203 Best Hotels in England

Intimate and elegant, this boutique hotel on a residential street near the Circus occupies three 1772 town houses built by John Wood the Younger for the Marquis of Queensberry; it's a perfect marriage of chic sophistication, homey comforts, and attentive service. Renovations have preserved the Regency stucco ceilings and cornices and marble tile on the fireplaces, and each room is individually decorated in contemporary style. Four terraced gardens invite a summer aperitif, and downstairs is the Michelin-starred Olive Tree restaurant.

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.

Located in the center of Great Malvern, the Abbey enjoys beautiful views over the Malvern Hills and the Vale of Evesham. Rooms are smart and clean, if not overly exciting, and there is a decent restaurant on-site.

This glossy boutique hotel inside the old city walls offers up-to-date style in traditional Canterbury, with good-size rooms—modern but not minimal—classed as Comfortable, Desirable, Enviable, and Most Enviable. The latter have the most space and extras like wood floors, sitting areas, and freestanding roll-top baths, but even Comfortable rooms are nicely designed with soft bedding in neutral colors (although most have no view). There's also a Fabulous suite, with a sun-trap terrace offering sweeping cathedral vistas. Back downstairs, the superb brasserie serves Modern European cuisine, while the beam-ceilinged bar offers afternoon tea every day. The hotel can also arrange private "chef's table" dining events (including a view of the action inside the kitchen).

Lovely gardens surround this moated Tudor manor house, originally the home of the Hussey family, which dates back to 1524; black-and-white half-timbering combines with a later redbrick-and-stone extension. Beams, oak paneling, four-poster beds, and antiques enhance rooms in the original building, for which you should book well ahead (though they may be too old-fashioned for some); those in the extension are plainer. The hotel is a few miles north of Shrewsbury on the A528.

Formerly a convent, this atmospheric lodging has a chapel that was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, architect of Truro Cathedral, as well as a main building with large, comfortable guest rooms equipped with modern fittings and luxurious bathrooms and a separate Courtyard annex with spacious suites. Quiet elegance permeates the public areas, and the semiformal restaurant offers a choice of seafood and meat dishes. The town center is a short downhill walk away.

This venerable hostelry, which incorporates the Great West Gate (circa 1473)—accessible via an ancient stone staircase—is an atmospheric base for exploring the area. Rooms are small and may present difficulties for those with mobility issues, but some have four-poster beds and wonderful views across to the cathedral, and one is in the gatehouse itself. Rugantino's serves Italian and English dishes, made largely from local produce.

Guildford was once famous for its coaching inns, and this handsome, 500-year-old hotel is the last to survive. Guest rooms have marble-lined bathrooms and reproductions of antiques; about half are in the original stone building, while the rest are in a modern annex. The courtyard, where coaches and horses clattered to a stop, is open to the sky. There's a salon with a fireplace and minstrels' gallery, and the 14th-century stone-vaulted crypt serves as the backdrop for an elegant bar. There is no in-house restaurant, but there is a branch of the excellent casual dining chain, Bill's, on the same site.

At this sleek modern branch of the small Apex chain near the Tower of London, bedrooms are reasonably spacious, with contemporary color schemes, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, and little sofas. The Lampery restaurant serves good, varied modern British cuisine, although you're hardly lacking for dining options around this neighborhood. It's worth checking out the website for good package deals and special offers, especially in the off-season.

Bedrooms are spacious and discreet with splashes of green, violet, and dark crimson in this redbrick boutique hotel across the road from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Choose a room at the front for a view of the river and theater. The beds are all king-size, and marble bathrooms have huge mirrors and walk-in showers. Guests can take advantage of the Champagne bar and terrace during theater intermissions (there's a quieter, more hidden garden behind it), take afternoon tea in the Lounge, or pop into the stylish Club Bar for something a little stronger. There are limited accessible rooms, so ask when you book.

This Radisson hotel adjacent to the long-gestating renovation of Gilbert Scott's Art Deco Battersea Power Station in the revitalized Nine Elms area has, as the name might suggest, an art-world theme. The hotel's signature artist Jaime Hayon is responsible not only for the design of the uncluttered but welcoming guest rooms (all with floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the views---prices go up according to what floor you're on), but also for the highly stylized, art-filled public spaces. The hotel even has its own art gallery, as well as an Italian-theme all-day café, a 15th-floor Portuguese fine dining restaurant with a rooftop bar, a spa, and a heated rooftop infinity pool plus hot tub.

At this contemporary guesthouse near Victoria Station, minimalist decor, Scandinavian Modern furniture, and a lounge where a fire crackles away in the winter are all geared to homey comforts. Two rooms have a connecting door, effectively making a family suite. There are also nine self-contained studios and serviced apartments, including compact kitchens, for around £250–£330 per night.

Expect a friendly welcome at this antique B&B above a tearoom just across from the Market Hall, where the spacious, spotless rooms have beamed ceilings and exposed stonework. Guests are greeted with a cream tea on arrival, and an excellent breakfast will set you up for the day.

This characterful 17th-century property offers upscale suites with kitchenettes or full kitchens as well as luxury touches including bathrobes and slippers. All guest quarters are individually decorated in a mainly contemporary style; some have original features such as old beams, corniced ceilings, and fireplaces, and the Penthouse has a freestanding bath in the bedroom, with lovely views. Outside you’ll find a sun terrace and croquet lawn, and there’s a wood-floored guest lounge plus free, on-site parking. The hotel requires a two-night minimum stay on weekends. 

Located 10 miles north of Hexham and "beyond the wall," this delightful old inn combines three virtues: good food, cozy rooms, and eco-friendly credentials. Bedrooms are simple but modern, with colorful decor and good-size bathrooms, and four rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. The best option is the luxury lodge on the grounds of the hotel, complete with supersized spa bath and terrace. The restaurant uses produce grown in the hotel's own gardens, and is especially crowded on Sunday.

This grand, castellated hotel in the center of town harks back to its Victorian heyday, with lounge areas furnished with comfy armchairs, warmed by open fires, and dotted with old artifacts and local photos. Choose one of the four rooms with four-poster beds if you hanker for the traditional style, as other rooms have a more modern decor. Despite its dated feel, the hotel revels in its old-world identity, and its nostalgic tone chimes well with Tavistock's timbre. There's a good selection of dishes in the restaurant, and parking is free if you book directly with the hotel.

Just a few miles south of Stratford, this pub with rooms oozes imagination and individuality. Rooms remain true to the 18th-century building’s heritage but retain some of the quirky contemporary style for which the pub is known. Foodies beat a regular path to the door of the pub, where the chef is mindful of the seasons and locality—expect to see the likes of seasonal vegetables or Warwickshire lamb on the menu.

The rooms may be unremarkable and basic, but the staff is friendly and efficient, and the views are special from the hotel's unrivaled location above the western end of the Esplanade—ideal for watching yachts in the Solent. The lounge area has an open fire on winter evenings, and the sun terrace takes full advantage of fine weather.

The more palatial of Bristol's two links in this large chain has a superb location next to the medieval cathedral. The reborn Victorian hotel has imposing public rooms, an on-site Miller & Carter steak house, and top-notch health and business facilities. Some of the well-equipped guest rooms are on the small side; suites are spacious and plush.

Beneath forested hills in the tiny village of Egton Bridge, about 5 miles outside Whitby, this two-story stone house has comfortable, spacious, impeccably decorated guest rooms with peaceful views, including some over the Esk Valley. During the day, you can enjoy the garden or take a walk on nearby trails across the Moors. In the evening, you can sit by the crackling fire. The fresh breakfasts are delicious. It books up quite quickly .

With its good food, modest but elegant rooms, and sweeping views of the sea, Brudenell is the very definition of an English seaside hotel. The excellent restaurant specializes in fresh seafood (of course) and has a very good wine list. The bar has a lovely sun terrace overlooking the sea, but come early to get the best seats—you'll be competing for space with locals at busy times.

In the heart of Lydford village and next to Lydford Castle, this 16th-century inn has rose trellises framing its pink facade and public rooms that are snug, lamp-lighted, and full of period clutter. Guest rooms vary in size, and include singles and larger rooms with four-poster beds. One has its own rooftop balcony, and four are in a cottage across the road. A range of bar snacks and full meals is available.

A thatched roof and flagstone bar are some of the 16th-century features of this small inn, where the individually furnished bedrooms make the most of the original beams, exposed brickwork, and stone fireplaces. There's an extensive garden to sit in, and the sea is a 10-minute walk away. Locally sourced gastropub dishes (such as beer-battered fish-and-chips or a fillet of stone bass with butter beans) are available daily. Local craft beers are a specialty. The place is extremely dog-friendly, so anyone with an aversion to Fido should stay away.

If you're looking for a hotel with history, you're in the right place: Cathedral Gate's ancient beamed ceilings, low doorways, and sloping floors reveal origins dating back to 1438 (that's 75 years earlier than Christchurch Gate next door). Due to the constrictions of the historic building, rooms vary dramatically—some are poky with shared bathroom facilities, others have bathrooms and four-poster beds and cathedral views—but they're all clean, cozy, and comfortable. Public areas, including the small library, lounges, and a bar, are great for unwinding after a busy day of sightseeing. Continental breakfast is served in the dining room, with beautiful views over the Buttermarket.

Located across the road from Fortnum & Mason (one of the most luxurious department stores in the world), it seems appropriate that the Cavendish comes with a touch of Gilded Age history, a whiff of historical scandal, and a pleasant air of joie de vivre. The hotel was opened in 1906 by one of 20th-century London's great characters, Rosa Lewis (otherwise known as the Duchess of Duke Street), who rose from humble origins to become one of the most feted chef-proprietors of the age (and, infamously, the king's mistress). Today the hotel's genuinely warm and thoughtful service really stands out, and the guest rooms, though small, are comfortable and cozy; upper rooms have memorable city views. 

Views of the countryside are limitless from this 14th-century manor-house hotel where mullioned windows and oak beams enhance the sitting room. T. S. Eliot, a guest in the 1930s, used to enjoy walking the 50 acres of grounds. The menus at the restaurant include both traditional English and Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as lamb rump  or roast cod with spinach. Most of the rooms, furnished in contemporary style, are outside of the main house. The hotel is 3 miles east of Chipping Campden.

Just steps from the River Windrush, this traditional stone building has been tastefully adapted with contemporary fittings and style. The open-plan bar and lounge area has comfy sofas and a smart, informal feel. Guest rooms, in the main building or in the coach house, are modern, quiet, and done in neutral tones. Across the road, the hotel operates the sleek and modern L’Anatra Italian kitchen.

This former coaching inn on the village's main shopping street has spacious rooms in the handsome main building as well as in the courtyard mews. The accommodations have been renovated in a sleek, modern style; those in the courtyard have more space and privacy. Rates are higher during the week. A traditional bar serves drinks but no meals beyond the breakfast included with the rooms. 

Like rays of sunshine in gritty south London, the rooms at this distinctive Camberwell hotel are decorated in rich colors that evoke Mexico, a theme enhanced by authentic touches like elaborately painted crucifixes, tiles handmade in Guadalajara, and handcrafted iron bed frames. Breakfast is a tasty combination of organic breads, pastries, and smoothies, much of it sourced from nearby Borough Market. There's also an honor bar with a great selection of whiskies, tequilas, rums, and Spanish bottled beers.

High-concept, high-tech, and supertrendy, this Dutch budget boutique minichain has a unique selling point—nearly everything at the hotel is self-service, and that includes check-in and breakfast. Even the in-room amenities, from the blinds to the television, are all controlled via a tablet. The egalitarian rooms (all feature the same design) are small, but comfortable, with huge beds and wall-size windows. They're soundproofed, too—a big bonus given the busy location on the South Bank, not to mention the happening bar/workspace downstairs. The effect is more no-nonsense than no frills; or, as the hotel's website puts it, "absolutely no trouser presses, bellboys, or stupid pillow chocolates." It won't be to everyone's taste, but you'll look a long time before finding a better affordable hotel in such a good location.