My favourite hotels in the UK: the ultimate staycation guide, PART 1
A round-up of the very best hotels across town and country, from five-star pads with all of the frills to boujie boutique boltholes
Hello, and welcome to my first Gina’s Journal newsletter! I’m incredibly excited to be starting this new venture on Substack, and couldn’t be more grateful that you’ve decided to join me.
For my first newsletter, I’ve put together an updated round-up of my favourite hotels in the UK, as this is something I get asked for all of the time.
I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels (yes, really!) around the UK, mostly for research purposes when writing both of my books, British Boutique Hotels and London Hotels. Thus, whittling down this list to my top 20 was no easy feat. I’ve split the list into two parts (because Substack limits how many words I can write per newsletter) so read on to discover 10 of my absolute favourites - and you’ll get the remaining 10 in my next newsletter.
Ultimately, the places that I’ve chosen below are incredibly special in their own way, and are the places that I find myself drawn back to, time and time again.
The Newt in Somerset, Somerset
A beautifully kept 900-acre estate in the heart of Somerset, The Newt is quite possibly my favourite hotel in the entirety of the UK. There’s an unmatched attention to detail here, and a dizzying variety of things to enjoy: among the perfectly pruned (and continually evolving) gardens (lovingly maintained by a 300-strong team of gardeners), you’ll find a deli and farm shop, various exhibitions (from an immersive journey through the history of gardening to a restored Roman villa), an orchard with every single variety of apple in England, as well as the estate’s cyder press, dairy, and butchery. Bedrooms sit between the honey-hued Hadspen House and rustic Farmyard, and are kitted out with luxe four-posters, rolltop tubs, and complimentary minibars stocked with homemade treats. Spend your days unwinding in the incredible spa (featuring the best indoor-outdoor pool in England), and enjoying homegrown produce at the hotel’s three restaurants.
The Fife Arms, Aberdeenshire
Step inside this art-filled hideaway in the Scottish Highlands and you’ll immediately be bowled over by the smorgasbord of colour and texture around each corner. Owned by the same minds behind Hauser & Wirth, expect hand-painted murals, impressive taxidermy displays (including a flying stag suspended above the hotel bar), and priceless Picasso paintings casually propped against the walls, with each of the bedrooms uniquely designed in a mix of wooden tones and tartan prints. Spend your days rambling over the Highlands before retiring for a drink in the whisky bar, which boasts over 365 different varieties: one for each day of the year…
Thyme, Gloucestershire
Nestled within a quaint Cotswolds village, this family-run estate encompasses a honey-coloured hamlet of carefully restored cottages, barns, and farmhouses. Each of the botanically-inspired bedrooms has been individually designed by owner Caryn Hibbert, featuring expensive-feeling furnishings, hand-painted fabrics, and jewel-coloured bathtubs. Minibars stocked with homemade cookies and cordials, and divine-smelling Bertioli by Thyme body lotions (bottled and made on site) are also a given in all of the rooms. There’s a tranquil spa, boutique and cookery school, and meals are served in the stunning Ox Barn, where the daily-changing menu champions fresh produce grown across the estate.
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
This Georgian manor set within 438 acres of Hampshire wildland is the very embodiment of quiet luxury. Calming bedrooms are a considered melange of neutral tones and plush fabrics, and have all of the mod-cons and slick tech you’d expect - alongside complimentary minibars stocked with homemade biscuits and cordial. The hotel’s two restaurants sit under the culinary direction of Michelin-starred chef Skye Gyngell, and menus incorporate fresh, seasonal produce supplied from the estate’s biodynamic farm. Wake up to leisurely three-course breakfasts at Marle restaurant (probably my favourite hotel breakfast in England), before unwinding at the show-stopping spa, where you’ll find pampering WildSmith treatments, cocooning relaxation pods and a spectacular pool. Other activities offered on site include wild swimming in the estate’s lakes and cycling around the grounds.
Foxhill Manor, Worcestershire
This Cotswold hideaway is one of a kind: exclusive to hotel guests, and with just eight bedrooms, it feels more like a private home than a hotel. Fussy formalities are eschewed in favour of a relaxed ‘no rules’ policy: chat with the chef about what you fancy eating each day, and the team will whip up delicious three-course suppers on the spot - which you are welcome to enjoy whenever and wherever you fancy, whether that’s in the lounge, TV room, or even sprawled in bed. If you’re still feeling peckish, raid the complimentary pantry and help yourself to drinks at the honesty bar. Spend your time here enjoying the spa facilities at sister hotel Dormy House, and exploring the 400-acre Farncombe Estate.
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