With the UK’s ‘green travel list’ growing shorter by the week (goodbye Portugal, it was nice to fantasise about you whilst it lasted), we’re looking closer to home to get our holiday fix this year. Because let’s face it, we could all do with a break and a change of scenery now more than ever.
We took to Instagram stories to ask you guys about the best hotels you’ve ever stayed at right here in the UK. You could obvs check Trip Advisor, but your hotel tastes might be a bit different to Sue and Nigel aged 71 who like bingo, nearby bird-watching spots and cups of earl grey in bed at 7pm (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course).
So here are the best UK hotels as voted by you guys – the places which came up over and over and over again. The hotels that look great, feel great, and make you feel a zillion miles away from reality. We’d like to check into any of them asap, please!
Le Manoir
Where? Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (that’s its official name, just FYI) is set in the glorious Oxfordshire countryside.
Why is it great? Well for starters, the restaurant has two Michelin stars, and is renowned for not just its idyllic luxury but its gastronomical experience too. It was opened in 1984 by chef Raymond Blanc OBE and has 32 individually decorated rooms. It is the place for a one-off celebratory hotel stay, so long as your budget is basically limitless.
How much? A night for two of you this summer will set you back somewhere in the region of £1,500 and £2,000. If you’re happy to wait till 2022 you’ll easily snap up a room for half of that.
The Hoxton
Where? There are currently nine Hoxton hotels around the globe, with three of them situated in the UK. All of those can be found in London: Shoreditch, Holborn and the newest recruit, Southwark.
Why is it great? Hoxton hotels are notoriously cool, hip, and – when you find a great deal – pretty affordable too. You’ll find things like photo booths, incredible in-house restaurants, and free breakfast bags in the morning. The decor is always 10/10, as is the overall experience. Plus there’s plenty of room size options depending on your needs and budget
How much? Room prices this summer start at just over £150 during the week and are around £200 for a Friday or Saturday night. There’s also an offers page where The Hoxton will reward you for staying longer than one night.
Galgorm Spa Hotel
Where? 30-minutes outside Belfast.
Why is it great? Not only is it set within 163 acres of lush parkland, it has a thermal spa and village that boasts riverside hot tubs, indoor and outdoor pools, steam rooms and sauna for ultimate relaxation. The hotel itself has 125 guest rooms, plenty of golfing options (if that’s your bag) and is super close for exploration of the North Antrim Coast. An absolutely magical and tranquil escape.
How much? It’s pretty booked up this summer, but you can find the odd date for between £300 and £500 a night. Later in the year it goes down to around £150.
Dormy House
Where? Nestled in the Cotswolds.
Why is it great? It’s a classic cosy countryside retreat with all the luxury trimmings like a spa, log fires, and exceptional service. Rooms are light and airy, there’s an outdoor pool and two on-site restaurants. It’s exactly where you’d want to be for a night (or two) away from it all, and the spa treatment menu is extensive. Bloody lovely.
How much? There’s no availability until September, but expect to pay at least £300 per night – which includes breakfast and full use of the spa.
The Ned
Where? Central London, just by Bank station.
Why is it great? The Ned is one of the newest hotels on this list – it only opened in 2017. It’s part of the Soho House group (which also lists Soho Farmhouse and Babington House as its properties), which means you can guarantee it’ll feel fancy, yet super cool too. The Ned boasts nine restaurants for you to eat your way through, an indoor swimming pool, and is the perfect location to explore London from.
How much? You can get a weekday room over the summer for around £200, whilst weekends start from around £300.
The Glasshouse
Where? in Edinburgh.
Why is it great? It’s built within an 170 year-old church, has a two-acre rooftop garden and spectacular views of the city centre. All rooms have incredible floor-to-ceiling windows making them light and bright. The Glasshouse is the perfect little slice of luxury from which to explore the Scottish city and all its charm.
How much? Rooms cost from around £150 and go up to £300 for a Saturday night in July.
The Pig
Where? There’s a handful of locations in the south of England, including: Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Kent and Cornwall.
Why is it great? The Pig’s mantra is ‘restaurants with rooms’, everything focuses on the food and the produce, and the sleeping element is the added bonus. All hotels are set on beautiful grounds made for exploring – including greenhouses, and are well set-up to cater for cosy weekends in the rain with good food, log fires and spa treatments.
How much? Rooms are pretty booked up across most sites this summer, but expect to pay around £300 per night.
Gleneagles
Where? Nestled in the Scottish countryside just north of Edinburgh.
Why is it great? Gleaneagles is most famous for its golf, but the hotel is so much more than that. First off, it’s beautiful. It’s decadent and luxurious, but everything inside is super easy on the eyes – from the bathrooms to the finishing touches in the bedrooms. There’s 10 restaurants and bars to explore and a focus on outdoor activities, whether that’s horse-riding or off-road driving.
How much? Prices are currently around £400 to £500 per night.
Artist Residence
Where? There’s five Artist Residence locations, all in England. There’s Brighton, Penzance, London, Oxfordshire and Bristol.
Why is it great? Artist Residence are another small chain whose focus is on cool interiors, little quirks and charm, as well as being fairly reasonably priced. All rooms are different and feature things like stand-alone baths, splashes of colour and homely touches. A great base from which to explore the local area, whilst being an equally cute place to come back to – all locations have great food and drink options too.
How much? It depends on location, as many are almost fully booked up this summer. You can still grab rooms in London and Brighton for just over £150 a night.
The Grand Hotel
Where? In York.
Why is it great? It’s York’s only five-star hotel and boasts a decadent spa in the former vaults under the hotel. There’s a restaurant and bar, as well as a cookery school (which you can book classes for as part of your stay) on the premises. The location is great for not just exploring York (an enchanting walled city with plenty of history and charm), but nearby national parks and the north east coast.
How much? Rooms over the summer start from around £200, and go up to around £350 for weekends.
The Fish
Where? In the Cotswolds.
Why is it great? It’s set within a staggering 400 acres of land and has a huge variety of accomodation options – from extravagant suites kitted out in Scandi-inspired decor to treehouses and huts. They also offer a Tispy Tea – a fun (and cocktail-fueled) twist on the traditional afternoon tea, alongside a couple different restaurant and bar options. The location puts you in a great spot for exploring nearby Oxford and Worcester.
How much? It’s fully booked all summer but you can find rooms from September for around £200 upwards.
Other hotels that got plenty of mentions include: Limewood, No. 131 Cheltenham, Shangri-La, Soho Farmhouse, Chewton Glen, The Witchery in Edinburgh.
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