Hotels UK
A quiet revolution happened in the United Kingdom between the late 1980s and the Noughties. Back in the day hotels, B&Bs and self-catering cottages were often places of convenience rather than comfort. And glamping? Well that had yet to be invented. Luxury and originality, such as it existed, came at an enormous price, and upmarket hotels often rested on their laurels, focusing instead on keeping the wrong kind of people from enjoying their tired rooms and intimidatingly posh food. Hospitality was simply something Britain wasn’t very good at: if you wanted to experience good food and a half-decent place to stay at a reasonable price, well, you had to go abroad.Fast forward to the 2020s and Britain is a different country, packed full of great places to stay often run by passionate people who live and breathe good hospitality. The dread word ‘boutique’ was the first indicator that things had changed, and of course is now an over-used term. But it does give a flavour of a new kind of British hotel or guesthouse that began to appear thirty or so years ago – small, independently owned, and putting the guest experience front and centre. There was a new sense of contemporary style in guest rooms, where luxury didn’t necessarily mean antique furniture and four-posters. The renaissance in Modern British food made an appearance too, with lots of places revamping their restaurants and basing their menus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. And service was authentic, never trying too hard to please but always on hand if needed.
Like all good revolutions, change has continued, with new trends and activities emerging – wild swimming, food foraging, art classes, yoga and wellness retreats – and many establishments offering alternative accommodation: shepherds huts, lodges with hot tubs, even treehouses. The best places now have an eye on the environment too, with renewable energy sources, discounts for those arriving on public transport and kitchen gardens saving on food miles.
The Cool Places collection doesn’t pretend to include all of Britain’s best places to stay, but instead aims to provide a curated selection. Our choices are deliberately eclectic, driven not so much by budget as by the uniqueness of the property, its location, facilities, décor – or just its owners and the extra mile they often go for their guests. We avoid the usual global brands that dominate accommodation in many towns and cities, the point being that it’s not always about what you spend on a room, it’s where you spend it, with plenty of surprisingly affordable options if you know where to find them. We also aim to provide a range of choices in most corners of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Britain's Best Hotels, Pubs and Inns
A relax public house near Sloane Square with comfy rooms upstairs
The Orange, 37-39 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Westminster
Bespoke Rooms & Luxury Suites set Near the River Thames on the vibrant South Bank.
Bankside Hotel, 2 Blackfriars Road, Upper Ground, London SE1 9JU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Southwark
Great well-priced and conveniently situated London hotel located in South London's coolest neighbourhood.
Bermondsey Square Hotel, 9 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Southwark
Boutique Southwold hotel with country-chic rooms and a downstairs bar and restaurant
The Blyth, Station Rd, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 8AY
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Southwold
The perfect countryside weekend escape for jaded city-dwellers.
The Oaksmere, Rectory Rd, Eye, Suffolk IP23 8AH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Eye
City style and elegance in Glasgow city centre
Dakota Glasgow, 179 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4DP
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lanarkshire
Holidays in Glasgow
Super family-friendly Glasgow hotel with great facilities on the south bank of the Clyde
Village Hotel Glasgow, 7 Festival Gate, Glasgow G51 1DB
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lanarkshire
Holidays in Glasgow
Fabulous small boutique hotel with an excellent restaurant and unrivalled views over Glasgow Cathedral
Cathedral House, 28-32 Cathedral Square, Glasgow G4 0XA
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lanarkshire
Holidays in Glasgow
This boutique country house hotel and restaurant in Dumfries & Galloway is perfect for a special weekend away
Blackaddie Country House Hotel, Sanquhar, Dumfries & Galloway DG4 6JJ
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Dumfries And Galloway
Holidays in Sanquhar
This small and characterful country hotel with pool and beautiful gardens is a good base both for Norwich and the Norfolk countryside beyond
The Old Rectory, North Walsham Rd, Crostwick, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 7BG
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Norwich
A cosy place to stay in the heart of the Peak District
Barrel Inn, Bretton, Near Eyam, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 5QD
Holidays in East Midlands
Holidays in Derbyshire
Holidays in Hathersage
Snugs, maritime mementoes and a good sleep to the sound of waves at Seahouses
Olde Ship Inn, Main Street, Seahouses, Northumberland NE68 7RD
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Seahouses
Set on a quiet, leafy street nicknamed 'The Chelsea of Cardiff' only a short walk from the centre, with reasonably priced rooms and understated luxuries
Lincoln House Hotel, 118–120 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, Glamorgan CF11 9LQ
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Glamorgan
Holidays in Cardiff
Picture this, river-facing terraced garden, waterfalls, and cosy rooms in the Wye Valley
Boat Inn, Pennalt, Lone Lane, Penallt, Monmouth, Monmouthshire NP25 4AJ
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Monmouthshire
Holidays in Monmouth
The Tiger Inn, The Green, East Dean, Eastbourne, BN20 0DA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Eastbourne
Splendid rooms and fab food at a Georgian country inn just outside Chichester
The Royal Oak, Pook Lane East Lavant West Sussex PO18 0AX
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
The Roseate Hotel Reading, 26 The Forbury, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3EJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Reading
Edinburgh's stylish and contemporary country house in the city
The Roseate Hotel Edinburgh, 4 West Coates, Edinburgh EH12 5JQ
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lothian
Holidays in Edinburgh
A Michelin-starred boutique country house hotel and restaurant in a superb Lake District location.
Holbeck Ghyll, Holbeck Lane, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1LU
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Windermere
A cool and comfortable boutique hotel above a brilliant restaurant in – where else? – Bexhill-on-Sea!
The Driftwood, 40 Sackville Road, Bexhill, East Sussex TN39 3JE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Bexhill on Sea
A characterful 17th-century boutique coaching inn nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds
The Old Stocks Inn, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
Georgian townhouse with stylish rooms and a first-rate restaurant in the capital of St Anne
The Georgian House, 54 Victoria Street, Alderney GY9 3UF
Holidays in Alderney
Holidays in St Anne
Stylish boutique hotel and restaurant in St Peter Port, overlooking the harbour
La Fregate, Les Cotils, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1UT
Holidays in Guernsey
Holidays in St Peter Port
Chic seaside hotel with a heated pool in the heart of St Peter Port
Duke of Richmond, Cambridge Park, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1UY
Holidays in Guernsey
Holidays in St Peter Port
Five-star luxury and top-notch food at this boutique hotel in St Saviour
Longueville Manor, Longueville Road, St Saviour, Jersey JE2 7WF
Holidays in Jersey
Holidays in St Saviour
Smart boutique hotel in St Helier with a Michelin-starred restaurant
The Club Hotel & Spa, Green Street St Helier, Jersey JE2 4UH
Holidays in Jersey
Holidays in St Helier
Angel Hotel, Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 1SZ
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Glamorgan
Holidays in Cardiff
This award-winning family-run country inn blends in its glorious surrondings
Oak Tree Inn, Balmaha, By Loch Lomond, Stirlingshire G63 0JQ
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Stirlingshire
A Boutique hotel with contemporary design make for a trendy base to explore Falmouth
The Falmouth Townhouse, Grove Place, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4AL
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Falmouth
A spectacular country house and estate with a homely feel that's perfect for families.
The Ickworth Hotel & Apartments, Horringer, Near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP29 5QE
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Bury St. Edmunds
A unique hotel divided between an extraordinarily grand former railway station and a luxury Pullman carriage.
Old Railway Station, Near Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0JF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Petworth
A homely pub with rooms right in the centre of Bath.
The Griffin Inn, Beauford Square, Bath, Somerset BA1 2AP
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bath
A stylish and affordable large hotel in the heart of Liverpool city centre.
Tune Hotel Liverpool, 3–19 Queen Buildings, Castle Street, Liverpool L2 4XE
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Merseyside
Holidays in Liverpool
This amazing Cornwall hotel is both a luxurious and utterly unique place to stay.
Bodmin Jail Hotel, Scarlett’s Well Road, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 2PL
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Bodmin
A modern hotel in a prime position in Milton Keynes with a destination restaurant and bar
Hotel La Tour, 400 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK9 3FP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Buckinghamshire
Holidays in Milton Keynes
The Edgbaston, 18 Highfield Road, Birmingham B15 3DU
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Birmingham
One of Liverpool's quirkiest and most comfortable yet also affordable hotels
The Shankly, Millennium House, 60 Victoria St, Liverpool L1 6JD
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Merseyside
Holidays in Liverpool
Old Yorkshire drovers’ inn that's a destination for fine dining
The Three Acres, Roydhouse, Shelley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD8 8LR
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in West Yorkshire
Holidays in Huddersfield
A contemporary seaside boutique hotel, spa and restaurant – in a gorgeous location.
St Enodoc Hotel, Rock, Cornwall PL27 6LA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Padstow
This famous hotel enjoys a deeply spectacular setting in the Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park.
The Four Seasons, St. Fillans, Perthshire PH6 2NF
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Perthshire
Holidays in Killin
Sleeperz, Station Approach, Saunders Road, Cardiff CF10 1RH
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Glamorgan
Holidays in Cardiff
St Michaels Manor, Fishpool Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4RY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in St. Albans
A warm and welcoming boutique hotel in the heart of the Forest of Dean.
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, High St, Clearwell, Gloucestershire GL16 8JS
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Coleford
Boutique hotel in a converted Georgian house with contemporary interiors and garden, in a traditional South Hams village
The Whitehouse, Chillington, Near Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 2JX
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Kingsbridge
A quintessential Kentish pub with superb food and stylish rooms.
The Duke William, The Street Ickham Canterbury Kent CT3 1QP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
Fabulous location on St Mawes waterfront, this lovely re-furbished boutique hotel has a lot to like
St Mawes Hotel, 2 Marine Parade, St Mawes, Cornwall TR2 5DW
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Falmouth
Boutique hotel with comfy, stylish rooms, good food and a great location in one of Suffolk's most popular villages
The Long Melford Swan, Long Melford, Suffolk CO10 9JQ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Long Melford
A smart hotel in W2 with modern furnishings, a contemporary approach and a memorable name
The Pilgrm, 25 London St, London W2 1HH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Paddington
