203 Best Hotels in England

Everything is new in this airy and spacious lodging, but it doesn't mean the place lacks atmosphere or charm. The cool and pastel colors, such as duck-egg blue and subtle purples, and light wood floors give it an almost seaside air, and a scattering of hand-knitted cushions adds a personal touch. Bedrooms have high-quality bathrooms, and the hospitable hosts dispense generous breakfasts.

Everything in St. Ives seems squeezed into the tiniest of spaces, and this cottage lodging in the quiet Downalong quarter is no exception. Though small, the light, tastefully converted rooms are pleasingly simple in design, with modern decor and good bathrooms, and the more expensive ones have sea views. Most rooms are named after characters in Daphne du Maurier's novels (she regularly stayed here in the 1940s). Breakfast is not offered, but there are plenty of options in the immediate neighborhood, and rooms are equipped with fridges, fresh milk, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. A minimum two-night stay usually applies.

Located halfway between Wilton and Salisbury, this comfortable ex-gamekeeper's cottage overlooks a cricket ground and has a large, peaceful garden of its own; a modern annex provides additional suites and apartments. Rooms are individually decorated, so it's good to check the website. There is no restaurant (though the apartments have kitchenettes), but evening snacks are available on weekdays. The B&B is on the main A36 road, a mile or so west of Salisbury's center.

Overlooking a tiny park in the middle of Wells-next-the-Sea, this cozy little hotel and restaurant is owned by New Zealand–born TV chef Chris Coubrough. Guest rooms are elegant, bright, and comfortable; larger rooms have king-size beds. The wonderful restaurant serves traditional British fare such as Brancaster rock oysters followed by roast cod or maybe beef short ribs with mashed potatoes.

The centerpiece of the Regency Esplanade, this grand hotel overlooking the South Bay was Scarborough's first, originally opened in 1845 to accommodate fashionable visitors. Bedrooms are comfortable and contemporary, and some have outstanding sea views. The in-house spa is a bonus. Room-only rates are available, and rates drop for some two-night stays.

Grandly located in a tall block overlooking Plymouth Hoe, this modern chain hotel has a businesslike tone but doesn't skimp on comforts. Rooms are spacious and uncluttered, with brown or gray color schemes, and modern bathrooms. On the penthouse floor, the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill provides a panoramic dining area, which is also used for self-serve breakfasts. There's also a fitness center and a good-size indoor pool.

This spick-and-span, good-value hotel’s selling points are its excellent location near the center of the historic district and views across the river. It also has plenty of modern amenities and large, light-filled rooms, but the bathrooms are a bit of a squeeze. Ask for rooms away from the elevators, as they can be a bit noisy. Staff are friendly, and children are welcomed enthusiastically. The hotel is often full of businesspeople and conferences, though there are some nice touches, such as the Terrace Bar, where you can enjoy drinks or dinner, and the bright Riverside Restaurant.

Magic-loving Muggles will go wild for this enchanting boutique hotel in the heart of Alnwick, which evokes all the spirit of the wizarding world—even if its literary inspiration is never actually named. The atmospheric guest rooms, as well as the stairways and corridors that link them, are decked out with stuffed owls, broomsticks, and burgundy-and-gold scarves, and lit by "candlelight." However, there are plenty of mod cons to enjoy too, from Hypnos beds and smart TVs to coffee machines and rainfall showers. Downstairs is the Dirty Bottles bar, which serves excellent pub food (with a focus on smoked meats) and fancy cocktails until late. There's no parking on-site, but you can pick up a parking disc for £1 and leave your car on nearby Pottergate (!) street.

This sleek boutique hotel from the founder of the Malmaison group puts the emphasis on contemporary minimalist comfort, with soundproofed, media-and-amenity-stuffed rooms in subdued grays and taupes. The in-house brasserie-style grill restaurant is a local favorite, the ground floor bar has a Champagne room, and there's also a private rooftop terrace Residents' Bar for hotel guests.

This more casual sister property of the Devonshire Arms down the road (guests have access to the larger property's spa and hiking trails) boasts outstanding views over a particularly lovely part of the Yorkshire Dales. The design of the guest rooms is fresh and modern, but there is a sense of corners being cut; the complimentary breakfast is fruit salad (no roll or croissant) and orange juice from a carton. The service is very friendly, but somewhat haphazard (you may have to carry your own bags up the stairs) because the small staff oversees both the hotel and the two restaurants. The Dalzell, the more formal option, serves Modern British dishes like pan-fried halibut  with seaweed potatoes, while a more informal Bistro offers elevated pub grub such as fish and chips or grilled steaks.

Although this modern hotel may lack the period charm of older hotels, its up-to-date facilities, spacious rooms, and ample grounds make it a good option if Tudor beamed ceilings aren't a must or you prefer the consistency of a chain. Rooms, all with well-designed furniture and tasteful color schemes, come in several shapes; some even have four-poster beds. There's a mini-gym on-site. 

True Georgian grandeur is evident in the refurbished rooms of this Palladian-style mansion, now an elegant boutique guesthouse with one of the best addresses in Bath. Great care has been taken with the decoration and furnishing of the guest rooms, all of which come with beautiful wallpapers, antique furniture, and superb bathrooms. Service is amiable and breakfasts present a wide choice of dishes.

This small independent hotel in the heart of Bath is made up of two neighboring buildings that have been combined into one single, style-focused property, where each of the 20 rooms is individually and exquisitely designed. Homemade biscuits are provided in the rooms alongside tea and coffee. The 500-year-old cellar was originally a refectory for monks worshipping at Bath Abbey; now it's an atmospheric bar open from noon until late.

This former Victorian hotel near Earl's Court has been converted into an apartment/hotel residence aimed at extended-stay travelers, although there are a handful of rooms without kitchenettes. The decor is inspired by the legendary, retro-chic Biba boutique formerly just down the road, with deep vermilions, emeralds, and mustards, Art Deco touches, and numerous potted palms. The individually designed boudoir-style rooms are comfortable (though unlikely to appeal to fans of high-tech touches—USB ports and even power outlets are in short supply) and kitchens have Smeg appliances. There's a spacious garden with a terrace, a co-working space, a free laundry room, a café that serves breakfast, a Middle Eastern restaurant, and a bar.

This property in the heart of town underwent a top-to-bottom 2024 renovation and refurbishment that transformed five, cobbled-together, 17th-century houses into a destination boutique hotel. The elegant glass courtyard terrace is favored for drinks or afternoon tea in summer; log fires make the public rooms cozy. The restaurant serves refined, classic dishes.

The generous accommodations of this sleek aparthotel, which offers both short and long-term stays, are all named after different Cambridge fellows (Charles Darwin, Rudyard Kipling, William Blake), yet all of them have a uniform contemporary look—styled in neutral grays and whites—and compact kitchenettes with stovetops and microwaves. Don't let the ability to prepare your own meals stop you from visiting the ground-floor Folio restaurant. If you have a moment to spare, hit the lobby for a cocktail and a game on the billiard table.

Next to the main entrance of Waddesdon Manor, this elegant building, constructed to house estate workers, features fancifully patterned brick chimneys, purple gables, and contemporary-style bedrooms done in restful colors and furnished with antiques from the manor. The delightful suites in the Courtyard Stables are big enough for those who want more room to stretch out. A fine restaurant and pub serve inspired modern fare and British classics.

This three-story Georgian town house on a quiet cobbled street has a secluded walled garden and a bright, welcoming interior packed with works by local artists and 18th-century period features, such as beamed ceilings and wood paneling. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated in restful creams and taupes; some have oak four-poster beds or original fireplaces. Many of bathrooms are completely up-to-date, with marble floors, ambient lighting, and free-standing Italian baths. Although not included in the rates, breakfast is excellent. Be careful not to confuse this with Frenchgate Guest House, a B&B on the same street.

Pilgrims en route to Glastonbury Abbey stayed here in the 15th century, and although the stone-front hotel is now equipped with modern comforts, it retains its flagstone floors, wooden beams, and antique furnishings. Rooms come in different shapes and sizes (including for families), and the better ones are spacious and furnished with antiques; three rooms have four-poster beds. Rooms in the newer part of the building lack character but are cheaper.

Right on Penrith's lively market square is this attractive redbrick hotel, which dates back more than 300 years. The open fireplaces, wood paneling, stained glass, and antiques all add to the atmosphere and sense of history, although the guest rooms are surprisingly modern, with light, bright interiors and large comfortable beds. The lively restaurant and bar downstairs tend to be busy in the afternoons and evenings, and while it's a good place for a drink, you'll be better off dining elsewhere.

At this attractive hotel on Rye's main road, rooms take a boutique approach and cleverly mix modern pieces with antiques in the sprawling Georgian building. Guest rooms are individually decorated, but many combine muted colors with bold-print feature wallpaper, colorful cushions, quirky artwork, and fresh flowers. The standard "cozy" rooms are quite compact, but the classic, superior, luxury, and deluxe rooms—as well as the elegantly minimalist Junior Suite—give you more space, as well as extras like four-poster Vi-Spring beds and free-standing roll-top baths. The George Grill restaurant and bar downstairs are popular with locals as well as visitors.

Situated in the village of Marazion and very close to St. Michael's Mount, this dapper Georgian hotel has large windows for drinking in the mesmerizing views of the turreted castle, the foreshore, and the ever-changing waters of Mount's Bay. The bright, spacious feel extends to the modern guest rooms and the bar–restaurant, where breakfast is also taken and which has outdoor seating in fine weather.

The opposite of functional beige minimalism, this well-appointed hotel (established 1898) with old-school attentive service combines the cozy and the theatrical. The lobby evokes a stately home, a theme continued in the beautifully decorated, jewel-toned bedrooms upstairs, which are decorated with antiques, sumptuous fabrics, and oil paintings. A few rooms are just plain spectacular, like the Tudor room with a 15th-century minstrels' gallery, stained glass, and mahogany four-poster bed, or the Judy Garland room with the lavish bed that the actress had installed for her frequent stays here.

This handsome 18th-century house, known for its flying (partially freestanding) staircase and colonnade, is now an elegant boutique hotel but was once the residence of Admiral George Murray, one of Admiral Nelson's right-hand men. The public areas have been restored to their full, Regency-era glory, while the guest rooms have a cooler, more contemporary design. Some rooms have lovely views over the city's old rooftops. The Ship restaurant is flooded with light from the rows of big windows. There's also a basement-level spa to help soothe away those travel-weary aches and pains.

Part of a small boutique chain, the Harbour Hotel is one of the more contemporary offerings in this part of Surrey, with its modern and well-designed rooms attracting mostly business travelers—although the spa brings in plenty of people who want a pampering getaway. The spa has a long list of stress-busting treatments, and at pretty reasonable prices, like £135 for a 90-minute full-body massage including facial treatments. The hotel also has two good in-house dining options, but since it's right in the center of Guildford there are plenty of other options within a few minutes' walk.

In Warrior Square at the edge of Hastings, this boutique guesthouse brings a funky, modern style to a grand Victorian building. Its individually styled guest rooms are chic and stylish, with big, comfortable beds and bright splashes of color. Marble bathrooms are small, but just big enough. Rooms 3, 5, and 7 have sea views but are also the priciest in the house. Dinner is available if you let the owners know in advance, as is afternoon tea.

Slightly austere on the outside but charming within, this Victorian hotel overlooks the lawns of Hope Park and has updated accommodations with great character, including rooms in the turret and the former chapel. The balconies of the common areas have superb valley views, and some rooms look out to Derwentwater or Skiddaw. The well-regarded restaurant (open to nonguests) has a regularly updated menu of dishes such as locally smoked breast of duck, haunch of venison, and Cumbrian fillet steak. Check out the fine wine list and 25 whiskies in the bar.

Named in honor of the fictional detective who had his home on Baker Street, rooms here have a masculine edge with plenty of nods to Mr. Holmes himself (along with hypermodern bathrooms stocked with fluffy bathrobes). The bar has an appropriately clubhouse feel, with wood floors and leather furniture. Despite the name and subtle elements within the decor (think tasteful images of pipes, brollies, and bowler hats), the Holmes never feels like a theme hotel.

The public rooms of this boutique hotel that sprawls through eight Georgian houses combine a contemporary, relaxed atmosphere with period charm, foregoing chintz for wooden floors, exposed brick, and clubby leather sofas. Bedrooms, some overlooking the Stray, are spacious and modern, and bathrooms have deep tubs and powerful showers. Further relaxation is available at the in-house spa. The bar has a serious wine list, and the popular bistro uses locally sourced meats and fish in French-influenced takes on classics like beef cheek Bourguignon or choucroute Alsacienne (a vegan menu is also available). Good value fixed-price deals are offered for both lunch and dinner.

A sprawling brick brewery near the river has been transformed into a distinctive modern architectural showplace, where guest rooms have dark carpeting and whitewashed walls, and furnishings are tan, white, or black. The original brewery windows appear in strange places, and staircases are contorted to fit the space, but a feeling of warmth and comfort prevails. The bar and bistro is very good, and the wine list, unsurprisingly, is excellent.