451 Best Hotels in England

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.

Amid the cobbled streets of old town, in a former workshop that served the jet jewelry trade, this charming little complex has shabby-chic guest rooms surrounding a courtyard tucked behind a health food store and a dress boutique. Although small, the rooms have pine furnishings and either four-poster or brass bedsteads; two rooms have balconies. No breakfast is served, but there's an adjacent café, and the owners will point you to other good alternatives nearby. Organic facials are available on the premises.

Huge beds and luxury bedding demonstrate the hosts' commitment to guest comfort at this intimate B&B in a former gentleman's residence. There's also a lovely garden with views across the valley towards Riber Castle. The airy drawing room has daily newspapers, books, music, and DVDs, and there are full Derbyshire breakfasts plus the option of homemade afternoon tea.

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.

Peace, seclusion, and magnificent views of the Wye Valley await 3 miles southeast of Hereford at this informal working farm, which dates back to the 16th century; there's even a hot tub from which to enjoy the scene. Guest rooms in the stone farmhouse are furnished nicely with period pieces alongside DAB radios, and breakfasts, including local bacon and eggs, are taken at the communal dining table.

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.

This 16th-century inn on the harbor front has low ceilings, exposed timbers, and steep staircases that lead to rooms with simple but stylish modern furnishings. Two rooms have small balconies where you can enjoy the breezes. The split-level restaurant, with oak beams and pillars, serves supremely fresh fish, scallops, and crab dishes.

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.

Set inside a pair of refurbished Georgian town houses, these studio apartments near Hyde Park are done in soothing tones of white and gray, with polished wood floors and attractive modern kitchenettes equipped with all you need to make small meals. The standard units are quite small, but premium studios cost only £20 or so more and give you much more space to play. Bathrooms are new and modern, although they are not large.

You can't stay at Stourhead, but you can stay just inside the main entrance at this popular inn built at the beginning of the 19th century. Guests are admitted free to Stourhead's gardens at any time. The five bedrooms are elegant and tastefully understated, with some period features like uneven wood floors and Georgian sash windows. The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients and specializes in small plates and simple, traditional pub classics like beer-battered fish-and-chips.

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.

The most luxurious Rick Stein lodgings in town are distinguished by their sophisticated and minimalist style. Excellently equipped, the spacious bedrooms have polished oak floors and either enjoy views over the harbor and estuary or have glass doors looking straight out onto the walled garden. Booking here guarantees a dinner table at the Seafood Restaurant, where breakfast is also served (unless you order the Continental breakfast in your room). You should reserve as far ahead as possible, and there might be a two-night minimum stay in peak periods.

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.

A hotel that caters to guests who are here for sightseeing rather than the daily grind of the financial district, Sun Street Hotel makes its case with a quiet luxury. Opting to embrace the history of the building it inhabits (it resides within six combined Georgian town houses), the hotel is awash with heritage colors, William Morris-esque prints, and plush velvet and buttoned leather at every turn, creating an atmosphere of grown-up, elegant luxury. Close to the buzz of Shoreditch in one direction and the likes of the Tower of London in the other, all while enjoying its place among the peace (particularly on weekends) of the City, Sun Street is well placed for exploratory wanderings.

Few inns can boast of a more idyllic setting than this mid-17th-century coaching inn, originally a row of cottages on the banks of the gently flowing River Coln and now comfortably modernized. Inside the charm continues through cozy lounges to the richly decorated, modern guest rooms. Cottage suites come with private gardens; one has a hot tub, another an open fireplace. The colorful Swan Brasserie serves Bibury trout from the local trout farm, or you can indulge in options such as hearty dry-aged steaks and lemon tart with apple-and-cinnamon ice cream.

Facing the cathedral, this former coaching inn built in the 15th century has guest rooms furnished with antiques and done in subtle, restful colors. Check out the rooms first, as some are better than others. A few have four-poster beds, and some have to-die-for views (including Nos. 40, 41, and 42, and the aptly named Cathedral Suite). An adjacent courtyard holds three apartments with contemporary decor. The restaurant serves pub classics and traditional meat and fish dishes.

This half-timber 14th-century lodging has rambling public rooms, roaring fireplaces, and corridors so low that cushions are strategically placed on beams. Most of the individually styled bedrooms have rich oak cabinets and original wood paneling. Bathrooms have been fashioned around ancient timbers and hidden rooms. The popular bar is full of memorabilia from the days when this was a favorite pub of American airmen stationed here during World War II. One wall is entirely covered with autographs and messages from the vets who loved this place, while another is a memorial to those who didn't make it back. The moving display is worth dropping in to see if even if you're not staying here.

The elaborate building housing this grand hotel in the financial district is a former bank, and the vast old banking hall—beautifully adapted as the lobby, with luxurious marble and mahogany panels—really sets the scene. Guest rooms are stylish and spacious, with modern bathrooms, big comfortable beds, and sage green and taupe decor along with more mahogany. Given the location, it's no surprise that this place looks as if it were custom-designed to please business travelers although its decor will appeal to anyone with a penchant for classic glamour. 

Facing the churchyard in the heart of Chagford village, this inn dating from the 13th century retains its venerable character, from its part-thatched roof, granite facade, and mullioned windows to the grand inglenook fireplaces. Modern facilities are artfully integrated, most conspicuously in the smart restaurant located within a glass atrium in the courtyard. Although the guest rooms have remained essentially unchanged for several centuries, here too you'll find contemporary comforts including well-designed bathrooms. Everything from pub classics to evening specials is available in the restaurant, and the low-beamed bars exude warmth and conviviality, with St. Austell and craft ales on tap.

An Art Deco town hall, abandoned in the early 1980s and turned into a chic hotel 30 years later, is now a lively and stylish place, with the best of the building's elegant original features intact. In keeping with the Town Hall Hotel's hip image, the excellent Da Terra restaurant serves South American food with an Italian twist. Guest rooms are bright and airy, and bathrooms are visions of white and chrome, but some sacrifice too much in the name of design, with only a curtain separating them from the bedroom.

Strong on historical atmosphere, this central lodging housed the town's assembly rooms, where news of Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and of the death of Nelson himself were first announced from the minstrels' gallery in 1805. The Trafalgar Room, lounge, and dining rooms retain their Georgian elegance. A number of the traditionally styled guest rooms have window seats and views over Mount's Bay, though some of the carpets and corridors could use updating. If the reception is unstaffed, check in at the bar, where you might find live music on Tuesdays and Saturday evenings.

Decorated with a chic, contemporary flair, Cambridge's oldest hotel is a welcome luxury option, where public spaces include a handsome library and the suave Parker's Tavern brasserie for weekend roasts, afternoon tea, and cocktails. Rooms and suites are done in warm, colorful tones with stylish patterned fabrics. Some are even outfitted with their own private book collections as a nod to Cambridge's academic legacy.

Set amid gardens and woodlands, this handsome mansion—built in 1845 for Francis Wedgwood, heir to the family property firm—has comfortable guest rooms that make a perfect retreat after spending the evening in the cozy lounge with a log fire. Some rooms have private balconies. A full English breakfast is included, and the welcoming restaurant serves creative Modern British cuisine in a classic setting.

This stylish boutique hotel with an adjoining spa has wide windows that flood the place with light, rooms that are chic and contemporary, and spacious suites with sofas from which to admire the city stretched beneath you. Inevitably, the more expensive rooms have the best views. The roof terrace is a lovely spot for an evening cocktail if the weather's fine, or you could unwind in the spa, where a 30-minute stress-relieving massage sets you back around £54.

A colorful, whimsical hideaway—where a shabby-chic design contrasts with a hip, sophisticated vibe—on the Holkham Hall estate is more laid-back and family-friendly than the austere Victorian exterior suggests. Bedrooms are on the small side, but comfortable, with elegant, handmade furniture and modern bathrooms. The hotel restaurant is one of the finest in the area, with an emphasis on modern European cuisine. The dune-backed Holkham Beach (where the desert island conclusion of Shakespeare in Love was filmed) is a few minutes away; show your room key to avoid the access fee of a couple of pounds. The hotel is dog-friendly, too.