Best Luxury Hotels in England

This grand building is found among the treetops of Dartmoor National Park and offers an upscale golf and spa retreat in the wilds of deepest Devon. Awarded five AA Red Stars – a lofty accolade – it offers a choice of self-catering lodges and sumptuous hotel bedrooms. Here you can explore nature trails, take a fine tea in the dining room beside a roaring fire, eat in the newly refurbished brasserie with stunning views, or enjoy an idyllic on-site picnic prepared by the Castle’s team of expert chefs.

Step away from the urban sprawl and into an urban oasis; the tree-filled garden at Ham Yard features a bronze sculpture centrepiece by Tony Cragg. Inside you’ll find eclectic interiors by designer Kit Kemp, with vintage elements, bold patterns, bright colours and an array of art. Each room has its own personality, alongside handmade mattresses, rain showers and custom-designed furniture. Dine in a rooftop terrace bar, the Mediterranean-inspired Orso restaurant and take drinks in the bar. Guests also have access to a screening room, a spa and a fitness centre, plus a bespoke hat service where you can design their own headwear.

Stay just outside the bijou city of Winchester in a 17th-century hotel with its own cookery and falconry schools. The hotel has retained its period feel with plenty of velvet textiles and antiques. Some of the 50 opulent rooms have four-poster beds, double showers and freestanding tubs. 63 acres of land provides plenty of outdoor activity, including archery, croquet, tennis and fishing. Menus in the wood-panelled restaurant Avenue, are created by Chef Andrew Birch and include local delicacies.

The Malvern Hills rise along the border of Worcestershire and Herefordshire in western England. Perched high on the wooded slopes is the evocatively-named ‘Cottage in the Wood’, in reality, a historic, hidden-away, luxury hotel on a hill and the ideal base from which to hike and explore the area, designated one of outstanding, natural beauty. This Georgian-built property was comprehensively refurbished after new owners took over in 2015. The multi-million pound renovation introduced a more contemporary, design-led, luxury aesthetic while still maintaining an elegant, country-house feel.

Thirty-two unique and stylish bedrooms are set across the hotel’s three properties – the Main House, Beech Cottage and the Coach House. Select rooms in The Coach House are dog-friendly. For larger groups and families, two luxurious, self-catering guest houses available, The Studio and The Chapel, which are tucked into the hillside just below the main hotel. Many rooms have sweeping and dramatic views of the Severn Valley, Vale of Evesham and the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.

Dining is a defining feature of ‘The Cottage’. The award-winning 1919 Restaurant has earned a reputation for refined modern British cooking, with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients shaping elegant tasting menus. The more relaxed Brasserie offers all-day dining with the same attention to quality. An intimately-lit cosy yet stylish bar and lounge with adjacent outside terrace complete with tables and seating overlooking the incomparable view, and a welcoming book-lined reception area make-up the public areas.

Two quaint pale green buildings in the Lanes sandwich a little medieval-type structure that’s like something straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Together they house Brighton’s Hotel Du Vin, a 49 bedroom property with chic New England style interiors. Upgrade to the lavish Cristal loft suite if you wish to sleep in an 8ft by 8ft bed, recline on leather sofas, soak in twin clawfooted tubs and soak up the sun on the suite’s huge private terrace. There’s a shared terrace for residents also, as well as a maritime-themed bistro and a trendy on-site pub.

A room at the Radisson Blu will bring you right to the city’s riverside. The contemporary hotel has 207 rooms ranging from standard doubles through to a Presidential Suite complete with a separate living and dining area. It’s a family-friendly choice — cots can be requested and there are children’s menus available in the restaurant, Collage. The eatery serves mainly British dishes, with the breakfast buffet becoming a more international affair. Radisson Blu also has a gym, a spa and an indoor pool with a poolside jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

This five-star country lodge makes for a wonderful state-of-the-art spa break. The hotel is housed in a 19th century mansion, but the spa area is in a separate, modern and eco-friendly wood-clad building with large windows taking full advantage of the views. Outside it has a jetted tub surrounded by loungers, plus there’s an infinity edge pool and a natural wild pool. Rooms come with four-poster beds and claw-foot freestanding tubs and some have private gardens. The award-winning venue also boasts three restaurants, a Billiard Bar, lounges and a terrace for alfresco dining.

There can be no more regal outlook than Buckingham Palace. And that’s exactly what this full-service five-star hotel opposite the Royal Mews offers. Guests are met by liveried doormen, before being checked into bedrooms with four-posters, fabric-covered walls, velvet tapestries and Murano chandeliers. Many of the rooms are royal-themed, paying homage to Britain’s monarchs and singles are available for solo travellers. The English Grill is the main restaurant; The Curry Room has a menu of Indian food; The Palace Lounge offers classic afternoon teas; and The New York Bar is a cool cocktail hangout.

St. Ermin’s Hotel, an independent four-star deluxe hotel nestled at the end of a tree-lined courtyard in the heart of Westminster, London, offers a unique blend of relaxation within close proximity to the city’s historical attractions. The hotel boasts a wide selection of rooms and suites, including pet-friendly options, catering to a variety of guest needs and as it is conveniently located near St. James’s and Victoria stations, it is the perfect base for exploring the city or combining business with leisure. As part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, guests at St. Ermin’s can earn or redeem Marriott BonVoy points. Dining options include Caxton Bar, a historical meeting spot for influential figures, including Winston Churchill during WWII and rumoured spy exchanges, the bar offers a cosy atmosphere for guests and locals to enjoy a wide range of drinks and classic bar meals. The modern European cuisine at Caxton Grill, inspired by the rooftop garden, showcases seasonal, top-quality ingredients grilled to perfection with an emphasis on first-class ingredients and service. Whilst a traditional and indulgent British Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed in the Tea Lounge and Library.  St. Ermin’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its local sourcing and use of its rooftop kitchen garden and bee terrace for fresh produce and honey, making it more than just a typical London hotel but a place of historical significance and culinary excellence.

Patterned wallpaper, painted panelling, palms, Persian rugs and parquet flooring create both a classic and on-trend aesthetic in this property. Bedrooms with carved headboards and bold-printed cushions range from “cosy” through to “luxury studio” categories. The Coral Room salon bar channels the 1920s and was designed in collaboration with Martin Brudnizki. The Dalloway Terrace is a fully heated al fresco space for all-day dining, adjacent to The Coral Garden, with its botanical canopy and fireplace. Then there’s the hedonistic Bloomsbury Club Bar, with a Tarot inspired cocktail menu.

With its quirky interiors and splashes of bright colour, this establishment really stands out from the rather stark and business-like style of the rest of Canary Wharf. A short stroll along the underwater foot tunnel in Greenwich takes guests to a wide range of attractions, although this is a great place to simply unwind for a while. The large indoor swimming pool is the perfect place to splash around while working up an appetite. Dining options at the hotel include all-day dining at ‘Food Store’ Driven by produce that’s in season, socially and ethically produced and sourced, chef Rumel Pinnock serves an all-day dining menu perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner. All appetites and tastes are catered for, with a selection of small plates, pizzas and hearty mains. While Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen run by celebrity Chef, Cyrus Todiwala OBE, brings signature dishes from his acclaimed landmark restaurant in the city, Café Spice Namaste, to be enjoyed in this stylish, vibrant restaurant at the hotel. The hotel has 129 rooms for guests to choose from and all are spacious with plenty of cosy touches.

Located near the picturesque banks of the Thames, near London’s most iconic landmarks, The Westminster London, inspired by Ian Fleming’s James Bond, reopened in May 2021 following an extensive multimillion-pound refurbishment. The hotel features 464 beautifully designed guestrooms, ranging from standard rooms to suites, all equipped with modern-day essentials such as flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, and bottled water. Guests can enjoy the on-site gym rooftop gym with Peloton equipment and incredible views or indulge at the Westminster Bar & Grill, a modern steakhouse with a carefully curated wine list along with its own unique bowling alley. Additionally, the Westminster Café on the ground floor offers casual dining with a selection of hot drinks, juices, sandwiches, snacks, and canned cocktails, perfect for a quick breakfast or a pre-dinner drink.