49 Best Hotels in The West Country, England

Located close to the cathedral on the elegant Southernhay, this graceful Georgian hotel with a secluded garden was originally built for a merchant of the East India Company in 1815, hence the paintings commemorating the Battle of Waterloo (fought in the same year) and the names of the spacious and elegantly furnished guest rooms—Silk, Cotton, Ivory, Spice, and Opium, etc.—that recall some of the merchandise that made the company's fortune. The public areas have the atmosphere of an intimate club, and the whole hotel has an understated, boutiquey feel. There's a limited but satisfying menu in the airy restaurant, and there are also snacks available in the bar along with an impressive list of cocktails. There's no hotel parking, but plenty of public spaces nearby.

The most luxurious Rick Stein lodgings in town are distinguished by their sophisticated and minimalist style. Excellently equipped, the spacious bedrooms have polished oak floors and either enjoy views over the harbor and estuary or have glass doors looking straight out onto the walled garden. Booking here guarantees a dinner table at the Seafood Restaurant, where breakfast is also served (unless you order the Continental breakfast in your room). You should reserve as far ahead as possible, and there's a two-night minimum stay on weekends and in peak periods.

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, guest rooms are well equipped with excellent bathrooms, and the young staff is especially welcoming to families. The modern, panoramic Brasserie on the Bay offers an adventurous menu, while the Garden Kitchen restaurant focuses on lighter, healthier dishes. The pool and gym will give you the opportunity for a good work-out, perhaps followed by a pampering spa treatment.

A former coaching inn built in the 15th century, the Swan has an ideal spot facing the cathedral. Guest rooms, furnished with antiques, are done in subtle, restful colors; some 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, and Swan Mews has five self-catering lodgings available for a minimum two-night stay. Check out the rooms first, as some are better than others. The award-winning restaurant prepares traditional English roasts and fish dishes.

Formerly a convent, this atmospheric lodging still holds a chapel that was designed by J. L Pearson, architect of Truro Cathedral (and now used for special events); the main building has large and comfortable guest rooms equipped with modern fittings and luxurious bathrooms. The separate Courtyard annex has spacious suites. Quiet elegance permeates the public areas, and the semiformal restaurant offers a good choice of seafood and meat dishes.

This enormous pile perched above the sea exudes slightly faded Victorian splendor. Lush gardens surround the property, and the interior of the 1886 hotel is, well, imperial, with chandeliers, marble floors, and the general air of a bygone world. Most of the traditionally furnished bedrooms are large and comfortable—it's well worth paying a bit extra for front-facing ones that have balconies and entrancing views across the bay.

While restoring St. Juliot's Church, Thomas Hardy stayed in the building that now holds this delightful B&B; the stone house, set on 3 acres of lush grounds about 1½ miles from Boscastle, has been in the same family for five generations. The sensitive renovations are mainly in Victorian style, and the subtropical gardens are a joy to explore. Delicious breakfasts usually include organic produce from the kitchen garden. At the rear of the building, the self-catering Old Stables has a wood-burning stove and a separate entrance.

Perched on the cliffs above Port Isaac's minuscule harbor, this idiosyncratic lodging was a Victorian schoolhouse until the 1980s, and it nostalgically retains many of the features of its previous role. The hotel reverts to its former incarnation when it serves as the school in Doc Martin, a locally set TV series. Guest rooms are named after various school subjects—Geography, Chemistry, Latin—and vary considerably in size (so think about viewing the rooms before booking); most, however, have superb vistas, and some have small terraces. Bar snacks and full meals are offered, from baguettes to fresh seafood, lamb chops, and rump steaks. Limited parking is available—a rare find in Port Isaac.

Rolling parkland surrounds this stately Elizabethan manor house, which is 16 miles east of Exeter and has been converted into a hipster retreat run with energy and enthusiasm. "Fun not formality" is the guiding principle, evident from the moment you step into the grand entrance that now holds a lively bar. Public rooms have a shabby-chic coziness, with blazing fires and deep, soft sofas, while the individually decorated guest rooms are spacious and have fabulous views, as well as bathrooms equipped with roll-top baths and powerful showers. The two restaurants—including one in the garden—use produce sourced from the kitchen gardens or from within a 25-mile radius, which then create such dishes as black truffle risotto, pigeon breast, rump steak, and hake fillet. A range of treatments is offered at the Potting Shed, and you can explore nearby Gittisham, once described as "the ideal English village" by King Charles III.

The pampering begins the moment you enter this adults-only beachside hotel when you are greeted with a drink by the enthusiastic and highly professional staff, followed by a tour of the facilities. Arranged over five levels, all of the bright, modern rooms offer views over the sands and cliffs of Mawgan Porth beach, which are easily accessed via a path from the hotel. The lounges, sheltered garden, and library offer comfortable nooks for relaxation, while the indoor and outdoor pools, spa treatments, and hot tub overlooking the sea will give you a bodily boost. The flair and positivity of the hotel's ethos extends to the restaurant, where each dish and wine offering is introduced with informed passion.

This 16th-century inn on the harbor front has low ceilings, exposed timbers, and steep staircases that lead to rooms with simple but stylish modern furnishings. Two rooms have small balconies where you can enjoy the breezes. The split-level restaurant, with oak beams and pillars, serves supremely fresh fish, scallops, and crab dishes.

An impressive lodging, Thornbury has everything a genuine 16th-century Tudor castle needs: huge fireplaces, moody paintings, mullioned windows, and a large garden. There's also plenty of history: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Mary Tudor all spent time here. The standards of comfort are famous, and the pampering touches in the "bedchambers" include complimentary decanters of sherry. Guests come from all over to dine in the restaurant, where you'll find sophisticated fare that makes use of local venison, duck, and halibut. The hotel is 12 miles north of Bristol.

Facing the churchyard in the heart of Chagford village, this inn dating from the 13th century retains its venerable character, from its part-thatched roof, granite facade, and mullioned windows to the grand inglenook fireplaces. Modern facilities are artfully integrated, most conspicuously in the smart restaurant located within a glass atrium in the courtyard. Although the guest rooms have remained essentially unchanged for several centuries, here too you'll find contemporary comforts including well-designed bathrooms. Everything from pub classics to evening specials is available in the restaurant, and the low-beamed bars exude warmth and conviviality, with St. Austell ales on tap.

Strong on historical atmosphere, this central lodging is 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. The guest rooms, in traditional style, and the corridors could use updating. Some rooms have tired-looking carpets and old-fashioned bathrooms, though a number have window seats, with views over Mount's Bay. If the reception is unstaffed, check in at the bar.

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).

In a quiet nook of Penzance just steps away from the Promenade and harbor, this Georgian house has bright, spacious, and smartly decorated guest rooms with views over Mount's Bay from front-facing rooms. The hosts are always smiling, helpful, and full of information on what to see and where to eat in the area. Breakfast is made to order with options including waffles, pancakes, eggs royale (with smoked salmon), and vegetarian. There's normally a two to four-night minimum stay in July and August, though there may be availability for last-minute bookings of one or two nights. 

Guests have been welcomed to this inn since the 15th century, and it is said that Oliver Cromwell stabled his horses here. Beyond the lovely cobbled entrance, the main building retains all the trappings of a period inn—beams, stone walls, courtyard—but the bedrooms, both in the main building and in a separate wing, are relatively modern, albeit in need of updating. The hotel has a casual but atmospheric bar-restaurant where you can order such dishes as beef-and-ale pie, curries, and burgers; guests who book direct receive a 20% discount.

This venerable 17th-century coaching inn has counted the eminent statesman William Pitt the Elder among its guests, and, since his visit, it has retained much of its antique style. Today, though, the guest rooms are spacious, comfortable, and modern, with all the amenities necessary for a night or two. A range of foods is available in the bar and restaurant, including Sunday brunch.