22 Best Hotels in The South, England

Small but full of character, this family-owned inn in a Georgian town house dating from 1790 is elegantly decorated with period antiques. Guest rooms—one with its own small patio—are individually and impeccably furnished; some have four-posters. The generous breakfast, served in a conservatory overlooking a courtyard garden, includes free-range eggs and fresh fruit.

This grand early-19th-century country-house hotel and spa on 130 acres of manicured grounds ranks among Britain's most acclaimed—and most expensive—lodgings. All rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated using rich fabrics; many have a balcony or terrace, and all ooze luxury. Romantics might want to try one of the 12 secluded "treehouse" suites in the woods. The lavish spa is particularly strong on facials and has a large and elegant pool. The restaurant, the Dining Room at Chewton Glen, concentrates on grilled meats and more plant-based or Asian-influenced dishes, with a choice of more than 700 wines (there's also a less formal gastropub and pool bar). Besides golf and tennis (on indoor or outdoor courts), family-friendly leisure activities such as archery, falconry, pony grooming, and walking with miniature sheep are available, along with guided bike rides in the forest or kayaking. There's also a self-contained cooking school and a tree house kids' club. A 20-minute walk through the grounds takes you down to the coast. Chewton Glen is 12 miles southwest of Lyndhurst on the A35.

Because this country-house hotel reflects the owner's precise vision and attention to detail, a stay here is like a stay at a friend's home, if your friend has an exquisitely tasteful but comfortable, eco-friendly Georgian house on a 400-acre estate an hour from London. The decor is all about stealth wealth, eschewing traditional marble and glitz for muted earth colors in rich fabrics and luxuries like underfloor bathroom heating and Bang & Olufsen televisions. The hotel is committed to being as self-sufficient as possible, with 60% of its produce sourced from its biodynamic farm, eggs from its 480 hens, and cheese from its dairy cows (who you can visit). There are two restaurants (which have won a Michelin Green Star for sustainability), a board games room, and a screening room that hosts showings of first-run films as well as lectures. Also on-site is a spa complex with airy pool, and outdoor activities include wild swimming in the lake as well as fishing, horse riding, and falconry.

The 63 acres surrounding this elegant 17th-century country-house hotel retain many original features, including the walls of the kitchen garden (still in use), the apple trees in the former orchard, and a mile-long avenue of linden trees, the longest in the United Kingdom. The house itself is similarly rich in period details such as a baronial staircase, wood paneling with carvings by Grinling Gibbons in the bar, and two fireplaces surrounded by hand-painted Delft tiles (all the rage when the house was built during the reign of William and Mary). Rooms may have original wood shutters and ceiling molding, but the bathrooms have up-to-date electronics and underfloor heating. Smaller, less pricey rooms in one of five extensions are more modern and less distinguished. Don't miss the falconry displays featuring the resident owls and falcons. The hotel is 2½ miles northwest of Winchester.

English Heritage has created two lovely cottages out of what was the ceremonial entrance to the Osborne estate (it's still the entrance the Royal Family uses when they visit the property). The two lodges, decorated in an understated contemporary style, have two double bedrooms each, plus a living room with a wood fireplace, dining room, kitchen, and private garden. Your rental includes free admission to both Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle, plus out-of-hours access to the Osborne grounds and beach, making it virtually your private estate.

This coastal outpost of the stylish, food-centric Hampshire boutique hotel minichain is in a Victorian Gothic former private residence in an unspoiled village on the scenic, peaceful Studland Peninsula. Rolling lawns look out over Studland Bay and the Old Harry Rocks at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast; mats and towels are even provided for excursions to the beach below. Inside the hotel, shabby-chic bedrooms combine comfort with understated elegance (some have mullioned windows and paneled ceilings) as well as individualquirky touches such as freestanding roll-top baths. Two separate thatched-roof cottages are good for those who want privacy, and there's a caravanlike shepherd's hut on the lawn where you can spend the night. As at all the Pigs, the restaurant is excellent, utilizing seasonal ingredients grown on-site or sourced within 25 miles.

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 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.

A thatched roof and flagstone bar are some of the 16th-century features of this small inn, where the individually furnished bedrooms make the most of the original beams, exposed brickwork, and stone fireplaces. There's an extensive garden to sit in, and the sea is a 10-minute walk away. Locally sourced gastropub dishes (such as beer-battered fish-and-chips or a fillet of stone bass with butter beans) are available daily. Local craft beers are a specialty. The place is extremely dog-friendly, so anyone with an aversion to Fido should stay away.

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.

Although deep in the British countryside on a 500-acre estate, this country-house hotel, part of the luxury chain, is only a half hour from Heathrow; the manor house's original wing (the others are more contemporary) dates back to 1728, although luxuries like marble bathrooms and Frette linens are thoroughly modern. Relax in the heated indoor pool and spacious spa offering Dr. Barbara Sturm treatments and hypnotherapy, or enjoy country pursuits like horseback riding (there's an equestrian center), fishing in the stocked pond, falconry, and clay-pigeon shooting. For the more adventurous, there's zip-lining. There are also family-friendly elements, such as a special kids' pool with a waterslide and a supervised kids' club on weekends. Dining options range from a Vietnamese-influenced spa café and a pizzeria to a restaurant serving seasonal Modern British food.

Staying at this snazzy modern five-star hotel directly on the marina is like staying on a cruise ship (or perhaps a super-yacht) without ever leaving land, a design theme reinforced by tiered balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. Among the amenities are an excellent spa, a penthouse bar with roof terrace, a heated indoor pool, a free shuttle to the cruise terminal, a cinema, and a seafood-oriented restaurant, The Jetty, that's considered one of the city's best. Rooms, some with balconies overlooking the marina, come with pampering touches like 400-thread count sheets and Nespresso coffee machines. 

Set beside a 20-acre tidal lake in the tiny town of Wootton Bridge, halfway between Cowes and Ryde, this hotel is perfectly situated for exploring the northern part of the island. Rooms are decorated in contemporary style, and many have lake views; bathrooms are clean and spacious. There's an indoor pool and small spa, and a restaurant and brasserie serve good Modern British cuisine.

With their eclectic design, rare prints, and antique furnishings, the two spacious guest rooms of this charming B&B in a Queen Anne building are full of character. The real draw, however, is their view of the Avebury stone circles, which the Lodge sits within. Generous vegan and vegetarian breakfasts use mostly organic ingredients and are cooked to order.

It's worth seeking out this characterful 17th-century "country pub with cottages and rooms," located 10 miles north of Wimborne Minster in a lovely area designated a National Landscape. Despite a stylish makeover, the building retains many of its original period features, such as the bar, flagstone floors, and inglenook fireplace. Bedrooms, some with four-posters, have a country-house feel. Tasty local and seasonal food, like fish tacos with chipotle sour cream or a chicken supreme with gnocchi and oyster mushrooms, is available daily in the bar or in the more formal Shed restaurant on weekends. Dogs are welcome guests.

Located on a cliff above Bournemouth's sandy beach (a rarity in pebbly Britain), this stylish conversion of an Edwardian grande dame takes its inspiration from the hip Art Deco hotels of Miami's South Beach, with lots of palm tree decor, original contemporary art in the public spaces, and airy white bedrooms. Seafront rooms—some with private sun decks, others with outdoor hot tubs—overlook the pool area and rolling lawns with the English Channel beyond. The restaurant continues the Floridian theme with dishes like lobster and crayfish linguine, crab cakes, and grilled salmon. OSKIA products are featured in the spa, and there are heated indoor and outdoor pools, a beachside bar, and a small-plates restaurant. A cinema offers nightly screenings.

Ideally located opposite the cathedral, this 18th-century inn, now a gastropub with rooms, has received a smart, modern makeover without losing any of its character. Each of the guest rooms is named for a noted fabric designer, such as Nina Campbell or Zoffany, with textiles that pay tribute to their style, and the furnishings include traditional touches like sleigh beds. Few rooms have actual cathedral views, though the top-floor Design House suite is an outstanding exception. A two-bedroom apartment in an annex uses Designers Guild fabrics, and another self-contained apartment is ideal for families. The gastropub below serves superb food and drink, with warming open fires in winter and tables on the terrace in summer. Permits are issued for street parking nearby. 

On a quiet street across from Mayflower Park, this snug hotel in two converted town houses is set into the city's medieval walls and has a funky but chic aesthetic in guest rooms and public areas. Downstairs is the deli-bar, an Edwardian parlor with an open fire, leather armchairs, and wood tables topped with pots of live herbs, where you can get lunch or supper. An offshoot of the Pig, the noted nearby restaurant with rooms in the New Forest, the deli shares the mothership's commitment to locally sourced ingredients that change daily. A Continental or hot breakfast is available but costs extra.

You can't stay at Stourhead, but you can stay just inside the main entrance at this popular inn built at the beginning of the 19th century. Guests are admitted free to Stourhead's gardens at any time. The five bedrooms are elegant and tastefully understated, with some period features like uneven wood floors and Georgian sash windows. The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients and specializes in small plates and simple, traditional pub classics like beer-battered fish-and-chips.

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.