Best Luxury Hotels in United Kingdom

Even closer to the ferry (fewer than five minutes walk), The Douglas Hotel is a boutique property overlooking the sea, with just 19 bedrooms, two suites and a lodge catering for four. Its origins date back to 1782 when it catered for the aristocracy; the hotel later became a medical practice and the doctor’s home, but, after falling derelict, was taken on by Sean Henry in 2010. The decor is both classic and fashionable, with plenty of tweed and plaid to reflect local culture. It has a bar and bistro, with a large terrace for boat and seal spotting on warmer days.

Book into a boutique hotel on the Royal Esplanade to take full advantage of the sea views and access to the beach (ideal if you’re up for a dip). The townhouse has just 19 bedrooms; all have been designed using calming neutral tones with simple modern decor, a Hypnos mattress and a Nespresso coffee machine. Some rooms come with a Crosley record player and records and a freestanding bath, ideal for a romantic break. The hotel is dog-friendly and has a restaurant and bar with indoor, as well as outdoor, dining spaces. Look out for the displays by local artists on show too — Port Hotel has strong connections with the flourishing art scene in Eastbourne.

Stroll a mere ten minutes from the centre of Inverness to discover this uber-trendy hotel – the city’s only to have five stars. The sleek, modern Rocpool Reserve, is contained in a Georgian mansion house and overlooks the River Ness. It has its own moody cocktail ‘r bar’ and Chez Roux (part of the wider Roux group) serving everything from amuse-bouche to hearty high-end fare and even special meals for your pooch. Four categories of bedrooms (11 in total) offer delights such as hot tubs, cabin-style saunas, balconies, oversized beds and Tassimo coffee machines, along with dark and dramatic decor. Valet services and beauty treatments are available on request.

Opt for modern accommodation in the city centre, right on the banks of the River Ness (some rooms have views directly over the fast-flowing water). Handy for the railway station, shops and nightlife, this serves as a great base for those wishing to tour the Highlands, but with plenty of places to go and things to do by day and after dark. There are 191 bedrooms spread over four floors, a kitchen for all-day dining and a lounge area, to relax with a beverage. AC Hotel caters equally well for families (including four-legged friends) and business travellers.

Found close to Culloden Moor, this was the place used by Bonnie Prince Charlie as lodging and battle HQ in Jacobean times. Now its 40 acres are given over to leisure and pleasure, with guests able to explore the expansive woodland and walled garden, fine dining on the best local produce at its Highland restaurant, sip rare whiskies in the traditional library and sleep in four-poster beds within the grand ivy-clad mansion house. You’ll be surrounded by an air of history in its 28 bedrooms, with large fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, tartan drapes, baronial architecture and antique furnishings from bygone eras.

This incredible ivy-clad building is a veritable labyrinth, with many nooks and crannies. The site has been home to an inn or hotel for thousands of years now, so brings with it a wealth of hospitality heritage; dine in its formal Oak Room or relaxed Garden Room, order bubbles at the 14th-century Champagne Bar and get a snack in the York Bar. Bedrooms are adorned with features such as heavy antique drapes, curtained four-poster beds, patterned bedspreads, dark wood panelling and carved headboards. Each has a unique style and layout, so you can stay time and again and have a new experience.

With open views across the golf course to the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock, this is the hotel to choose if you want to be right beside the sea. The Marine has been restored to reflect its grand past, with tastefully chosen furnishings and textiles exuding a sense of old-world opulence and vintage flair, that’s as inviting as the outlook. Dine on local beef, game, and freshly landed seafood at The Lawn and order a cocktail or afternoon tea beneath the glittering chandeliers of the stylish Bass Rock Bar and Lounge. The French skincare brand Caudalie has partnered with the hotel to bring its spa treatments, designed using scientific techniques and active ingredients from the brand’s Bordeaux vineyards.

While spa breaks are traditionally the domain of adults, Woolley Grange offers a unique all-age experience. Mini-me pamper sessions catering to younger skin enable kids to get a taste of treatments and the large indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the charming Bath stone walled garden, is super for some fun splash time. But there are also zoned areas for grown-ups to relax away from the little ones. The treatment spaces are housed within a contemporary oak-timber building that exudes a sense of calm as soon as you enter. And there’s also an outdoor heated 12-metre pool, open from May to September.

Opposite the wide green space of Bruntsfield Links, in a charming neighbourhood, just a 15-minute walk from the heart of the city is the glamorous Black Ivy boutique hotel. A beautifully decorated terrace strewn with floral displays and lanterns greets arriving guests and provides a prime spot to watch the park and neighbourhood activity over a cocktail. Inside is an opulent, fashionable interior, home to a large Drafthouse bar and Conservatory Dining Room, as well as the 21 bedrooms. Each of the guest spaces takes on a luxe boho style, with pops of colour, period windows, stylish design and bathrooms replete with White Company ‘Noir’ toiletries.

Walk along York Place in the heart of the city, and you’ll see a row of beautiful historic Georgian townhouses. Within five is a beautiful, chic and contemporary hotel ready to steal you away from the bustle of the city. More than a place to rest your head at night, it’s a hotel that works to ensure comfort and luxury is at the forefront. With a business centre, health and fitness centre and luxury room amenities, they make it easy for you to access whatever you need during your stay. Don’t forget to take advantage of their spa-inspired rainfall shower, mini bar with complimentary soft drinks and snacks, WiFi, and 32” HD LCD TV in all King bedrooms. And when you’re too tired to stay up, you’ll be handsomely rewarded as you snuggle into crisp Egyptian cotton linens, perfect for a good night’s sleep.

These five-star suites sit across from the River Irwell, in Salford, within walking distance to high-end department stores, two railway stations and the buzz of Exchange Square. 237 apartments are housed in a glass and steel-built property, with soundproofing, blackout curtains, White Company toiletries, full-sized kitchens and a home-from-home feel, ideal for those here for an extended stay. On the ground floor, you’ll find an 18-metre swimming pool with a hot tub and a state-of-the-art gym, with equipment that retains the details of your personal workout programme. Personal training and pilates sessions are also available.

Just a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens, Roomzzz Aparthotel offers multiple levels of suites to suit every type of stay and budget. There’s the compact and quirky Smart Studio, the Grande and Grande Plus Studios (the latter includes a z-bed for families), the more spacious Family Grande with LED mood lighting, the luxurious Liberty Suite, a party-ready Loft Suite with a mezzanine level, and the two-bedroom/two-storey Penthouse Suite with a jacuzzi bath and a separate living room. White Company toiletries and a daily grab-and-go breakfast are included, there’s a shop on site and guests have access to a laundry room.