As some visitors to the UK now have to quarantine at dull airport hotels, we know where we’d rather stay.
It might end up being yet another year without a foreign holiday, but we’re loving the oppurtunity to get better acquainted with the gorgeous travel experiences right on our doorstep.
Whether your’re looking for luxury spa hotels or a rustic countryside getaway, we’ve rounded up some of Britain’s finest boltholes for your next holiday.
The Pierhouse Port Appin, Argyll
Where? Situated on the shores of dreamy Loch Linnhe in a sleepy little fishing village on Scotland’s rugged west coast, it’s all about the views – you can see across to the isles of Lismore and Mull. Local activities include sailing, windsurfing, and hiking.
What? Internationally renowned hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray (he’s behind properties in the likes of Beirut, Bahrain and Zurich) has returned to his Scottish roots and set up a new brand, The Wee Hotel Company.
As part of this growing portfolio, he’s overseen a total refresh of this small, boutique hotel, from stylish interior furnishings to artworks.
Its seafood restaurant uses the best local produce – expect oysters handpicked straight from nearby Loch Creran, or mussels and langoustines fresh from the waters outside the front door. There are 12 cosy bedrooms, some with a sea view.
How much? Rooms from £175pn, click here for more information.
The Star Alfriston, East Sussex
Where? Sitting within the valley of the River Cuckmere, Alfriston is a picture-postcard, medieval village.
What? Viewers of The Hotel Inspector will be familiar with Alex Polizzi, one of the women behind this 15th-century hostelry’s complete renovation – the other is her mother, Olga, sister of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte.
When it opens in May, you’ll find original exposed oak beams and open fireplaces, along with 30 stylish bedrooms. If the pair’s previous hotels are anything to go by, expect soft, calming colours, beautiful printed fabrics and a mix of contemporary and antique furniture.
How much? Rooms from £190pn, click here for more information.
The Pig in the South Downs, West Sussex
Where? As the name suggests, you’ll find this latest addition to the Pig Hotels’ litter in the South Downs near Arundel. A short drive from seaside towns Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, it’s bound to prove popular with both hikers and beach-goers when it opens later this year.
What? Set within the Grade II listed Madehurst Lodge, a handsome Georgian building with serious Bridgerton vibes, expect beautifully designed rooms that overlook the sprawling grounds.
As ever, there will be an emphasis on using produce grown on site in the restaurant for field-to-fork dining. In a first for Pig hotels, it will also have its own vineyard so expect fine sparkling wines and crisp whites from its chardonnay, meunier and pinot noir grapes.
How much? Rooms from £155pn, click here for more information.
Crockers Henley, Oxfordshire
Where? Best known for its annual royal regatta, Henley-on-Thames – to give it its full title – is a charming small town. The nearby Chiltern Hills make it a magnet for walkers as well as those who like to take to the water.
What? Essentially a restaurant with rooms, the focus here is firmly on the food, ranging from 16-seater Chef’s Table restaurants to burgers at the more casual Bar & Grill.
Gourmands will want to secure their seat for a multi-course tasting menu at either the Gardiner Table, helmed by Iain Dixon, which showcases pan-Asian cuisine teamed with wine, sake and barley spirit, or the Thames Table, which celebrates Dean Westcar’s modern British cooking.
After you’ve eaten, retire to one of seven airy bedrooms, which feature roll-top baths.
How much? Rooms from £150pn; £370pn including Chef’s Table, click here for more information.
The Harper Langham, Norfolk
Where? Set on the edge of the Norfolk coast, designated an area of outstanding natural beauty, this location is all about windswept walks along the dunes, primary-coloured beach huts, and glimpses of seals and seabirds.
What? This 32-bedroom boutique hotel used to be a glass-blowing factory, so you’ll find bespoke glass features in the decor as a tribute to its heritage.
Four-poster beds come as standard, burnished leather or velvet Chesterfield armchairs demand to be sunk into, and rainforest showers can, of course, fit two. Oh, and the fridge comes stocked with pre-mixed house cocktails.
Dining options include Stanley’s, where the seafood is a speciality, and Ivy’s, for more laid-back bites. There’s a mini-spa, with indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room, plus two chic treatment rooms.
How much? Rooms from £175pn, click here for more information.
The Falcon Northampton, East Midlands
Where? In the grounds of Castle Ashby, the estate of the ancestral home of the 7th Marquess of Northampton, a 16th-century coaching inn has been turned into chic but laid-back accommodation. The delightful rural setting ensures peace and quiet.
What? The 22 bedrooms in this former lodging place and stables have been tastefully decorated to reflect their natural surroundings – think muted shades and tactile fabrics – with many overlooking the gardens or the village of Castle Ashby.
Activities on offer here include cycling, wild swimming and yoga, with co-owner Lady Northampton, a yoga teacher herself, focusing on the wellness element. Restaurant Eyas serves dishes using produce from local farmers, from venison to organic chicken, and you can take your aperitif in the cosy, stone-walled Cellar Bar before dinner.
How much? Rooms from £145pn, click here for more information.
The Mitre Hampton Court, Surrey
Where? Handily located – for history fans – opposite Henry VIII’s former gaff, Hampton Court Palace, The Mitre sits by the Thames just half an hour from central London.
What? This sturdy, red-brick building started life in the 16th century as an overflow for palace courtiers, who would crash here whenever Henry had a massive party. It’s been through a few incarnations and was taken over by slick new hospitality company Signet last year.
The interiors were redone by designer Nicola Harding, and all 36 luxurious rooms and suites are named after people and pastimes from Tudor times, such as the Cardinal Wolseley, or the Jousting Chamber.
The stylish 1665 Brasserie and Coppernose restaurants serve hearty food such as crown prince pumpkin and coconut soup, and both overlook the river.
How much? Rooms from £190pn, click here for more information.
And three city slickers…
Gleneagles Townhouse Edinburgh
The people behind one of Scotland’s most magnificent country hotels, Gleneagles, are poised to open a stylish urban outpost in Scotland’s capital. It will be housed in the architecturally imposing former Bank of Scotland on St Andrew Square.
Click here for more information.
Hotel Brooklyn Manchester
Sister hotel to the nearby Gotham, this newly built 189-room hotel is within reach of the Northern Quarter, Canal Street and Chinatown, and offers another taste of New York in Manchester. Room decor is modern with velvet tub chairs and Smeg fridges.
Click here for more information.
Chateau Denmark London
Due to open this summer, this 55-room hotel will celebrate its location around the birthplace of the British music scene: Denmark Street is where The Rolling Stones recorded their first album and the Sex Pistols once lived. Expect rock ’n’ roll touches.
Click here for more information.
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