Best Boutique Hotels in England

A luxurious flagship hotel in the historic Paddington area of London, Inhabit Southwick Street – a member of Design Hotels offers respite from the bustling city centre and a range of world-class amenities to enhance your stay. There are 159 thoughtfully designed guestrooms showcasing the best of contemporary Scandinavian design with traditional Eastern and British twists. On-site dining is available in Yeotown where fresh, plant-based cuisine is served all day or at Pantry where you’ll find healthy snacks and soft drinks on offer. Inhale at Inhabit is the comprehensive wellness centre boasting indulgent treatments and a yoga studio alongside the fitness centre featuring a Peloton bike. There is a calming library and a retail facility where guests can browse.

The Michelin-starred Dining Room at Gravetye Manor is a highlight of any stay here. Many ingredients come from the country house’s century-old walled kitchen garden – of which floor-to-ceiling windows provide an ample view. The grounds are stunning and the hotel runs tours of the gardens alone. Inside, 17 rooms are each named after trees on the estate, furnished with antiques, pastel textiles, oil paintings and flowers freshly picked from outside. The building dates back to the 16th century and the portraits of the original owners can be seen carved above the fireplace in one of the bedrooms.

The ivy-clad frontage of this 16th-century mansion is an impressive sight for the arriving guest. It’s surrounded by 20 acres of grounds and the resident peacocks, Canada geese and mallards. Inside, the 32 bedrooms have been decorated in a classic, luxury country manor style, many with Juliet balconies and four-poster beds or views of the lake. And there are homely touches like a decanter of port in each room. Mary Queen of Scots was said to have stayed here, although of course it’s undergone major renovations since, including the addition of a restaurant that’s been awarded two AA rosettes.

Those seeking a boutique escape need look no further than the 21-room Lympstone Manor on the River Exe. Contemporary comfort is found within this Grade II listed Georgian Manor House surrounded by manicured gardens. As part of the Relais and Chateaux group, the cuisine is a highlight. Renowned Executive Chef and MBE Michael Caines creates delectable seasonal tasting menus drawing discerning foodies from near and far afield.

Perched above the rugged Durham Heritage Coast, Seaham Hall is an award-winning Georgian manor turned five-star boutique hotel, offering 21 luxurious suites that blend bold contemporary design with historical grandeur. The 18th-century mansion retains its romantic allure through opulent interiors, soft-furnishings and expansive sea views.

Guests can dine at The Dining Room, showcasing modern British cuisine crafted from local produce, or at Ozone, the hotel’s pan-Asian restaurant found within the spa. The Serenity Spa is one of the finest in the UK, spanning 44,000 square feet with a hydrotherapy pool, outdoor hot tubs, herbal sauna, Zen garden, and holistic treatments.

Formerly a dower house, The Peacock is now a chic boutique hotel. Antiques from across the ages mingle with stylish modern pieces, upholstered in rich fabrics. Guests can enjoy more casual dining in the firelit bar, or take a table in the formal restaurant surrounded by oil paintings and heavy drapes – either way, the delicious menu translates across to both venues. Younger children aren’t permitted to stay at weekends and overall it does suit adults better, especially those seeking a break with a more grown-up vibe.

Situated in the centre of town, the Old Bank Hotel is ideally placed whether you are visiting on business or for leisure. With elegantly decorated, spacious rooms which include Wi-Fi and TV. The building is dripping with character thanks to its three interconnecting buildings dating back to the 14th century. There are 42 bedrooms ranking from standard rooms to superior deluxe rooms. Breakfast, lunch, high-tea and evening meals are available in the restaurant or from room service.

The Varsity of one of the city’s most luxurious properties and also conveniently located in the city centre close to St John’s, Trinity, Jesus and Magdalene College. King’s, Christ’s, Queens’, Gonville and Caius, Clare, Corpus Christi universities. Boutique in size with just 44 rooms, each being individually designed and celebrating the heritage of the city. Their Superking Rooms feature four-poster beds and gorgeous free-standing hot tubs with walk out balconies, while their fellow suites is set over 80sqm, including a private terrace, 19” Apple Mac roll-top bath and a monsoon shower. The hotel includes two dining options SIX their brasserie on the top floor includes 360o views across Cambridge and serves dishes from their Wood Stone oven, Grill and Rotisserie, while their Steakhouse The River Bar down at the River Cam serves 28-day dry-aged steaks. If you are looking for some pampering head to the hotel’s spa The Glassworks which includes an Elewmis Spa, Gym, Steam Room and Jacuzzi.

Found in a collection of converted sugar warehouses in the city centre, this is one of two Hotel Du Vin in Bristol – the other lies further out at Avon Gorge – As such, it has Grade II listing and is filled with quirky industrial features. Modern amenities found in the 40 bedrooms (set across three floors) include Nespresso machines, air conditioning and premium bedding as standard. Dine out on the terrace in good weather or enjoy the ambience in its award-winning French bistro. And enjoy a beverage or two in the aptly named Sugar House Bar. If you’re planning an extra special visit, book the Veuve Clicquot suite with its twin bathtubs, or Harvey’s for its private terrace.

Whatley Manor’s 12 acres of land has been carefully formed into no less than 26 separate gardens. The Grade II listed building became a hotel in 2003 but dates back to the 18th century. Found in the hamlet of Easton Grey on the edge of Malmesbury it provides a base to explore the southern wolds. It houses 23 unique rooms, Aquarias Spa, bars and eateries. Winner of this year’s Great British Menu, Executive Chef, Niall Keating serves his banquets in the venue’s on-site restaurant and brasserie, and via the roaming ‘Paradise Carriage’ takeaway.

Perched on the peninsula above Rutland Water in Oakham just outside of Stamford, this grand hall has been a privately owned hotel for decades. In that time it has earned a highly coveted three-star rating from the Michelin Guide for its cuisine (and boasts the UK’s longest-retained star), in a restaurant inspired by Michel Guerard’s Les Prés d’Eugénie in France. Much of its produce comes from the onsite walled one-acre kitchen garden, tended by a team of dedicated gardeners. Do come to dine, but also stay, and sleep in one of the rooms in the main house, or the self-contained two-bedroom Croquet Suite.

The grade II listed Quebecs Hotel offers the ultimate in comfort in the splendid surroundings of the former Leeds and County Liberal Club. Once through the impressive original entrance with its wrought-iron gates, you’re guaranteed a matchless experience in one of the hotel’s 44 unique rooms, with down-filled pillows and quilts on the comfortable beds. The former porters’ lodge is now a snug lounge bar which is perfect place for morning coffee, afternoon tea or an evening cocktail. That’s if you can be lured away from your sumptuous, well-stocked room.