203 Best Hotels in England

A cool, contemporary ambience pervades this seaside hotel overlooking Falmouth Bay and fronted by a lush, subtropical garden. The public areas are sleek and nautically themed, and the young staff is especially welcoming to families. Alongside the well-equipped guest rooms are four luxury spa garden lodges, and self-catering beach apartments are also available. The modern, panoramic Brasserie on the Bay offers an adventurous menu, while Nourish serves excellent freshly made tapas and salads all day as well as pizzas in the evening, with no need to book. The pool and gym will give you the opportunity for a good work-out, perhaps followed by a pampering spa treatment.

A former rectory, this stately, family-run hotel with rooms in several buildings couldn't be better placed, separated from Stow's main square by its tidy garden. Most of the traditionally furnished, but spacious and comfortable, rooms overlook the garden or the next-door churchyard, and one suite sits apart in the garden itself. There's a minimum two-night stay on weekends.

Few inns can boast of a more idyllic setting than this mid-17th-century coaching inn, originally a row of cottages on the banks of the gently flowing River Coln and now comfortably modernized. Inside the charm continues through cozy lounges to the richly decorated, modern guest rooms. Cottage suites come with private gardens; one has a hot tub, another an open fireplace. The colorful Swan Brasserie serves Bibury trout from the local trout farm, or you can indulge in options such as hearty dry-aged steaks and lemon tart with apple-and-cinnamon ice cream.

This half-timber 14th-century lodging has rambling public rooms, roaring fireplaces, and corridors so low that cushions are strategically placed on beams. Most of the individually styled bedrooms have rich oak cabinets and original wood paneling. Bathrooms have been fashioned around ancient timbers and hidden rooms. The popular bar is full of memorabilia from the days when this was a favorite pub of American airmen stationed here during World War II. One wall is entirely covered with autographs and messages from the vets who loved this place, while another is a memorial to those who didn't make it back. The moving display is worth dropping in to see if even if you're not staying here.

Facing the cathedral, this former coaching inn built in the 15th century has guest rooms furnished with antiques and done in subtle, restful colors. Check out the rooms first, as some are better than others. A few have four-poster beds, and some have to-die-for views (including Nos. 40, 41, and 42, and the aptly named Cathedral Suite). An adjacent courtyard holds three apartments with contemporary decor. The restaurant serves pub classics and traditional meat and fish dishes.

An Art Deco town hall, abandoned in the early 1980s and turned into a chic hotel 30 years later, is now a lively and stylish place, with the best of the building's elegant original features intact. In keeping with the Town Hall Hotel's hip image, the excellent Da Terra restaurant serves South American food with an Italian twist. Guest rooms are bright and airy, and bathrooms are visions of white and chrome, but some sacrifice too much in the name of design, with only a curtain separating them from the bedroom.

Strong on historical atmosphere, this central lodging housed the town's assembly rooms, where news of Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and of the death of Nelson himself were first announced from the minstrels' gallery in 1805. The Trafalgar Room, lounge, and dining rooms retain their Georgian elegance. A number of the traditionally styled guest rooms have window seats and views over Mount's Bay, though some of the carpets and corridors could use updating. If the reception is unstaffed, check in at the bar, where you might find live music on Tuesdays and Saturday evenings.

Decorated with a chic, contemporary flair, Cambridge's oldest hotel is a welcome luxury option, where public spaces include a handsome library and the suave Parker's Tavern brasserie for weekend roasts, afternoon tea, and cocktails. Rooms and suites are done in warm, colorful tones with stylish patterned fabrics. Some are even outfitted with their own private book collections as a nod to Cambridge's academic legacy.

Set amid gardens and woodlands, this handsome mansion—built in 1845 for Francis Wedgwood, heir to the family property firm—has comfortable guest rooms that make a perfect retreat after spending the evening in the cozy lounge with a log fire. Some rooms have private balconies. A full English breakfast is included, and the welcoming restaurant serves creative Modern British cuisine in a classic setting.

This stylish boutique hotel with an adjoining spa has wide windows that flood the place with light, rooms that are chic and contemporary, and spacious suites with sofas from which to admire the city stretched beneath you. Inevitably, the more expensive rooms have the best views. The roof terrace is a lovely spot for an evening cocktail if the weather's fine, or you could unwind in the spa, where a 30-minute stress-relieving massage sets you back around £54.

Situated in a large, late-Victorian mansion on a promontory, this charming, refurbished hotel makes the most of uninterrupted Robin Hood's Bay views, with the main restaurant, the garden, and several bedrooms facing the sea. Osborne's, the fine-dining restaurant, serves locally sourced Modern British dishes like pan-fried fillet of bream with heritage tomatoes and wild samphire or Champagne-battered North Sea cod. There's also a cocktail lounge and The Loxley pub, which specializes in small sharing plates and local craft beers.

This bed-and-breakfast lies 1½ miles outside town and backs on to the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal; the grand building dates from 1837 and is brimming with character and charm. Queen Victoria once stayed here before taking the throne—look for her coat of arms, which can be seen in the gables and in some of the fireplaces in the bedrooms. Rooms come with smart TVs and power showers alongside more period-style decor. Guests are welcome to relax in the drawing room (where there is a fire in winter), play board games, or have a game of pool. The B&B is next door to the Stratford Parkway train station and the Park and Ride, which has a bus service into town.

In two mellow Victorian buildings overlooking one of Clifton's leafiest squares, this somewhat functional hotel makes a useful base for exploring this part of Bristol. Rooms are decorated in neutral colors and are mostly spacious; rooms 229 and 247 open directly onto a small walled garden. Hotel parking is limited but street parking is available with a permit (both options incur an extra charge). Bus 8 from Temple Meads station stops right outside.

Mullioned bay windows, gables, and tall chimney evoke the luxury of bygone days at this hotel in an 1886 neo-Jacobean-style building. Relax on the Italianate terrace overlooking the 157 acres of landscaped grounds, or take afternoon tea, which is available every day. The hotel boasts its own 18-hole golf course as well as a leisure club and spa. Public rooms such as the Great Hall, with wood paneling and a marble fireplace, complement the main house guest rooms, which have faux-antique furnishings. For the best views, ask for a room overlooking the gardens. The fancy Trevelyan Restaurant relies on a French foundation to present British cuisine. The hotel is about a five-minute drive north of Stratford.

Originally a 16th-century coaching inn, but given a Victorian makeover, this gray, rather austere, turreted pile close to Boscastle's harbor makes a welcome place to return to after an energetic ramble along the coast. The turret rooms are good choices if they are available, but most of the guest rooms are spacious with plenty of quirky historic character. The traditional restaurant and bar serve tasty pub food and Cornish ales, and there are lovely gardens to the rear. Three cozy self-catering apartments are also available.

This former Methodist chapel that dates back to 1824 has been converted into a stylish boutique hotel in an area sorely lacking them (the church is still a part-owner of the property and the basement space, which retains the original stained glass window and is used for worship and community functions). Bedrooms are comfortable and thoughtfully designed in terms of storage, while the smart TVs are huge and the free Wi-Fi is fast. There is no restaurant on-site but Camden Town's many dining options are right on your doorstep.

Spectacular views of the river, Big Ben, and the London Eye fill the floor-to-ceiling windows in this rather stark, steel-and-glass building steps from Tate Britain. The hotel comes with sleekly modern guest rooms and two self-explanatory dining options, STK Westminster and Bao Yum. Fitness buffs will love the penthouse fitness suite.  

None of the character of this black-and-white timbered hotel, in one of Stratford’s most historic buildings, has been lost in its swanky but sympathetic update. Low beams, wood paneling, and winding corridors are partnered with the best of contemporary design, original artwork, and striking swan motifs. Public rooms feel ancient yet cozy; bedrooms come individually designed, many with freestanding or copper baths and a choice of pillows. If you want the most history, ask for a room in the oldest part of the hotel. Don't miss the stunning 16th-century wall painting in the restaurant.

A watering hole since 1755, this pub with rooms near the cathedral and the college wears its Britishness proudly, with depictions of national heroes like Nelson and Churchill, military artifacts, and an assortment of pewter mugs hanging from the ceiling. The individually decorated rooms are comfortable and characterful, if on the small side, with freestanding baths and good modern showers. The seven rooms in an annex across the street are more modern. A well-regarded wine list sets off the Modern British dishes at the restaurant, which is popular with locals.

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