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
One of Bristol's most unique and comfortable places to stay, with all the cool, shabby-chic charm we expect from the Artist Residence group
Artist Residence Bristol, 28 Portland Square, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8SA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bristol
A cosy – and contemporary – country inn that's a convenient home-from-home for both Oxford and the Cotswolds.
Artist Residence Oxfordshire, Station Road, South Leigh, Oxfordshire OX29 6XN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Witney
A lovely 18th-century manor house overlooking the sea in Lyme Regis
Alexandra Hotel, Pound St, Lyme Regis DT7 3HZ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Dorset
Holidays in Lyme Regis
A quirky and luxurious hotel tucked into an idyllic bay between Looe and Polperro.
Talland Bay Hotel, Porthallow Cornwall PL13 2JB
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Looe
Steeped in history, this quintessentially British Tavern is an excellent Central London base
Pride of Paddington, 1 – 3 CRAVEN ROAD, LONDON W2 3BP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Paddington
A contemporary and welcoming pub with rooms close to the heart of Cambridge
The Waterman, 32 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3AX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Cambridgeshire
Holidays in Cambridge
Great food and rooms in a terrific village pub.
The Kingham Plough, The Green, Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6YD
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Chipping Norton
Taking the concept of luxury beachfront hotel to a new level
Watergate Bay Hotel, On the Beach Watergate Bay Cornwall TR8 4AA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Newquay
A small but elegant hotel overlooking Oban Bay and the islands of the Inner Hebrides
The Manor House, Gallanach Road, Oban PA34 4LS
Holidays in Highlands
Holidays in Argyll & Bute
Holidays in Oban
A canalside pub not far from Edinburgh with waterfront views, good food and comfortable rooms.
The Bridge Inn at Ratho, 27 Baird Rd, Ratho, Newbridge EH28 8RA
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lothian
Holidays in Edinburgh
A name straight out of Miami, a boutique guest house that's all Blackpool.
Number One South Beach, 4 Harrowside West Blackpool FY4 1NW
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Blackpool
A stylish and welcoming pub with food and rooms that makes the perfect west London stopover.
Aragon House, 247 New King’s Road, Parsons Green, London SW6 4XG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Fulham
A stylish contemporary inn whose boutique rooms and cool apartments make the perfect base for seeing Norwich.
The Georgian Townhouse, 30–34 Unthank Road, Norwich NR2 2RB
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Norwich
A very comfortable boutique hotel with a bar, restaurant and sea-view rooms in the heart of Margate
Fort Road Hotel, 18 Fort Road, Margate, Kent CT9 1HF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Margate
Boutique rooms with industrial chic in the centre of Reading
The Market House, 1-2 Market Place, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2EQ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Reading
A proper pub with boutique rooms and good food that makes a terrific base for Cardiff city centre
Pontcanna Inn, 36 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LL
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Glamorgan
Holidays in Cardiff
This boutique country house hotel has all the makings of a perfect Norfolk weekend
Congham Hall, Lynn Rd, Congham, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE32 1AH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in King's Lynn
A beautifully located boutique hotel overlooking the lovely Tamar Valley.
The Horn of Plenty, Gulworthy Tavistock Devon PL19 8JD
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Tavistock
A lavish yet homely country residence, courtesy of hotelier Olga Polizzi.
Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot Devon PL19 0PQ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Tavistock
A fabulous hotel in a gorgeous part of the South Hams with stunning views across the rolling hills or down to the cove.
Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Near Salcombe Devon TQ7 3DS
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Salcombe
Contemporary country house hotel in the charming Ribble Valley
Mitton Hall, Mitton Road, Mitton, Whalley, Lancashire BB7 9PQ
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Clitheroe
Great food and rooms at this terrific Staffordshire country inn - if only all village locals were like this!
The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, Ashbourne, Staffordshire DE6 2GZ
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Staffordshire
Holidays in Stoke on Trent
An award-winning country pub with good food and very comfy rooms.
The Pheasant, Gestingthorpe Essex CO9 3AU
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Halstead
This revamped Edwardian hotel is an affordable and thoroughly up-to-date place to stay in one of the nicest spots on Norfolk's northeastern coast.
The Cliftonville, 29 Runton Road, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 9AS
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Sheringham & Cromer
Boutique seaside hotel, restaurant and bar on the gorgeous Northumberland coast
Beadnell Towers, The Wynding, Beadnell, Northumberland NE67 5AY
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in Northumberland
Holidays in Beadnell
Elegant rooms in a Durham country house hotel with a spa and golf course on site
Headlam Hall, Near Gainford, Darlington DL2 3HA
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in County Durham
Holidays in Darlington
This private members' club makes a unique and very special place for a weekend stay in the heart of the City of London: perfect for couples, families, groups – and weddings!
City of London Club, 19 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1DS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in City
A great seaside pub with stunning views, newly renovated rooms and award-winning food.
The Cricket Inn, Beesands Kingsbridge TQ7 2EN
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Kingsbridge
This Wiltshire village inn ticks all the boxes a 21st century pub should – with good food and some very comfortable upstairs rooms
The Crown and Anchor, Ham, Wiltshire, SN8 3RB
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Wiltshire
Holidays in Marlborough
A contemporary pub with good food and boutique rooms in one of London's poshest neighbourhoods
The Bridge, Barnes, 204 Castelnau, Barnes, London SW13 9DW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Barnes
A quintessential West Country pub with rooms in a lovely Somerset village
The Swan, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4EQ
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Cheddar
Boutique, luxury, en-suite rooms in a chic Surrey dining pub, near Runnymede and Windsor
The Kings Arms, 5-6 High St, Egham, Surrey TW20 9EA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Chertsey
This comfortable Hampshire pub with rooms is a perfect short break from London and gives the chance to spend time on the huge estate of the Duke of Wellington.
The Wellington Arms, Basingstoke Road, Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire RG27 0AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Basingstoke
A historic Wiltshire hotel whose contemporary – and quirky – rooms and excellent restaurant are also a great base for The Cotswolds
Old Bell Hotel, Abbey Row, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0BW
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Wiltshire
Holidays in Malmesbury
Stunning boutique rooms and suites in a honey-coloured stone Cotswolds village inn
Wild Thyme & Honey, Ampney Crucis, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5RS
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Cirencester
This seafront Cliftonville boutique hotel has big comfy rooms and a unique and raffish charm
The Albion Rooms, 31 Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent CT9 2HL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Margate
One of Exeter's most historic pubs – and once again one of the city's best places to stay
The Turk's Head, 202 High Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3EB
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Devon
Holidays in Exeter
Cool seafront hotel and restaurant offering a chic stay in up-and-coming Eastbourne
Port, 11–12 Royal Eastbourne Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7AR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Eastbourne
A colourful and very comfortable boutique hotel on County Antrim’s Portrush Peninsula
Elephant Rock Hotel, 17 Lansdowne Crescent, Portrush, Antrim BT56 8AY
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
Holidays in Portrush
Boutique rooms above a Mumbles seafront restaurant and bar
The Oyster House, Oyster Wharf, Tivoli Walk, Mumbles Rd, The Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4DN
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in The Gower
Holidays in The Mumbles
Boutique hotel, bar and restaurant in the heart of Snowdonia's adventure tourism zone near Blaenau Ffestiniog
Plas Weunydd, Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3NB
Holidays in North Wales
Holidays in Gwynedd
Holidays in Blaenau Ffestiniog
Joyfully eccentric rooms in a Belfast boutique guesthouse
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction, 45 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6RX
Holidays in Ulster NI
Holidays in Antrim
Holidays in Belfast
A historic yet contemporary pub with rooms right in the heart of Winchester, just a stone's throw from all the sights
The Westgate, 2 Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8TP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Winchester
The sleek guest rooms at this contemporary boutique hotel offer one of London's coolest and most affordable places to stay
Brama, 6 Court St, Bromley, London BR1 1AN
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Bromley
A relaxed and informal Cardiff dining pub with terrific food and lovely guest rooms
The Heathcock, 58-60 Bridge St, Cardiff CF5 2EN
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Glamorgan
Holidays in Cardiff
Modern comfort at a historic riverside hotel in Henley-on-Thames
The Relais Henley, Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2AR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Henley-on-Thames
Location, location, location: period splendour in a prime spot in the centre of Bath
The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, 16 Royal Crescent, Bath, Somerset BA1 2LS
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Somerset
Holidays in Bath
Rustic chic and home comforts in the heart of the New Forest National Park
Cottage Lodge Hotel, Sway Rd, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7SH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Brockenhurst
