As summer rolls around, and given it's the Year of the Coast in the UK, it's the ideal time to put together a selection of Britain's best seaside hotels that boast some of the most scenic locations. From beach hotels in Devon to properties nestled on clifftops overlooking the water in Cornwall, there's plenty to mull over. Get reading, then get booking!
Mixing chic New England decor with the charm of a British holiday by the seaside, The Relais Cooden Beach is a stylish 45-bedroom seafront property in Bexhill, East
Sussex – the ideal destination for a few days by the coast relaxing and recharging. And who knows, you might even take a dip in the sea – handily located just a stone's throw from your room! You may also want to check out their sister hotel:
The Relais Henley.
Formerly Sands, a super-family-friendly resort on the north Cornish coast, the property was completely refurbished and now offers
self-catering apartments with the amenities and convenience of a hotel – the region's first coastal aparthotel, with Atlantic-facing units complete with a kitchenette. There’s a pool, gardens, a padel tennis court and kids’ play areas, and you're just a five-minute walk from
Newquay’s Porth Beach. It's a
dog-friendly place to stay, too!
This beautiful
country house hotel in Climping, West Sussex is home to 39 rooms, located in a series of charming houses and cottages overlooking the landscaped gardens and sea. Each is different, from medieval-style bedrooms with four posters to more modern designs. What's more, dogs are welcome – also at the two other properties under the Historic Sussex Hotels umbrella:
Ockenden Manor and the
Spread Eagle.
When it comes to Britain's best seaside hotels, this is another of our faves, perched high above the magnificent Saunton Beach and the expanse of dunes at Braunton Burrows just behind. The Art Deco building is fantastic, and the vibe is relaxed and family-friendly – as you'd expect from a place that was voted one of the 'Top 100 family hotels in the UK'. Meanwhile, the rooms come in all shapes and sizes, from cosy up to apartments.
People have been holidaying on the Portrush Peninsula in Northern Ireland since Victorian times, drawn in by the sea and sand of its wonderful beaches. These days, modern visitors feel at home thanks to
boutique hotels like Elephant Rock – independently owned and truly one of a kind. Its black-and-pink finish catches the eye, and inside, the guest rooms are contemporary, and there's an on-site restaurant and cocktail bar, too.
A sumptuous boutique hotel awaits you in Cornwall – a grand, aristocratic residence located high on a clifftop with five capacious suites, some with panoramic sea vistas, and others with patio gardens. The position is fabulous and there's a personal approach to service, plus a convivial bar and dining room. You're also just a short amble from
St Ives. What more could you ask for?
Nestled on scenic Babbacombe Bay, Cary Arms couldn’t have asked for a better location, perched on the rocks above the pebble beach. Offering all the style and comfort you expect from a contemporary spa hotel, you won’t want to leave. The sister property of another favourite of Cool Places – The Eastbury in Sherbourne – Cary Arms has 10 rooms, plus four self-catering cottages, six quirky huts and two suites on the beach.
Here you have a very well-equipped South Cornwall hotel, spa and resort set on a private estate above the Helford River that's also home to a nine-hole golf course. There are 57 rooms, a huge pool, an open fire and a sauna, plus a terrace with a hot tub – the ideal spot for families and couples alike. The property also has seven
holiday cottages and contemporary houses, if
seaside self-catering is more your thing.
This quirky hotel has 23 individually designed bedrooms and three apartments – a boutique getaway by the sea in
Brighton, where each space is decorated with an eccentric mix of vintage furnishings. All en-suite rooms have wonderful views out to the West Pier, and if you're feeling peckish, there's an all-day restaurant and bar. They also have equally appealing properties in
Penzance,
London,
Bristol and
Oxfordshire.
There's a lot to like about this romantic boutique bolthole, not least the exceptional location on the South Kent coast and its first-rate restaurant that's just a short stroll away. Set on Folkestone Harbour, the rooms are comfy and luxurious, and the vibe is warehouse-rustic, with funky fabrics and bare brick walls. Also worth keeping in mind is The Duke William, their Kentish pub with rooms that's just as stylish.
This scenically situated Victorian-era
Isle of Wight hotel boasts fabulous sea views and 23 charmingly decorated bedrooms. There's a summer spa pool, an outdoor hot tub, private gardens and a games room, and guests have access to 29-room
Luccombe Hall, their adjacent sister property. The owners also have a collection of super-stylish self-catering apartments at
Shanklin Villa Aparthotel.
Riva's
Scottish Highlands location on the Helensburgh seafront is superb – on the shores of Gare Loch and the Clyde, with some of the best panoramas in the area. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are on your doorstep, plus
Glasgow is just a 40-minute journey away. Fashioned from a series of converted townhouses, there are 14 very comfortable bedrooms ranging from doubles to spacious kings.
