326 Best Hotels in England

The latest addition to The Pig's ever-growing group of boutique hotels and restaurants, this honey-and-cream-hued Georgian mansion was the former home of famous garden designer Rosemary Verey, and then a hotel; this new (2024) incarnation adds The Pig's excellent dining and luxurious but quirky, unstuffy style. The Pig also took over The Village Pub a few steps away, offering more casual (and cheaper) fare. There is an attractive on-site spa with an outdoor hydrotherapy pool.

Rolling parkland surrounds this stately Elizabethan manor house, which is 16 miles east of Exeter and has been converted into a hipster retreat run with energy and enthusiasm. "Fun not formality" is the guiding principle, evident from the moment you step into the grand entrance that now holds a lively bar. Public rooms have a shabby-chic coziness, with blazing fires and deep, soft sofas, while the individually decorated guest rooms are spacious and have fabulous views, as well as bathrooms equipped with roll-top baths and powerful showers. The two restaurants—including one in the garden—use produce sourced from the kitchen gardens or from within a 25-mile radius, which then create such dishes as black truffle risotto, pigeon breast, rump steak, and hake fillet. A range of treatments is offered at the Potting Shed, and you can explore nearby Gittisham, once described as "the ideal English village" by King Charles III.

One of London's quirkiest hotels, The Portobello (formed from two adjoining Victorian houses) has attracted scores of celebrities to its small but stylish rooms over the years, and the decor reflects these hip credentials with joyous abandon. Rooms are individually designed and range in size from "Box" rooms for the solo traveler to the 400 square-foot "Signature" rooms, replete with four-poster beds and views over the pretty garden. One room even contains a circular bed, next to which is an original Victorian "bathing machine"—legend has it that Johnny Depp once filled it with Champagne for his then-girlfriend Kate Moss.

The small but nicely decorated rooms at this budget choice are in the same County Hall complex as the fancier London Marriott Hotel County Hall, and, though it lacks the spectacular river views and facilities are more basic, it has the same convenient location at a fraction of the price. The friendly staff is an added bonus. Best of all for families on a budget, fold-out beds let you accommodate two kids at no extra charge.

Favored by visiting celebrities, this independently owned boutique hotel is full of elegant Victorian touches such as a sweeping oak-paneled staircase illuminated by tall stained-glass windows. Upstairs are handsome bedrooms decorated in tasteful shades of taupe, cream, green, or blue with more tall windows. The Porter's Lodge bar serves food throughout the day.

The Graduate Hotels group took a 19th-century neo-Gothic landmark and gave it a top-down makeover, beautifully amplifying its Oxford heritage and incorporating such stylish guest-rooms touches as William Morris–esque wallpaper, quirky artwork, and nods to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Some of the hip yet elegant, chic yet traditional accommodations have views of Oxford's spires. A tiled, vaulted spa offers pampering treatments designed to ease those travel-related aches. 

You can soak up the tranquility of Clovelly after the day-trippers have gone at the 18th-century Red Lion, located right on the harbor in this coastal village. Guest rooms are decorated with a nautical theme; all have sea or harbor views and modern bathrooms. The climb up through Clovelly is perilously steep, but you can drive here via a back road. The restaurant specializes in seafood dishes.

A rare small hotel in central Cambridge, this handsome Georgian town house has wooden sash windows that look out over a tree-lined park called Parker's Piece. The cozy bar has an open fire, making it a great place to relax. Bedrooms are a little anonymous but decorated in soothing pale tones.

This Edwardian stucco town house close to bustling Earl's Court Road (but on a quiet street overlooking a garden square) offers a useful compromise between a full-service hotel and self-catering lodging in the form of clean comfortable rooms with well-designed modern looks. Basic double rooms are very small, but larger doubles offer more space and fold-out couches. All have tiny kitchenettes equipped with microwaves (reception will accept your delivery order from one of the many local restaurants and bring it to your room). Some rooms have bunk beds that are great for families.

Right on the River Kent, this family- and dog-friendly hotel has airy, modern rooms, many of which have river views. The Riverview Restaurant takes advantage of those views, and the casual Tanners, set in a 17th-century building formerly occupied by leather makers, has a riverside terrace that's ideal for a drink after a day outdoors. The on-site Sanctuary Health and Fitness Club, free to all guests (and available with day passes or memberships to nonguests), includes a hot tub, indoor pool, gym, and fitness classes.  

Despite being on the notoriously traffic-clogged Cromwell Road, the Rockwell, with its triple-soundproofed windows, offers good value. Bedrooms are modernist in style and decorated in slightly retro tones, all while being comfortable, well designed, and very spacious by London standards; mezzanine suites are split-level lofts and basement garden rooms have small patios. There's a pleasant walled deck to the rear. Family rooms offer especially good value for money. The restaurant serves an all-day brunch menu focusing on contemporary classics.

You can’t get a more prestigious address in Bath than the Royal Crescent, and this hotel, discreetly plumb center, overlooks parkland and the city; the interior lacks for nothing in amenities. The graceful public rooms, stairways, and judicious scattering of antiques and pictures don't disappoint, while the plush bedrooms, either in the mansion itself or in a courtyard facing a quiet and spacious inner garden, are mainly contemporary in style. The spa, housed in the old stable block, is charming. In summer you can dine on the terrace or drop in for afternoon tea.

Conveniently located at the bottom of the main street, this centuries-old coaching inn has counted Daniel Defoe and Edward VII among its former guests. A modern makeover has transformed the interior without sacrificing its period features and created well-equipped bedrooms that are clean and elegant (some have four-poster beds and spa baths). It's worth upgrading to a Premium or De Luxe room for more space. Hot and cold meals are available in either of the two bars. Note that there is no elevator and some stairs are a bit steep.

This imposing stone building was established as a private home in the 1600s, and William Wordsworth often used to visit on his evening walks; today the estate comprises a hotel, holiday cottages, a bunk house, and a campsite. Rooms are simply but comfortably furnished in light, neutral colors. Everything is powered by the estate's own hydroelectric plant. There are 30 acres of gardens and woodland plus a tea shop and a program of regular events.

At this boutique hotel in the popular Jewellery Quarter, the simply decorated, modern rooms come with luxury bedding and waterfall showers. A casual restaurant is on-site, and the drinks menu has plenty of cocktails. It's a great price for the quality and the location. Parking is available for a fee.

On its own sculpture-dotted 67 acres not far from Ambleside and Windermere, this boutique hotel oozes exclusivity from the moment you enter the long, winding drive and your individually decorated room. Today the hotel is favored by the rich and famous and garlanded with multiple awards, but it's wonderfully unpretentious. Rooms are elegantly traditional though not fussy, with pretty wallpapers, natural tones, fireplaces, slate-floor bathrooms, and rolltop tubs. Service is a good mix of professional and friendly, and the lake views are fantastic. The glass-fronted restaurant led by chef Robby Jenks specializes in creative local fare; book well ahead to reserve the Chef's Table.

Originally designed by French designer Philippe Starck, the style of this fashionable, quirky hotel is part surrealist baroque, part Alice in Wonderland; sleigh beds are positioned in the middle of bedrooms at playful angles, and so are the freestanding bathtubs and wash basins—indeed, everything is off-center. This extends to the hotel's popular afternoon tea, with its Mad Hatter's Tea Party theme. Amenities include an excellent spa with holistic bathhouse and indoor-outdoor fitness classes. There's also a pretty Japanese garden courtyard where you can get away from it all.

The achingly hip Sea Containers started life as a working warehouse in London's docklands and now incorporates stylish nods to the area's history. Once one of the world's busiest urban ports, bombing from World War II and a mid-20th-century decline saw it become virtually derelict by the 1970s. The site was earmarked for a hotel until another company snapped it up and built a modernist office complex called Sea Containers House instead. Fast-forward 30 years and it finally has a hotel, with a style that is definitely cool rather than cozy. The decor makes the most of the midcentury modern surroundings as interpreted by noted designer Tom Dixon, complete with bespoke furniture elevating the bedrooms. The standard bedrooms aren't very large, but it's worth spending extra on an upgrade for a river view, or, even better, a patio overlooking Blackfriars Bridge to St. Paul's. Failing that, head to the Rooftop Bar for the same vista. The public rooms are very scene-y, with the trendy Lyaness bar serving exotic cocktails by one of London's top mixologists found nowhere else. The restaurant specializes in seasonal, ingredient-led cooking, with a selection of small and large sharing plates. The spa is not just a spa but a "treatment destination" that encourages group visits. The hotel even has its own branch of the arthouse Curzon Cinema mini-chain.

In 1815, Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke in this foursquare mansion on a cliff top overlooking the sea; today, the sumptuous contemporary interior is a haven of coastal luxury. Stately suites have their own fireplaces, original artwork, two-person baths, and exotic flowers. At the equally elegant restaurant, indulge in dishes such as loin of venison and root vegetables flavored with chocolate. Make some time for the excellent Serenity Spa, inspired by feng shui principles. Seaham is right on the northeastern edge of County Durham, a 25-minute drive from the city of Durham.

The sense of history at this delightfully old-school hotel comes from more than just the magnificent Tudor architecture, as several pieces of furniture are castoffs from Buckingham Palace, and one of the beds was supposedly slept in by Elizabeth I. Rooms are large and comfortable, with modern bathrooms (some have whirlpool tubs). The restaurant, 1530, is a stylish but relaxed affair, serving dishes like British pork loin with kale and cider, and wild sea bass with garlic confit. The spa administers sumptuous relaxation treatments.

Overlooking Chatham Maritime Marina on the River Medway, the charming boutique bedrooms above this bar and restaurant offer comfy beds, modern bathrooms, and subtle seafaring-themed decor, from wooden oar headboards to vintage maritime maps. Some rooms also come with large balconies overlooking the harbor, perfect places to sit in the evening and watch the sun go down. Downstairs, the pub-restaurant serves a mix of good-value British pub staples (beef and ale pies, cod and chips, chicken burgers) and interesting international fare (lime and chili tiger prawns, vegan koftas, goat cheese tortellini) along with a good range of lagers, ales, and craft beers. Along with being convenient for the Historic Dockyard Chatham, the hotel is right by the Dockside Shopping Centre, but keep in mind it's a 45-minute walk (or 10-minute drive) into the center of Rochester.

An idyllic location—right on the water, steps from Eton Bridge, and a short walk from central Windsor—is one of the draws at this property, which was named after one of English history's most illustrious architects and which leans into its heritage with its traditionally styled rooms (though public spaces are a touch more contemporary). Enjoy drinks and dinner on the terrace overlooking the river and when booking, try to secure a room with a view of the water.

A mecca for film, media, and fashion folk, this super-trendy hotel personifies Soho's enduring hipness with its artsy, urban-chic vibe. The boldly designed public rooms are filled with bright colors and big statement artworks, while the large bedrooms are calmer, most with neutral beige and cream tones, or subtle, sophisticated pinstripes, all offset by modern furniture. The bar and restaurant, Refuel, is consistently excellent, and there are handy private film screening rooms downstairs (in case the wide-screen TVs in the bedrooms aren't big enough for you).

The country-house flavor of this 1766 Georgian mansion has been beautifully maintained by luxurious furnishings and preserved period details. There are superb views from the 14-acre grounds across the town and into the area of surrounding countryside. The unfussy Modern British fare in the crisply chic Orangery Restaurant is popular with locals, and there's a terrace with a pizza oven during the summer.

Design-conscious travelers come to this Philippe Starck–designed spot positioned artfully between Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Giant Baroque mirrors, pink hydrangea-filled vases, and golden molar seats dot the lobby, while leopard print–carpet bedrooms are very modish with white-lacquer fittings, etched glass, and aluminum teardrop lights. Be sure to sneak into the secret Blind Spot speakeasy bar for late-night cocktails, hidden behind a fake tea counter and entered via twisting a creepy golden hand–shape handle.

In the same family for three generations, this luxurious 16th-century manor house close to the center of St. Albans is set in 5 acres of sweeping grounds. Plush furniture helps make the antiques- and painting-filled public areas inviting, and the elegant, contemporary-style bedrooms are filled with thoughtful extras like complimentary bottled water, fruit, and cookies. The Lake restaurant, overlooking the garden, serves Modern British cuisine with European touches. You can take afternoon tea with or without champagne.

A cool, contemporary ambience pervades this seaside hotel overlooking Falmouth Bay and fronted by a lush, subtropical garden. The public areas are sleek and nautically themed, and the young staff is especially welcoming to families. Alongside the well-equipped guest rooms are four luxury spa garden lodges, and self-catering beach apartments are also available. The modern, panoramic Brasserie on the Bay offers an adventurous menu, while Nourish serves excellent freshly made tapas and salads all day as well as pizzas in the evening, with no need to book. The pool and gym will give you the opportunity for a good work-out, perhaps followed by a pampering spa treatment.

Chic interiors characterize this city-center boutique hotel that's a luxurious alternative to Oxford's more historic properties, offering not only first-class service but also a more contemporary approach to design, drinking, and dining. Rooms are airy, finding a balance between heritage and boutique modern with their soft, pale tones and wood floorboards. The stunning spa, Treadwell restaurant, rooftop terrace, and lobby bar will provide tempting distractions from the rest of Oxford's pleasures.

A former rectory, this stately, family-run hotel with rooms in several buildings couldn't be better placed, separated from Stow's main square by its tidy garden. Most of the traditionally furnished, but spacious and comfortable, rooms overlook the garden or the next-door churchyard, and one suite sits apart in the garden itself. There's a minimum two-night stay on weekends.