7 Best Hotels in England

In a town that overflows with B&Bs, this comfortable town house stands out because of the contemporary flair and pampering touches in its pristinely redesigned and refurbished apartments. Nice features include cherry, elm, oak, or slate floors; natural carpets using local wool; and bespoke wooden furniture by local craftsman Danny Frost. The beds are top-notch, with pocket-sprung mattresses and goose-down pillows and duvets. A fabulous room at the top of the house has views of the mountains from the bath. Breakfasts might include housemade porridge (great preparation for a day on the fells), eggs Benedict, or a full Cumbrian fry-up.

This vibrantly modern apart-hotel is so much more than just a place to lay your head: it attracts visitors and locals alike as a social hub that hosts a lively, ever-changing roster of events including supper clubs in its Dulcie Street Warehouse restaurant (a fine spot for shared plates with a summer terrace), pop-up markets, cultural talks, and screenings in the mini-cinema. It also has its own BLOK fitness studios. The building is a charmingly reincarnated cotton warehouse with its original brick barrelled ceilings, exposed beams, and wrought-iron girders now painted a hip powder blue. Accommodations, all with compact kitchens and lounge areas, range from studios to two-bedroom duplex penthouses with private terraces affording panoramic city views. This is a great option for groups of friends traveling together, with apartments that link either via a private outer corridor or a door in the living room. 

Somewhere between hotel and serviced apartment, Locke at Broken Wharf offers the freedom of a personal home from which you can explore The City. Like all Locke properties, Broken Wharf places the emphasis on a combination of comfort and design, providing visitors with beautiful mint green–hued studios and suites that mimic the types of looks you might find on your favorite Instagram interior design account. Even the smallest rooms come with kitchenettes and the views of the Thames are a huge bonus. 

Just five minutes' walk from Oxford Street, this is a great option for those who tire of traditional hotels: 12 luxury suites—some with balconies and working fireplaces—filled with everything you could ever need, including a handy kitchen. Cupboards are ready-stocked with everything from cookies to herbal tea, and if you don't feel like fending for yourself too much then room service will deliver groceries or fetch meals from local restaurants. You can also arrange in-room spa treatments or ride around town on a hotel bicycle.

Located on charming Lamb's Conduit Street—a 10-minute walk from the British Museum—these serviced one- and two-bedroom apartments (some of the latter sleep up to six people) are spacious, modern, and well equipped, including kitchens with dishwashers and washing machines. Top-floor apartments have large terraces, ideal for alfresco drinks or dining. A maid cleans the apartments once a week, and there's a staffed reception area, but otherwise you're left on your own to live like a Londoner. There are plenty of good restaurants and bars in the neighborhood, and a grocery store is a block away.

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.

These contemporary apartments were loosely inspired by the wit and wisdom of Irish writer Oscar Wilde and blend personality and creativity with practicality in the design-led studios and one-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. Think timber flooring, bespoke joinery, and unique crafts and artwork, many by independent Irish business and artists, plus high-end appliances. There are discounts for longer stays.