Best Luxury 5 Star Hotels in England

This elegant Relais and Chateaux property and spa is found among the rolling green fields of Evershot. Listed as one of the Best Country House Hotels in Britain by The Daily Telegraph in 2019, awarded Hotel Restaurant of the Year at the Dorset Food & Drinks Awards in 2017 and voted No. 2 Top Hotel in the UK at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2017, the Lodge has an array of accolades to its name. Rooms and cottages are peaceful, and comfortable, yet regal in style. Fine dining is de rigueur, while the bar is home to over 300 whiskies.

Visitors to North Yorkshire can elect to stay in the grand surroundings of this privately owned stately home, the once-residence of Princess Mary. The five-star 17th-century Grade II listed building is set in 11 acres of land with far-reaching views. Stained glass windows, Jacobean architecture, oversized fireplaces, heavy drapes, four-poster beds, exposed beams and antique rugs are just some of its regal features. There’s also a spa, hot tub, charming orangery and some of the best service in the county. Hearty yet high-end Yorkshire cuisine is to be found on the menu – the hotel has an AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence and you mustn’t miss the traditional afternoon tea in Princess Mary’s Drawing Room.

Perched on a working farm, where the northern Cotswolds’ border meets the Avon valleys is Eckington Manor. The family-owned and run hotel offers 17 bedrooms spread over four barns and outbuildings. The suites retain period beams, flagstones, wood stoves and antiques, combined with up to date materials and furnishings tastefully in keeping with the building’s age. Enjoy farm to fork cuisine in the 12th-century Dutch barn restaurant and take lessons at the Georgian manor’s own cookery school.

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.

Rising from the ethereal mists of Dartmoor is Gidleigh Park’s impressive Tudor frontage. The parkland provides enables activities including fly-fishing, tennis, croquet and golf on the 18-hole Peter Allis Course. Stay in a room or suite with antique pieces and period features, or book the charming thatched cottage in the hotel’s grounds. Dine in elegance at the hotel’s intimate restaurant and select from the choice of 13000 bottles of international wine held in the cellar.

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.

The Athenaeum Hotel is a five-star hotel and residences with a five-star history. Dating back to the 1800’s the building has taken many forms; from a popular Gentlemen’s Club, a luxurious Art Deco apartment block and a prestigious hotel – The Athenaeum Hotel has become synonymous with the important, the rich and the famous. The Athenaeum has made a name for itself not just as a hotel but also as a dining destination on its own merit. As the name suggests, Galvin at The Athenaeum is the hotel restaurant by Michelin-starred chef brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, known for the French-inspired menus the brothers have developed a menu for this restaurant that champions classic British produce. The cosy bar is also a firm favourite with hotel residents and non-residents alike, with a carefully curated cocktail menu it’s well worth a visit.

A historic house believed to date back to the 16th century, Saltcote Place has been extensively renovated and restored over the years. Each of its six suites has been individually decorated and furnished with antique pieces and features such as wooden four-poster beds, chandeliers and roll-top tubs. Reserved for those over 14 years of age, Saltcote Place is a grown-up retreat and high-end B&B, where guests are treated to bubbles at breakfasts and complimentary nightcaps. The venue also hosts weddings in its function suites and caters especially well for honeymooning and anniversary couples.

This incredible Grade I-listed, Georgian building is the jewel in Buxton’s crown. Built by the fifth Duke of Devonshire in the 1780s, it fell into disrepair at the end of the 20th century. Under more recent ownership by the Ensana brand, Buxton Crescent reopened at the end of 2020, after undergoing a lavish renovation spanning almost two decades. As a result, everything here is in mint, brand new condition, sensitively retaining the original features, while adding sophisticated and on-trend elements. Drawing on the natural thermal waters of its environs, the spa here is a dream, with several indoor hydro experiences, relaxation rooms and a salt grotto. Guests have unlimited access and can swim from indoors to out, in the rooftop infinity pool. The dining offer is top class too, with service to match.

An iconic and historic Victorian hotel, this building has become a landmark on the seafront. Built to an Italian Renaissance style, it retains many period features, but with a contemporary vibe inspired by its surroundings. The Grand’s new dining room, Cyan, has become a destination restaurant. Here, two and three-course set menus and a curated range of small plates, sharing platters, and signature dishes can be ordered. There’s also the option of the Victoria Terrace Grill and bar. Single rooms through to Grand Collection suites can be booked, with higher grades providing BOSE sound systems, sweeping sea views, 32” LCD flat-screen TV and Noble Isle bath products.

Stay on this impressive Tudor estate on the outskirts of the town. The 50 acres of grounds alone are a sight to behold; they contain a sundial presented to Great Fosters by Sir Francis Drake, topiaries, terraces, a florally decorated Japanese bridge that crosses over a moat, a fountain, tennis courts and a heated outdoor pool. Once inside, you’ll find two restaurants, the Michelin starred Tony Parkin at The Tudor Room and the two AA rosette awarded The Estate Grill. The hotel has brought together several buildings, the oldest thought to be a Royal hunting lodge dating back to 1550.

Found a little further afield in Sunningdale, near Ascot, Coworth Park is part of the Dorchester Collection. It’s more like a resort than a hotel, with an eco-friendly spa, a pool with underwater music, tennis courts, an equestrian centre and Guards Polo Academy, three restaurants (one of which has a Michelin star) and a library, as well as acres of land to roam. Yet with just 70 rooms it retains a sense of intimacy. Each has its own minibar, Nespresso machine, Mitchell and Peach bath products and a Bang + Olufsen TV, while some suites offer freestanding copper coloured tubs, four-poster beds and garden views.