98 Best Hotels in England

On a quiet corner, this upscale boutique B&B has spacious guest rooms with carefully chosen fabrics and wallpaper, comfortable mattresses, and contemporary touches. Stained glass, wooden floors, shelves of books, and a grand piano help give the place a cultured air. Breakfast options include local sausages, fresh fruit, and eggs Benedict. Your hosts will also prepare picnic baskets, cheese plates, and other delicious savory platters on request.

An intimate retreat within a hectic city, this boutique town-house B&B has a delightful setting on a cobbled lane in Liverpool’s charming Georgian Quarter. The focal point is the lounge, with its elegant gentleman’s club feel, but there's also a basement contemporary art gallery curated by a leading collector based in Berlin and Antwerp and open to guests by request. You're within easy walking distance to many of the city’s most exciting dining options, but stay here for the glorious in-house breakfasts of local produce, with a vast array of choices. The four stunning rooms have freestanding tubs—one in the sleeping area itself.

With Clifton Suspension Bridge at the end of the street and the Avon Gorge directly below, this elegant Georgian B&B offers classic views of Bristol from its windows. The thickly carpeted rooms are spacious and embellished by antique furniture and works of art, and the comfy lounge offers access to a generous lawned garden. The staff welcome guests with a glass of sherry and a slice of homemade cake. Breakfast, around a communal table, is a lavish affair with smoked salmon on toast and pancakes with syrup among the numerous choices.

A classic Georgian building has been converted with flair and wit to create a contemporary guesthouse—the first link in what is now a small chain whose boutique properties all have a strong artistic bent. Each of the bright rooms has been individually designed by a different artist using a bold mixture of retro curios, old-style furnishings, and colorful murals, although bathrooms are reassuringly modern and well equipped. If possible, ask to see your room first (some are quite small). A self-catering cottage is available, too. The bar, restaurant, and terrace garden are also well worth exploring.

Three converted 17th-century stone cottages, once the homes of Grassington lead miners, make up this small, well-run hotel off the main street. Expect a cheery welcome on arrival, complimentary Prosecco in your quarters, a cozy brick-and-beam sitting room, and a walled garden. The comfortable bedrooms are sleeker and more modern than you might expect, and the homemade breakfast is excellent.

Ancient hub of the Lowther Estate, Askham Hall has spectacular gardens and fairy-tale rooms that have welcomed royalty and now welcome guests; the grand staircase and 13th-century peel tower give it a castlelike feel. But it's also refreshingly unpretentious, with homey touches to the country-house style: drinks are on the honor system, and the excellent restaurant is a chic hodgepodge of Spanish tiles and aged tables. Rooms are spacious and elegant, with ancient fireplaces and oak buttresses. The gardens have a 230-foot-long herbaceous border, secret paths, terraces, and views of the River Lowther. The hotel is about 10 minutes south of Penrith.

Chic and sleek, this hotel a little off the seafront (three minutes' walk from Brighton Pier) is all about relaxation. The stylish rooms are painted in restful, pale shades of blue and white, and the spacious beds are swaddled in soft white linens. Breakfast offers a mix of continental options—muesli, fresh fruit, pancakes—to accompany the (meaty or vegetarian) "full English." The look is minimal without being cold, and the service hits just the right note of friendliness and helpfulness.

In a market town 5 miles southeast of Blakeney, this B&B—where guest rooms have Egyptian cotton linens, modern sound systems, and fresh flowers—epitomizes North Norfolk's increasing trendiness. Seven rooms are in an annex, and the rest are in the main building. In the evening, the busy café is transformed into a restaurant serving Mediterranean and English fare. There's also a superb delicatessen—excellent for preparing a picnic.

Wonderful modern art lines the walls of this former Victorian pub a mile east of the Tower of London, which has been beautifully restored and converted into a modern bed-and-breakfast. It's all the work of Julian Cole, the gregarious and charming owner, who spent decades making arts documentaries for the BBC. Guests can use the sitting room, which doubles as the breakfast room in the morning. There's also a roof terrace, overlooking a striking historic mural that covers one side of a nearby building. Titled The Battle of Cable Street, it commemorates a clash between local Jewish protestors and British Fascists that took place here on October 4, 1936.

Small but full of character, this family-owned inn in a Georgian town house dating from 1790 is elegantly decorated with period antiques. Guest rooms—one with its own small patio—are individually and impeccably furnished; some have four-posters. The generous breakfast, served in a conservatory overlooking a courtyard garden, includes free-range eggs and fresh fruit.

This B&B in the medieval quarter is just a three-minute walk from Lincoln Cathedral and almost as old—the exposed-beam roofs you'll be sleeping under date from the 12th century. Hosts Christina and Paul have renovated the place themselves, their care and attention to detail shines through in the small but stylish guest rooms, where beds have cast-iron or solid wood frames and are draped in contemporary fabrics. There are a few modern touches such as flat-screen TVs.

In a pretty village on the Chatsworth Estate just a 20-minute walk from Chatsworth House itself, this intimate hotel oozes history as well as a quintessentially English country-house style that stems partly from the use of original furniture and artwork from Chatsworth. Rooms are as cozy as can be, while the welcoming lounge has a real fire. The award-winning Gallery Restaurant serves upscale, innovative comfort food including a stupendous Sunday lunch, with many of the first-rate ingredients sourced from the estate or the Chatsworth Farm Shop. The estate also includes a collection of around 25 stunning "boltholes" (cottages) that also combine a country-house feel with coziness and are ideal for those spending some time walking in the area. They include a 16th-century Hunting Tower, built for Bess of Hardwick; the Russian Cottage, inspired by a model gifted to the 6th Duke of Devonshire by a czar's brother; and an old washhouse.

Artsy, laid-back, and genuinely friendly, this little gem occupies an 18th-century building in the village of Orford, 10 miles east of Woodbridge. Many rooms have bathrooms with sunflower-size showerheads, and the garden rooms are particularly spacious. The restaurant focuses on Modern British fare, including fresh fish and local Butley oysters. In warm weather, the outdoor terrace is a great place for grandstand views of nearby Orford Castle. No children under eight are allowed.

This beautifully converted town house (home of the Duke of Gloucester when he was a student) is forever cropping up in British newspaper articles about the best bed-and-breakfasts in the country. The guest rooms sure look like they've been copied from the pages of a lifestyle magazine—swaths of white and ivory, offset by subtle blues or floral accents, envelop the large and comfortable beds like a swanky cocoon. Flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi are thoughtful extras, and impeccably chosen local art hangs on the walls in the public areas. The house is a 10-minute walk from King's College.

Small but sumptuous, this lodging has a modern but distinctly feminine sensibility, with floral wallpaper, pastel decor, and painted woodwork. State-of-the-art contemporary touches such as TVs in the bathrooms and underfloor heating add extra luxury, and two rooms have private terraces. Dig into a generous and tasty breakfast downstairs in Heidi's Cafe.

As the name suggests, this luxury Victorian B&B in Lynton occupies a lofty position with spectacular vistas over the Bristol Channel. Each of the guest rooms has an individual design, but all feature comfortable beds—ranging from carved and ornate to Jacobean (one has a four-poster)—and benefit from the exquisite views. Breakfast is in the conservatory and includes choices like eggs royale (with smoked salmon on a toasted muffin) and pancakes with berries, as well as several gluten-free options. There are discounts for two or more nights, a two-night minimum stay on Friday and Saturday, and children (that's anyone under age 18) and pets are not allowed.

This historic B&B, which dates back 600 years and was written about by Dickens, offers a unique and stylish stay not far from Canterbury West Station. Many of the rooms make use of the building's lovely original features; others, in the converted stable block, are more modern. Either way, they are decorated with a contemporary touch (ask for the Paris room with its lovely roll-top tub). Breakfasts are delicious, with plenty of local specialties and healthier options.

The name of this unpretentious, family-run B&B means "the mistake" in Italian, and it also provides the punchline to the unlikely tale of how the original owners (the parents of the current proprietor) met in the 1950s. Standard rooms in this converted mid-Victorian terraced cottage are tiny but clean. Amenities are few, but all rooms have free Wi-Fi and some have four-poster beds (the honeymoon suite even has its own Jacuzzi). There's a summer patio in the enclosed courtyard and the complimentary breakfast gets high marks. The excellent prices mean it books up quickly, and there's a two- to seven-night minimum in high season.

Built in 1740 and at one time the village’s library, this small guesthouse, tucked away on an old lane, is a very short walk from the Iron Bridge. The house has been beautifully restored, with plenty of original and Victorian features brought to the fore. In a nice nod to its former life, its old library shelves still line the guest room walls. Rooms are furnished with elegance—the Chaucer Room even has its own private terrace—and service is warm without being obtrusive; they’ll even furnish you with a hot water bottle on cool nights.

This wonderfully welcoming boutique hotel is a little gem. Each of the four guest suites is spacious, elegant, and uncluttered, with crisp white linens, polished original wooden floors, and tasteful furniture. There's a pretty little terrace where you can sit with a glass of wine or the morning paper. Guests enjoy special rates at a local gym, swimming pool, and spa, and can also call upon the services of a chauffeur who can take guests to the airport for less than the cost of a train or taxi. Breakfast is available upon request and is supplied by nearby chic café/deli, Daylesford.

This 18th-century house in the center of Richmond has been beautifully restored and packed with Georgian silver, Persian rugs, and Biedermeier chairs. The spacious bedrooms are done in soothing neutral colors, decorated with well-chosen art and antiques, and stocked with books and free malt whisky (but no televisions). All have views of the town or the extraordinary gardens, which offer additional views of the waterfalls on the River Swale and have won Royal Horticultural Society awards. The big claw-foot tubs in the bathrooms—some of which have their own fireplaces—invite a relaxing soak after a hike on the Dales. Breakfasts here win raves for their variety and freshness. In addition to the three rooms, there are two self-catering alternatives: a five-bedroom coach house and a garden apartment that sleeps two.

Located in Boxgrove, a village just northeast of Chichester, this charming B&B offers space, comfort, and personalized service within a gorgeous, 17th-century thatched cottage. The two suites here are large and characterful, with traditional features like bowed timber beams, squat-to-enter doorways, and antique furniture complemented by modern luxuries like rainfall showers, large and comfy beds, and fast Wi-Fi. Guests are welcomed by the owners with a spot of tea and cake in the garden, while hearty breakfasts are served every morning in the historic dining room.

Halfway between Cockermouth and Keswick at the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake, this traditional 17th-century coaching inn exudes English coziness without the usual Lakeland fussiness. Tasteful, modern bedrooms have soft but comfortable beds and tiled bathrooms with large tubs, and they overlook a garden and 60 acres of forest. The restaurant serves British fare and has a light bites menu during the day. The intimate old bar remains the star of the show, however, and is popular with locals as well as guests.

The owner of this quirky B&B, set in a quiet neighborhood a 10-minute walk from the center, was previously an antiques dealer and has decorated the Victorian building with period furnishings, fascinating artwork (including a collection of prints by Bob Dylan), and a trove of objects that invite lingering. There's no sense of clutter, however; rooms are scrupulously clean and the breakfasts are superb.

One of the Southeast's most unusual B&Bs, this 450-year-old whitewashed windmill overlooking the River Tillingham is home to lovely bedrooms with large bathrooms, including walk-in showers. If it's available, opt for the extraordinary two-floor Windmill Suite, which has a balcony with panoramic views of the town and surrounding countryside. There's no restaurant, but guests can enjoy the comfy lounge—complete with a roaring fire and an honesty bar—in the evenings, and hearty and delicious breakfasts are served in the beam-roofed breakfast room. Enthusiastic and well-informed hosts Toby and Kathryn are on hand to help with everything from sightseeing recommendations to restaurant reservations.

This lovely, larger-than-you-expect farmhouse on the grounds of Sissinghurst Castle was originally built in 1885 and lovingly restored in 2009 by the National Trust. Tastefully decorated in muted, neutral color schemes, bedrooms are spacious and welcoming, with comfy beds, modern bathrooms, and sumptuous views across the estate. On arrival, guests are served tea with homemade cakes in the cozy communal lounge—or in the garden if the weather's nice—while charcuterie and cheese platters can be ordered in the evening (there's no restaurant). An honesty bar stocked with snacks and drinks is also available—though make sure to save enough space for tomorrow's deliciously filling breakfast.

In a quiet nook of Penzance, just steps from the Promenade and harbor, this Georgian house has bright, spacious, smartly decorated guest rooms with views over Mount's Bay from front-facing rooms. The hosts are always smiling, helpful, and full of information on what to see and where to eat. Breakfast is made to order with options including waffles, pancakes, eggs royale (with smoked salmon), and vegetarian. There's normally a two to three-night minimum stay in July and August, though there may be availability for last-minute bookings of one or two nights. 

With the laid-back friendliness of a B&B and the sophisticated style of a country house, plus a focus on sustainability, Yewfield is a very good value—especially if you can score one of the rooms at the front of the house with a great view across the valley. The smart guest rooms are decorated with imagination and care: think rich fabrics, Indian art, sunken baths. The 19th-century Gothic house, between Hawkshead and Tarn Hows, sits on 80 acres of land, complete with woods and a tarn. Breakfast is wholesome and vegetarian, and evening concerts are a special treat. Check out the good discounts for longer stays and single guests.

It's hard to find a more welcoming spot than this lofty Victorian house right in the center of town, thanks to hosts who know a thing or two about local walks. They'll also supply a packed lunch if you plan to be out exploring all day. Although space is at a premium, the rooms are pleasantly decorated with prints and wood furniture.

This sweet Georgian town house and B&B in the northeastern corner of the city is a beautiful 20-minute walk along the river from central Cambridge. All three guest rooms are cozy and comfortable; the largest of them is bright and spacious, with a cavernous roll-top tub in the bathroom, while the other two are much smaller (one has twin beds). Christine, the charming owner, bakes her own bread to accompany the delicious breakfasts, which are prepared with plenty of fresh local produce.