The Best Design-Led Hotels, Guest Houses & Inns-with-Rooms in the UK
15 places I've either not wanted to leave or have on my wish list
Slowly and steadily, I am sharing my Little Black Book of hotels and hideaways around the UK, Europe and the rest of the world where I would love to stay (or have already stayed and loved). This edition focuses on the UK-based hotels, guest houses and inns-with-rooms where I dream of staying. These are all boutique hotels, cosy boltholes and design-led hideaways that feel welcoming and homely. None of them have a huge amount of rooms, and they all offer communal spaces where you can eat, drink, relax and feel at home.
I always prefer to stay in small, usually independent hotels where a great deal of care has been given to beautiful design, a welcoming atmosphere and usually also the food and drink menus. Often, I base staycations around staying a couple of nights in one of these gems - and I usually end up roughing it on a campsite for the rest of my trip to balance the cost. There are a couple of very expensive places on this list that are real special-occasion spots, mixed in with other places that have more reasonable rates (especially if you’re only staying for a couple of nights). This high-low way of travelling has become my favourite way to explore the UK, as I happily negotiate a few stolen nights of luxury with a week in a tent (plus, I love camping so it’s win-win).
Read on to discover my pick of 15 inspiring, cosy and welcoming places to stay across the UK - all of which would be wonderful at any time of year. Personally, I always love to experience somewhere at different times of year if possible - somewhere that feels snug and cosy during the autumn and winter months can also feel light and airy over the warmer half of the year, giving you a completely different experience.
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Images are all via the hotels & hideaways. No images are my own.
More in this series:
50+ UK Stylish & Cosy Countryside & Coastal Cottages
50+ UK Cabins for Cosy Staycations
Hotels & Hideaways Around the World on my Wishlist
This place has been on my list for years, thanks to its combination of beautifully designed rooms and what sounds like a delicious menu in their restaurant. Being a dog owner, I’m always on the lookout for places where my furry friend is welcome to join me, and I’m happy to say that The Bear Inn has two dog friendly rooms (Sycamore and Birch). I also love that their rooms are all named after trees.
I visited Bruton last summer and fell in love with its quaint streets and array of eateries. On my next visit, I will definitely be booking a room at Number One Bruton - a Georgian townhouse, medieval forge and row of cottages converted into a twelve-bedroom hotel surrounding a private courtyard. My personal favourite rooms are those in the townhouse, thanks to their use of bold colour and pattern, but the cosiness of the cottages and exposed beams of the forge are also beautiful boltholes. The hotel partners with neighbouring farm-to-table restaurant, Osip for daily breakfasts and lunch and dinner reservations.
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