Best Luxury 4 Star Hotels in England

Complete with panoramic views over the City of London, Canopy by Hilton London City echoes the spirit of one of the capital’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The UK’s first Canopy by Hilton hotel is set within the multi-million-pound Minories development close to Aldgate station and offers the perfect base for design-conscious visitors looking to immerse themselves in London’s East End. 

The hotel’s interior design reflects the rich culture of the area’s historic textile industry inspired by the Huguenot silk weavers who settled in Spitalfields in the 17th century with guest quarters and dining spaces featuring floral patterns and woven fabrics reminiscent of the techniques used by the Huguenots. Artworks created by local artists adorn the public spaces throughout the hotel while inspiration from the area continues throughout the hotel, East End-inspired dishes made with local, sustainable ingredients are served at the hotel’s restaurant Penny Squares, which takes its design inspiration from the quilting technique popular in the textile industry. 

Meanwhile, St. Clare Coffee and Bar, provides the perfect place to relax, work or socialise over a craft coffee or East End-inspired cocktail in the hotel’s ground floor. A must-visit is the hotel’s stunning rooftop terrace Florattica which offers uninterrupted views of the City of London and serves delicious small plates with a great selection of drinks against a vibrant backdrop inspired by the floral patterns of the Huguenots.

An old station hotel dating back to the Victorian era, The Milner York has been transformed into an elegant, yet modern establishment ideally placed for exploring the city. York Minster is a ten-minute walk away and the National Railway Museum is just five minutes. As would be expected from a luxury hotel the facilities are excellent with hotel concierge, and porters who will meet you at the station if you’re arriving by train. While enjoying the sights and sounds of York don’t miss out on afternoon tea in the hotel’s fabulous Garden Rooms. In the evening make use of the hotel’s pool and gymnasium, before enjoying a gourmet evening meal prepared with Yorkshire’s finest products.

Just minutes from the heart of York, boutique hotel, the Elmbank Hotel is steeped in 19th-century history. Redesigned by George Walton, a contemporary of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the hotel boasts one of the UK’s most complete Art Nouveau collections. Be greeted by stunning stained glass, murals, and intricate stencils as you make your way to the thoughtfully designed and elegantly styled guest quarters. Its 61 bedrooms are adorned with unique artwork celebrating Elmbank’s significant Yorkshire heritage en-suite bathrooms with hand-crafted GOLEM tiles, (some with roll-top baths), flatscreen TVs, WiFi, and facilities for Yorkshire Tea and Nespresso coffee. Elmbank’s Leetham’s Brasserie serves seasonal dishes, while Peacock Bar, invites you to relax at the marble-topped bar or on plush sofas surrounded by original Art Nouveau treasures.

The Reach at Piccadilly, Manchester – a Tribute Portfolio Hotel within Marriott Bonvoy’s collection – honours the city’s industrial heritage and its pioneering past. Located in the city centre, just a 90-second walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, The Reach at Piccadilly offers a chic design, featuring 215 stylish guest rooms, eight suites, and a ground-floor restaurant and bar: Lock 84. The hotel’s design draws from Manchester’s industrial roots, reflecting its history as ‘Cottonopolis,’ the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The 11-storey building on Ducie Street overlooks the Rochdale Canal, historically used for coal transport, with decor inspired by this rich heritage.

Guests can enjoy nautically themed, nostalgic interiors, quality craftsmanship, and greenery throughout. The hotel’s canalside location influences its use of activated charcoal toiletries and a twist on the historic ‘fourpenny’ drink. Lock 84 serves all-day dining with speciality small plates, using sustainably sourced, seasonal ingredients from local suppliers. The menu, featuring a Japanese-style grill and a variety of British dishes, offers everything from a la carte breakfast to tailored tasting menus, complemented by an excellent selection of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks. Collaborating with local Manchester partners, The Reach at Piccadilly is ideal for both corporate guests and leisure visitors to the city, couples, families, and even pets.

This glorious 4-star hotel located across from Kings Cross station breathes a breath of fresh air into Kings Cross with it graffiti fronted facade and newly refurbished Design Rooms. The Megaro is independently run and integrates, design, fashion, cinematography and music together with a big dose of British pop culture! Design Rooms come in 4 different styles with our favourite rooms being Backstage Britannia. The hotel has an all-day dining restaurant ‘The Eatery’ as well as a speakeasy basement bar and the lobby doubles up as the hotel’s mini bar too!

Like something from a Jane Austen novel both inside and out, Middlethorpe Hall is a pretty country mansion surrounded by 20 acres of rolling grounds, just a couple of miles from the city centre. Two Edwardian cottages house the destination spa and there’s a pool. Guests can stroll through the walled and rose gardens, dine in the two AA Rosette restaurant and attend a wine tasting in the 17th Century dovecote. 29 hotel rooms comprise main house suites, main house bedrooms, courtyard rooms and suites, garden suites and a cottage (the latter two are dog-friendly). The property is just one of three Historic House Hotels.

Situated on Leicester Square, the Victory House London has commanding views of many of London’s most prestigious red carpets. Close to Soho, Chinatown and Covent Garden, Victory House is the ideal place for guests who wish to stay near the action. The hotel’s 86 rooms are spacious and chic, they are adorned with subtle nods to the area’s cinematic history which gives the rooms character. Many of the rooms gaze out over Leicester Square and they are all equipped with plush beds, a range of amenities and bathrobes. Victory House is home to an exquisite cocktail bar which serves a variety of expertly prepared cocktails. Victory House also boasts its own French Bistrot which uses only the freshest ingredients and serves classic French dishes with a modern flair.

The Halyard Liverpool is part of IHG’s expanding Luxury & Lifestyle Vignette portfolio of one-of-a-kind properties. Named after a nautical rope knot the property melds Liverpool’s rich maritime and mercantile history with its vibrant cultural legacy. Top-floor suites feature rooftop terraces with panoramic city views, while guest room designs showcase Liverpool’s creativity, including playful references to the local Meccano toy brand and artworks that highlight the city’s landmarks. The hotel’s destination restaurant and bar Voyages serves a small plate menu offering innovative global flavours that pay homage to the ingredients and cooking techniques that would have been brought through this port city over the many years of its existence. Located in the Ropewalks guests are just a short and convenient walk from the many bars, restaurants and shops making it an ideal choice for those eager to explore the city’s historical and contemporary offerings.

Following a complete redesign of the property by architect John Simpson and interior designer Martin Brudnizki in 2019, the University Arms Hotel part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection portfolio has re-established itself as one of Cambridge’s most remarkable destinations. The property offers 192 rooms and suites across four floors, with views of Park’s Piece and historic Regent Street. The property is undeniably British through and through. Classic Edwardian interiors are combined with bespoke, leather-padded writing desks, low ottomans and tiered chandeliers in playful colours and rooms full of natural light. We love their suites each individually named with a bookshelf of books curated by Mayfair’s Heywood Hill, large sitting rooms to relax in, while some also include walk-on balconies. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are served at their brasserie Parker’s Tavern, which has a menu of British classics made with seasonal ingredients sourced from England.

Housed in an ivy-clad Georgian Mansion surrounded by wrought iron railings, Hotel du Vin enjoys a prime setting on the quaint Town Quay. The property is a former merchant’s house, turned chic modern boutique hotel. It provides a comfortable familiarity for those already au fait with the chain and is large enough to provide facilities such as a courtyard for alfresco drinks, a bar and a bistro (serving French and British-inspired cuisine), alongside a sense of exclusivity (there are just 38 individually styled bedrooms).

Located on South Parade, the historic frontage of this heritage building gives way to modern interiors with pops of vibrant colour. The boutique establishment houses 166 bedrooms (each furnished with Hypnos beds, Egyptian cotton linen, spa-style bathrooms, minibars and Nespresso coffee machines), chic restaurant The Elder specialising in wild food and game and an entire eight-bedroom townhouse for exclusive private hire. In the main hotel guests can choose from four room categories: Romance & Mischief, Architectural Beauty, Literary Hideaway, Garden Rooms and The Vault – each reflecting its theme, with tasteful and sometimes quirky decorative features.

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.