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