Best Hotels to Stay in the UK
A quiet revolution happened in the United Kingdom between the late 1980s and the Noughties. Back in the day hotels, B&Bs and self-catering cottages were often places of convenience rather than comfort. And glamping? Well that had yet to be invented. Luxury and originality, such as it existed, came at an enormous price, and upmarket hotels often rested on their laurels, focusing instead on keeping the wrong kind of people from enjoying their tired rooms and intimidatingly posh food. Hospitality was simply something Britain wasn’t very good at: if you wanted to experience good food and a half-decent place to stay at a reasonable price, well, you had to go abroad.
Fast forward to the 2020s and Britain is a different country, packed full of great places to stay often run by passionate people who live and breathe good hospitality. The dread word ‘boutique’ was the first indicator that things had changed, and of course is now an over-used term. But it does give a flavour of a new kind of British hotel or guesthouse that began to appear thirty or so years ago – small, independently owned, and putting the guest experience front and centre. There was a new sense of contemporary style in guest rooms, where luxury didn’t necessarily mean antique furniture and four-posters. The renaissance in Modern British food made an appearance too, with lots of places revamping their restaurants and basing their menus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. And service was authentic, never trying too hard to please but always on hand if needed.
Like all good revolutions, change has continued, with new trends and activities emerging – wild swimming, food foraging, art classes, yoga and wellness retreats – and many establishments offering alternative accommodation: shepherds huts, lodges with hot tubs, even treehouses. The best places now have an eye on the environment too, with renewable energy sources, discounts for those arriving on public transport and kitchen gardens saving on food miles.
The Cool Places collection doesn’t pretend to include all of Britain’s best places to stay, but instead aims to provide a curated selection. Our choices are deliberately eclectic, driven not so much by budget as by the uniqueness of the property, its location, facilities, décor – or just its owners and the extra mile they often go for their guests. We avoid the usual global brands that dominate accommodation in many towns and cities, the point being that it’s not always about what you spend on a room, it’s where you spend it, with plenty of surprisingly affordable options if you know where to find them. We also aim to provide a range of choices in most corners of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Britain's Best Hotels, Pubs and Inns
A renowned and very comfortable Essex restaurant with rooms run with Californian taste and panache
The Mistley Thorn, High Street, Mistley, Near Manningtree, Essex CO11 1HE
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Manningtree
A cosy Rutland pub with rooms with an exceptional Indian restaurant attached
The Marquess of Exeter, 52 Main St, Lyddington, Near Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9LT
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Rutland
Holidays in Uppingham
One of Oxford's best restaurants – with a set of boutique rooms to match!
Porterhouse Grill and Rooms, Mill Street, Oxford OX2 0Al
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Oxford
A top-notch Oxford pub with boutique rooms in a perfect riverside location
Head of the River, Folly Bridge, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 4LB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Oxford
Classy boutique accommodation with views in Oxford's most central location
Old Bank Hotel, 92–94 High St, Oxford OX1 4BJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Oxford
A contemporary townhouse hotel in one of York's best locations
The Judge's Lodging, 9 Lendal, York YO1 8AQ
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in York
Ardachy House Hotel, Ardachy House Hotel Uisken by Bunessan Isle of Mull PA67 6DS
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Argyll & Bute
Holidays in Isle of Mull
A stylish yet understated contemporary hotel right in the heart of Manchester
The Alan, 18 Princess St, Manchester M1 4LG
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Greater Manchester
Holidays in Manchester
A Victorian manor house with oodles of charm in Durham
Farnley Tower, The Avenue, Durham, County Durham DH1 4DX
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in County Durham
Holidays in Durham
Ultra-stylish studio and 1-bed apartments in Leeds city centre
The Chambers, 30 Park Place, Leeds LS1 2SP
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in West Yorkshire
Holidays in Leeds
Industrial chic accommodation in a historic apartment hotel
Native Manchester, Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester M1 2TP
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Greater Manchester
Holidays in Manchester
A funky and very comfortable Brighton hotel with helpful, friendly staff who go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome
Hotel Una, 55–56 Regency Square, Brighton BN1 2FF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
A modern and elegant Belfast hotel with more than a touch of class
The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BQ
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
Characterful hotel in the centre of Rye
The Hope Anchor Hotel, Watchbell Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7HA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
With the kind of supermodern, up-for-it décor that most of us would never dare try at home, this Brighton hotel is glossy, colourful and fun
MyHotel Brighton, 17 Jubilee Street, Brighton East Sussex BN1 1GE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
Real ales, roaring log fires and all manner of good walking routes at this dog-friendly Stroud hotel
The Bear of Rodborough, Rodborough Common Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 5DE
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stroud
Gracious town centre hotel that's the perfect romantic escape
Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, The Square, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6AN
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Chipping Campden
The Square Townhouse, 4 New Steine, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 1PB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
Wentworth Hotel, Wentworth Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP15 5BD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Aldeburgh
A cosy Yorkshire Dales pub with rooms
Queen's Arms, Litton, North Yorkshire BD23 5QJ
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Settle
Jeake’s House, Mermaid Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7ET
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
The Litton, Litton, Somerset BA3 4PW
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Wells
A hiker paradise, a quintessential Country Pub, and a spotless bunkhouse on the coast to coast C2C route
The White Horse, Threlkeld, Near Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4SY
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Keswick
The Pig in the Wall, 8 Western Esplanade Southampton Hampshire SO14 2AZ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Southampton
A pub with rooms with a solid hospitality tradition near a gorgeous spot on the River Wharfe
The Red Lion, Burnsall, Burnsall, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6BU
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Skipton
Cornwall restaurant with rooms with stunning sea views over St Michael's Mount.
The Godolphin, West End Marazion Cornwall TR17 0EN
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Penzance
A historic hotel in the centre of the delightful Herefordshire market town of Ledbury
The Talbot, Ledbury, 14 New Street, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2DX
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Herefordshire
Holidays in Ledbury
The Balmoral has got it all. Enjoy
The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lothian
Holidays in Edinburgh
A simple coaching inn, this is not, five time gastropub of the year, it will make your heart sing before retiring to your room
Sun Inn, Dalkeith, Lothian Bridge, Newbattle, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 4TR
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lothian
Holidays in Edinburgh
Every so pretty spot and house, be aware you might never leave South Uist
The Polochar Inn, West Kilbride, Isle of South Uist HS8 5TT
Holidays in Scottish Isles
Holidays in Isle of Islay
Inspired by its surroundings Loch Lomond Arms offers a taste of the Highlands
Loch Lomond Arms Hotel, Main Road, Luss, Loch Lomond G83 8NY
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Argyll & Bute
007 favourite inn by Loch Fyne, can't get more Scottish than that.
Creggans Inn, Strachur, Loch Fyne, Argyll & Bute PA27 8BX
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Argyll & Bute
Holidays in Inveraray
Situated in the historic book town of Hay-On-Wye, this old pub with rooms will not disappoint
The Old Black Lion, Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Mid Wales HR3 5AD
Holidays in Mid Wales
Holidays in Powys
Holidays in Hay-on-Wye
A relaxed pub with accommodation in Snowdonia
Saracen's Head, Beddgelert, Caernarfon Road, Beddgelert, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4UY01766 890329
Holidays in North Wales
Holidays in Gwynedd
Holidays in Beddgelert
“A nice retreat with excellent dining”
Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Mid Wales LD1 5DY
Holidays in Mid Wales
Holidays in Powys
Holidays in Llandrindod Wells
Family owned and award-winning traditional inn with excellent food - Tyn-y-Groes-
Groes Inn, Llanrwst Road, Conwy, North Wales LL32 8TN
Holidays in North Wales
Holidays in Conwy
Holidays in Conwy
Gastro Pub with room in the idyllic village of llancarfan. If you are a medievalist hop across to St Cadoc's Church to gaze at the medieval wall paintings
The Fox & Hounds, Llancarfan, Llancarfan, Glamorgan, South Wales CF62 3AD
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Glamorgan
Holidays in Llantwit Major
Exuding charm from every creaking beam and wonky staircase, The Bear in the Brecon Beacons is quite possibly the coaching inn of your dreams
The Bear, Crickhowell, Powys, MId Wales NP8 1BW
Holidays in Mid Wales
Holidays in Powys
Holidays in Crickhowell
Home from home near the Black Mountain, a craft brewery ....and the train station
The Cawdor, 72 Rhosmaen Street, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, South Wales SA19 6EN
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Carmarthenshire
Holidays in Llandeilo
Pickering's boutique White Swan is a family-run inn of the very friendly kind
White Swan Inn, Market Place, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18 7AA
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Pickering
Who has not heard of the Woolly Sheep has never been to the Yorshire Dales, famous it is and for good reasons
Woolly Sheep Inn, 38 Sheep Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1HY
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Skipton
The ultimate dog friendly pub with rooms in a beautiful part of the Lake District.
The Watermill Inn & Brewery, Ings, Near Windermere, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9PY
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Windermere
The Waterhead pretty much has things sewn up, high spec rooms, activities at the door step and stylish food, what more can you ask for?
Waterhead Hotel, Waterhead, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0ER
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Ambleside
A classic inn In the heart of historic Lancaster
Toll House Inn, Penny Street, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1XT
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Lancaster
Victoria by name, Victorian in style, award winning pub with rooms above
Victoria Inn, 85 Hallgarth Street, Durham, County Durham DH1 3AS
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in County Durham
Holidays in Durham
Comfortable rooms behind a quirky outside in center of lovely Morpeth
St Mary’s Inn, St Mary’s Lane, St Mary’s Park, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 6BL
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Morpeth
Real old English country charm, watch the night skies and sleep in the barn
The Pheasant Inn, Falstone, Stannersburn, Kielder Water, Falstone, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 1DD
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Hexham
The bustling hub of the Lakes, with lovely updated rooms, a warm welcome and an excellent dog-friendly policy.
The Royal Oak Keswick, Main Street, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5HZ
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Keswick
