We love children at Cool Places – of course we do! However, sometimes you just want to leave the kids at home and concentrate on grown-up pleasures. To help you decide, we've listed 10 UK hotels, B&Bs and self-catering options that are pretty much exclusively child-free zones – blissful, peaceful places where adults rule the roost for a change and children are conspicuous by their absence. Scroll down and plan your next adults-only weekend break – and if you can't find what you're looking for here, have a look at our Romantic Retreats or Cottages for Couples guides.
Bethnal and Bec, Hertfordshire
When owners Vicky and Chris left London a few years ago to open this eco-chic property, they wanted to create the ultimate adults-only, dog-friendly chill-out venue for weary folk looking to escape for a weekend or even longer, and do... well.. nothing in particular. They've succeeded in spades, with a choice of three extremely comfortable self-catering retreats crafted in a rural and away-from-it-all location– and with every home comfort you could imagine.
Craighead Howfs, Perthshire
Ian and Heather Keir’s Perthshire farm contains a unique selection of eco-friendly, partly off-grid self-catering properties set in natural gardens and woodland, with wonderful views and sunsets. Made up of series of stone and wood 'howfs' – the word for a favourite haunt or shelter – hobbit dwellings and two enormous treehouses, you couldn't imagine a more romantic or remote escape for two.
Dannah Cottages, Derbyshire
Situated on the edge of the Peak District National Park, these two one-bed cottages are in the perfect location for enjoying the best of the southern Peaks but we wouldn't blame you if you decided to just stay put, enjoying the enormous six-foot contemporary four-poster beds, fashioned from reclaimed beams, en-suite bathrooms, Canadian spa hot tubs and little luxuries that lurk around every corner, from the wine chilling in the fridge to fresh flowers and luxurious toiletries.
The Dovecote, Wiltshire
Situated deep in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, Dovecote is a romantic retreat you won't want to leave, perfect for rainy days or cosy nights in with your loved one. Along with the TV which comes with Netflix, there's good wifi, a Bluetooth sound system and a range of books and games, and the owners make lazy days easier by providing a continental breakfast, which you can enjoy on the terrace while taking in the beautiful countryside views. There's a firepit and barbecue for summer nights al fresco and a heated open air swimming pool next door for use during the summer.
The Enchanted Manor, Isle of Wight
As if the Walt Disney design team had got together with a few bottles of champagne to create a magical set for the next production of 'My little princess goes away for a romantic weekend break' – a unique property adorned with dolphins, cherubs and angels in a celebration of all that is chocolate-box romantic. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are looking for a unique romantic break or want to celebrate an anniversary, it's a whole heap of fun.
Flore House, Northamptonshire
Tucked away in the Northamptonshire countryside, Flore House and its grounds have been a fixture in the pretty village of Flore since the early 17th century – a superb adults-only boutique guesthouse that gives you a rare chance to experience a weekend in your very own country house. Owned and run by professional florist Georgie Dunn, it has two beautifully updated guest rooms, each with their own entrances and access to 20 acres of grounds that include parkland, meadows and a lake.
Glanmedeni, Ceredigion
Enjoying a beautiful position close to the sea, Glanmedeni is a wonderful place for two people to get away from just about everything. A beautifully restored old stone forge, it's a haven for wildlife and just watching the stars. It's also part of a larger property, which includes large grounds with gardens and woodland that the owners are busy re-wilding to encourage local wildlife. But most of all it's a glorious adults-only country retreat.
Little Pebble House, Cornwall
Escaping Londoners Simon and Andrea Copper came to Mevagissey just under a decade ago, and they offer low-key holidays to small groups at Little Pebble House, which sleeps up to 4 adults in comfort and style. It has been renovated with an eye for detail, with no expense spared on its decoration, and you can sip a glass of wine and consider your good fortune in staying here.
Post Office House, Northumberland
It would be hard to find a better location from which to explore the multiple delights of Northumberland than the charming small town of Belford. Midway between Alnwick and the Scottish border, close to the coast and also within easy reach of the national park a little further inland, it's a perfect spot, and the good news too that you can stay at Post Office House, an elegant boutique B&B right in the heart of the town's tiny centre.
Roulotte Retreat, Scottish Borders
This is an ideal adults-only getaway for two, with seven sumptuous roulottes (traditional French wooden caravans), each immaculately hand finished and boasting bags of character. There are just enough creature comforts, like a proper en-suite shower and toilet, but no TV, leaving you free to focus on relaxing in your cosy hideaway in a wildflower-strewn meadow and getting to know each other a little better.
The Scarlet, Cornwall
An adults-only yet pet-friendly sustainable hotel that blends in with the coastal environment and makes the very best of its views. It has all sorts of wow-factor facilities, such as a solar-heated pool, a state-of-the-art spa and a swanky restaurant serving only the freshest local produce, and the rooms are superb, with private hot-tubs on the decking.
The 25 Boutique B&B, Devon
There are B&Bs, and there are B&Bs. But The 25, run by hospitality gurus Andy and Julian, is like no B&B you have ever stayed in: an adults-only, boutique-style luxury guesthouse that is helping to drag Torquay into the 21st century by pure style. It was recently declared the 'World's Best B&B' on Tripadvisor and has been Visit England’s B&B of the Year for two years running.
Treehouse Hideaway, Kent
There are plenty of people who consider staying in a treehouse to be roughing it, but that's not at all the case at the delightfully named Treehouse Hideaway, which is perhaps the ultimate romantic experience for two. Perched high in the trees but with every comfort to hand, it's like having your own five-star hotel room but one that just happens to be 6 metres off the ground amid willows, conifers and fruit trees and made almost entirely out of wood! Situated in a small village in the Kent countryside just outside Canterbury, it makes for a perfect weekend escape for two.
West Highland Hot Tub Studios, Inverness-shire
You reach the West Highland Hotel from Fort William on one of Scotland's most scenic drives or train rides – and the views from the rooms there will rival anything you’ve seen on the way. Situated in the fishing village of Mallaig, the hotel looks out across the water towards Skye and the Small Isles. The best rooms in the hotel are orientated to make the most of this stunning scene, and for us, there’s no better spot to enjoy it than a private hot tub. Happily, these can be found on the balconies and terraces of the hotel’s brand-new studio apartments.
The Witchery Suites, Edinburgh
Sister to a well-known swanky nearby restaurant, this has nine indulgent overnight suites in the upper reaches of Edinburgh's Old Town. Couples will enjoy the extravagant Gothic decor, antique furniture, four-poster beds, velvet drapes and roll-top baths with room for two.
