326 Best Hotels in England

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.

Magnificently sited above the Cobb, this family-owned boutique hotel combines contemporary design with the genteel charm of yesteryear. Guest rooms in the 18th-century mansion range from light, airy, and elegant to the more functional. Most have views over either the garden or Lyme Bay. Light lunchtime sandwiches and platters, plus a selection of impressive afternoon cream teas, are served in the Conservatory Restaurant overlooking an expanse of lawn. The formal Alexandra Restaurant has an impressive wine list to complement its locally sourced Modern British menu. You can get aromatherapy massages and facials in the on-site treatment room, and there's a direct path to the beach.

The architecture and the original features—green-marble wall tiles, sleek dark-wood paneling, a grand staircase winding up to a domed rotunda—are the real stars of this hotel in the city's landmark Victorian Royal Insurance Building. The loft-style rooms and suites are contemporary and high-tech without being jarring. Amenities include giant beanbags and super-comfortable platform beds. The communal spaces are welcoming, too, among them WXYZ Bar, NYL Restaurant & Bar, and Re-Fuel café with snacks and light bites.

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.

A sense of style emanates from every surface of this stylish hotel in the heart of Kensington, and the playful vintage vibe lends the property a refreshingly down-to-earth feel in a neighborhood that can feel stodgy. Guest room decor is whimsically inspired by the cultural institutions nearby—the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert, and the Science Museum—with musical, astronomical, ornithological, and botanical themes. Some suites have balconies. Apero, the hotel's main restaurant, specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, or you can take afternoon tea in the bright and colorful Drawing Rooms.

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.

Dark carved wood, antique tiles, and a stunning location overlooking Ullswater give Another Place plenty of upscale country-house style, though the hotel manages to be more relaxed than some of its competition; it also has chic modern shepherd huts. The bar has old leather sofas and flocked wallpaper, and there is a grand piano in the lounge. Bedrooms are all individually decorated in a fresh color palette, with sumptuous fabrics, antique furniture, and huge windows pointing toward the lake and fells. The Rampsbeck Restaurant, open to the public, offers a three-course fine-dining menu including dishes such as potted brown shrimp, roasted harlequin squash, and whole charcoal-baked sea bass, as well as afternoon tea. The Glasshouse is a more casual option and has a wood-fired pizza oven. The hotel has plenty of activities and welcomes families. 

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.

A short walk from Gloucester Road Tube station and within walking distance of Harrods and the Kensington museums, this is one of the better boutique hotels in this part of town. Guest rooms vary in size, but most are spacious enough, and flooded with natural light from elegant floor-to-ceiling windows. Certain periods of time require a two-night minimum.

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.

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. 

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.

About 5 miles south of Bamburgh on the scenic coastal road, this chic boutique hotel combines 18th-century heritage and character with 21st-century luxury and comfort. The individually designed rooms are colorful and spacious, with exposed brick walls and criss-crossing beamed ceilings, though the decor varies dramatically—not everything will be to everyone's taste. For ultimate luxury, opt for the top-floor Craa's Nest suite, which includes a comfy seating area, freestanding copper bath, and even a telescope (to scan the horizon for ships). Downstairs, Beadnell Kitchen serves good food all day long; try the fish pie, which is the catch of day topped with a cheddar crust and served with buttered greens.

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.

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.

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.

This ivy-covered Regency manor house set on 27 acres has been converted into a relaxed country-house hotel that combines well-chosen antiques with modern amenities. There's an airy conservatory and a small but luxurious spa fed by its own borehole (a type of well) that features Elemis treatments and a heated outdoor pool. The guest rooms, decorated in country house shabby chic, overlook the grounds (which include two meadows and a stretch of river) or an interior courtyard. The restaurant serves Modern British gastropub favorites. Bishopstrow House is 1½ mile east of Warminster.

This budget hotel in the Jewellery Quarter has pod-style bedrooms and a selection of mini-apartments for those who want to use their hotel as little more than somewhere to sleep between exploring. The rooms are updated with smart controls and decorated in cool tones of autumnal brown, green, and gray, and have amenities such as pocket-sprung mattresses, monsoon showers, and high-definition LED TVs. You can order a rather basic "breakfast bag" for the morning or just try one of the many local cafés. Guests can also make use of many local discounts, including free entry to the nearby Jam House live music venue.

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.

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.

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.

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 half-timber Elizabethan building reveals its long history with stone-flagged floors, bowed and twisted oak beams, and heavy antique furniture. Creature comforts offset the smallish size of the bedrooms, which retain their original character—some are crooked, with sloping floors. The restaurant serves good, crowd-pleasing pub food. Pets are welcome in some rooms.

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.

Nothing is ever too much at this elegant hotel that was formerly a private house; mattresses are handmade, sheets are 450 thread count, bathrooms are marble, and everything is done in impeccable taste. There are fine-grain woods, original prints, and soothing, country-chic furnishings throughout, and service is understated. All the rooms are spacious but ask for one facing the front to get more space. Several star chefs got their start at the restaurant, which currently offers all-day dining in the form of everything from poké bowls and pasta to burgers and steaks from the Josper grill.

Squeezed into a narrow space at the bottom of a steep lane just outside Torquay, this secluded coastal spot lies just feet from the rocky shore and the waters of Babbacombe Bay, where dolphins and seals are occasional visitors. There's a view-laden lounge, a cozy pub-restaurant with open fires in winter, and plenty of outside seating. Guest rooms are spacious and there are also luxury beach huts and self-catering cottages away from the main building. If you're not tempted by Babbacombe Beach, you can indulge in the hydrotherapy pool, sauna, and treatment rooms instead. Valet parking takes the stress away from negotiating the steep approach road.

You're treated to an exceptional view of Windsor Castle's Changing the Guard ceremony from this former coaching inn, parts of which date from the 16th century. In the older section of the Georgian-style house, guest rooms have gently tilting floors and some suites have standing bathtubs in the room; in the modern part, it's smooth elegance, with tasteful neutral tones enlivened by a judicious sprinkling of red or yellow. The cozy lounges are perfect for afternoon tea.