103 Best Hotels in England

Discreet and rakish—and right in the heart of Soho—this stylish Georgian town house (really three town houses turned into one) has a effortlessly chic bohemian vibe and an excellent eponymous Modern British restaurant decorated with interesting pieces by renowned British artists like Peter Blake and Tracey Emin. Inside, comfy velvet sofas and heavy upholstered chairs jostle for space; and many beds are four-poster. As part of the Soho House group of members' clubs and hotels, it's all effortlessly hip, soignée and unfailingly au courant, which comes at a price—although bargains are to be found, especially on Sunday night.

Part Jacobean, part Georgian, this magnificent stately home provides formal luxury in an opulent country setting. The building is decorated with a masterful touch—crystal chandeliers, original oil paintings, and carved ceilings adorn the ornate public areas; the magnificent Jacobean staircase is guarded by unique carved figures. Bedrooms, furnished with well-chosen antiques and comfortable beds, are suitably grand. Some rooms are situated in Hartwell Court, on the approach to the main house, and some have direct access to 90 acres of landscaped parkland. You can dress to impress for dinner, enjoy the terrace of the spa's café, or just drop in for a refined afternoon tea.

The five-story atrium and Art Deco staircase hint at the delights to come in this converted warehouse—a breath of fresh air with its playful color schemes, elegant wallpapers, and wonderful views of the city from the higher floors. Thoughtful little touches, from the plethora of gadgets in every room to the exclusive 1,500-foot borehole from which the hotel draws its mineral water (yes, really) raise this place to something truly special. Across the street is the 13-bedroom Marrable's Hotel, a sister hotel offering the same quirky style with a touch more intimacy—and an excellent cocktail bar, too.

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.

Swanky and upscale, the design at the Andaz (East London's first-ever five-star hotel) cleverly symbolizes its geographical position between the East End and the City, blending pinstripes and framed graffiti art with added touches of opulence throughout—guest rooms are colorfully decorated with designer furniture and intensely comfortable beds. The hotel provides an enjoyable check-in ritual too—guests are offered a glass of Prosecco on arrival—as well as a daily 6 pm canapé and wine hour in the sumptuous foyer. There has been a hotel on this site since 1884 when the Great Eastern Hotel was built adjacent to Liverpool Street Station at the height of the railway era. Ask any of the reception staff about the hotel's history, and they'll mention the hidden Masonic Temple discovered during the refurbishment (where Lady Gaga later staged a photoshoot). If you walk down to the on-site restaurants instead of taking the elevator, you'll get another taste of the past by spotting the once-grand ceilings and wide stairwells. From the stunning light green Rake's Bar to the striking red walls of Lady Abercorn's, each bar and dining area offers a change in color palette, decor, and menu. From all-day dining at the Brasserie to fine Japanese dinners at Miyako, you could easily spend an entire visit eating your way around this place. And as each restaurant has a door leading directly to the street, they're always frequented by locals, many of whom possibly don't even realize they're in a hotel, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Convenient for exploring nearby Standen House, this luxurious country hotel offers traditionally furnished bedrooms, superb gourmet dining, and fun and games galore—from golfing on the scenic 18-hole forest course to spa treatments in the country club (as well as tennis, swimming, croquet, snooker, and bike hire). Built in the 19th century, the hotel's enviable location on the edge of Ashdown Forest, which was the setting for A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories, means there are appealing walking paths all around; a half-day circular walk takes in the original Poohsticks Bridge. Even if you can't stay overnight, come here for a round of golf, a relaxing spa day, or afternoon tea on the lawn. And, if you can, stick around for dinner, as the hotel's Anderida Restaurant is one of the region's best. Ashdown Park is 6 miles southeast of East Grinstead.

With the grandeur of a country estate and the amenities of a modern hotel, Bovey Castle, built in 1906 for Viscount Hambleden, has it all, including guest rooms and self-catering lodges. On its vast grounds are an outstanding golf course and 24 miles of riverbank that can be used for salmon fishing. There's a resident pianist, falconry displays, and a spa center, and children have a barn filled with activities. Enormous fireplaces and oak-panel rooms give a sense of early-20th-century pomp to the public rooms; bedrooms are luxurious, and even some of the bathrooms have great views across the valley.

In an ideal world everyone would sojourn in this oasis of opulence at least once; however, the luxury never gets in the way of the overall air of relaxation, a tribute to the warmth and efficiency of the staff. A quintessential country-house hotel, it's also family-friendly, with a high-tech children's play area as well as a luxurious spa. The modern guest rooms are spacious and quiet; family suites have refrigerators and either bunk beds or singles in a separate room. Dishes at the elegant Brasserie are a blend of traditional and modern elements, whereas the Hive is a relaxing café. The hotel is 3 miles west of town.

Superstar London hotel designer Kit Kemp has taken the fabled Bloomsbury Group as her inspiration for this supremely stylish boutique hotel, which, if anything, feels more like a private members' club. Bedrooms are adorned with period art, chic wallpaper, and decorative beds, but have all the contemporary luxuries you'd expect: walk-in showers, flat-screen TVs, and iPhone docking stations. Communal areas include the beautifully appointed drawing room, complete with a Chesterfield sofa on either side of the fireplace, and a sumptuous library featuring paintings by Bloomsbury Group artists. The restaurant, Oscar, serves excellent European cuisine, and the bar is a trendy (though pricey) local hangout. There's also a weekend film club showing classics and new releases that's a great value: a three-course lunch, dinner, or afternoon tea, plus a movie in the plush private screening room, all for £55.

Situated on Ludford Bridge, this food-focused pub with rooms has lovely river views, especially from the Riverside Suite and the Othello Suite; the latter has its own terrace with hot tub. Rooms are smart and comfortable, with lots of heritage fabrics. Breakfast, including locally made sausages, is a real treat. In fact, all the food is very good. This is a bit of a destination restaurant, and even dishes that sound run-of-the-mill, such as a duck spring roll or dressed crab, are anything but. Views from the restaurant are fabulous, too.

Handmade Italian furniture and swaths of French silk fill this luxury downtown hotel in a Tudor-style building, dating to 1865. Marble bathrooms, high-definition TVs, and a first-class spa are among the luxurious amenities. There are two restaurants: the fine-dining Arkle restaurant and the more relaxed La Brasserie, with an indoor barbecue. The intimate library is a perfect spot for afternoon tea.

This stunning Georgian mansion set among 55 acres of lush gardens and parkland has been completely refurbished under the direction of interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, who took her inspiration from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as well as the building's own history. Choose between rooms in the house itself (some with lovely balconies) or, for more privacy, the converted stable block. The spa, set into the ground, looks like a work of art. Chef Jackson Boxer takes pride in using Gloucestershire's best local ingredients in the restaurant, where diners can sit in the wood-paneled dining room or outside on the terrace. The hotel is 5 miles south of Cheltenham.

Seven miles southwest of Greenhead on the edge of the North Pennines, this luxury country estate is an idyllic away-from-it-all escape. The rooms are beautifully appointed in warm grays, greens, and blues, with modern bathrooms and garden views, and larger groups can enjoy the extra spacious cottages on the grounds. The elegant Cedar Tree Restaurant offers fine dining using the best local and seasonal produce, with meals accompanied by stunning views across the manicured lawn to the ornamental lake. Take a stroll around the grounds, including the walled garden, and consider a short walk to the village's pretty St. Thomas a Becket Church, where the chief engineer of the Titanic is buried.

As the only hotel in the United Kingdom with access to Bath's natural thermal waters, thanks to its location in a custom-designed Spa Village, the Gainsborough has a unique appeal. Add the opulent neo-Georgian rooms in a grand Georgian former hospital, perhaps the best staff in town, and a restaurant focused on the creative side of British cuisine, and you'd be hard put to find fault with this temple of luxury located in the very heart of the city's comings-and-goings.

Hidden among 22 acres of gorgeous grounds you'll find the main house, 16 garden and spa suites and lodges, and also the separate six-room Lake House, for a total of 36 bedrooms between the hotel and Lake House. There are two superb restaurants, Gilpin Spice and Michelin-starred SOURCE, where chef Ollie Bridgwater takes the helm. Check in for a treat, but beware: you won't ever want to leave.

Colorful, luxurious, playful, and riotously good fun, Ham Yard is another winner from the stable of London hotel designer extraordinaire Kit Kemp. As with her other sumptuous properties, guest rooms are individually designed, and the results here are splendid. Elegant, restrained color schemes are invigorated by cheeky, playful touches—designer wallpaper and furnishings in contrasting shades of gray offset by riotously colorful headboards, for example, or pieces of modern art that seem to burst from the walls like sunshine. Everything is designed with maximum comfort in mind—there's even a TV in the bathroom. Movies are shown in the state-of-the art basement cinema (which also hosts exclusive preview screenings with Hollywood A-listers) and there's even a 10-pin bowling alley—imported from Texas. The restaurant is excellent and the bar is as buzzing as you'd expect. To top it all, service is excellent.

Just a five-minute walk from the village of Hampton-in-Arden, this hotel (and its Michelin-star restaurant, Grace & Saviour’s) is proof that Birmingham lodging isn’t all about business travel. Here, the focus is very much on relaxing, and everything has been thought through carefully to ensure you feel at home. There are fresh coffee beans to grind and huge beds to dive into; some rooms even have record players. The house was built in 1855 by Frederick Peel on land purchased by his father, British prime minister Robert Peel. Paying homage to the house’s Arts and Crafts past, the rooms are individually designed and feature hand-printed wallpaper and luxurious fabrics.

Under the auspices of hotelier Olga Polizzi, the Endsleigh has become one of the country's best-loved hotels, nestled in a fold of the Tamar Valley with the river itself rolling serenely by at the bottom of the garden, which has been cited as one of the world's most romantic. Built as a hunting lodge, with grounds designed by Humphry Repton, the atmosphere is secluded and select, with log fires in winter and acres of grounds to explore in summer. Guest rooms are palatial but cozy, with none of the drafty windows or creaking floors that often go with the country-house experience, and some feature antique, hand-painted wallpaper. There's a two-night minimum stay at weekends. The paneled restaurant draws enthusiasts from far and wide for its traditional but inventive cuisine. It's located 8 miles from Tavistock.

It's the Cornish Riviera, Italian style—this former yachtsman's club, owned by hotelier Olga Polizzi, makes for a luxuriously relaxed stay. Decorated in stately, muted tones, with terra-cotta pots on the terrace, the Tresanton is a meeting of classic English and warm Mediterranean styles, and the terraced Beach Club and the yacht available to guests in summer reinforces the jet-set spirit. In the restaurant, the Italian-inspired menu includes local oysters, lobster, gnocchi, and beef fillet.

Occupying a sprawling 19th-century mansion in the northeastern part of the city, this attractive, independent boutique hotel is surrounded by manicured gardens overlooking a stream with a small waterfall and is filled with polished oak floors, huge windows, and wandering staircases. You can read the paper by the inglenook fireplace in the lounge or curl up on a firm bed in one of the chic and modern guest rooms. For ultimate comfort, book one of the two major suites; each offers quirky sloping ceilings, spacious seating areas, and appealing rooftop terraces. Downstairs, the elegant Fern Dining Room serves sophisticated yet unfussy dishes using the finest regional meat and produce; try the aromatic tandoori spiced monkfish or the indulgent cheddar cheese and spinach soufflé. Ask at reception for a quick peek inside The Great Hall, a grand, high-ceilinged room with oak paneling, huge Gothic windows, and an intricately carved fireplace, all overlooked by an ornate minstrels' gallery.

The 63 acres surrounding this elegant 17th-century country-house hotel retain many original features, including the walls of the kitchen garden (still in use), the apple trees in the former orchard, and a mile-long avenue of linden trees, the longest in the United Kingdom. The house itself is similarly rich in period details such as a baronial staircase, wood paneling with carvings by Grinling Gibbons in the bar, and two fireplaces surrounded by hand-painted Delft tiles (all the rage when the house was built during the reign of William and Mary). Rooms may have original wood shutters and ceiling molding, but the bathrooms have up-to-date electronics and underfloor heating. Smaller, less pricey rooms in one of five extensions are more modern and less distinguished. Don't miss the falconry displays featuring the resident owls and falcons. The hotel is 2½ miles northwest of Winchester.

Style and image are the draw at The London EDITION hotel, where Michelin-starred chefs and hip bars complement the boutique property’s sleek, contemporary design. Behind the neoclassical exterior, a decidedly bohemian air permeates this luxurious hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia, the second hotel in Ian Schrager's venture with Marriott. Rooms are crisply styled in deep tones of chocolate and oatmeal, with huge beds and faux-fur blankets strewn about while bathrooms have cavernous freestanding tubs or sizeable showers. Service is exceptional and personalized, with arriving guests escorted to rooms upon check-in. But really it's all about the nightlife here, sophisticated though it is. Berners Tavern, the main bar-restaurant, has a belle epoque feel, with old paintings filling almost every inch of available space on the cool gray walls. Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton runs the kitchen, though the vibe is kept casual. The exclusive Punch Room is the more intimate of the two dedicated cocktail bars, with its creatively prepared alcoholic punches. A fashionably mixed crowd, relaxed atmosphere, and culinary expertise combine to create the recipe for this winning contemporary hotel.

Originally an Edwardian ramblers’ hostel, this country hotel remains a great place from which to hike in the magnificent surrounding countryside, including Castleton itself. An Arts and Crafts exterior conceals surprisingly modern, unpretentious, and comfortable rooms. It's the food in the on-site Grafene restaurant that is the real star—think creative Modern British dishes based on super-local produce. Hiking-weary limbs can be soothed in the bijou spa, where you’ll find a small pool, a sauna, and an all-year outdoor hot tub with fabulous views. Rates that include dinner are available.

Occupying a sprawling 600-year-old coaching inn on High Street, the Lygon Arms is a charming warren, filled with cozy nooks for afternoon tea, a separate wine bar, a vaulted dining hall serving locally sourced menus, and plush luxury at every turn. The rooms vary in size (and price), but all are opulently designed and embrace the rich history of the building, while the courtyard leads to a discreet spa and pool complex.

This elegant country-house hotel 3 miles southeast of Warwick makes for a quiet, luxurious getaway; it has more than 40 rooms in two buildings but still manages to make you feel like you're visiting friends, albeit very wealthy ones. The more traditional country-chic rooms are in the original manor house, while the spa and more contemporary rooms are in a newer, separate building called the Orchard House (it's a bit like the main house's younger sibling).  One of the biggest attractions is the oak-paneled Dining Room at the Manor House restaurant, acclaimed for its sophisticated cuisine. The Asian-inspired Sencha restaurant offers cuisine not often found in an English country hotel. You can book a treatment in the spa, hidden among the trees in the lovely grounds, or just kick back in the outdoor vitality pool and take in the view.

Secluded in a 23-acre park on the edge of the village, this partly 14th-century manor house has guest rooms—some in mews cottages—that brim with antique character. Outside, the house is a baronial swirl of solid chimney stacks, carvings, and columns. Inside, a stone frieze depicts characters from Shakespeare's Falstaff plays to commemorate the fact that Sir John Fastolf, thought to be the model for the character, was lord of this manor. The Michelin-starred Bybrook restaurant serves fantastic upscale cuisine with imaginative wine pairings, but you can also dine more affordably in the 12th-century pub, The Castle Inn, nearby. The landscaped setting is soothing, with green vistas on every side and a river running through the grounds, though the village is steps away. An excellent 18-hole golf course is on-site.  

Owned by the National Trust, and more like an actual country house than a country-house hotel, this splendidly restored Queen Anne building with mid-18th-century additions has furnishings, textiles, and wallpapers that perfectly complement its oak-paneled walls, carved-wood bannisters, and built-in window seats. Dotted with mature oak, cedar, and sycamore trees, the 20 acres of grounds also have walled gardens landscaped to period, as well as former outbuildings and stables that house additional cottage-style rooms. The pretty spa features Aromatherapy Associates treatments. There are two restaurants: the fine-dining The Oak, where the Modern British set-price menus change seasonally, and the less formal Pineapple, which offers lighter fare like sandwiches and salads.

Bursting with eye-catching Art Deco design and achingly hip interiors, The Ned is as close to the glamour of the 1920s Jazz Age as you'll find in contemporary London. Guests should catch their breath before walking into the vast impressive lobby, where a cavalcade of lively restaurants and bars await. The multitude of dining options here manage to comfortably share a space not unlike the size of Grand Central Terminal. Replete with 92 emerald-green columns, 10-meter-high ceilings, and gorgeous tiled floors, The Ned is every inch the modern grand dame hotel. Rooms range in size from the smallest "crash pad" to the largest family suite, and the same level of design and attention to detail can be found in each. Luxurious, opulent, and aware of its own style, The Ned is also a surprising bargain.

One of London's hippest hotels sits opposite the famous Royal Opera House, and while a bit austere looking from the outside, inside it's all deluxe boho-chic, with dark mahoganies, worn rugs, velvet sofas, embroidered damasks, and hand-painted wallpapers. Set in the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court and Police Station and delightfully sprinkled with 1,600 pieces of art, be sure to take tea in the Library, enjoy craft cocktails in the subterranean Common Decency cocktail lounge, or sip agave-based cocktails in the hopping Side Hustle bar.