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 unique boutique hotel handily situated for Durham's major sights and attractions
OYO The Town House, 34 Old Elvet, Durham, County Durham DH1 3HN
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in County Durham
Holidays in Durham
Headingley Lodge, St Michael’s Lane, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3BR
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in West Yorkshire
Holidays in Leeds
Family friendly style next to the UK's best amusement park
Big Blue Hotel, 1 Clifton Drive, Ocean Boulevard, Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 1ND
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Blackpool
Set in London's beautiful Hampstead, La Gaffe is an award-winning and charming guesthouse full of idiosyncrasies
La Gaffe, 107–111 Heath Street, London NW3 6SS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Hampstead
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A contemporary set of holiday-accommodation for dendrophiles and friends
Portavadie, Portavadie, Loch Fyne, Argyll PA21 2DA
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Argyll & Bute
Cringletie House Hotel, Edinburgh Road, Peebles, Tweedale EH45 8PL
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Scottish Borders
Holidays in Peebles
A funky Brighton townhouse with a rock and roll vibe
Hotel Pelirocco, 9-10 Regency Square Brighton BN1 2FG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
Perched above the Atlantic, ten boutique rooms with stupendous views
Lewinnick Lodge, Pentire, Headland, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1QD
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Newquay
A very comfortable Hampshire country house hotel with lovely grounds and its own cookery school.
Lainston House, Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2LT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Winchester
The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QF
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bristol
The Royal Oak, Tetbury, 1 Cirencester Road, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8EY
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Tetbury
Boutique-style short-stay apartments in a grand Glasgow city centre building
Native Glasgow, 14 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2EU
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lanarkshire
Holidays in Glasgow
An isolated staging post proud of its history, The Cluanie Inn's rooms are filled with character
Cluanie Inn, Glenmoriston, Inverness-Shire IV63 7YW
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Inverness-shire
Boutique rooms on the edge of central London at well below central London prices.
The Tommyfield, 185 Kennington Lane, London SE11 4EZ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Southwark
Award-wining country pub with rooms in a restored victorian schoolhouse....if only walls could whisper.
The Horseshoe Inn, Eddleston, Peebles, Scottish Borders EH45 8QP
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Scottish Borders
Holidays in Peebles
A properly luxurious country retreat owned by dog-loving tennis player Andy Murray.
Cromlix, Kinbuck, nr Dunblane, Stirlingshire FK15 9JT
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Stirlingshire
Holidays in Stirling
A relaxing and tranquil hotel with great facilities in spacious grounds
Champneys Henlow, Coach Road, Henlow, Bedfordshire SG16 6BT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Bedfordshire
Holidays in Henlow
Village inn on the edge of Winchester with charming rooms, a family-friendly feel and good food
The Running Horse, 8 Main Road, Littleton, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 6QS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Winchester
A lovely Hampshire country inn – eco-friendly, dog-friendly, and serving great food.
Jack Russell Inn, Netherton Hill, Andover, Hampshire SP11 0DS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Andover
A proper country restaurant and pub, with four comfy guest rooms and superb field-to-fork cooking.
The Pointer, 27 Church Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire HP18 9RT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Aylesbury
A unique five-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair, classically English with strong eco-credentials.
The Athenaeum, 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Westminster
A sylish country inn with spacious suites and destination restaurant, overlooking one of England's finest views.
Carpenters Arms, 1 church view,Felixkirk, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 2DP
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
A great base for touring around Penrith, Ullswater and the Eden Valley
George & Dragon, Clifton, Clifton, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2ER
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Penrith
Saracens Head, Wolterton Near Erpingham, Norfolk NR11 7LZ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Aylsham
A historic hotel, pub and restaurant that has been well updated while losing none of its traditional atmosphere.
The Porch House, Digbeth Street, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1BN
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
A cosy and unpretentious Surrey village pub by Box Hill with good food and comfy rooms
The Running Horses, Old London Road, Mickleham, near Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
A cosy, deliberately traditional boutique hotel where nothing is too much trouble.
Beechwood Hotel, Cromer Rd, North Walsham, Norfolk NR28 0HD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in North Walsham
This stylish and extremely comfortable Surrey hotel celebrates the golden age of motor racing - and is also home to Merceded Benz World and the Brooklands Motor Racing Museum
Brooklands Hotel, Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0SL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Weybridge
This boutique bolthole ticks just about every box if you're looking for a stylish yet affordable London place to stay.
Portobello Hotel, 22 Stanley Gardens, Notting Hill, London W11 2NG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Notting Hill
Iconic Art Deco hotel on Morecambe promenade
Midland Hotel, Marine Road, West Morecambe, Lancashire LA4 4BU
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Morecambe
A perfect weekend escape for both work and play by the Thames.
The Swan at Streatley, Coppa Club, Streatley-On-Thames, Near Reading, Berkshire RG8 9HR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Reading
Very much the London hotel for a special occasion, with some of the capital's best views and facilities
The Shangri-La, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU 4DU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Southwark
One of Belfast's original boutique hotels in a prime city centre location
Ten Square, 10 Donegall Square, Belfast BT1 5JD
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
One of the area’s finest stays, surrounded by the grandeur of the Yorkshire Dales.
The Blue Lion, Main Road, East Witton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4SN
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Richmond
Five-star hotel just 15 minutes from Belfast offering unprecedented views over Belfast Lough and the County Antrim Coastline
Culloden Estate & Spa, Culloden Estate & Spa, Bangor Road, Holywood, Belfast BT18 0EX
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
Many hotels on the west coast boast spectacular views, but Loch Melfort maybe has the best views of all.
Loch Melfort Hotel, Arduaine by Oban, Argyll PA34 4XG
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Argyll & Bute
Holidays in Oban
A rustic pub with crisp and comfortable rooms and good food in a beautiful location at the western end of Loch Tay
The Courie Inn, Main Street, Killin, Perthshire FK21 8UT
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Perthshire
Holidays in Killin
Featured in the Visit Wales TV, be the star of the show in the much loved 'Madonna Suite' Aberaeron
Harbourmaster, Pen Cei, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Mid Wales SA46 0BT
Holidays in Mid Wales
Holidays in Ceredigion
Holidays in Aberaeron
A 17th century coaching inn on the banks of the river Monnow in the heart of the Monmouthshire countryside.
The Bell at Skenfrith, Skenfrith, Monmouthshire NP7 8UH
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Monmouthshire
Holidays in Abergavenny
If it was good enough for Dickens, this 400-year-old inn with all the mod-com in Snowdonia is good enough for us
The Bull, Beaumaris, Castle Street, Beaumaris, Anglesey LL58 8AP
Holidays in North Wales
Holidays in Anglesey
Holidays in Beaumaris
This ancient coaching inn pub in the picture-postcard village of Cartmel is the perfect base for the southern Lakes.
The Cavendish Arms, Cavendish Street, Cartmel, Cumbria LA11 6QA
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Cartmel
A Northamptonshire country hotel with an ultra-relaxed vibe and closeness to nature plus a superb fine dining restaurant
The Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN7 1LF
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Northamptonshire
Holidays in Northampton
Renowned gastropub with luxury rooms and suites
The Riverside at Aymestrey, Aymestrey, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9ST
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Herefordshire
Holidays in Leominster
A beautifully revamped North Cotswolds gastropub with boutique rooms
The Fuzzy Duck, Ilmington Road, Armscote, Warwickshire CV37 8DD
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Warwickshire
Holidays in Stratford upon Avon
