villas, in-room cigarette smoking may be legally possible subject to conditions. Property permission remains essential: ask the host or operator whether smoking is permitted in the exact accommodation and in any location that matters to you, such as a private balcony, terrace or garden.

Restaurants

In London restaurants, cigarette smoking is prohibited indoors and there is no blanket whole-venue smoking permission. Smoking on an outdoor terrace may be available subject to applicable conditions.

Landmark

What to confirm before booking

Property permission does not create legality. Confirm the practical setup matches what the law allows.

Does the property offer a designated smoking guest room or smoking-permitted room category?
Is that exact room category available for your dates?
Has the property confirmed smoking is permitted in that specific room—not only in casinos, lounges, or common areas?
If you are relying on a balcony, terrace, or private outdoor space, has the property confirmed it is a lawful smoking location for guests?
Is there a designated cigarette-smoking area for guests on the property?
Where is it relative to your room or unit?
What hours is it accessible throughout your stay?
Is it the area the property expects smokers to use?

Regulatory watch

Upcoming and pending developments do not change the current rules shown above until they are legally in force.

Outlook: deteriorating

Pending legislative process · not current law
Owner: England, United Kingdom
The government consulted on extending smoke-free law to public children's playgrounds and outdoor areas of specified health, care and education settings, with possible designated-area exemptions. Outdoor hospitality and general wide-open public spaces were not proposed for inclusion.
If regulations are later made and commenced, smoking could become unlawful in specified outdoor sites in England after an implementation period. Current outdoor rules remain unchanged.
Sources
- Smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places in England
Enacted — scheduled · not current law
Owner: England, United Kingdom
The Act received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, but the relevant England provisions in Part 7 do not commence automatically. Section 176(3)(a) requires commencement regulations. The England consultation closed on 8 May 2026; official material dated 10 July 2026 states that the government response remains due. No supported commencement date or operative implementing regulations were identified as of 5 September 2026.
No present change arises from these uncommenced provisions. Future regulations may restrict smoking in specified outdoor public settings after commencement and an implementation period.
Sources

FAQs

Can I book a hotel room in London and smoke cigarettes inside?: A hotel in-room cigarette arrangement may be legally possible subject to conditions, but it is not something to assume. Confirm whether the specific room offered for your dates permits smoking before booking.
Can I smoke at a London restaurant?: Cigarette smoking is prohibited indoors in London restaurants, with no blanket whole-venue smoking permission. An outdoor terrace may be available subject to applicable conditions.
Are private apartments or serviced apartments an option for cigarette smokers in London?: In-room smoking in private apartments and serviced apartments may be legally possible subject to conditions. Ask the host or operator for written confirmation of the smoking arrangement for the specific stay.

Sources and legal basis

Review schedule

Last checked: 3 Sept 2026
Next review: 26 Oct 2026 · monitoring England, United Kingdom

Are you a host or accommodation owner in London?

Join the SmokingOn Collection and show travellers exactly where smoking is permitted at your property. Declare exact smoking locations your guests may use — we list researched properties with structured smoking-policy evidence.

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Important information

Smoking laws and venue policies can change. SmokingOn researches current rules and venue information from available sources, but guests should confirm applicable law and venue policy before smoking. Property or venue permission does not override local law.