Best Luxury Hotels in United Kingdom

A full-service spa, two dining areas and 75 unique rooms await visitors to Danesfield Hotel in Marlow. The menus are imagined and created by Head Chef, James Bailey. Meals can be taken on the sun-soaked terrace for a convivial alfresco experience with views of the River Thames and Chiltern Hills. The estate was purchased and given its current name back in 1750 and has had an eclectic and illustrious history. It’s now a luxury, riverside country house hotel.

Four cottages and a 15th-century longhouse make up the Grove of Narbeth. Here, the old world meets the new with interiors designed by Martin Hulbert. Furniture, pottery and lace come from local artists and makers, along with a few exotic textiles from far-flung lands. The Fernery restaurant operates a low mileage policy on produce and has it’s own veg and herb gardens under the direction of executive chef Allister Barsby. It’s an all-round eco-friendly staycation choice, with electric car charging points courtesy of Tesla, solar panels and recycled water. There’s also a casual dining area, The Artisan Rooms, and 26 plush bedrooms in bold and autumnal classic shades.

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.

Hotels in the Four Seasons group promise a reliably luxurious standard of living, as well as great food. This one in Dogmersfield encompasses 500 acres of land, with accommodation varying from a Grand Manor Room with estate views, through to an elite two bedroomed Royal Suite. The decor reflects its countryside locale, as does the culinary offer. Meals can be taken at Wild Carrot, Cafe Sante, in the Library, the bar, or Fox Hollow (the latter providing private dining for groups). The hotel is very child and pet friendly, ideal for a family break.

This stunning 18th-century mansion is perched on the banks of the Dau-Cleddau River, in the Pembrokeshire National Park. It’s a grand building but contains just 15 bedrooms, creating a boutique indoor atmosphere. Surrounded by 700 acres of countryside, the area is home to ospreys, birds of prey, badgers and otters. The decor is evocative of an old country estate and the two AA Rosette restaurant has an elegant, timeless feel. Much of the produce comes from the hotel’s vintage kitchen garden, along with Welsh specialities from slightly further afield.

Spend your Welsh break in a romantic fairytale castle overlooking the Menai Strait. The magnificent 30 bedroomed, six-storey stately home is situated on the island of Anglesey and has received a five-star rating from Visit Wales. It was built as a gift for Lady Sarah Hay Williams – based on a series of chateaux in the Loire Valley – and contains immense period intricacy both inside and out. A more recent facelift has retained its character but added modern comforts. Guests can take a RIB ride from the hotel’s private slipway, soak under the stars in a hot tub or cosy up by the fireside with a nightcap.

Six months after opening, The Royston was declared the best hotel in Wales by The Sunday Times. It has just seven rooms and welcomes both pets, and children over the age of 12. The grounds yield a breakfast bounty with its own orchard, egg-laying hens and polytunnels. The kitchen serves hearty homemade meals – but you’ll need to book in advance – and the homely ambience extends to the well-stocked honesty bar. Enjoy an alfresco beverage, drinking in both the majestic scenery and your tipple.

Looking down on Carmarthen Bay, the hotel’s proximity to sandy beaches makes it ideal for an upscale UK break. The spa here is considered to be one of the finest in Wales, with its thermal suite, herbal rock sauna, seaweed wraps, algae facials and the pièce de résistance – a hydrotherapy infinity pool with ocean views. St Brides is decorated to echo the palette of its coastal locale and in addition to standard rooms, guests can book self-catering apartments. And of course, seafood is the speciality at St Brides’ sophisticated Cliff Restaurant.

For the quintessential turreted fairytale castle experience, book a stay at Barcaldine, on the outskirts of Oban. Beams, wood panels, a great hall, a turnpike staircase, a secret passage and a bottle dungeon below stairs all contribute to the sense of stepping back in time here. The decor is traditionally Highland, with plenty of tartans, tweed, brown leather and claw-footed roll-top tubs. Accommodation is offered on a bed and breakfast basis, with friendly hosts Liz and Ronnie serving a full Scottish and an optional afternoon tea. If you don’t fancy an evening picnic, dinner can be served at the nearby restaurant.

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.

Torquay is famed for the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers. But the popular coastal town is also home to some divine accommodation. Cary Arms and Spa is a luxury five-star property on Babbacombe Bay. It’s a dog-friendly property with 10 sea-view suites, four restored fisherman’s cottages and eight quirky beach huts & suites. Dining takes place in the 19th century Inn, where the fresh catch of seafood and shellfish is a highlight. Book the Captain’s Table, the Pod, or the Wheelhouse for extra special views while enjoying an unforgettable meal.

One of the oldest hotels in the area, this four-storey castle was erected in 1350. The restored medieval tower house has walls seven inches thick, ensuring a quiet night’s rest. Another superb option for couples celebrating a special occasion, it has many four-poster beds (some in the main body of the castle) and a two AA Rosette eatery, the Josephine restaurant. Interconnecting rooms ensure families are well catered for as well and despite its age, the hotel offers a good level of accessibility. Guests can learn more about the Grade I listed building’s colourful history with tours of the battlements.