Best Luxury Hotels in England

Overlooking Cornwall’s most famous bay, Fistral Beach Hotel is conveniently close to the surf action — choose a waterfront room and you can fall asleep to the soothing sounds of crashing waves. The colour palette inside reflects nature’s colours outside, with laid back contemporary decor across the 71 bedrooms (guests also have the benefit of Nespresso machines and ESPA toiletries). Dine indoors at Dune restaurant and drink outdoors, overlooking the ocean, at the Bay Bar. Fistral Beach is a super choice for fitness fanatics, with a state of the art gym and a busy timetable of classes, as well as a top-notch spa.

You may recognise this hotel from the small or big screen — it featured in The Witches, Wild Things and an episode of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Perched on a peninsula, it offers an escape from the more populated parts of Newquay. Dog and family-friendly, The Headland has a sophisticated spa, gym, a cocktail bar and epic, elevated sea views. Accommodation options include rooms, suites and self-catering cottages, all with elegant furnishings and GAIA Skincare toiletries. Samphire Restaurant and the Terrace Bistro both hold two AA Rosette awards, while The Deck serves casual meals beside the hotel’s pool.

A short distance from the city itself, on the edge of the Peak District, is this village-based hotel. Like Whitley Hall, Fischer’s is a creeper covered country mansion, but is much newer, having been built in 1907. It has a Grade II listing and was formerly a private home. The centrepiece is very much its Michelin starred restaurant. Fischer’s gained this accolade back in the 1990s and has maintained it ever since, with creative, beautifully presented cuisine. Complementing the fine fare are activities arranged in-house, around culinary themes (such as foraging tours and wine tastings). There are just 11 bedrooms, with designer decor, Nespresso machines and Sedbergh Soap Company bath products.

There is so much to entice the weary traveller at this luxury 5-star boutique hotel with a private members club, nestled in the heart of St James’s. The hotel oozes Victorian charm blended with contemporary style. The eye for detail, visible in every piece of high-end furniture, upholstery and general décor is a thing to behold. In addition to the usual accommodation options, St James’s offers terrace suites and a Penthouse with its own private lift. There is a range of food options which include, Michelin-starred 7 Park Place under the watchful eye of William Drabble. There is also a Bar and Bistro.

Bankside Hotel is a brilliant base to explore all the attractions that the culturally rich South Bank area presents. Just around the corner from Blackfriars Bridge, and part of Marriott International, there is five-star luxury in its 161 bedrooms, including seven suites, all thoughtfully designed with hand-picked furnishings, specially commissioned artwork and superior service. Equally suited to those arriving in the capital to enjoy themselves or who need to fit in some working hours during their stay, there is Art Yard Bar & Kitchen, a library and an outside terrace as well as four meeting and event spaces. There is also a fitness centre. Nearby attractions include Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The National Theatre, while Southwark and Blackfriars stations are only a few minutes walk away, promising tube links to the rest of London. The hotel is both family-friendly and ideal for romantic breaks, with special offers during 2024.

Staying at the Hoxton puts you in easy reach of the River Thames and South Bank’s best galleries and food markets as well as easy access to central London’s other attractions. Arrived to work, rest or play? Relax for this four-star hotel has 192 creatively designed guest rooms with comfy beds, concrete ceilings and marble surfaces. There’s a choice of restaurants as Seabird offers panoramic views from the rooftop with a menu presenting Portuguese and Spanish influence from sea to table. Or opt for oysters with fizz, martinis or your choice of cocktail. Then there is Albie, an all-day lobby spot offering proper breakfasts, modern dishes and a killer wine and cocktail list. For parties, the ideal spot is the hotel’s Apartment, a fresh and airy space with a wraparound balcony. It has six useful rooms available separately for team away days and brainstorming sessions or combined for a network event or product launch. It also has The Pantry, an open plan kitchen providing a communal help-yourself space stocked with tea, coffee, snacks and fruit that can flip to a private bar in the evening.

CitizenM graces South Bank with a luxury hotel experience at an affordable price handily placed in the bustling cultural area near Tate Modern and the Borough Market. The open-plan ground floor offers great space to relax, work or play with comfortable furniture, communal desks and private conference rooms. Bright décor includes world-class art and books to browse and the four-star hotel’s 192 guest rooms are cleverly designed for two adults with floor-to-ceiling windows, pod-style bathrooms and extra-large beds. The Dutch chain, which is increasing its number of popular city outposts, provides super-fast free Wi-Fi and iMacs for guests to use, while the canteenM restaurant and bar offers food and drinks 24/7 and a buffet breakfast in a five-hour window. Southwark and London Bridge stations are nearby, providing easy access to the rest of the city.

This is a place to stay with that wow factor. Sea Containers London is designed with more than a nod to those elegant cruise liners of the 1920s yet firmly anchored on the South Bank of the Thames. There are 359 guest rooms and suites to choose from, ideal for couples or families, some with amazing river views, all featuring bespoke furniture and en suite marble bathrooms. One suite even has its own fitness equipment. Located just around the corner from Blackfriars Bridge, guests can find the National Theatre, Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre nearby. The five-star hotel, part of the Lore Group, offers three in-house venues. At 12th Knot’s rooftop lounge, there are panoramic Thames views to go with the refreshment, opt for award-winning cocktails at Lyaness, or savour delicious seasonal food at Sea Containers Restaurant. And when it’s time to unwind, treat your senses to a treatment at the Agua Spa London, blow off steam in the hotel gym, or see a movie at its Curzon cinema.

The first art’otel in the capital officially entered London’s hospitality landscape in February 2023. Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon is behind the interiors, which take inspiration from the Power Station, while Foster + Partners and Electric Boulevard were responsible for the architecture. The hotel is in Battersea Roof Gardens, part of a whole new district, served by a recently opened tube station. It includes the TOZI Grand Cafe, JOIA, the 15th-floor restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, a spa, a rooftop bar with an infinity pool and 164 arty bedrooms.

Walking distance from the poshest landmarks in the city, The Hari is an exclusive pad for distinguished travellers. Its 85 bedrooms include 14 suites, draped in velvet and marble with contemporary artworks on the wall (the hotel hosts its own annual art prize). Dine in-house at the refined Italian restaurant, il Pampero, drink in the Hari Bar, and relax with a cocktail on the Garden Terrace during warmer months. The Hari’s fitness room includes a Peloton bike and you can book personal training sessions. The hotel has strong eco-credentials too, having received Silver Accreditation from EarthCheck.

Escape the noise of the capital, with this Belgravia townhouse as your base.  The grand building, formed of arched windows, portland stone and Georgian brick, has been reimagined inside, by Milan-based architecture studio Laboratorio Associati and Linzi Coppick. 41 bedrooms and suites channel the elements, in a sophisticated, warm, elegant and upscale home-like style. The COMO Shambhala philosophy is evident throughout, be it in the healthy cuisine options, or the in-room therapeutic treatments (there’s no spa onsite, but guests have access to the Halkin’s sister property’s wellness facilities, a ten-minute walk away). Families are catered to with mini bathrobes and COMO the Halkin teddy bears for little ones.

88 bedrooms and suites (including two-bedroom family rooms) at this Knightsbridge hotel, come with The White Company bathroom amenities, iHome radio alarms and Nespresso coffee machines. Chef Isabela Vaz heads up the bistro-style restaurant, The Lowndes Belgravia, with service from 7 am to 10 pm. There’s a chauffeur-driven car to whisk you to and from the airport. And there’s The Map Room, catering for any meetings, receptions and private dining requirements you may have while in town. Jumeirah Lowndes is every bit the modern urban boutique hotel, with a palette of muted tones and plush furnishings. It’s also dog-friendly.