Best Luxury Hotels in United Kingdom

If you dine anywhere on Skye, make it The Three Chimneys. The restaurant has achieved worldwide fame, yet is a humble figure on the landscape, in the shape of a cosy white croft cottage. Located in Dunvegan, the restaurant is accompanied by a romantic place to stay, The House Over By. Part of the Wee Hotel Company, the hotel has just six rooms, with one on the ground floor catering for families. Each has Temple Spa toiletries and Bose sound systems, with calming, refreshing decor. And, as it’s right next to the restaurant, you won’t have far to go to get ‘home’ – a factor that’s especially handy on Skye, where the transport infrastructure relies on access to a vehicle.

Back in the 16th-century, this was a hunting lodge. Now it’s a well respected, family-owned and run hotel in a remote part of Skye (although, most of Skye is by nature remote). Local craftspeople have been employed in the process of decorating this hotel, giving it a distinctly Scottish, yet upscale look. Homely rooms are all individually designed, with views of the nearby loch, fluffy robes and L’Occitane bath products. Guests can go foraging with the lodge’s own ghillie, take part in traditional country pursuits, play board games, dine on menus constructed to include ingredients from the Kinloch’s kitchen garden and drink at the honesty bar.

Overlooking Cornwall’s most famous bay, Fistral Beach Hotel is conveniently close to the surf action — choose a waterfront room and you can fall asleep to the soothing sounds of crashing waves. The colour palette inside reflects nature’s colours outside, with laid back contemporary decor across the 71 bedrooms (guests also have the benefit of Nespresso machines and ESPA toiletries). Dine indoors at Dune restaurant and drink outdoors, overlooking the ocean, at the Bay Bar. Fistral Beach is a super choice for fitness fanatics, with a state of the art gym and a busy timetable of classes, as well as a top-notch spa.

You may recognise this hotel from the small or big screen — it featured in The Witches, Wild Things and an episode of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Perched on a peninsula, it offers an escape from the more populated parts of Newquay. Dog and family-friendly, The Headland has a sophisticated spa, gym, a cocktail bar and epic, elevated sea views. Accommodation options include rooms, suites and self-catering cottages, all with elegant furnishings and GAIA Skincare toiletries. Samphire Restaurant and the Terrace Bistro both hold two AA Rosette awards, while The Deck serves casual meals beside the hotel’s pool.

A short distance from the city itself, on the edge of the Peak District, is this village-based hotel. Like Whitley Hall, Fischer’s is a creeper covered country mansion, but is much newer, having been built in 1907. It has a Grade II listing and was formerly a private home. The centrepiece is very much its Michelin starred restaurant. Fischer’s gained this accolade back in the 1990s and has maintained it ever since, with creative, beautifully presented cuisine. Complementing the fine fare are activities arranged in-house, around culinary themes (such as foraging tours and wine tastings). There are just 11 bedrooms, with designer decor, Nespresso machines and Sedbergh Soap Company bath products.

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.

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.

Stay in the centre of town on your Durham mini-break. The four-star Hotel Indigo is housed in a four-storey former civic building. Its original Victorian architecture is contrasted by the brand’s signature contemporary style. What was once a council chamber is now a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse with high ceilings and stained glass windows. And if you want a quick snack, you can visit the in-house Tinderbox cafe. 83 bedrooms pay homage to the city’s history, including academic and ecclesiastical design elements and vintage artefacts. Hotel Indigo places you close to the city’s attractions, ensuring you can visit the highlights on foot.

The highlight of the 90 roomed Rudding Park is undoubtedly its stunning glass rooftop spa comprising a 17-metre pool, eatery and garden. While Harrogate is just a short car ride away, the property is surrounded by peaceful parkland and two golf courses. The decor is funky yet chic featuring bold modern art, dramatic feature pieces and an urban meets country style. Dine in the Clocktower restaurant, drink on the terraces, work out in the gym and catch a film in the private cinema.

Discover the Harrogate and The Dales while staying at five-star Grantley Hall. The hotel -part of the Relais and Chateaux portfolio – is made up of 47 bedrooms, four restaurants, three bars, a gym and the Roman-inspired Three Graces Spa. The decor echoes the buildings grand Palladian origins, accompanied by a muted, calming palette, Fine dine at Shaun Rankin, Fletchers, Eightyeight and Valeria’s. Grab a bite at the Norton Bar and Courtyard of the spa lounge. Swim in a marble edged pool, take drinks al fresco on the terraces, wander through the olive tree-lined atrium and spend a few hours in the wine tasting room.

If you’re seeking something a little more bijou and intimate, check out La Haule Manor. The facade of this building originated in 1796, an era that’s mirrored in its lavish aristocratic interiors. Most of the 16 bedrooms afford views of the sea, with suites offering balconies and roll-top baths. The interiors echo Rococo style in the main, with plenty of antiques and breakfast is taken in a more contemporary designed room. Outside, guests can swim in a heated pool (during the spring and summer). Both St. Aubin town and Beauport Beach are within walking distance and there’s a shuttle service to the airport.

The Grand Jersey Hotel overlooks St Aubin’s Bay. Dating back to the late 1800s, it’s one of the oldest hotels on the island, keeping watch over Elizabeth castle from its vantage point. The original staircase rising from the lobby has been maintained, while an internal staircase is complemented by an enormous 30ft light installation. Inside are two restaurants, the more formal Tassili and a bistro, Victoria’s Brasserie, as well as a champagne bar and an Elemis spa. Outside is a terrace grill. The hotel has five stars and 123 bedrooms.