The Retreat Elcot Park hotel, Newbury

The best hotels in the UK

The Times Travel team reveal the top places to stay

Our team, many with more than 20 years’ reviewing experience, have an unrivalled knowledge of the UK hotel industry. Through our own research, intel from industry contacts and word-of-mouth recommendations, we are always seeking out new properties and keeping an eye on how established players are upgrading and reinventing themselves to bring Times Travel readers the very best hotels in the UK.

Every hotel, pub and guesthouse we review has been visited in person by at least one of our journalists, sometimes more than once. We assess each one using a set of criteria that includes sense of place, design, food, location, sustainability efforts, family-friendliness, accessibility and the welcome for our four-legged friends. 

We also mine a very rich seam of information: our fellow guests. So we’ll chat to people over the breakfast buffet and watch their interactions with staff, particularly when they get the final bill at check out.

Obviously, while some considerations are factual, others are subjective and that’s where our expertise kicks in. Our collective experience gives us the nous to judge the merits of every potential entrant in a wider context. This is vital for the two trickiest but most important counts: value for money and great service.

All the places featured here have something special to commend them. Whatever your taste and budget, we are confident that you will find many tempting suggestions that will keep you packing your travel bags for the coming year.

Use our handy search tool to find the best British hotels by criteria including price, family-friendliness and accessibility.

Main photo: the Retreat at Elcot Park in Berkshire

 

 

London

Claridge’s hotel review
This timeless London institution on Mayfair’s main artery has had a fresh facelift — and is still young at heart
NoMad London hotel review
Super-cool yet relaxed, this Covent Garden hotspot is worth a visit alone for its vast plant-filled atrium
Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch hotel review
A glossy outpost of the celebrity-endorsed chain in a fun London neighbourhood with excellent food
A bedroom at The Princess Royal Hotel, London
The Princess Royal hotel review
An oh-so-smart pub with rooms in Notting Hill, including food overseen by a Salt Yard alumnus
Bulgari Hotel London hotel review
Exactly the hotel you would expect from a ritzy Roman jewellery house in London — plus a little bit more on top
Sun Street Hotel, London
Sun Street hotel review
A clutch of townhouses have been transformed into this playful boutique hotel on the border of Shoreditch and the City
The Other House, South Kensington
The Other House South Kensington hotel review
Richly imagined club interiors on the doorstep of London's museumland
Chateau Denmark hotel review
This rock’n’roll hotel has taken over London’s historic music street — quite literally
Tribe London Canary Wharf hotel review
This fun-but-functional hotel with a Californian restaurant is bringing the cool factor to Canary Wharf’s new neighbourhood
The Lime Tree Hotel, London
Lime Tree hotel review
This listed Georgian townhouse is a boutique bolt hole in upmarket Belgravia that’s handy for Buckingham Palace and some of London’s finest parks
The Marylebone hotel review
A five-star cocktail bar and heated indoor pool will keep you coming back
Amano Covent Garden hotel review
This former run-of-the-mill office block has been reworked into a saucy but affordable stay in the capital’s West End

Southeast

The Retreat Elcot Park
The Retreat at Elcot Park hotel review
This Regency pile near Newbury is exactly what holidaymakers need right now: affordable, fun, unstuffy
A bedroom at Heckfield Place hotel in Hampshire
Heckfield Place hotel review
This Georgian mansion turned 438-acre eco-estate in Hampshire is a green traveller’s dream
The George in Rye, East Sussex
The George in Rye hotel review
Close to Camber Sands, this 16th-century inn has ultra-stylish interiors, community spirit and terrific food
Fairmont Windsor Park hotel review
A new country mansion in Surrey is home to one of Britain’s largest wellness complexes
The Pig in the South Downs hotel review
This former farm in the South Downs is one of the South East's coolest weekend escapes. Expect classic Pig touches such as mismatched wallpaper and Tunnock's wafers
The Star East Sussex hotel review
Rebooted by Olga Polizzi, this 15th-century East Sussex village inn is chic, spacious and fab for foodies
Chewton Glen hotel review
At first glance this New Forest icon feels like you’re stepping into an 18th-century time warp. But looks are deceiving
The Georgian Coppa Club Haslemere hotel review
The Georgian is the tenth outpost in the home counties-focused mini-chain of Coppa Clubs — here’s what we think
Updown Farmhouse
Updown Farmhouse hotel review
This 17th-century farmhouse hidden in the Kent countryside is laid-back, petite and picture perfect
Leonardslee House hotel review
A fresh chance to enjoy one of Britain’s best gardens at this renovated Italianate mansion in West Sussex
The Halfway Bridge Inn hotel review
This 250-year-old barn near Lodsworth offers rustic-luxe rooms and pretty views over the South Downs
The Grosvenor Stockbridge, Hampshire hotel review
The previously tired Stockbridge inn has been transformed by owners who are now running the 34-room hotel and restaurant with panache
Fort Road Hotel, Kent
Fort Road hotel review
An arty escape in this equally arty Kent seaside town — with views so exquisite they could even inspire you to pick up a paintbrush
Lime Wood hotel review
The New Forest grande dame is still top of its game for a luxe countryside retreat

Southwest

Artist Residence Bristol hotel review
A converted boot factory in one of Bristol’s hippest districts is the perfect base for the young — and young at heart
The Bell and Crown, Wiltshire
The Bell and Crown hotel review
Hunker down at this rustic 200-year-old village pub in Wiltshire, which doesn’t mess with the classics
The Nici hotel review
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in Miami with a stay this five-star Bournemouth pad with a retro candy-striped pool, tropical gardens and cabanas
Hadspen at the Newt hotel review
You’ll love Hadspen’s 23 stylish bedrooms and its farm-to-fork restaurant, but what sets this honey-hued Georgian mansion outside Bruton apart is how it celebrates Somerset
The New Inn hotel review
Enjoy an Isles of Scilly welcome at this cosy 19th-century Tresco mainstay that’s been spruced up by a refurb
Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa hotel review
Salcombe in Devon is now home to what could be the coolest beach club in the UK
Farmyard at the Newt hotel review
Ultimate welly-boot chic at this 18th-century dairy farm in a fairytale hollow outside Bruton
The Queensberry hotel review
Stay in style at this grand Georgian pile with Michelin-starred restaurant in Bath’s historic centre
The Beckford Arms hotel review
Curl up for a fireside snooze at this laid-back, quirky, 18th-century coaching inn near Tisbury in Wiltshire
The Headland hotel review
This five-star Victorian grande dame in Newquay isn’t resting on its laurels, with a high-tech destination spa and breezy new suites
The Old Ferry Inn hotel review
This riverside inn comes with Fowey Estuary views, cream teas and seafood suppers
Mollie’s Motel hotel review
A glamorous motel designed by the people behind Soho House, in a not-so-glamorous setting — just off the M5 near Bristol
Outlaw's Guest House
Outlaw’s Guest House hotel review
Chef Nathan Outlaw’s guest house in Port Isaac is a laid-back Cornish home from home and a veritable mecca for foodies
Glebe House hotel review
Bread baked on the Aga and Instagram-worthy interiors — welcome to a chic Good Life in this old Georgian vicarage near Southleigh in Devon
At the Chapel hotel review
Hauser & Wirth art and an in-house bakery have brought this 17th century Somerset church into the modern world
The King’s Arms Dorchester hotel review
This Dorchester favourite was once Thomas Hardy’s local. It’s had a modern revamp and serves excellent food and local ales within stomping distance of Devon’s Jurassic Coast
Lympstone Manor hotel review
Glamour, great food and a gorgeous Devon setting — all you need for the perfect getaway for two
Plantation House hotel review
A classic Georgian rectory in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this South Hams property is a proper traditional affair

Central

The Fox at Oddington hotel review
The latest Cotswolds hotel offering from Daylesford Farm founder Carole Bamford is a faultless masterclass in weekend chic
Thyme hotel review
Botanical spa treatments, slap-up cooking and a spring-fed swimming pool — this Cotswolds country house hotel in a working farm is the definition of eco-chic sustainability
The Pheasant at Neenton
The Pheasant at Neenton hotel review
This community-owned Shropshire inn is a diamond begging to be discovered
Rutland Hall hotel review
This family favourite in Rutland is set in gorgeous parkland — and a recent makeover means it's looking better than ever
Royal Oak, Ramsden, Oxfordshire.
The Royal Oak Ramsden hotel review
Take a 17th-century Oxfordshire pub, add one artistic couple and you’ve got all the ingredients for a glamorous weekend away in Ramsden
Callow Hall hotel review
Reimagined country house living and mid-canopy stays on the threshold of the Peaks
The Grand Hotel, Birmingham
The Grand Hotel Birmingham hotel review
Victorian architecture, marble columns and New York-style dining await in a landmark restored to its pomp
Hampton Manor hotel in Solihull
Hampton Manor hotel review
Just a jiffy from Britain’s second city, Hampton Manor in the West Midlands has always focused on foodies
The Tawny hotel review
Seventy acres of rambling gardens in Staffordshire hide luxury huts and treehouses, a Gaia spa and great food
Dormy House, Worcestershire
Dormy House hotel review
Head to Chipping Campden's poster child for luxury without the stuffiness in the heart of the Cotswolds
The Lamb Inn Shipton hotel review
This rebooted 16th-century Cotswolds boozer is the place to hole up after a fun Sunday lunch — and eyeball the Chipping Norton set
The George Inn Barford hotel review
Head to this thatched 17th-century coaching inn in the sleepy village of Barford St Michael for fabulous food
Rafters at Riverside House
Rafters at Riverside House hotel review
A snuggly and superior foodie base in Ashford-in-the-Water, a pretty Peak District village, beside the Wye
The Boot at Repton hotel review
It’s a tight fit but a well-chosen one at this microbrewery with rooms in Derbyshire
Calcot & Spa hotel review
This 16th-century manor house in Gloucestershire is immaculately done up with country-cool interiors
Wild Thyme & Honey hotel review
Hunkering down is positively encouraged at this refurbished hotel-inn with excellent food

North

Seaham Hall
Seaham Hall hotel review
This friendly, unfussy country pad on the Durham Heritage Coast was where the poet Byron married
Another Place hotel review
This Lake District favourite delivers the perfect balance of playful and posh on the shores of Ullswater
The Hare & Hounds, Cumbria
The Hare & Hounds Inn Bowland Bridge hotel review
This proper pub in the Lakes has cool rooms and serves tasty dishes with a side of easy charm
Rothay Manor hotel review
Embrace the Regency era (and the superb tasting menu) at this Lake District bolt hole
Grantley Hall hotel review
Enjoy great food at this awe-inspiring country-house hotel in the Yorkshire Dales — then burn off the calories in its superb gym
The Angel at Hetton hotel, Yorkshire
The Angel at Hetton hotel review
Accompanied by oh-so-sleek bedrooms, one of Britain’s original gastropubs is back to thrilling diners in the Dales
Beadnell Towers hotel review
This boutique hotel in Northumberland is a great place to crash after a day at the beach
Freemasons at Wiswell hotel review
A standout foodie gem in the middle of big-coat, walking-boots country in Lancashire
 The Vices hotel review
This former police station in York has been revived with an Italian twist and is a must for foodies
The Leven hotel review
This boutique hotel in Manchester city centre provides a fuss-free stay with all the perks of an apartment
The Whittling House hotel review
This pad has brought the pizzazz Alnmouth has been missing. Book for sea views and filling, fishy Northumbrian dishes
The Cartford Inn hotel review
Eight miles and a world away from Blackpool, this is a great foodie find in Lancashire on the banks of the Wyre
The Alice Hawthorn hotel review
Great locally sourced food vies with cool Scandi-style garden suites for star billing at this grade II listed pub in Nun Monkton
The White House hotel review
Bowness has a new hotel on the block — and it's possibly the coolest place to stay in town
Titanic Hotel Liverpool hotel review
It might be eight years old but this vast converted warehouse is shipshape and one of the city’s swankiest stays

East

The Angel Inn Stoke-by-Nayland hotel review
Pack loose clothing for a nine-course tasting menu at this refurbished pub with rooms in Constable country
Retreat East hotel in Suffolk
Retreat East hotel review
This collection of barns and cottages on a 35-acre former dairy farm in Suffolk was conceived as a balm for stressed-out souls
The Gonville Hotel, Cambridge
The Gonville hotel review
This boutique has a quiet, almost secret, reputation as the best address in the city, straddling the line between town and gown
The Harper hotel review
Guests have exclusive access to all the facilities at this boutique revamp of a glass-blowing factory near the North Norfolk coast
Talbooth House hotel review
An award-winning restaurant and Soho House-style spa accompany glorious views of Dedham Vale and Constable country
The Globe Inn Wells-next-the-Sea hotel review
This Norfolk gastropub with rooms overlooks a leafy Georgian square
The White Hart Inn Essex hotel review
Oysters, long walks and cosy bedrooms — this Mersea Island pub with rooms serves modern British cooking in a rural setting
Congham Hall hotel review
Big skies get even bigger with the latest additions to this garden haven in Norfolk
The Carpenters Arms hotel review
This latest opening from the Chestnut group has turned a faded pub into a stylish boutique boozer as popular with visitors as it is with locals
Sculthorpe Mill hotel review
A once run-down Greene King pub in Norfolk has been transformed into a fashionable rule-breaker intent on pleasing all of the people, all of the time

Wales

The Albion hotel review
A grown-up Scandinavian-Japanese aesthetic comes to the mouth of the River Teifi in west Wales with this latest boutique stay from the Fforest Farm family
Parador 44 Hotel, Cardiff (Owen Mathias Photography)
Parador 44 hotel review
This Spanish-themed hotel in Cardiff is the latest opening by three of the most fêted restaurateurs in Wales
Plas Weunydd hotel review
Get muddy on mountain-bike trails and ziplines before retreating to this homely pile in the heart of Snowdonia
Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms hotel review
Moody interiors meets marathon Michelin-star dining — make sure you visit this pad near Snowdon with an appetite
The Royston hotel review
A labour of love conceived by two city-turned-country dwellers, this is a cool (but not pretentious) bolt hole in Powys
The Grove Narberth hotel review
Locally sourced food, free minibars with gin — this Georgian manor is one of the loveliest country house hotel stays in Wales

Scotland

Gleneagles Townhouse hotel review
A bankable arrival from the countryside on a historic New Town square in Edinburgh
Mingary Castle hotel review
This is Scotland’s most exciting stay — a Highland castle with design and culinary royalty at the helm
Royal Marine Hotel Brora hotel review
This Highland hotel brings together Scottish heritage and original features with boldly colourful, modern interiors
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh hotel review
The scarlet empire has picked a prime outpost in the Scottish capital
The Dipping Lugger hotel review
A former clergy house in Ullapool converted into an award-winning restaurant has rooms with postcard views of the Highlands
Revolver hotel review
This LGBTQ+-friendly boutique in Glasgow transforms a Victorian tobacco trading hub in enterprising, eye-grabbing style
Gleneagles in Scotland
Gleneagles hotel review
From luxury loafing to tip-top golf, this humdinger of a hotel in the Perthshire countryside has something for everyone
The Taybank hotel review
This local favourite in Dunkeld with a pizza shack and a view of the River Tay has been given a modern revamp — but still retains its community spirit
The Fife Arms hotel review
A former coaching inn located in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, has been given an A-list art injection by the owners of Hauser & Wirth. ‘The Fife’ is one of Deeside’s top spots