56 Best Hotels in England

The first Raffles hotel in the United Kingdom has finally opened in the former old war offices in Whitehall overlooking the Royal Horse Guards, and given the Raffles brand, it couldn't be more appropriately housed, with thoughtful, historic touches throughout including chandeliers, opulent upholstery, and grand marble staircases. Arrive through the main entrance on Whitehall, and you immediately know you're on hallowed ground—get there after midday, and you'll be greeted with a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne. Many of the hotel's suites have historic names to match their pedigree. The Haldane Suite, named after the Secretary of State for War in 1906, was once used by significant military figures such as Lord Kitchener. The historic paneling and mantelpieces have been restored and preserved, enriched by red or green damask upholstery. Stay in the Churchill Suite (if you have a spare £20,000) and you can say you've slept in a room where critical decisions were made during World War II, including about the D-Day landings. There are several fine dining and afternoon tea options on-site, and with a huge swimming pool and London's first Guerlain spa, you would be hard-pressed to find a more elegant place to stay right in the heart of Whitehall.

If you're wondering if the Downton Abbey–style world of the old British upper class still exists, look no further than here; The Ritz is as synonymous with London's high society and decadence today as it was when it opened in 1906. The central lobby, with its chandelier and sweeping balconies, is as photogenic as any in London. The lounges are as gorgeous as ever, and the bedrooms are bastions of Louis XVI style, with acres of luxurious fabric and glittering chandeliers. With a ratio of two staff members to every bedroom, you're guaranteed personal service despite the hotel's massive size. Note that the Ritz is still committed to the ancient regime of English manners, and the dress code remains inflexibly strict—woe betide a gentleman if he doesn't wear a jacket. The staff, however, are incredibly polite and courteous, particularly the concierge who stand smiling outside, ready to open the door for those visiting for afternoon tea.

The pampering begins the moment you enter this adults-only beachside hotel when you are greeted with a drink by the enthusiastic, highly professional staff and then given a tour of the facilities, which are arranged over five levels and feature bright, modern rooms with views over the sands and cliffs of Mawgan Porth beach—easily accessed via a path. The lounges, sheltered garden, and library offer comfortable nooks for relaxation, while the indoor and outdoor pools, spa treatments, and hot tub overlooking the sea will give you a bodily boost. The flair and positivity of the hotel's ethos extends to the restaurant, where each dish and wine offering is introduced with informed passion.

Located 15 miles southwest of East Grinstead (and within east reach of Arundel, Brighton, and Lewes), this spectacular country estate is the region's most luxurious stay, set within 92 acres of Sussex countryside and including a small vineyard, woodland walk, kitchen garden, and rockery. Still, it's what inside the hotel that counts. The beautifully appointed bedrooms, suites, and lakeside lodges are individually designed to combine heritage features with modern comfort, and there are wide-ranging dining options in the three excellent restaurants—including the Michelin-starred Ben Wilkinson at The Pass—along with the billiard bar and garden terrace. Perhaps the highlight, however, is the state-of-the-art spa, with an indoor pool and a natural outdoor swimming lake, as well as a scented sauna and salt steam room. Breakfast is served in the elegant Camellia, or you can eat in the spa restaurant Botanica, which has many vegetarian and vegan options. South Lodge is also an excellent family retreat, with extras for young children including a tent and books in the room, activity trails through the gardens (with prizes), and designated swimming times.

Another member of the luxury Dorchester Collection hotel group, 45 Park Lane is a beautifully considered five-star property with no shortage of contemporary swagger to match its stylized Art Deco elegance. Spacious rooms are beautifully appointed and come with views of Hyde Park along with the blinking lights of the city below, although if you can afford one of the exceptionally appointed suites then all the better. From its sultry mezzanine cocktail bar and ultraexpensive grill restaurant to its ostentatious basement spa, 45 Park Lane opts out of staid luxury and instead presents an experience that oozes Golden Age glamour.

This grand hotel overlooking Green Park offers plenty for the money: rooms are both comfortable and lavishly decorated, with deeply cushy Hypnos beds, plasma-screen TVs, luxurious fabrics, and original contemporary artworks. If you need more space, you can choose one of the luxurious apartments that occupy a row of Georgian town houses next to the main hotel buildings, each with separate living, dining, and sleeping areas and tiny, fully equipped kitchenettes. The spa is available only to guests, ensuring you can always get an appointment. The restaurant serves British-inspired food from Michelin-starred chefs and also offers a full afternoon tea—an elegant experience, complete with honey from bees in Regent's Park.

Situated a few miles south of Arundel, this charmingly out-of-the-way country escape offers lovely period features, expansive private gardens, and one of the region's finest spas; sleeping options are spread out across a series of houses, cottages, and courtyards. Most of the buildings are (despite appearances) less than a century old, and the rooms vary from highly decorative, medieval-style suites with four-poster beds to bright and breezy bedrooms with modern furnishings. Ask for a peek inside the 13th century chapel, one of the truly historic buildings in the grounds.

Now a smart boutique hotel, this was not the actual London town house of Lord Beaverbrook (newspaper tycoon of the 1930s and '40s and confidante of Churchill), but its 1930s-style decor mixed with Japanese touches is a salute to his sophisticated life at the center of London's power elite. The luxurious but comfortable rooms, all named after London theaters, have velvet loveseats, flat screens that rise up from ottomans, retro landline phones in pastel colors, and minicocktail trolleys with glass tumblers and premixed cocktails (in case Nöel Coward stops by for a drink, presumably). The Japanese theme is continued in the restaurant and its adjoining Omikado bar which serves a nine-course small plate menu. Guests receive keys to Cadogan Gardens, one of London's largest garden squares, across the street.

Founded in 1837 by James Brown, Lord Byron's "gentleman's gentleman," this hotel occupying 11 Georgian town houses holds a treasured place in London society. Nowadays the interior has a slightly more modern edge, thanks to a top-to-bottom renovation by the Forte chain. Fans of the hotel still love the old-world setting, although a few complain that it's not quite the atmospheric old place it used to be. Nonetheless, it's a well-run operation, filled with the kinds of top-end extras you'd expect with this kind of price tag. The subtle, contemporary guest rooms have office spaces and marble bathrooms equipped with luxurious products, while the staff are exceedingly professional.

This luxury hotel checks all the Knightsbridge boxes (top-of-the-range everything, ultrafashionable design, a haven for the international rich) and brings the same attention to detail and Italian high style to the decor as it does to its eponymous jewelry line (though Bulgari hotels are now part of the top end of Marriott). The bedrooms and suites are all large by London standards (and some have fireplaces and terraces), and the glamorous marble-clad bathrooms will make you feel like a movie star (and all have Bulgari toiletries, of course). There's a beautiful onyx-lined spa and indoor pool, while the Sette restaurant, a branch of New York's Scarpetta, showcases good though pricey Italian comfort food. Service is professional but friendly. Suites come with personal butlers and the gym comes with personal trainers.

This elegant hotel spread out over five town houses features luxurious decor that incorporates sculptural lighting fixtures and modern art while retaining nods to The Cadogan's Edwardian past (it was the site of Oscar Wilde's infamous arrest for gross indecency with a young man). There's a highly rated Modern British restaurant on-site, and access to the 93-acre Cadogan Place Gardens, one of Chelsea's largest garden squares, is included with your stay.

Luxury rules at this converted 17th-century farmhouse overlooking the Vale of Evesham, 2 miles north of Broadway, which has been firmly brought into the 21st century with the best of approachable contemporary design. You can visit the sumptuous spa or cozy up in a firelit lounge before making your way to the guest rooms, each individually decorated and with luxurious bathrooms. The sophisticated Garden Room restaurant fronts a garden designed by a Chelsea Flower Show Gold winner, while the Potting Shed has more rustic style and fare.

At this small exclusive hotel in a discreet cul-de-sac, ample natural light brightens the classically elegant rooms. The bar is a delight—don't even think about staying here without dropping in for a cocktail—and the cigar and cognac garden is a pleasingly retro addition. The GBR, which stands for Great British Restaurant, offers all-day dining, creating delicious meals out of classic British flavors; appealingly enough, the kitchen also eschews modern gadgetry as much as possible, in favor of traditional techniques. But the hotel's real trump card is the location—just a hop and a skip from Piccadilly and Green Park, yet tucked away enough that it feels peaceful.

This welcoming boutique hotel is an oasis of understated country-house chic in glitzy Knightsbridge, with guest rooms that don't stint on design touches like four-poster beds, swagged curtains, and patterned wallpaper and textiles. Prints and posters by impressionist artists adorn the walls, and some rooms have verdant views over the beautiful gardens in back. The lovely staff—surely among the most helpful and friendly in London—keep everything running like clockwork. The two drawing rooms are good places to write letters or relax with a drink from the honor bar. There is no restaurant but a limited menu is available through room service. The hotel also has a partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, which means guests can score tickets even to sold-out exhibitions.

Although deep in the British countryside on a 500-acre estate, this country-house hotel, part of the luxury chain, is only a half hour from Heathrow; the manor house's original wing (the others are more contemporary) dates back to 1728, although luxuries like marble bathrooms and Frette linens are thoroughly modern. Relax in the heated indoor pool and spacious spa offering Dr. Barbara Sturm treatments and hypnotherapy, or enjoy country pursuits like horseback riding (there's an equestrian center), fishing in the stocked pond, falconry, and clay-pigeon shooting. For the more adventurous, there's zip-lining. There are also family-friendly elements, such as a special kids' pool with a waterslide and a supervised kids' club on weekends. Dining options range from a Vietnamese-influenced spa café and a pizzeria to a restaurant serving seasonal Modern British food.

A refreshing change from the overt opulence displayed by some of the big-name hotels in Mayfair, the Four Seasons Park Lane has a beautifully restrained interior that pairs its luxurious flourishes with a strong sense of tranquillity. Oyster-shell chic is the look in the public areas—although Bar Antoine offers the type of moody drinking den every hotel should have—and the soft, pastel perfection is continued upstairs in the guest rooms themselves. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with marble baths and possess more than a hint of stylish Scandinavian-led design. Don't miss the spa on the top floor; in the treatment rooms, massive windows seem to hold all of Hyde Park inside a snow globe.

Part Palladian country house hotel, part lively resort, and part luxury wellness retreat, Grantley Hall is set on 30 acres of parkland, combining grandeur with glitz. Bedrooms are large and traditionally elegant in shades of taupe and aqua, and marble bathrooms have giant showers. There are three restaurants: a fine dining room run by Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin that specializes in set price, locally sourced tasting menus; an all-day informal Modern British restaurant with dishes like pork belly with carrot puree and Josper Grill dishes; and a buzzy cocktail bar that serves pan-Asian food and features a live DJ. For those who want even more nightlife, there's a below-ground Art Deco-style late-night Champagne bar featuring live jazz on weekends. The huge spa has a wide range of massage and beauty treatments, a two-story gym, an ice bath, and outdoor sauna, and and indoor-to-outdoor hydrotherapy pool. But the real draw is the 60-foot marble-clad colonnaded swimming pool.

Overlooking busy Hyde Park Corner and the grounds of Buckingham Palace, this hotel's luxurious rooms are aimed at high-end business travelers. Comfortable yet sophisticated, they incorporate big windows and grand views and rich curtains and bedspreads. You will really feel treated like a king if you take one of the suites, where special guest services range from free snacks and a dedicated butler to a spin in an Aston Martin, should you feel like it.

This grand hotel on the Thames enjoys some of the most landmark-loaded views in the city—right next door is the London Eye, and directly across the Thames are the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Until the 1980s this building was the seat of London's government, and the public areas are suitably imposing, full of pedimented archways, bronze doors, and acres of polished mahogany. All the business-friendly bells and whistles you could ever want are available, and many of the stylish but unfussy modernist rooms have that aforementioned amazing view.

Driving up Lucknam Park’s mile-long avenue of lime and beech trees toward the 18th-century Palladian mansion, you may feel like you’ve bagged an invitation to stay with Jane Austen’s demanding hostess, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in Pride and Prejudice—though the mansion is now a traditional country-house hotel par excellence. Think Chesterfield sofas, wing chairs, and wood paneling in the public rooms, with swagged window treatments, rich fabrics, and rain-forest showers in the guest rooms. There’s a Michelin-starred formal restaurant, and the attentive service would meet even Lady Catherine’s exacting standards. There's also an equestrian center, which offers lessons for beginners and the more experienced across the hotel’s 500 acres of woods and parkland. 

Following an extensive renovation after a roof fire, the imposing Edwardian facade of this ultraluxe hotel on the edge of Hyde Park belies the modern and bright setting within that features spacious bedrooms filled with high-tech gadgets. The hotel's main, double-Michelin-starred restaurant has views over the park and is overseen by top-flight chef Heston Blumenthal. There's also a "Japanese izakaya experience" restaurant and a similarly Asian-influenced tea room. The large renovated spa is equally innovative and high-end. Service is exemplary (every floor has its own butler) and guests can use the outdoor terrace bordering Hyde Park.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.