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
Charming country pub with rooms in the heart of Lancashire walking country
Waddington Arms, Waddington, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 3HP
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Clitheroe
Gorgeous boutique rooms in a fabulous designer conversion of an historic mill building in the Ribble Valley
The Spinning Block, Holmes Mill, Greenacre Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 1EB
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Clitheroe
This 17th-century pub with rooms makes a great base for exploring the Ribble Valley and the Tolkein Trail
The Shireburn Arms, Whalley Rd, Hurst Green, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9QJ
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Clitheroe
Charming townhouse hotel in the historic market town of Kirkby Lonsdale
The Royal Hotel, Main Street, Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria LA6 2AE
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Kirkby Lonsdale
Small and charming boutique country house hotel on the edge of the Yorkshire market town of Settle
Falcon Manor, Skipton Road, Settle, North Yorkshire BD24 9BD
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Settle
Great family-friendly accommodation in a serviced apart-hotel in genteel Lytham St Anne’s, close to miles of sandy beach
HY Hotel, 318–328 Clifton Drive North, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 2PB
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Lancashire
Holidays in Lytham St Annes
Beautifully situated Victorian-era Isle of Wight hotel with fantastic sea views
Luccombe Manor, Popham Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6RG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Isle Of Wight
Holidays in Shanklin
Brilliant seaside Isle of Wight hotel with excellent facilities
Luccombe Hall, Luccombe Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6RL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Isle Of Wight
Holidays in Shanklin
A romantic treehouse on the edge of an ancient woodland near Canterbury
Oakside Tree Tops, Oakside Lodge, Roman Road, Upper Harbledown, Kent CT2 9AX
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
Cool and comfortable hotel rooms to suit everyone – including your dog – on the leafy side of Birmingham
Edgbaston Park Hotel, 53 Edgbaston Park Hotel, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2RS
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Birmingham
Luxurious retreat on the banks of Loch Tay in Highland Perthshire
Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant, South Loch Tay Side Ardeonaig Near Killin FK21 8SU
Holidays in Central Scotland
Holidays in Perthshire
Holidays in Killin
A welcoming hub with stunning views of both the South Tyne River and the fells.
Alston House Hotel, Townfoot, Alston, Cumbria CA9 3RN
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Penrith
The Grand, 97–99 King’s Road, Brighton BN1 2FW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
Quirky boutique rooms and cafe-bar in the historic seaside town of Whitby
Jet Black Jewel, 10 Skinner Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3AH
Holidays in North East England
Holidays in North Yorkshire
Holidays in Whitby
An elegant country hotel on the Essex-Hertfordshire border, as seen on the Great British Bake Off!
Down Hall, Matching Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM22 7AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hertfordshire
Holidays in Bishop's Stortford
The ultimate small-scale rural wellness retreat – in a lovely yet accessible Dorset location
Middle Piccadilly, Holwell, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5LW
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Dorset
Holidays in Sherborne
A fabulous boutique hotel and restaurant bang in the heart of beautiful Norwich
The Assembly House, Theatre St, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1RQ
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Norwich
Quirky contemporary design, great food and a warm welcome.
Strattons, Ash Close, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7NH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Swaffham
This contemporary Essex pub is the perfect spot for a night out or weekend away
The Lion Inn, Main Road, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3JA
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Essex
Holidays in Chelmsford
This stylish Shoreditch hotel makes a cool and comfortable base for a weekend break in London
The Hoxton, Shoreditch, 81 Great Eastern Street, Hoxton, London EC2A 3HU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Shoreditch
This swanky but funky Soho Hotel pulls out all the stops
Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, Soho, London W1D 3DH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Soho
Pedn Olva Hotel, West Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2EA
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in St. Ives
Drakes Hotel, 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1PE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
Small, independent boutique Cambridge guesthouse
The Regent, 41 Regent Street Cambridge CB2 1AB
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Cambridgeshire
Holidays in Cambridge
Scotland's premier island resort hotel on the Isle of Arran
Auchrannie Resort, Auchrannie Road, Brodick, Isle of Arran KA27 8BZ
Holidays in Scottish Isles
Holidays in Isle of Canna
Eco-friendly boutique accomodations don’t come much more glamorous than Moss Grove in Wordsworth's hometown
Moss Grove Organic, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SW
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Grasmere
Cliveden, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Berkshire
Holidays in Maidenhead
The Dru is a national treasure: a family-run Pembrokeshire coast hotel, with with great views - and it's extremely dog-friendly too.
Druidstone Hotel, Druidstone, Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire SA62 3NE
Holidays in South Wales
Holidays in Pembrokeshire
Holidays in Haverfordwest
Gorgeous, earthy, stylish rooms with beautiful bathrooms.
The Plough, Cow Brow, Lupton, Cumbria LA6 1PJ
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Kirkby Lonsdale
One of Cornwall's classiest hotel and spa complexes between the popular towns of Polzeath and Rock.
St Moritz Hotel, Trebetherick, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6SD
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Polzeath
Resurgent hotel that's a fabulous base for the New Forest.
Forest Park Hotel, Rhinefield Rd, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7ZG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Brockenhurst
A gem of an Isle of Wight pub with 3 cosy rooms
The Highdown Inn, Highdown Lane Totland PO39 0HY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Isle Of Wight
Holidays in Freshwater
A quirky Georgian townhouse hotel located on a picturesque cobbled square in Clerkenwell
The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell, 49–50 St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Clerkenwell
A comfortable yet affordable hotel with the odd high-end flourish.
Brooks Hotel Edinburgh, 70-72 Grove Street, Edinburgh EH3 8AP
Holidays in South Scotland
Holidays in Lothian
Holidays in Edinburgh
A great dog-friendly choice in the heart of London's Museumland.
Ampersand Hotel, 10 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ER
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Greater London
Holidays in Kensington
For a bit of pampering in an archetypal English setting, head to New Park Manor.
New Park Manor Country House Hotel, Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7QH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Hampshire
Holidays in Brockenhurst
This Oxford city centre hotel is the ultimate choice for an alternative city break
Malmaison Oxford, Oxford Castle 3 New Road Oxford OX1 1AY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Oxford
Hot tub delight, plus gorgeously chic rooms and suites in the heart of the Lakes
Applegarth Villa, College Road, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1BU
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Windermere
Boutique Gloucester city centre hotel with a welcoming, personal vibe.
The Edward Hotel, 88–92 London Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL1 3PG
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Gloucester
A top-notch hotel that is rightly at the top of Rye's accomodation options
The George, 98 High Street, Rye East Sussex TN31 7JT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
Signature style at the Leeds Mal pushes all the usual Gallic buttons
Malmaison Leeds, 1 Swinegate, Leeds LS1 4AG
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in West Yorkshire
Holidays in Leeds
Comfortable rooms above one of the most popular pubs in the area.
The Brick Kilns, Norwich Rd Little Plumstead Norwich Norfolk NR13 5JH
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Norfolk
Holidays in Wroxham & Hoveton
A welcoming boutique hotel with comfy rooms and good food – handily placed in the centre of Stratford.
The Townhouse Stratford, 16 Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6HB
Holidays in West Midlands
Holidays in Warwickshire
Holidays in Stratford upon Avon
Newmarket's best place to stay – a classy hotel with great facilities and a spa
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, Bury Rd Newmarket Suffolk CB8 7BX
Holidays in East Anglia
Holidays in Suffolk
Holidays in Newmarket
Juts outside Kirkby Stephen beautiful Howgill Fells, this is everything you expect of a country pub – and it has luxury yurts out in the garden too
The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4NG
Holidays in North West England
Holidays in Cumbria
Holidays in Ravenstonedale
Romantic, contemporary and stylish – a North Cornish seafront retreat for active types
Fistral Beach Hotel & Spa, Esplanade Road, Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1PT
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Cornwall
Holidays in Newquay
A classy city centre inn with comfy rooms and a warm welcome.
The Falstaff, 8–10 St Dunstan's Street Canterbury CT2 8AF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
Holidays in Canterbury
A 500-year-old hotel and ex-coaching inn that's been at the heart of Guildford since Saxon times, with a cool Crypt Bar and a collection of ghosts.
Angel Hotel, 91 High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3DP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Surrey
Holidays in Guildford
