6 Best Hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England, England

Situated on Ludford Bridge, this food-focused pub with rooms has lovely river views, especially from the Riverside Suite and the Othello Suite; the latter has its own terrace with hot tub. Rooms are smart and comfortable, with lots of heritage fabrics. Breakfast, including locally made sausages, is a real treat. In fact, all the food is very good. This is a bit of a destination restaurant, and even dishes that sound run-of-the-mill, such as a duck spring roll or dressed crab, are anything but. Views from the restaurant are fabulous, too.

Handmade Italian furniture and swaths of French silk fill this luxury downtown hotel in a Tudor-style building, dating to 1865. Marble bathrooms, high-definition TVs, and a first-class spa are among the luxurious amenities. There are two restaurants: the fine-dining Arkle restaurant and the more relaxed La Brasserie, with an indoor barbecue. The intimate library is a perfect spot for afternoon tea.

Just a five-minute walk from the village of Hampton-in-Arden, this hotel (and its Michelin-star restaurant, Grace & Saviour’s) is proof that Birmingham lodging isn’t all about business travel. Here, the focus is very much on relaxing, and everything has been thought through carefully to ensure you feel at home. There are fresh coffee beans to grind and huge beds to dive into; some rooms even have record players. The house was built in 1855 by Frederick Peel on land purchased by his father, British prime minister Robert Peel. Paying homage to the house’s Arts and Crafts past, the rooms are individually designed and feature hand-printed wallpaper and luxurious fabrics.

This elegant country-house hotel 3 miles southeast of Warwick makes for a quiet, luxurious getaway; it has more than 40 rooms in two buildings but still manages to make you feel like you're visiting friends, albeit very wealthy ones. The more traditional country-chic rooms are in the original manor house, while the spa and more contemporary rooms are in a newer, separate building called the Orchard House (it's a bit like the main house's younger sibling).  One of the biggest attractions is the oak-paneled Dining Room at the Manor House restaurant, acclaimed for its sophisticated cuisine. The Asian-inspired Sencha restaurant offers cuisine not often found in an English country hotel. You can book a treatment in the spa, hidden among the trees in the lovely grounds, or just kick back in the outdoor vitality pool and take in the view.

This Victorian Gothic mansion, featuring arched windows and romantic turrets, is approached along a private avenue and is a soothing retreat for theatergoers who want to escape Stratford’s crowds. If you like four-poster beds and antiques, book a room in the main house, while the modern wing is perfect for those who prefer more contemporary elegance. The oak-paneled restaurant offers great Modern British cuisine, or you can take afternoon tea in the beautiful Great Drawing Room. There's also a spa with a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and spa pool. In summer, borrow a picnic blanket and take your tea outside to the 40-acre grounds, which contain the ruins of a 12th-century church. The hotel is 6 miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon.

A tree-lined drive leads through 26 acres of gardens and open fields to this moated manor house dating to the 13th century, where public rooms reflect the hotel’s long history with period touches such as 16th-century oak paneling and Flemish glass, 18th-century chandeliers, and a 17th-century stone fireplace. Guest rooms include elements of classic character as well as modern bathrooms; some have four-poster beds, and most preserve original features such as cornices and fireplaces. Sophisticated British cuisine is served in the very grand Bridge Restaurant, while coffee and digestifs can be taken in the Terrace Lounge and Bar. There is also a decent spa and pretty grounds to wander. The hotel is 7 miles northeast of the city center.