A weekend away is something we all need right now, especially given the past couple of years. A swish city escape or few days in a country lodge can do wonders for your mind, which is why we've scoured the country on the hunt for some of the UK and Ireland’s best hotels for your next mini-break, from Claridge's and Gleneagles to Adare Manor and Callow Hall.
From the coastal retreats that will make you feel like you're in LA (weather permitting) to spas hidden away in the deep countryside, we've found a hotel to satisfy every facet of your staycation wanderlust. Sure, a trip to the Maldives might be at the top of your holiday wish list, but the UK has a wealth of beautiful locations that won’t take you a full day to get to – and there are countless more just a hop across the Irish Sea. And if you fancy staying in a holiday cottage rather than in a hotel, make sure to head over to our guide to the best holiday cottages in the UK to book now.
It's time to start packing your suitcase, because your next holiday might be closer than you think. So, here we go, listed in rough geographical location, south to north (please don't write to us about Suffolk). Want to search out your next hotel stay by location? Just follow the quick list below…
Midlands & East England
An ocean of calm and grandeur in what is perhaps the UK's most chaotic metropolis, Birmingham's The Grand Hotel sits just a minute's walk from the city cathedral and a stone's throw away from menswear haven (and secret speakeasy) The Liquor Store. Hailing all the way back to 1879, The Grand was refurbished three years ago with a sense of splendour and decadence befitting its Grade 2* listed status. With 185 bedrooms and suites available – including a penthouse apartment – you're well-served whether you need a plush base from which to explore the Midlands or a dreamy bed and expertly-curated roof terrace bar to decamp to after day spent watching Ben Stokes and co at Edgbaston.
Even though Brum's culinary bona fides aren't exactly a secret nowadays, The Opheem Grand Experience is by far and away the best way for any aspiring glutton to spend their time in the Second City. Featuring an overnight stay at The Grand, afternoon tea in the refined surroundings of its Madeleine cocktail lounge and dinner at the two-Michelin-starred Opheem, the hospitality on show here is utterly peerless. The only Indian restaurant away from London to be decorated with a Michelin star, Opheem's 10-course tasting menu is a revelation featuring tandoori BBQ mutton rib and Cornish monkfish, green bean compote, raw mango and coconut. With an à la carte offering that includes the Great British Menu-winning course of soft shell crab, caraway seed tempura and crab shaami, chef Aktar Islam has all bases covered when it comes to evening indulgence.
It's not often that GQ feels compelled to stumble bleary-eyed into a hotel's gym before breakfast, but some sins are worth atoning for. Especially when they finish with a Valhrona chocolate, sour cherry and hazelnut dessert.
1 Church St, Birmingham B3 2FE. booking.com
Cambridge is one of those cities that's seemingly tailor-made for a weekend away, and that means you're going to want to see as much of it as possible in a two-day span. Our go-to cheat code? Book yourself into The Varsity Hotel & Spa. Situated in the north of the city between the historic Jesus and Trinity colleges, you can swat up on your itinerary from the comfort of its panoramic Six restaurant and cocktail bar which majors in glorious riverside views, as well as a fittingly bracing espresso martini.
Although most rooms give an enticing glimpse at your surroundings, it’s worth opting for a ‘Senior Fellows’ suite if you really want to take in as much of the place as possible – and sprawl across the likes of a four-poster bed, free-standing bath and private terrace. As strong as the temptation will be to hop on a punting tour and make pretend that you’re part of the landed gentry, we’d recommend a stop at the hotel’s accompanying spa first. Especially since a couple’s massage and facial is a far less precarious activity for those who’d rather not risk a dip in the drink. While you’re pretty much spoilt for choice for places to dine in Cambridge – not least the Michelin-starred Midsummer House and Mercado Central – when only a porterhouse will do, The River Bar Steakhouse and grill is ready and waiting.
Thompsons Ln, Cambridge CB5 8AQ. booking.com
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The Swan Hotel, situated in the picture book town of Southwold, is charming. Located on a brewing site (owned and run by Adnams), charming. Picnics on the beach (organised on request), charming.
It’s a homely, breakfast-in-bed kind of place, where aside from being two minutes away from the beach, its food, particularly the fish, is stand-out. There are two options: The Tap Room, which acts as a local pub offering upmarket gastro food, and The Still Room, their more formal, but still relaxed dining area. Their sous-vide haddock was beautifully tender with a meaty crispness, accompanied with pickled cucumbers, chargrilled fennel and grapefruit it felt smugly healthy and balanced. With its laid-back service, sea air and easy access (just over two hours on the train from London, for instance), The Swan makes for a restorative weekend break.
Market Place, Southwold, IP18 6EG. booking.com
In a year when the staycation was king, what does it take to be crowned Best Hotel at the GQ Food and Drink Awards? Individually designed bedrooms? Tick. Garden Room restaurant and Library Snug for an evening, post-walk round of Scrabble and scotch? Tick. Acres of woodland and meadows to explore? Tick. Converted Coach House offering first-rate wellness treatments for our weary limbs? Tick. Oh, and that’s before you’ve stumbled upon their oak-shrouded treehouses and woodland hives.
The restoration of this Victorian house in Derbyshire “exceeds expectations at every turn”, said Tom Kerridge. It is testament to the team’s vision that, despite welcoming its first guests in September, Callow Hall already feels like a “timeless classic.” If there was a tonic to all that the last few years has thrown at us, a weekend spent hunkering down at Callow Hall might be it. (OK, make that a week.)
Mappleton Rd, Ashbourne, DE6 2AA. booking.com
Hambleton Hall is a beautiful Victorian country-house hotel, impeccably furnished and tucked away in a picture postcard landscape overlooking Rutland Water and the surrounding nature reserve – which is all very nice, but let's talk about bread.
Back in 2008, owner Tim Hart (the father of restaurateurs Sam and Eddie) opened Hambleton Bakery, specialising in traditionally made loaves and cakes, and the results – served in the hotel at breakfast, lunch, during afternoon tea and at dinner – are astounding. From sourdough and spelt, through to Borodinsky rye and date and walnut, if you are a glutton for carb-loaded punishment this bread is worth the price of overnight admission alone.
However, there is much more to Hambleton Hall than artisanal granary. For instance, there is the restaurant, overseen since 1992 by Aaron Patterson, which has held a Michelin star for the past 40 years (the longest in the UK). The dishes change daily according to what's in season and you know you're on to a winner when every animal on your plate has its farm address on the menu.
With only 15 guest rooms, the grand old house feels intimate and exclusive. The décor is wonderfully, unapologetically old-school, while the staff are as friendly as they are unobtrusive. And on top of all that you can actually leave the house and not be disappointed. There is a tennis court, classic landscaped gardens and all the natural beauty of England's smallest county beyond. The perfect romantic weekend away? Possibly. If you like fruit loaf? Definitely.
Ketton Rd, Oakham, LE15 8TH. hambletonhall.com
South England
Whatley Manor at a glance is exactly what you’d expect from a luxury five-star Cotswolds get-away; a Grade II listed manor hotel with 19th-century architecture set amongst 12 acres of stunning English countryside, snug leather chairs and Tudor glass windows overlooking pristine gardens, restored from their original 1920s designs. Yet thanks to an ongoing transformation which includes being the UK’s first Climate Positive Hotel and one of 23 UK hotels to gain a Green Michelin Star for sustainable gastronomy, there is a lot more to Whatley Manor than classic Cotswolds charm.
The Aquarias Spa offers upscale treatments and the outdoor hydrotherapy pool has views across acres of English countryside, which incidentally, is perfect for a dog walk. ‘Petflix and Chill’ is available to anyone staying in one of the pet-friendly suites – curated pet movies, dog-friendly ice-cream treats and a bottle of ‘Pawseco’ are included (Gusbourne English wine and popcorn for the humans). If, like us, your idea of ‘chill’ is catching up on the Oscar nominees, you’ll be happy to find nestled amongst the country house interiors is a private cinema – the Sunday Cinema Club is followed by a three-course dinner at Grays restaurant (be sure to book the terrace in summer).
The highest awards at Whatley Manor go to The Dining Room, the two-starred Michelin restaurant with luxury racing green interiors and an open kitchen-come-stage where you’ll watch executive chef Ricki Wilson and his team expertly garnish Pembrokeshire Lobster and plate A5 Wagyu with Fermented lettuce and pear (Weston’s answer to the Big Mac) – part of the six-course PoB ‘Seasoned to Perfection’ menu available to staying and visiting guests from March 2024.
Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury SN16 0RB. pobhotels.com
Even by the standards of spa town luxury, The Royal Crescent sets a lofty bar for five-star decadence. Set in the city's northern climes – right next to the verdant Royal Victoria Park – this Georgian hotel and spa complex blends 18th century elegance with all manner of modern niceties thanks to the recent refurbishment of it 11 designer suites and Montagu's Mews restaurant.
Although its rooms provide ample indulgence in their own right, it's in these suites that this hotel shines, with the option of a king-size or four poster bed, a tranquil view of the hotel grounds and even the option to bring a pet along for the trip. For those to whom “escapism” equates to doing as little as humanly possible in close proximity to a cocktail bar, you're impeccably catered for with an ample spa that features a 12-metre heated relaxation pool alongside an expert menu of massages, facials and other revitalising treatments. A hot air balloon and afternoon tea experience is also available for anyone with either a more adventurous nature or an irrepressible thirst for Taittinger champagne.
For us, it's the Montagu's Mews restaurant that sets The Royal Crescent in rarefied company. Chef Martin Blake's nine course tasting menu is a sumptuous way to while away an evening that dances from Cornish cod to Wye Valley asparagus before crescendoing with a delightful Yorkshire Forced rhubarb, olive oil and vanilla dessert.
The Royal Cresent, 16 Royal Cres, Bath BA1 2LS. booking.com
Nestled amongst 70 acres of countryside in Sussex, Tillingham is your one-stop retreat for the ultimate relaxation experience. Based at a farm that dates back to the 13th century, this hotel not only boasts a rich history and world class restaurant, but they also boast their own vineyard offering intimate tours and wine tasting.
Tillingham is perfect for all the family, whether you are after luxury or something a little more rustic. Each room at Tillingham has been designed to meet a variety of tastes; the feature double room has a luxury freestanding bath tub, super-king bed and the all-important views of the vineyards, rolling hills and woodlands
Furthermore, there are bell tents for the more adventurous, with king size beds, private terraces, log burners and fire pits for extra cosy Autumnal nights. Whatever your taste, staff are constantly on hand, not only with a smile on their face but also an excellent knowledge of the food, local area and wine that would make the locals jealous. Even if you are after great tasting food without the pretentiousness of a fancy London restaurants, Tillingham really knows how to make you feel at home, and luxury rooms start at just £160 a night.
Tillingham Dew Farm Dew Lane Peasmarsh, Rye TN31 6XD. Tillingham.com
The Four Seasons Hampshire offers 500 acres of space and 1,000 years of history within a particularly good stone's throw of London. One hour from the capital, it's the perfect place to experience the very best of tranquil, English countryside living: sit back for afternoon tea in the 18th Century library, or try your hand at fishing, croquet, tennis, clay pigeon shooting, falconry or horse riding. Speaking of horses, the Estate’s original stable block is also home to a spa, 20-metre indoor conservatory swimming pool and outdoor vitality pool.
The hotel’s Wild Carrot restaurant serves classic British dishes made with the finest locally-sourced produce. Daytime foodies should head to the 18th-century Library for afternoon tea, which overlooks the property’s picturesque landscape.
Dogmersfield Park, Chalky Lane, Dogmersfield, RG27 8TD. booking.com
Perhaps camping is more your speed? While getting down and dirty with a tent and sleeping bag can be an enjoyable break away, glamping is what we're aspiring for in 2024. Kicking back for true luxury in Dorset, these decked-out shepherds huts are the perfect balance of chic design, outdoor ruggedness and contemporary amenities to combine for the ultimate home-away-from-home UK getaway.
Shielded from other campers on it's own private paddock, two exclusive hits are kitted with a BBQ, outdoor stove, internal heating and a fully-equipped kitchen that unlocks the door to flexible eating in the sun, should the weather be kind to your stay. Each hut has full electrics and plumbing, including a warm shower, a Quooker tap and –the best feature in our opinion – a stargazing roof light to drift off under the stars.
Wilksworth Farm, Cranborne Rd, Furzehill, Wimborne BH21 4HW. shorefield.co.uk
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Located in the heart of Buckinghamshire’s vast Langley Park and just a short drive from central London, the Grade II-listed Langley balances luxury living with outdoor wonder: while you might find it difficult to tear yourself away from the cocktail-laden drawing room, borrow some Aigle wellies and explore the hotel’s wider estate, including the Capability Brown-designed gardens and the Langley Park Arboretum.
The highlight of the property is perhaps the Langley Spa. With indoor and outdoor pools and a ludicrous range of thermal facilities, it’s the ultimate space for relaxation – although if you're a sucker for punishment, there’s a state-of-the-art gym, too.
Avenue Drive, Uxbridge Road, Iver, SL3 6DU. booking.com
When a hotel has an address that reads “On The Beach”, it tells you all you need to know. On the edge of one of Cornwall’s best surf spots, Watergate Bay is a two-mile stretch of sand between Newquay and Padstow, and this well-known hotel is as chilled and contemporary as anywhere from here to Formentera.
With interior design provided by the team behind Soho House, you’ll find open-plan living that suggests Nordic-ski-resort-on-sea. The best rooms are in the Ocean Wing, which have jaw-dropping sea views. If you can’t get one of those, you can do your North Atlantic sightseeing from the two restaurants or the even-closer-to-the-ocean Beach Hut café bar.
If you are inspired by the setting, the hotel runs an Extreme Academy for surf lessons and equipment hire, but for more gentle appreciation of the Bay there is a stunning infinity pool and a Canadian-style hot tub. Either way, life’s a beach.
Watergate Bay Hotel, On The Beach, Watergate Bay, Cornwall, TR8 4AA. watergatebay.co.uk
GQ has written about this hotel, nestled away in Devon's answer to Big Sur, in the past – but the Cary Arms deserves another showing. In foam-flecked proximity to the water's edge, each of the hotel and spa's beach huts has a sitting room, wet bar, log-burning stove, a raised bedroom area and a stylish bathroom, as well as enticing views across Babbacombe Bay. As well as being larger, the beach suites offer exhilarating sea views as well as the chance to sit out on one's own sun deck.
Rounding off the Cary Arms is a glass-fronted spa, replete with mood lighting and an experience shower. Veterans of this part of the world may recognise the need to turn every shower into an experience, but newbies to the area will savour the opportunity to hole up awhile in one of the West Country's leading hostelries.
Babbacombe Beach, South Devon, TQ1 3LX. caryarms.co.uk
Rambling staircases, yellow-painted turrets, thatched dovecotes and stuffed puffins are what lend The Pig On The Beach its fairy-tale delight and idiosyncratic charm; a charm that attracts scores of visitors to its sleepy seaside shores. Perched on the Dorset cliffs within a picturesque hamlet overlooking Studland Bay's crescent of golden sand, The Pig offers some of the UK's best views and countryside for an upscale weekend retreat, with a National Trust coastal path running alongside it.
The hotel's interior matches the windswept, sandy scruffiness of its 16th-century exterior, with shabby-chic rooms boasting sea views, grand four-poster beds and freestanding bathtubs as well as intimate shepherd's huts for private couples.
As well as spectacular views, The Pig also offers superb food, served in the quirky Victorian-style Conservatory restaurant peppered with herb pots and watering cans. Dishes always include something from The Pig's kitchen garden and are all sourced from within 25 miles. With 1,100 room bookings processed within 24 hours of Hutson's latest piglet opening its doors, The Pig is one of the most sought-after hotels across all the land.
Manor House, Manor Road, Studland, Dorset, BH19 3AU. thepighotel.com
Forget glamping and forego the usual off-site options: we've found your digs for next year's Glastonbury Festival (unless the headliners have beaten you to it). The husband-and-wife team behind one of South Africa’s most prized properties, Babylonstoren, have brought their portfolio approach to hospitality to Somerset – and it’s stunning.
Arranged around the existing – albeit heavily modified – 17th-century Hadspen House, The Newt is the perfect country retreat, with spa, fitness centre and cleverly repurposed outbuildings converging on the main house that offers old-world elegance with a pristine contemporary slant.
Head chef Ben Champkin has produced a menu that goes heavy on locality, with estate vegetables, cuts from the salt room and dayboat fish from the nearby coast.
Hadspen, Bruton, Somerset, BA7 7NG. thenewtinsomerset.com
The former seat of Lord Beaverbrook – newspaper proprietor, friend of Churchill and fastidious entertainer (Ian Fleming, Elizabeth Taylor) – represents the ideal 72-hour getaway. Following a £90 million renovation, the house and grounds have been transformed into a heady brew of period-perfect luxuriousness teamed with contemporary hospitality centred around the ornate, inviting Parrot Bar, and that’s before you begin to explore the 470 rolling acres of Surrey countryside. It’s upscale country living, only not as you know it.
Reigate Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8QX. beaverbrook.co.uk
Every room at Cliveden could tell a fabulous story. From rakes and royalty, to film stars and political leaders, Cliveden welcomed them all and invited them to party like it was 1899. In such ornate surroundings, one could soirée, take tea, promenade around the grounds, then head back for the kind of clandestine trysts such a house seemed designed for – the pool, for example, was where John Profumo first clapped eyes on Christine Keeler.
From the journey through the grounds, up the gravel drive and to the majestic house itself, it feels like the ultimate stately experience. Wood panels and glorious portraits echo Cliveden's rich history, but 21st-century service and essential mod cons have been added sensitively and subtly. A good example is the Astor Grill, a converted stable block that now serves as a relaxed dining room.
Cliveden Rd, Taplow, Maidenhead, SL6 0JF. clivedenhouse.co.uk
London
Twenty years after launching its trademark take on quirky hedonism in a former retirement home on LA’s Sunset Strip, Standard Hotels opened its first European outpost at the epicentre of London’s international rail hub, opposite Kings Cross and St Pancras International. Housed in a former annex of Camden Council (oh, the glamour), the '70s brutalist building has undergone a complete renovation, decanting all but a playful reference to a former public library on its ground floor and adding a further three storeys in order to accommodate large, light-filled suites, some of which come complete with their own terraces and outdoor tubs.
As befits a now-established foodie quarter, on the tenth floor there’s signature dining spot Decimo, offering Michelin-starred Bristolian chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ take on fine Spanish/Mexican fusion food, while at ground level there’s all-day dining (complete with DJ booth) in two further outlets. Throughout, the design is clever, confident and decidedly plush, with a strong Seventies vibe detectable in its swirling carpets, brightly-tiled bathrooms and brazenly huggable Craig Green bathrobes.
10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG. booking.com
Arabescato marble, graystone and smoked glass coalesce to offer cultural legacy, exquisite design and modern luxury at The Hari. Situated in the residential streets of Belgravia, neighbouring mansions home to Earls, dignitaries and musicians, this hotel's location, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the prestigious shopping districts of Knightsbridge and Sloane Square, and tourist-favourite Buckingham Palace, is unbeatable. Artwork from iconic British artist Tracey Emin adorn the rooms and public areas, and why not borrow a book from their impressive collection – the owners invite you to.
But the real gem of of a stay here is food at Il Pampero, the hotel's restaurant. Overseen by Tuscan-born Head Chef, Calogero Carlino, the team delivers a traditional Italian menu complemented by an impressive wine list and cocktail menu. Bold Vespa-green lacquers and rich velvets combine with soft leathers and heritage fabrics to create a warm and inviting design.
20 Chesham Place, London, SW1X 8HQ. booking.com
Tucked just a stone's throw away from Trafalgar Square, Great Scotland Yard Hotel elegantly straddles the line between gentrified niceties and urban convenience. Situated in the first home of the Metropolitan Police, the walls of its lobby are adorned with the haggard mugshots of old-time felons, while a martini from its 40 Elephants bar has all the punch of a vengeful corrections officer. With 151 rooms to lounge across, there's plenty of luxury to be found here too. Not least in The Parlour, its prim and tropically-themed afternoon tea room, which does a mean king prawn, courgette, rocket and Montgomery cheddar quiche.
Really, this hotel's true charm lies in its location with the likes of Covent Garden, Westminster and the South Bank all situated less than a 10-minute walk away. If you're minded to explore the best of London across a weekend's city break then you could scarcely choose a better home to base yourself out of. And if you crawl back in need of a late-night tipple? Be sure to sneak into the Sibin speakeasy before calling it a night. Fair warning, you'll need to spin your way through a hidden bookshelf doorway to find it.
3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN. booking.com
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Luxury and East London are two words that don't find themselves in the same sentences all too often, but just so happens to be exactly what Nobu Hotel's Shoreditch outpost is bringing to the table. An industrial chic building you can't help but stare at as you wander past, behind its sloped facade of concrete and glass is an impressive 164 guest rooms done out to slick Japanese minimalist standards.
Elegant and modern, Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch will easily serve a romantic city break or corporate stay with its nondescript decor. Of course, a stay could never be complete without a table booked at the world-renowned Nobu sushi restaurant that occupies its basement floor and bleeds into Nami bar with its alfresco terrace. Here's where Nobu's knack for hospitality shines brightest, with expert servers helping you curate a meal to remember, all washed down with fantastic signature cocktails. Pure class.
Willow St, London EC2A 4BH. booking.com
Upon entry at Charlotte Street Hotel, you're immediately met by sumptuous interiors and the hotel's expansive (and we mean expansive) art collection. Inspired by the work of the Bloomsbury set, the art of Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry and Duncan Grant can be found throughout the Drawing Room and Library and is carried through to each of the 52 bedrooms and suites, decked out in an array of patterns and florals.
The unmatched location of the hotel grants access to some of the most prestigious salons and spas in London, along with some of the capital's best restaurants. For a bite closer to home, the lively Oscar Brasserie, just off the hotel's main reception, continues the plush vibe of proceedings, with contemporary British plates served alongside an extensive cocktail menu.
15-17 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RJ. booking.com
Carved from a RIBA Award-winning building in Fitzrovia, The Mandrake – named for the plant’s medicinal properties – promises a degree of hedonism with a touch of the surreal. Its art-heavy interior plays host to a vibey bar, Waeska, overlooked by Fable, a model of bio-morphing taxidermy by the artist Enrique Gomez De Molina, and a restaurant by Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred Serge Et Le Phoque.
Besides a lift shaft decorated in tattoo-like stencils by Thomas Hooper, the public spaces contain work by Francesco Clemente and Jonas Burgert, as well as a 30-candle chandelier by Lara Bohinc. Meanwhile, its 33 rooms and suites, arranged around a courtyard, come with non-sheepish interiors and Venetian-style masks. With a rooftop super-suite with its own terrace and a basement screening room-cum-supper club with murals by Berlin street-art duo Herakut and the artist Philippe De Villiers, the hotel revives parts that other, less individualistic spots fail to reach. “I try to create a mythical, magical place where people can have a good time,” says owner Rami Fustok, “and I’ve created it by touching and stimulating the senses.”
20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG. booking.com
Sometimes, you just need a place to escape it all, especially when accosted by the hustle and bustle of the capital. St. James's Hotel & Club manages to wrap a calming arm around the shoulder of any visitor – or wantaway resident.
From the serenity and calm within the Mayfair bolthole, you wouldn't know that you're smack-bang in the middle of some of London's most exclusive shopping destinations, yet the hotel manages to hide away just off St. James's Street in perfect peace and quiet (there's even a secret shortcut to Green Park out the back). Its location might be a central attraction, but the hotel itself has recently undergone a complete renovation by Berlin's award-winning AMJ Design, producing a luxurious, mod-con-filled décor seen flowing throughout the property. The jewel in the crown is the Penthouse Suite, which features the sort of large rooftop terrace rarely seen in this part of London.
Following 2019's relaunch of the hotel's opulent Michelin-Starred Seven Park Place, St. James's recently opened 1857, a port-speciality bar that serves the oldest wine by the glass in the UK and the widest selection of port in London. The perfect place to hole up in for a few hours – or days.
7-8 Park Place, St. James's, London, SW1A 1LS. booking.com
Hotel fashion might be a fickle mistress, but old-world wisdom prevails in the holier shrines of the capital's more palatial properties. Take, for instance, the 93-room Knightsbridge landmark, the Lanesborough, converted from the old St George's hospital in 1991 and now resplendent in an £80 million Alberto Pinto-designed makeover that reveals its glorious Regency details to even greater effect.
Butlers are on duty for all guests, irrespective of room size or status, and a newly enlarged, seven-bedroom Royal Suite retails for a not-insignificant £26,000 a night. Passing foot traffic, however, should prefer the traditional and sublime Library Bar, and the evergreen Garden Room, wherein the hotel's collection of vintage cigars can be enjoyed with a cognac or three.
Hyde Park Corner, London, SW1X 7TA. booking.com
Old-world magic spills over in Spitalfields where traditional style belies a very modern guesthouse. There are modern touches in the third period-inspired lodging from the duo that brought you Soho's Hazlitt's (1718) and Clerkenwell's The Rookery (1764), but at Batty Langley's (1724) you'll struggle to find them. In keeping with its owners' desire to re-create hospitality from another age with the comforts of today, televisions are routinely hidden behind wall hangings and the extensive in-room bar is similarly obscured from immediate view (probably just as well). In the Earl of Bolingbroke suite, the guest bathroom requires the judicious deployment of a fake title on the otherwise real bookshelf: little secrets that together with further idiosyncrasies (such as a freestanding marble bath and a retractable ceiling above the canopied bed) make it a favourite of proposing suitors and honeymoon first-nighters.
But if neither's on the horizon, don't delay staying at this hideaway gem in otherwise teeming Spitalfields. Granted, there's no dining room – that's what Shoreditch is for – but afternoon tea is served in the parlour, and the in-room breakfast is a marvel: a piping hot bacon sandwich in a just-baked roll, excellent coffee and, to settle the guilt pangs, a perfect mixed fruit bowl. By all means book a table at Lyle's or Dishoom for dinner, but otherwise, this is a bolthole you won't be minded to leave.
12 Folgate St, London, E1 6BX. booking.com
In an age when real-life fairy tales are in short supply, Claridge's remains a modern-day marvel. With its origins dating back to 1812, the Mayfair hotel's illustrious history includes a star cast of royals, political heavyweights and celebrity deities. In 1945, Suite 212 was declared Yugoslavian territory so that Crown Prince Alexander II could be born in his own country. That same year, Claridge's also served as Winston Churchill's London home following his landslide election defeat. Hollywood actor Spencer Tracy famously sealed the hotel's iconic status when he declared that he'd rather go to Claridge's than to heaven.
The great and the good have all fallen for its charm – as did GQ's Food & Drink Awards judges a few years back. "Claridge's is timeless and never ages," said Adam Hyman. "It's the hotel that everyone wants to stay in." April Bloomfield, meanwhile, praised its all-encompassing hospitality: "For me, the single stand-out quality about Claridge's is that immediate feeling as soon as you enter, that you will be well looked after." When it comes to old-school decadence, bespoke service and enchanting luxury, there is nowhere quite as magical.
49 Brook Street, London, W1K 4HR. booking.com
The towering grandeur of 252 High Holborn began its life as the home of the Pearl Assurance Company in 1914. Today, the Grade II-listed Edwardian building is better known as a pearl in the capital's luxury diadem. In the years since its reopening under the Rosewood name, the hotel has flourished, redefining contemporary opulence.
Inside the Belle Epoque edifice glistens the redesigned interior courtesy of Tony Chi, whose respectful refurbishment takes the spirit of turn-of-the-century gentlemanly sophistication and embellishes it with a modernist exactitude. With The Mirror Room, Holborn Dining Room and Scarfes Bar also garnering praise for their culinary offerings and endlessly alluring ambience, it appears Rosewood may well have gifted us with a new classic.
252 High Holborn, London, WC1 7EN. booking.com
Say Mayfair, and you think designer stores with doormen in great suits, palatial expanses of Edwardian stone and a guaranteed vacant black cab. But despite the name, 1 Hotel Mayfair is a deeply modernist oasis that's a luxury contrast to its old world surroundings. It's the most central part of central London, and yet feels more like a retreat in an East Asian rainforest.
That's because 1 Hotel Mayfair pairs many stars with a sustainable approach. The timbers are reclaimed. The restaurant offers locally sourced produce. Even the wiring runs through the building via a smart electricity management system to conserve energy. Luxury can be kinder to the planet too.
3 Berkeley St, London, W1J 8DJ. booking.com
If there’s one thing too often lacking in London hotels, it’s space. But located in Teddington, just barely 45 minutes from Central London, The Lensbury is the country retreat that you barely need to leave the city for. With a focus on activities, whether that be with relaxing spa treatments, tennis, or swimming, it's no surprise that the Lionesses used it as their London base camp during the 2022 Euros. Our recommendation? Take advantage of the boat hire and spend your afternoon slowly drifting down The Thames towards Hampton Court.
Summer is the ideal time to visit if you’re really looking to make the most of it, not just for the opportunities the grounds have but also for the outdoor dining. And as far as the food is concerned, the restaurant channels the same calm, relaxed vibes of the rest of the hotel, making it the ideal spot for switching off and unwinding from the pressures of city living.
Broom Rd, Teddington, TW11 9NU. booking.com
A brand new independent hotel in the middle of London's funnest district, Broadwick Soho is a 57-roomed independent venture that goes haute on the eccentricity. Think of a mix between the golden age of Jazz, Amalfi boutique hotels that don't exist on Google and a little bit of the good weirdness that exemplifies our strange capital.
That's because its interiors have been led by Martin Brudnizki, the Chelsea-based designer that's made a name for an haute mish-mash that's as fun as it is fine. Inside the hotel itself, expect to find Bar Jackie, an all-day eaterie that's walk-in only, and Dear Jackie, the fine dining experience that goes hard on Italian cuisine and old world Milanese flamboyance. Expect Broadwick Soho to be London's next big after-hours haunt.
20 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 8HT. broadwicksoho.com
We know that you know about the Four Seasons: the international luxury hotel chain that can guarantee a good experience and an even better sleep. But what makes the Park Lane instalment so great is the location: this modernist tower is sandwiched right between Green Park and Hyde Park (London's two most famous and most magnetic green stretches).
That means an insane view. But it also means an expansive spa in its inner sanctum, Bar Antoine with the sort of terrace you don't usually find this central and the Pavyllon: a fine dining experience from multi-Michelin starred chef Yannick Alléno. Among Four Seasons' many veterans, Park Lane is a commonly-picked favourite.
Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7DR. booking.com
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There was a time in the not-too-distant past whereby few Londoners would ever advise a stay in Costa Del Stratford. But following a little-known Olympic ceremony a decade ago, investment in the area has grown and grown to the point where there's much going on in the East London neighbourhood, now home to sporting pursuits of all varieties and a hotbed for concerts, football, NFL and myriad other stadium events.
Which is what makes The Gantry hotel, situated a stone's throw from Stratford International and at the foot of the East Village's desirable housing, such an appealing prospect to out-of-towners. Whether in town for a West Ham home game or Abba Voyage, this Curio Collection by Hilton hotel has an address to be reckoned with. It doesn't hurt that its interiors are slick and modern; its terrace bar, Coupe, is the perfect spot for a mid-afternoon cocktail; and the views from its bedroom offer a unique perspective of the London skyline. If you're going to set up shop in Stratford on your next visit, there really is no better place to do it.
40 Celebration Ave, London, E20 1DB. booking.com
North England
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Renovating a landmark Georgian townhouse in Clifton, York, No.1 is one of the North's chicest new openings. Boasting an exceptionally grand façade and Pinterest-perfect design at every turn, it manages to strike the right balance between contemporary design and the venue's Grade-II listed Regency foundations, and the original townhouse has been put to good use, with ludicrously-high ceilings adding a level of grandeur to each of the 39 rooms and suites.
Just a stone's throw from the inner city walls, the other great thing No. 1 has going for it is its own food offering, with dinnertime delights including such appetising mains as local Scarborough woof or a whole canoe boned sea bass. A particular highlight at No.1, however, is the bar – inspired by Yorkshire forced rhubarb, the Rhubarb Bar features a portrait of the enigmatic (or made up) Lady Rhubarb by local artist Rachael Burnett and a fully-working miniature steam train zipping around a track on the ceiling, in homage to York's rail heritage. The food and drinks menus contain GuestHouse regulars and York-focussed specials: GQ recommends the Parkin Old Fashioned for a proper taste of Yorkshire.
1 Clifton, York, YO30 6AA. booking.com
Swinton Park is the wonderfully grand and eccentric ancestral home of the Cunliffe-Lister family, with a history dating back to the 17th century. The huge, high-ceilinged rooms are all individually designed, but what they have in common is picture windows that look out on the jaw-dropping 200 acres of deer-filled parkland, lakes and gardens.
As a whole, the Swinton Estate extends to 20,000 acres (making it only slightly smaller than Manhattan), offering guests the opportunity to walk, horse ride, pony trek, clay-pigeon shoot, mountain bike and fish. And for the ultimate old-school lord-of-the-manor experience you can try your hand at falconry.
Swinton also offers a glamping experience at Bivouac, where you can choose between Meadow Yurts (no, us neither), or the Woodland Shacks. These award-winning, open-plan wooden cabins don't have electricity, but they are beautifully hand-crafted, with log-burning stoves, camping kitchens and an outdoor hot tub. It's rough, ready, rustic and utterly romantic.
Swinton Park, Masham, Ripon, HG4 4JH. booking.com
When is a hotel not a hotel? When it's a restaurant with rooms, obviously. It's a small but important distinction for chef-patron Mark Birchall because, despite the stunning countryside setting, multimillion-pound renovation of a 16th-century manor house and an impeccable refurbishment by interior designer Martin Nealon, Moor Hall is first and foremost about the food.
Having honed his skills as the executive chef at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume for the best part of nine years, Birchall is a modern master of taste, texture, presentation and flavour. So much so that before Moor Hall’s first birthday he had already been gifted four AA rosettes and a Michelin star for his five- and eight-course tasting menus. Now, the restaurant holds two Michelin Stars, a Michelin Green Star, and five AA Rosettes, and was named the best restaurant in the UK at this year's National Restaurant Awards.
It is a menu as immaculate as the precisely groomed grounds and walled gardens that surround the light and airy oak-framed dining room and certainly somewhere worth lingering. And, given that Moor Hall is a restaurant with a magnificent seven luxury rooms, and within easy distance of Liverpool and Manchester, you’d be a fool not to spend the night as well. Just don’t call it a hotel.
Prescot Road, Aughton, Ormskirk, L39 6RT. moorhall.com
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House boasts the warmth of a country house hotel with all the perks of a contemporary stay. The Cunliffe family, who bought the site in 1919, have modernised without overwriting its heritage. The bedrooms offer a spectrum of modernity, from the Georgian main house, via the Garden Suites (each with terrace and hot tub) to the more 21st-Century Spa Suites (cabins with treatment beds and private sauna and steam rooms).
In addition to its pool, sauna and hot tub, the Jetty Spa has treatment rooms by a private lake. It's one of the jewels in the Gilpin's crown - but thanks to the layout you'll often feel as if you're the only person there. Enjoy cocktails in the drawing room, then head to the restaurant to experience the creativity that Michelin-Starred executive head chef, Hrishikesh Desai, injects into the cooking.
Crook Rd, Windermere, LA23 3NE. expedia.co.uk
On the sands of Seaham’s epic bay, beachcombers search each morning for coloured sea glass discarded from an old factory, while above all this activity sits another gem of the North East, the Georgian Seaham Hall. Revelling in its storied history (visited by Lord Byron, the birthplace of his mathematical genius daughter, Ada Lovelace, a military hospital then a sanatorium, abandoned by aristocratic owners in the '20s, then passed from one custodian to another until 2012) the hotel and spa offers magnificent suites and a fine, intimate restaurant.
GQ was already approaching mindfulness in the Executive Suite (just your regulation luxury – the Ada Lovelace Suite and Penthouse are even more striking) before a trip to the Serenity Spa, accessed, in order to protect guests from the wrath of the North Sea, via an underground passageway: all serious fun. After the pool and a range of relaxing treatments, sate your appetite either at the spa-adjacent pan-Asian Ozone restaurant, or make your way back to the main house to the Dining Room for a menu packed to the brim with dishes inspired by the region.
Lord Byron’s Walk, Seaham, Co. Durham, SR7 7AG. seaham-hall.co.uk
Norfolk
The peace and quiet sounds different when you’re more than 60 miles from a motorway, secluded up in the most Northern part of Norfolk where it’s a positive rather than a hassle that the phone reception is a bit scatty, and Morston Marsh is the only thing between you and the North Sea. Instead of an inconvenience, en route it’s strangely therapeutic to get stuck behind a tractor on the single lane A road that meanders through sleepy towns as there’s nothing else to do but enjoy the scenery. It slows you down in a way we all crave but few rarely achieve, so that on reaching your destination you’re nicely acclimatised – because not a huge amount happens in the village of Blakeney.
The Blakeney Hotel sits prettily yet formidably on the village seafront, its Edwardian handsomeness reassuringly traditional. You immediately feel at home with zero White Lotus-esque red flags lurking around corners. The dining area is the right side of busy with lots of local produce on both the à la carte and daily specials menus – from kippers for breakfast to dressed crab salad for dinner. Much of the art along the corridors is an ode to animals and surrounding nature you might be fortunate to see while out exploring the marshes in person, or from The Lookout lounge on the first floor, which is the perfect place for a spot of tea while reading a book – or something similarly decadent. Rooms are all uniquely styled in a romanticised country finish which makes for a cosy yet unfussy feel. There’s a pool, sauna, steam room situ going on, too, aka a real bonus, and a games room, plus the nearby shops are quaint and 'grammable, and there's no shortage of walks to go on. Marshes aside, Holkham Beach is a short drive away, as is Sandringham if you fancy spotting an entirely different animal – a royal.
Blakeney Hotel, The Quay, Blakeney, Holt NR25 7NE blakeney-hotel.co.uk
Scotland
Before opening its doors in June 2022 following a gargantuan conversion project, Gleneagles Townhouse served first as the British Linen Company and then as the Bank of Scotland. The character of its former usage can be seen all over the building from the listed tiles of its lobby to the wellness centre that occupies its old vaults. It's most beautifully on show in the grandeur of The Spence, Gleneagles' main restaurant and Edinburgh's current buzziest brunch spot, where an art deco central bar boasts sprawling foliage on top, the heads of famous Scots are plaster cast into the border of its ceiling and an immaculate glass dome has been carefully restored by actual vacuum cleaning drones.
Also serving as a members club, but without Soho House's creative criteria that might otherwise limit a city like Edinburgh (Scotland's creatives are more commonly placed in Glasgow), Gleneagles has a residential feel with its 33 bedrooms, each fusing timeless opulence with contemporary touches (in some rooms, for instance, ornate cornice and wood panels are offset by playful David Shrigley prints). The fitness offering is far from the hotel norm, too, with plenty more than a few treadmills to raise your heart rate on, a regular class schedule and even a cryo chamber. It's details such as these that'll quickly have you thinking about uprooting to Edinburgh and taking up the £2k+ a year residents' membership.
What Gleneagles Townhouse lacks in castle views it makes up for with an even better outlook from its rooftop bar, Lamplighters (a nod to Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson). The club's renovation by Ennismore saw designers raise its terrace in line with the five historic statues that punctuate the building's facade, making the lookout to Leith all the more dramatic.
St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD. booking.com
A newcomer to Edinburgh's much-photographed, winding Victoria Street, you'd be hard pushed to find a hotel better positioned for the steps you'd put in over Edinburgh's city-sprawling festival season. A stone's throw from the bustling Royal Mile and in close reach of many of the city's Old Town cultural highlights, the hotel's street level confusingly begins on floor five, a consequence of the many hills you'll encounter in the city. This level also offers public access to one of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh's greatest attributes, Common's Club, a characteristically high-ceilinged watering hole serving up award-winning cocktails to get you in the city break spirit.
There are elements of Virgin's easily recognised branding all over this hotel, from its bright red door to its campy, exactly-what-you'd-expect-in-Richard-Branson's-house artwork. Thankfully these elements are tastefully fused with a calming colour palette and home comfort-style soft furnishings, all set within what's actually a pretty outstanding building. Rooms and suites are accessed from an elegant domed atrium and boast expert attention to use of space, the minibar is well-stocked with things you'll actually want to drop minibar price tags on and things like lighting, curtains and air con are all easily controlled via high-tech control panels or even an app on your phone.
They're the kind of convenient touches that easily elevate your stay in a place with as much to offer as Edinburgh, and will remain high on our list of the city's pitstops both in and out of season.
Victoria St, Edinburgh, EH1 2EX. booking.com
Ever visited a stately home and wished you could just tear down the roped-off parameters and make like the gentry who once dwelled in that oh-so ornate four-poster? At The Witchery, you can. Situated at the very top of the Royal Mile, just a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle, and taking its name from those burned at the stake on Castlehill during the 16th and 17th centuries, the eccentric central hotel draws on the history of its 500-year-old building and immediate vicinity with wildly eclectic designs.
Of its nine indulgent suites, the flagship Inner Sanctum boasts a tartan-lined study, tapestry-draped bed and a smorgasbord of antiques and collectables at every turn, not least the Queen Victoria bust, which dominates the bedroom (and will surely make you quite terrified to get up for a wee in the middle of the night).
Down the private turret entrance, The Witchery restaurant serves up outstanding breakfasts, afternoon tea and dinner, of which the scallops are a real trademark, and on your doorstep you have all the best of what this gothic city has to offer. It’s no wonder the guest book boasts entries from Bryan Ferry to Matt Groening.
352 Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF. booking.com
The home of golf needs a hell of a lot of hotel rooms. Luckily for St Andrews, Fairmont has delivered in abundance, with its 209 bedroom and suite property overlooking St Andrews and the North Sea. It's a unique setting for a unique destination, and the Fairmont St Andrews delivers, connecting the sporting heritage of the area with a luxury stay, for those of us that want to relax in style after a bracing coastal walk – or an unsuccessful trudge around 18 holes (the Fairmont's own Torrance Course is a breathtaking links course that'll make you glad to take so many shots).
Speaking of relaxation, the spa offers a pool, fitness suite and ten treatment rooms in partnership with ESPA and Ishga Skincare, a Scottish brand that uses hand-harvested seaweed from the Hebrides in all their products. To prepare you for your hectic schedule, breakfast is served in the huge Squire Restaurant, with afternoon tea available nearby in the impressive Atrium. It's a Grand Slam.
St Andrews, KY16 8PN. booking.com
This legendary stop on the global golf tour is far more than mock-baronial bedrooms and wall-to-wall tartan. Instead, it’s the perfect expression of the modern, full-service destination resort: still focused on its greens, naturally, but busy amplifying myriad other attractions that should appeal to anyone who wants a few activities sprinkled throughout their stay.
Beyond golf there’s – deep breath – shooting, canoeing, riding, climbing, falconry, cycling, tennis, off-roading, archery and fishing. And for the merely indolent there’s a spa and health club that is surely one of the best wellness centres in the country.
Gaze and graze at one of the great dining rooms in the land (the restored Strathearn offers fine Franco-Scottish dining in seriously opulent surroundings) or choose between the three other restaurants, including the late Andrew Fairlie’s two-Michelin-starred kitchen, two more casual dining rooms, and four bars. But on no account miss out on the breakfast buffet – a term that signally fails to do justice to the most enticing array of locally sourced and superbly presented dishes GQ has ever encountered.
Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1NF. booking.com
In Daniel Craig’s third outing as James Bond, he famously takes M back to Skyfall Lodge. It is a sequence made spectacular not because they are driving an iconic Aston Martin DB5, but due to the backdrop of the stunning peaks of Buachaille Etive Mòr and Buachaille Etive Beag near Glen Coe. Unfortunately for the spy, his car is destroyed, his ancestral seat is blown up and Dame Judi Dench is killed. But it isn’t all bad news: if Bond were to travel 30 miles down the road he could have found somewhere every bit as picturesque to stay.
The Isle Of Eriska is a 300-acre island located at the mouth of Loch Creran. Follow the single-lane, tree-lined road and you’ll soon come to The Big House, a five-star hotel dating back to 1884 and designed in classic Scottish Baronial style. The communal areas (big sofas, year-round open fires) and bedrooms (country-house vibes with modern décor) are homely and characterful.
However, while GQ recommends you take your meals and tea in The Big House, and make full use of the Stables Spa facilities (pool, gym and the more informal Deck restaurant), you should look to book one of the hotel’s Hilltop Reserves for your stay. Set on a hill a five-minute stroll away, these cottages offer seclusion, views over Loch Linnhe and balconies complete with hot tubs: the kind of place that Bond wouldn’t hesitate to use his licence to kill for.
Benderloch, Argyll, PA37 1SD. booking.com
Until the Seventies, Kinloch Lodge was the home of the current high chief of Clan Donald, but was repurposed by Lord Macdonald and his wife, cookery writer and chef Claire Macdonald, as a luxury hotel, with daughter Isabella now at the helm. Promising a warm welcome, roaring fires when needed (often) and an extensive whisky collection (also needed often), Kinloch is burrowed deep into the Skye landscape, overlooking Loch na Dal, and the restaurant, run by Bristol-born but Skye-adopted Jordan Webb makes the most of the island's natural resources, with freshly-hauled langoustines an understandable highlight.
For foodies who like to get closer to the source of their meals than a chef’s table, Kinloch’s ghillie, Mitchell Partridge, will take visitors on foraging trips on the grounds, out to the island’s best fishing spots and leads deer stalks too. Partridge brings 25 years of experience to his expeditions and his understanding of the island runs deep, so pack a pair of Red Wings and waterproofs (you are in the Hebrides, after all).
Kinloch Lodge celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, and judging by the service, we wouldn't be surprised to see it thrive a fair while longer.
A851, Sleat, Isle of Skye, IV43 8QY. booking.com
More than a hotel, The Balmoral is a landmark that punctuates Edinburgh's skyline with its enormous clock tower. An unmissable fixture of the city's hospitality offering, it's the first thing you'll see if you're disembarking from Edinburgh Waverly, occupying a fantastic middle ground location on Princes Street with the best of the city's shopping, nightlife and culture in easy walking distance. In castle view-rooms, a pair of binoculars is even provided to take in the sights from your window.
A stay at this prestigious institution is one that reignites old school glamour at every turn. The decor is in need of a good update, as are its wellness facilities and perhaps even its check-in etiquette, but this is all part of The Balmoral's charm. You get the sense that this is a hotel that has seen some things.
Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ. booking.com
Wales
The Grove, in the midst of Pembrokeshire, was derelict when fresh hoteliers Neil Kedward and Zoe Agar bought it in 2007, but they have since transformed it into a luxurious country manor. With 20 bedrooms, a 15th-century longhouse and four separate cottages overlooking the Preseli hills, the boutique hotel plays refuge to couples seeking romantic breaks from urban life, and is an escape for young families keen to explore the unspoiled Welsh coastline.
Led by Executive Chef Douglas Balish, The Grove's Fernery restaurant opened in 2018 with a seasonal focus and currently holds 3 AA Rosettes. Former sommelier at Sorrel, Alexios Stasinopoulos, heads your wine choices as you while away the hours surrounded by the peaceful beauty of rural West Wales.
The Grove, Molleston, Narberth, Dyfed SA67. booking.com
Set on the edge of the stunning Snowdonia National Park, the Palé Hall estate sits in 16 acres of gardens and is the country house hotel North Wales has been waiting for. Impeccably finished, with 18 individually designed elegant rooms, period features and antique furnishings galore, this feels less like a hotel and more like a visit to a wealthy yet wonderfully welcoming old-fashioned family home.
Four garden suites in the estate's grounds complete the sumptuous set, all nestled in the Dee Valley. For an extra slice of country living, afternoon tea is served in the Hall's Henry Robertson Dining Room, with evening service overseen by Michael Caines protégé and colleague Gareth Stevenson.
Palé Hall, Llandderfel, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7PS. booking.com
Ireland
Who wants one impeccably-restored Georgian townhouse when you can have four? That's presumably what the original founders of the Merrion Hotel thought when they looked at the properties across from Dublin's Government Buildings, and they weren't wrong. The 142-bedroom and suite hotel is as luxurious as you can get in the historic heart of the Irish capital, a mixture of bright, spacious design and plush, old-world décor.
While the Merrion is only a few minutes' walk from Grafton Street and the rest of Temple Bar, it's difficult to drag yourself away from the hotel's own options, including the two-Michelin-Starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbauld, the No.23 Cocktail Bar, the airy Garden Room and the conspiratorial Cellar Bar, with the finest selection of Irish whiskey you're likely to find in the city.
Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2. booking.com
Built in County Limerick during the mid-19th century by the Second Earl Of Dunraven for his wife, Lady Caroline Wyndham, this neo-gothic castle has everything you would expect of a hotel owned by tycoon JP McManus – picturesque, opulent and with a golf course set to host the 2027 Ryder Cup – but it also has the X-factor thanks to the marriage of its storied past with striking modernity.
Its quirks include the original “calendar design”, with 365 leaded windows, 52 chimneys, seven pillars and four towers to mark the year, weeks, days and seasons. There are gargoyles and carvings everywhere and strange staircases that resemble an Escher drawing. Mix all that with a spa from which you can swim looking up at the battlements, attentive staff and a restaurant with serious ambition – the Oak Room is Limerick's first Michelin Star restaurant – and you can’t fail.
With a subterranean cocktail bar, the Carriage House bistro and the monumental central Gallery, it always feels like there is another room to stumble into. It’s part luxury, part fantasy, all good.
Adare, Co. Limerick, V94 W8WR. adaremanor.com
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