103 Best Hotels in England

The Graduate Hotels group took a 19th-century neo-Gothic landmark and gave it a top-down makeover, beautifully amplifying its Oxford heritage and incorporating such stylish guest-rooms touches as William Morris–esque wallpaper, quirky artwork, and nods to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Some of the hip yet elegant, chic yet traditional accommodations have views of Oxford's spires. A tiled, vaulted spa offers pampering treatments designed to ease those travel-related aches. 

Built in the 19th century as the shooting lodge for Wray Castle, this upmarket B&B is filled with stylish, imaginative, and playful touches. The large guest rooms use slate and reclaimed timber, and instead of a minibar there's a "boudoir larder" with local beers and cheeses. A three-course breakfast is delivered to your room, and the owners will transport you to their excellent Jumble Room restaurant in Grasmere, should you wish to eat there.

On its own sculpture-dotted 67 acres not far from Ambleside and Windermere, this boutique hotel oozes exclusivity from the moment you enter the long, winding drive and your individually decorated room. Today the hotel is favored by the rich and famous and garlanded with multiple awards, but it's wonderfully unpretentious. Rooms are elegantly traditional though not fussy, with pretty wallpapers, natural tones, fireplaces, slate-floor bathrooms, and rolltop tubs. Service is a good mix of professional and friendly, and the lake views are fantastic. The glass-fronted restaurant led by chef Robby Jenks specializes in creative local fare; book well ahead to reserve the Chef's Table.

Originally designed by French designer Philippe Starck, the style of this fashionable, quirky hotel is part surrealist baroque, part Alice in Wonderland; sleigh beds are positioned in the middle of bedrooms at playful angles, and so are the freestanding bathtubs and wash basins—indeed, everything is off-center. This extends to the hotel's popular afternoon tea, with its Mad Hatter's Tea Party theme. Amenities include an excellent spa with holistic bathhouse and indoor-outdoor fitness classes. There's also a pretty Japanese garden courtyard where you can get away from it all.

A mecca for film, media, and fashion folk, this super-trendy hotel personifies Soho's enduring hipness with its artsy, urban-chic vibe. The boldly designed public rooms are filled with bright colors and big statement artworks, while the large bedrooms are calmer, most with neutral beige and cream tones, or subtle, sophisticated pinstripes, all offset by modern furniture. The bar and restaurant, Refuel, is consistently excellent, and there are handy private film screening rooms downstairs (in case the wide-screen TVs in the bedrooms aren't big enough for you).

The country-house flavor of this 1766 Georgian mansion has been beautifully maintained by luxurious furnishings and preserved period details. There are superb views from the 14-acre grounds across the town and into the area of surrounding countryside. The unfussy Modern British fare in the crisply chic Orangery Restaurant is popular with locals, and there's a terrace with a pizza oven during the summer.

Design-conscious travelers come to this Philippe Starck–designed spot positioned artfully between Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Giant Baroque mirrors, pink hydrangea-filled vases, and golden molar seats dot the lobby, while leopard print–carpet bedrooms are very modish with white-lacquer fittings, etched glass, and aluminum teardrop lights. Be sure to sneak into the secret Blind Spot speakeasy bar for late-night cocktails, hidden behind a fake tea counter and entered via twisting a creepy golden hand–shape handle.

Chic interiors characterize this city-center boutique hotel that's a luxurious alternative to Oxford's more historic properties, offering not only first-class service but also a more contemporary approach to design, drinking, and dining. Rooms are airy, finding a balance between heritage and boutique modern with their soft, pale tones and wood floorboards. The stunning spa, Treadwell restaurant, rooftop terrace, and lobby bar will provide tempting distractions from the rest of Oxford's pleasures.

A hotel that caters to guests who are here for sightseeing rather than the daily grind of the financial district, Sun Street Hotel makes its case with a quiet luxury. Opting to embrace the history of the building it inhabits (it resides within six combined Georgian town houses), the hotel is awash with heritage colors, William Morris-esque prints, and plush velvet and buttoned leather at every turn, creating an atmosphere of grown-up, elegant luxury. Close to the buzz of Shoreditch in one direction and the likes of the Tower of London in the other, all while enjoying its place among the peace (particularly on weekends) of the City, Sun Street is well placed for exploratory wanderings.

The elaborate building housing this grand hotel in the financial district is a former bank, and the vast old banking hall—beautifully adapted as the lobby, with luxurious marble and mahogany panels—really sets the scene. Guest rooms are stylish and spacious, with modern bathrooms, big comfortable beds, and sage green and taupe decor along with more mahogany. Given the location, it's no surprise that this place looks as if it were custom-designed to please business travelers although its decor will appeal to anyone with a penchant for classic glamour. 

A colorful, whimsical hideaway—where a shabby-chic design contrasts with a hip, sophisticated vibe—on the Holkham Hall estate is more laid-back and family-friendly than the austere Victorian exterior suggests. Bedrooms are on the small side, but comfortable, with elegant, handmade furniture and modern bathrooms. The hotel restaurant is one of the finest in the area, with an emphasis on modern European cuisine. The dune-backed Holkham Beach (where the desert island conclusion of Shakespeare in Love was filmed) is a few minutes away; show your room key to avoid the access fee of a couple of pounds. The hotel is dog-friendly, too.

Located close to the London Stock Exchange, merchant banks, hedge funds, and The City's oldest guilds, the luxury boutique hotel Vintry & Mercer offers a nod to tradition, then proceeds to deliver a chic, colorful, and contemporary experience that stands out in this neighborhood. A handsome basement cocktail bar, a ground-floor restaurant, and the refined rooftop terrace offer great accompanying public spaces to the bright, luxuriously appointed rooms.

Exclusively priced flats all over London are available through Villas International. Higher-end options start at around £1,800 per week—but as some sleep up to 10 people this can work out as a viable option for large groups.