326 Best Hotels in England

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.

One of the best boutique hotels in the Cotswolds has enviable views across the Golden Valley and is in an early-19th-century Grade II listed house that retains many of its original features, including large fireplaces and an impressive wood-paneled dining room. There are different types of rooms in the main house and coach house, from cozy to large and luxurious, but all are modern and comfortable. The hotel's Wellness Garden, a tranquil spa, opened in 2024 and complements other activities such as scenic walks, clay pigeon shooting, and wild food foraging. Head Chef David Brown's creative menus include a mouthwatering seven-course tasting menu every Friday and Saturday night. Wherever possible, he sources ingredients from within 35 miles of the hotel. It's 8 miles north of Tetbury.

One of the highlights of the region, this thermal spa hotel occupies part of the spectacular Georgian-era Crescent building with its arches, colonnades, and 378 windows. Built in 1780 by fashionable architect John Carr for the fifth duke of Devonshire (of nearby Chatsworth House), it underwent a 17-year restoration and is a fantastic place to recharge in style, especially in combination with soul-stirring Peak District walks (it’s dog-friendly, too). Exceptional British cuisine awaits you in the restaurant on your return.

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.

This small hotel located opposite the Roundhouse, with the Chalk Farm Underground station and Primrose Hill within easy reach, has handsome, comfortable rooms with an industrial chic vibe and luxurious bathrooms. Despite being located above a Victorian pub—the Enterprise, once a center of Camden's indie music scene and now better known for its food (it serves excellent breakfasts and the kitchen is open late)—the rooms are surprisingly quiet, although those directly above the pub may be less so. Some top-floor rooms have skylights.

There is no more peaceful place to stay in Canterbury then at this small and modern hotel tucked away within the grounds of the famous cathedral. Each of its quiet, soothingly decorated rooms with creamy white walls and exposed oak trim has cathedral views, as does the serene Campanile Garden. All guests have free access to the cathedral (a substantial savings for two people) as well as an even more precious extra: they get to stay inside the cathedral grounds when the gates close at night. There's limited free parking available for guests; ask when you book. Most rooms have U.K. double beds, which are surprisingly small. For a king-size experience, opt for a twin room and zip the beds together.

These conjoined Georgian villas next to the moat (all that remains of Hereford Castle) offer luxurious lodgings, a warm welcome, and good food. Delicate plasterwork graces the public areas. Spacious guest rooms vary in style, with light hues and floral wallpaper; each bedroom contains a decanter of sherry and other local snacks as a welcome gift, and bathrooms have L'Occitane toiletries. The restaurant uses lots of regional produce—much of which comes from the owner‘s farm—such as Hereford beef and Gloucester Old Spot pork, along with fresh fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden. Though the hotel has been a fixture in the city for many years, it's the light-filled restaurant, using local stone and wood in its design, that's a game-changer.

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.

With sumptuously appointed rooms, a popular bistro restaurant, and a convenient location right by the castle, this historic convent-turned-boutique-hotel is Alnwick's most luxurious stay. Each room is beautifully and individually decorated, but if you have to pick one, make it the Chapel—arguably the holy grail of Northumberland hotel rooms. This stunning (and seriously spacious) suite combines old chapel features like carved beam ceilings and stained glass windows with modern luxuries like a super-soft king bed, drench shower, freestanding bath, 60-inch flat-screen TV, and an Amazon Echo. Even if you don't stay here, pop in for a decadent afternoon tea (Thursday through Saturday) or a delicious dinner.

The London outpost of the exclusive Corinthia chain is design heaven-on-earth, with levels of service that make anyone feel like a VIP. There's an eye-popping lobby; the Northall restaurant is a treasury of soaring columns, Edwardian woodwork, and futuristic chandeliers; Kerridge’s Bar & Grill—designed by David Collins—references the chef's gastropub past with leather banquettes and a pewter-topped bar; and the elegant Crystal Moon Lounge wows with its stunning Baccarat chandelier. Guest rooms in cool tones have beautiful city views, and spacious bathrooms have underfloor heating, so even your toes will feel pampered.

This luxury hotel in the heart of Chipping Campden injects contemporary design into a stately 18th-century manor house, and from the swirling staircase in the entrance to the individually designed guest rooms studded with contemporary art, it's a winning formula. Two rooms have their own garden and hot tub. The lounges invite lingering, the spa luxuriating, and the terrace and spacious garden suggest seclusion—the perfect spot for afternoon tea. Both the casual Bistro on the Square and the more formal Fig Restaurant offer creative takes on English and Mediterranean dishes; they're worth a stop even if you aren't staying here.

Amid shady grounds, this family-run hotel sits high up the side of the Malvern Hills, with splendid views of the landscape. The bright and contemporary rooms come with snowy-white bedspreads and tasteful pops of color; rooms with a view are equipped with binoculars. The 1919 Restaurant has the best panorama, with views over the Cotswolds and the Severn Valley; it serves excellent Modern British fare influenced by the forest and the sea. Cocktails are served on the Terrace in season, or in the Lounge Bar. The hotel is 3 miles south of Great Malvern in Malvern Wells.

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.

It's easy to miss the low-key sign for this elegant, modern hotel tucked away amid the frilly houses on Marine Parade, but it's worth the trouble of finding, because everything is cool, calm, and sleekly designed. The lobby is dark and sophisticated, while each guest room has its own style, with handmade wallpaper, firm beds covered in luxurious linens, and art everywhere. Some "feature" rooms have quirky touches, including claw-foot tubs looking out to sea. Rooms with sea views are much more expensive than the others, but what's the point of a seaside hotel without a sea view? The hotel's excellent fine dining restaurant Dilsk has a big local following for its Modern European cuisine. 

After four centuries, this friendly old coaching inn remains an outstanding place for both food and lodging, with bedrooms—bright and exceptionally comfortable—that have wonderful views of the Langdale Pikes. Newer rooms have rolltop tubs and underfloor heating. Slip into the cozy, dog-friendly bar with an open fire and oak settles, and order a tasty real ale from the Duck's Barngates Brewery. The dining space is light and airy.

This lodging option stands out for its historic setting enhanced by elegant, contemporary decor in a building—the Free Trade Hall, constructed in 1853 on the site of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 and used at one time as a concert venue that hosted the likes of Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and the Sex Pistols—that retains many original features. In the heart of the city, the hotel offers up an atmospheric subterranean spa (with a swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms, and cutting-edge gym), and memorable dining including luxurious afternoon teas and contemporary Japanese and Mexican small plates in Peter Street Kitchen. 

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.

You can’t miss the striking black-and-white facade of this centrally located Tudor hotel, which dates from the 16th century. Its interior has a satisfyingly antique flavor, with wooden beams, creaking staircases, and ancient floorboards; some rooms have four-poster beds, and some have a teddy bear propped up on the pillow to welcome you. A bright and welcoming coffee shop is downstairs, or you can book a table in the colorful main restaurant for seasonal mains, such as grilled hake or slow-braised Herefordshire ox cheek. Afternoon tea is available.

What was once a crumbling Georgian mansion has been beautifully converted to a relaxing, contemporary hotel with good-size, well-designed guest rooms decorated in soothing color schemes. Rooms have Nespresso machines and minibars stocked with local goodies. Overlooking the serene Ludlow countryside, Forelles Fine Dining serves well-regarded Modern British cuisine, with most of the produce sourced from within a 30-mile radius; Sunday lunch is particularly good. Also on-site are a bistro-style restaurant for more relaxed dining and a gorgeous spa with an outdoor cedar hot tub.

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.

With Buckingham Palace just around the corner, this hotel, built in 1910 and now run by third-generation Gorings, has always been a favorite among discreet VIPs—including Kate Middleton's family on the night before her marriage to Prince William in 2011. The vibe is quintessentially Belgravia: a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere, mixed with traditional Edwardian style including silk and embossed wallpapers, pearl-fringed curtains, patterned carpets, and brass and gilded fittings. If you can't stay the night here but still fancy a taste of the royally endorsed treatment, the Goring's traditional afternoon tea is excellent, and the glamorous bar serves surprisingly innovative cocktails. The beautifully uniformed and helpful concierge staff go above and beyond, with a knowledge of London that's second to none.

At this hotel tucked behind the Fitzwilliam Museum on the banks of the River Cam, punters drift by in a steady stream, restored punts adorn the walls of the lobby and staircase, and rooms conjure romantic notions of nostalgia (think wood paneling, writers' bureaus, and Voysey-esque headboards). The on-site Garden House restaurant is excellent.

Solid mahogany doors, handsome stairwell tilework, and Art Nouveau ironwork are among the original features at this luxurious but down-to-earth hotel near the train station and in a 1906 building that was formerly the headquarters of the regional railroad. Spacious bedrooms are sleek and contemporary, with king-size beds, good soundproofing, and well-equipped bathrooms with underfloor heating. The breakfast-and-dinner-only Rise restaurant serves favorites like pan-friend stone bass or shepherd's pie, while the more formal Legacy offers small-plate tasting menus of five, seven, or nine courses (from £90) Wednesday through Sunday. There's also a highly proficient spa with a pool.

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.

Though this stately, carefully restored home retains original elements from its days as a grand Victorian country pile, its welcoming owners have invested in handsome local furniture, stripped away some of the chintz, and opened up inspiring views across the pristine lawns to the valley and the central Lakeland peaks beyond. Rooms have ornate beds, plenty of luxurious fabrics, patterned wallpaper, and stunning views. Communal areas are relaxed and welcoming and the whole place exudes a warm hospitality, exemplified by handmade complimentary truffles and sherry on arrival. Dinners in the restaurant focus on local ingredients prepared with Modern British flair.

This marvelously atmospheric lodging, full of historic personality and stately antiques, occupies three connected 18th-century town houses, one of which was the last home of the English critic and essayist William Hazlitt (1778–1830). Traditional English style and opulent Regency furnishings form a huge part of its appeal, but it's charmingly devoid of a few modern amenities—as the owners say, "In 1718, there were no elevators, and there still aren't." Rooms are named after infamous Soho denizens like the 1st Duke of Monmouth and nearby are more interesting restaurants than you could visit in a year.