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 cosy pub with good food and lovely rooms in West Sussex
The Black Horse, Climping, Climping St, Climping , Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5RL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Littlehampton
A welcoming gastropub with cracking food and luxurious guestrooms on Essex's heavenly Mersea Island
The White Hart Inn, 1 High Street, West Mersea, Essex CO5 8QD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Mersea Island
A proper pub with rooms, in the heart of picturesque Dedham and Constable Country, and serving excellent food.
The Sun Inn, High Street, Dedham, Essex CO7 6DF
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Colchester
An elegant country house hotel in Northumberland with a golf course and spa
Matfen Hall, Matfen Hall, Matfen, Northumberland NE20 0RH
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Corbridge
A contemporary and welcoming boutique guesthouse within easy reach of Bath city centre.
Brooks Guesthouse Bath, 1 Crescent Gardens Upper Bristol Road Bath Somerset BA1 2NA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bath
Country-seaside chic at a restaurant with rooms on the spectacular Northumberland coast
The Whittling House, 24-25 Northumberland Street, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 2RA
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Alnmouth
Contemporary comfort at a charming hotel in the Lake District’s Borrowdale Valley
The Royal Oak Borrowdale, The Royal Oak, Stonethwaite, Cumbria CA12 5XB
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Borrowdale
Amano brings a cool look and low prices to London’s Covent Garden
Hotel Amano Covent Garden, Drury House, 34-43 Russell St, London WC2B 5HA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Covent Garden
A historic restaurant with rooms right on Southwold's main street
Sutherland House, 56 High Street, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6DN
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Southwold
This Lavenham institution is a very comfortable and surprisingly up-to-date place to stay
The Swan at Lavenham, High Street, Lavenham, Suffolk CO10 9QA
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Lavenham
A small North Norfolk luxury hotel whose owners have thought of every detail to make your stay more comfortable
The White House, Sussex Farm Lane, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8JY
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Burnham Market
A luxury boutique hotel that's a perfect place to relax, play golf or explore the glories of Perthshire
Murrayshall Country Estate, Scone, Perth, Perthshire PH2 7PH
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Perthshire
Holidays in Perth
A very comfortable pub with rooms and excellent food in the heart of the Norfolk Broads
The Lodge at Salhouse, Vicarage Road, Salhouse Norfolk NR13 6HD
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Wroxham & Hoveton
A relaxed, rural wine retreat with more than a dash of luxury in the rolling Surrey Hills
Denbies Vineyard Hotel, London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Dorking
A contemporary lakeside hotel on the shores of Ullswater that does everything just right.
Another Place, The Lake, Watermillock, Ullswater, Cumbria CA11 0LP
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Ullswater
A boutique 4-star coaching inn, situated at the gateway to the Cotswolds
The Old Crown Coaching Inn, 25 Market Place, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7HU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Faringdon
A Cotswolds country house hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant
Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0RB
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Wiltshire
Holidays in Malmesbury
A dog-friendly hotel on the Furness Peninsula, just south of the Lake District
The Dunes Hotel, Roanhead Beach, Hawthwaite Lane, Cumbria LA14 4QW
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Barrow-in-Furness
The Bell in Ticehurst, High Street Ticehurst East Sussex TN5 7AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Wadhurst
A beautiful seafront boutique hotel with a bar and restaurant, situated in one of the most popular locations on the Northumberland Coast
Beach House Hotel, 2A St Aidans, Seahouses, Northumberland NE68 7SR
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Seahouses
A dog-friendly riverside hotel and restaurant in the heart of Dartmoor National Park
Mill End Hotel, Chagford, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 8JN
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Newton Abbot
Dog-friendly accommodation at a country pub between Hexham and Hadrian’s Wall
The Boatside Inn , Warden, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 4SQ
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Hexham
A high-end country house hotel with loads of facilities that's great for both kids and grown-ups
Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8YJ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Tetbury
Cosy rooms and great food in the charming Cotswolds village of Filkins
The Five Alls, Filkins, Lechlade, Gloucestershire GL7 3JQ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Lechlade
A historic haven in the heart of Spitalfields set between Shoreditch and The City
Batty Langley's, 12 Folgate St, London E1 6BX
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Shoreditch
A cosy pub with rooms and good food in the Scottish Borders village of Ettrickbridge
The Cross Keys Inn Ettrickbridge, Main Street, Ettrickbridge, Selkirk, Scottish Borders TD7 5JN
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Scottish Borders
Holidays in Selkirk
Hotel-style rooms and suites in the green surroundings of the Yorkshire Wolds
Kilnwick Percy , Pocklington, Kilnwick Percy, York YO42 1UF
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in York
A stylish boutique hotel in York just a 10-minute walk from the station
New Holgate, 106 Holgate Rd, Holgate, York YO24 4BB
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in York
Guest rooms, suites and lodges on an Oxfordshire country estate with a golf course and a spa
The Springs, Wallingford Rd, North Stoke, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6BE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Wallingford
Boutique rooms and first-rate food in a gorgeous Lakeland location
The Yan, Broadrayne Farm, Grasmere, The Lake District Cumbria, LA22 9RU
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Grasmere
This 18th-century converted North Norfolk watermill is a tranquil haven, with contemporary rooms, a buzzy vibe and first-rate food
Sculthorpe Mill, Lynn Rd, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 9QG
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Fakenham
A stylish beachside hotel and spa in East Sussex
The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel, Cooden Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 4TT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Bexhill on Sea
The Fox at Willian, Willian, Hertfordshire SG6 2AE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Letchworth
A beautiful Norfolk Broads riverside pub with boutique rooms and good food – what more could anyone want?
The Rising Sun, 28 Wroxham Road, Coltishall, Norfolk NR12 7EA
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Coltishall
A cosy dog friendly inn in a great location outside historic Blickling Hall, Norfolk.
The Bucks Arms, Blickling Aylsham Norfolk NR11 6NF
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Aylsham
A classic small-town coaching inn with updated rooms.
The Black Boys, Market Place Aylsham Norfolk NR11 6EH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Aylsham
Cosy village gastropub with great food and boutique rooms upstairs.
The Recruiting Sergeant, Norwich Road, Horstead, Norfolk NR12 7EE
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Coltishall
This country house hotel is an oasis of comfort – with terrific food – in the heart of Worcestershire
Brockencote Hall, Brockencote Hall Hotel, Brockencote, Kidderminster DY10 4PY
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Worcestershire
Holidays in Kidderminster
Handsome village coaching inn, pub and restaurant on the edge of the North Wessex Downs
The Hare & Hounds, Bath Road, Speen, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1QY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Newbury
A historic and beautifully renovated restaurant with rooms in the heart of Canterbury
The Corner House, 1 Dover Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3HD
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A heavenly rural retreat in an idyllic corner of Oxfordshire
The Double Red Duke, Bourton Road, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2RB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Faringdon
Great food and accommodation at this beautifully located North Norfolk Coast country inn
The Gin Trap Inn, The Gin Trap Inn, 6 High Street, Ringstead, Norfolk PE36 5JU
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Hunstanton
Chic country retreat with a trio of world-class restaurants in a former Cotswolds coaching inn
Bull, 105 High St, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4RG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Burford
This friendly, privately-owned hotel is an excellent base for parts of southeastern Wales – and it also has a shepherd's hut!
Parkway Hotel & Spa, Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran Drive, Cwmbran, Newport NP44 3UW
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Monmouthshire
Holidays in Cwmbran
There's no better spot for a Suffolk seaside break than this fabulous Aldeburgh restaurant with rooms
The Suffolk, 152 High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP15 5AQ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Aldeburgh
A stylish boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet corner of Exmoor National Park.
The Old Rectory Hotel, Martinhoe Exmoor National Park Devon EX31 4QT
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Lynmouth & Lynton
A quirky boutique hotel with 16 bedrooms, 3 suites and a 3 bedroom cottage, individually designed and decorated with a curated art collection.
Artist Residence Cornwall, 20 Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4AW
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Penzance
A brilliantly located, affordable and very cool boutique hotel bang in the centre of London.
Artist Residence London, 52 Cambridge Street Pimlico London SW1V 4QQ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Westminster
