21 Best Hotels in The Thames Valley, England

This former coaching inn on the village's main shopping street has spacious rooms in the handsome main building as well as in the courtyard mews. The accommodations have been renovated in a sleek, modern style; those in the courtyard have more space and privacy. Rates are higher during the week. Christopher's Bar and Grill focuses on English dishes such as wild boar and apple sausages.

If you've ever wondered what it would feel like to be an Edwardian grandee, then sweep up the drive to this stately home, one of Britain's grandest hotels. Cliveden's opulent interior includes John Singer Sargent's famous portrait of Nancy Astor, suits of armor, tapestries, and acres of wood paneling. The luxurious, traditional bedrooms, complete with fireplaces, molded ceilings, and antiques, are named after prominent guests, from Charlie Chaplin to Henry James. You can eat contemporary British dishes in the stately Cliveden Dining Room restaurant beneath stunning chandeliers, or more informally at the Astor Grill. Later, take a dip in the beautifully secluded outdoor heated pool. If your pocket doesn't rise to a night here, you can drop in for a luxurious afternoon tea.

Everything is new in this airy and spacious lodging, but it doesn't mean the place lacks atmosphere or charm. The cool and pastel colors, such as duck-egg blue and subtle purples, and light wood floors give it an almost seaside air, and a scattering of hand-knitted cushions adds a personal touch. Bedrooms have high-quality bathrooms, and the hospitable hosts dispense generous breakfasts.

Much imaginative and thoughtful renovation has transformed this 18th-century mansion, set on 240 acres of parkland, into a playful and contemporary lodging. Tree branches serve as the posts of the luxurious four-poster beds, a grand copper oak-leaf chaplet is suspended over the heads of diners in the restaurant, and carpets echo the colors of leaves. You can listen to underwater music in the spa pool, soak in a copper roll-top tub, watch a polo match, or play a game of croquet. The restaurant has exquisite dining, using as much local produce as possible. The Barn serves more rustic fare, and the Spatisserie specializes in healthy options.

Part Jacobean, part Georgian, this magnificent stately home provides formal luxury in an opulent country setting. The building is decorated with a masterful touch—crystal chandeliers, original oil paintings, and carved ceilings adorn the ornate public areas; the magnificent Jacobean staircase is guarded by unique carved figures. Bedrooms, furnished with well-chosen antiques and comfortable beds, are suitably grand. Some rooms are situated in Hartwell Court, on the approach to the main house, and some have direct access to 90 acres of landscaped parkland. You can dress to impress for dinner, enjoy the terrace of the spa's café, or just drop in for a refined afternoon tea.

A sprawling brick brewery near the river has been transformed into a distinctive modern architectural showplace. Bedrooms have dark carpeting and whitewashed walls, and furnishings are tan, white, or black. The original brewery windows appear in strange places and staircases are contorted to fit the space, but a feeling of warmth and comfort presides. The bar and bistro is very good, and the wine list, unsurprisingly, is excellent.

A former residence for representatives of the crown, this Victorian mansion on a quiet, leafy road is a 10-minute walk from Windsor Castle. Rooms are spacious and unfussy, and the owner is eco-conscious. Guests have access to a small kitchen with refrigerator, toaster, microwave, and kettle. This place is very child-friendly and caters to vegans and vegetarians.

Standards are high at this 15th-century stone manor house, the ultimate place for a gourmet getaway, where master-chef Raymond Blanc's epicurean touch shows at every turn, including one of the country's finest kitchens. The idyllic, 30-acre retreat has a kitchen garden, where vegetables are grown for the restaurant; a valley of wild mushrooms; an herb bed with 70 varieties as well as micro-herbs; an orchard stocked with more than 80 varieties of British apple trees; and a wildflower meadow. Let's Cook experiences and garden tours (weekdays only) are popular with guests. While the impeccable dining experience is a big draw for many, the hotel—part of the Belmond collection—stands on its own, foodie or not. The accommodations are separated into seven categories and spread out between the main house and garden courtyards. The layout of each room and suite is vastly different; one might be in a dovecote, another might have an Asian-inspired feel with bamboo wood and a scented steam room, and another a private terrace and marble bath. Dogs have their own heated kennels.

Tudoresque wood paneling, beamed ceilings, wattle-and-daub walls, and blazing fireplaces help define this as an archetypal English coaching inn. The guest rooms, overlooking either a quiet courtyard or the town square, have plenty of carved oak; some have four-poster or canopied beds. Legend has it that the Bear is where Richard Burton finally popped the question to Elizabeth Taylor. A spookier legend holds it to be one of the most haunted hotels in the United Kingdom. One story concerns the ghost of a little boy, who allegedly loves to play hide-and-seek with guests.

Although fishing aficionados consider this luxurious, 17th-century, Thames-side inn the ideal place to stay, the place is stylish enough to attract those with no interest in casting a line. The name comes from Izaak Walton's 1653 masterpiece of angling advice and philosophy, which he wrote in this area. Rooms, traditional in style, are subtly decorated in earth tones with purple touches, and many have views over the Thames. The hotel's Riverside Restaurant serves outstanding Modern British cooking with terrace and waterside views. A sunny conservatory serves afternoon tea.

Housed in what was a 19th-century prison, this high-concept boutique hotel remains true to its unusual history by showing off the original metal doors and exposed-brick walls. In the main guest wing, past the chic reception area, it is unmistakingly an old prison, albeit a stylishly lit one. Truth be told, this does take some getting used to; you half expect guests to bang their spoons on the white metal railings if breakfast isn't served on time. But fear not, the accommodations in the old cell block are quite luxurious and have modern bathrooms. There are more bedrooms located in converted outbuildings on the other side of the old exercise yard (ominously called "The House of Correction"). These are smaller and a little plainer, although still modern and perfectly pleasant.

This handsome Victorian mansion, a five-minute walk from all of Oxford's action, is a sprawling, friendly place on three floors. Decent-size rooms are decorated in contemporary style with large-pattern wallpaper; some have original Victorian flourishes. The breakfast is varied, with yogurt and croissants along with the usual eggs and bacon. This is one of the best deals in the city center, so book early.

A romantic getaway on the Thames, this Victorian-era mansion stands on landscaped grounds 3 miles west of Windsor. Its bristling towers and spires have been used in several films, including The Rocky Horror Picture Show and multiple Dracula movies. Except for the suites, all the rooms are in modern wings and are furnished in a modern style. Public areas, however, retain their old-fashioned, wood-paneled, and clubby charm. The Dining Room restaurant serves Continental cuisine in plush surroundings.

From the impressive collection of modern artwork throughout the hotel to the sleek furnishings in the guest rooms, this stately converted bank building displays contemporary style in a city that favors the traditional. Oxford's most centrally located hotel also holds the busy Quod Bar and Grill, serving creative salads and pizzas, as well as heartier dishes like duck confit.

A 17th-century gabled stone house in a small garden next to St. Giles Church, the Old Parsonage is a dignified retreat. Dark red walls, eclectic art, and a crackling wood fire give the lobby a distinguished look. The guest rooms favor plum, purple, and gray with wool, linen, and velvet materials; bathrooms are rich with marble. Memorable meals by the fire (or in the walled garden terrace in summer) keep people coming back. Afternoon teas with scones and clotted cream are excellent.

In the same family for three generations, this luxurious 16th-century manor house close to the center of St. Albans is set in 5 acres of sweeping grounds. Plush furniture helps make the antiques- and painting-filled public areas inviting, and the contemporary-style bedrooms are filled with thoughtful extras like complimentary bottled water, fruit, and cookies. The Lake restaurant, overlooking the garden, serves Modern British cuisine with French touches. You can take afternoon tea with or without champagne.

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

Antiques-bedecked guest rooms fill this stylish inn, which was cobbled together from five 17th-century houses in the heart of town. The elegant courtyard is favored for drinks (including more than 400 gins from around the world) or afternoon tea in summer; log fires make the public rooms cozy. The restaurant serves classic English dishes like Cornish cod with butter bean stew, for instance, or beer served with parsley salad. Dog-friendly rooms are also available.

Fancifully patterned brick chimneys and purple gables decorate this elegant building next to the main entrance of Waddesdon Manor. Constructed to house the manor's workers, it is now equipped with contemporary-style bedrooms in restful colors and furnished with antiques from the manor. The delightful suites in the Courtyard Stables are big enough for those who want more room to stretch out. A fine restaurant and pub serve inspired modern fare with a Mediterranean flavor.

A 19th-century neo-Gothic landmark, this hotel is ideally situated near the Ashmolean Museum. After a 2019 takeover by the Graduate Hotels group, the Randolph was treated to a top-down makeover, during which its Oxford heritage was beautifully amplified. Uniform rooms are now styled with William Morris–esque wallpaper, quirky artwork, and nods to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; many have views of Oxford's spires. A tiled, vaulted spa offers pampering treatments designed to ease those travel-related aches. Hip yet elegant, chic yet traditional, the Randolph Hotel will appeal to a wide range of guests.