Best Luxury Hotels in England

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.

Enjoy a sublime spa getaway at this rural stone-built manor house within easy reach of Plymouth. Facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, alfresco hot tubs, a Finnish sauna, a Crystal Salt steam room, a sensory journey shower experience, a relaxation room overlooking a wildflower meadow and a laconium herbal sauna. The ‘Spatisserie’ serves both healthy and indulgent meal options to nourish and treat guests, and luxe contemporary rooms ensure deep and dreamy sleep afterwards.

Located in the middle of London’s flashy Pimlico neighbourhood, in the district of Westminster. This small boutique hotel is set up in a recently re-established and modernised Georgian townhouse. The Artist Residence London consists of ten high-ceilinged rooms offering luxury accommodation, a stylish cocktail bar and an all-day restaurant. The décor includes contemporary artwork, bare brick walls and all sorts of elegant clutter – from tea crates, Kilner jars to bespoke milking stools remodelled into bedside tables.

Return to the splendour of the Georgian era at Batty Langley’s. 29 suites are inspired by 18th/19th-century life and notable characters of the ages. There are two lounges for guests’ use, one with an honesty bar (the epitome of fancy boutique London hospitality) providing a recipe book for cocktail making. Breakfast can be served in these, or in your room. This establishment is certainly a place to lounge in your room till late and order room service at any time of the day or night; Batty’s has a theatrical decadence about it, that’s made for minimooners.

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.

Housed in a 19th-century building on Holbein Place, this Victorian mansion now exudes French sensibilities along with an eternal British charm. Hotelier Costes and designer François-Joseph Graf have created a discreet home-from-home with just 30 period bedrooms and suites, ranging from a “Mini” to a two-bedroom apartment. Enter via the Neo-Greek lobby and descend to the lower-ground floor speakeasy bar. Or climb to the top, where you can dine in the candlelit restaurant, surrounded by stained-glass windows, a mosaic floor and an antique collection of Anglo-Chinese vases. Vintage albums and a signature scene throughout create an immersive feel at One Sloane.

The antidote to London’s largeness, the bijou Boundary has but 17 rooms, ensuring a boutique ambience in the surroundings of a former Victorian warehouse. Each has been individually designed in the spirit of Shoreditch’s commitment to creativity, boasting funky, edgy and arty decor that’s entirely unique and very imaginative. And you’d expect nothing less when you discover that this hotel is owned by Sir Terence Conran, himself a design legend. At the top is its Rooftop Bar & Grill, within a glass extension that enables far-reaching views as you dine, whatever the weather.

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).

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the New Forest in Beaulieu, Grade II listed hotel The Montagu Arms offers a chic and stylish escape. With its elegant bedrooms and suites, three AA Rosette Terrace Restaurant led by new Head Chef Matthew Whitfield (previously of Eleven Madison Park), and stunning grounds and gardens; it’s the perfect getaway for those looking for a luxury, gastronomic experience.

A hotel with history, Matfen Hall’s story may have begun centuries ago, but its range of first-class facilities is more relevant than ever to the 21st-century luxury traveller. Stay here to indulge in a thermal spa journey, have treatments in candlelit treatment rooms, relax in a Dutch garden, play on a 27-hole championship golf course, dine in a two AA Rosette awarded restaurant, and enjoy strolls on Matfen’s 300 acres of landscaped gardens, parkland and woodland and much more…

Despite the fact that Canary Wharf is a very vibrant part of London, you are sure to enjoy an especially tranquil stay at the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel. The floor to ceiling windows in the guestrooms let in plenty of light and allow guests to enjoy pretty views of the River Thames from the comfort of their large beds. The room décor is a calming blue and white, which makes the most of the natural light that floods into the rooms. Dining al fresco on the spacious terrace of the Quadrato Restaurant, Bar & Lounge during the sultry summer months is a real treat and there is an excellent selection of dishes for guests to sink their teeth into. Those who are in search of pure relaxation will find a large sauna and Jacuzzi onsite, while there is also a pretty swimming pool to splash around in.

Owned by the Champneys group, Eastwell Manor’s guests enjoy the privilege of access to a divine on-site spa with a 20-metre heated pool and signature treatments. The vibe is quintessentially English and upmarket – tennis, petanque and croquet are all available within its grounds. Guided walks are provided, making the most of its surrounding nature trails, while memorable meals are served in its Manor Restaurant and Brasserie. Tuck into scones and petit fours, and sip Earl Grey from a china cup in the room where Queen Victoria once took afternoon tea. Guests are accommodated either in the main house or a separate mews building.