Best luxury hotels in the UK

Our undercover inspectors stay at hundreds of UK hotels to bring you honest and impartial reviews you can trust.

Sometimes it's worth pushing the boat out for a special stay. The luxury hotels below all stood out among the many we checked out; some, like the Dormy House Hotel and Spa in the Cotswolds, have superb facilities, while others like Boys Hall in Kent simply provided brilliant service and comfort in a memorable setting.  Every luxury hotel listed was rated at least four stars by our inspectors, which indicates an 'excellent' hotel. 

We completed stays at the hotels included within the past two years. Prices are for a Saturday night (peak price) and correct at the time of publication. All scores are out of five.

Boys Hall, Kent, England

Score: 4.5

Check rates at Boys Hall

Peak price: £180

The ordinary location (deep in the Ashford suburbs, tucked behind a Wickes and a car dealership) only makes this Jacobean manor house – clad in wisteria from bed rock to gable – all the more spectacular. Charles I may have stayed here when hoofing it from the Roundheads, but this is Boys Hall’s first turn as a hotel – its historic old bones of beams and fireplaces lavishly restored. With just 10 rooms set around the original carved oak staircase, it feels intimate, and we’re ushered inside for tea and cake.

Rooms: While our spacious double has a four-poster bed and the sort of hefty timbered wardrobe that could house Narnia, contemporary fixtures and decorative tiles make it brighter and happier than most historic stays. Everything feels luxurious; from the sweeping floral drapes you need two hands to close, to a tea and coffee station with a choice of milks. There was a complimentary slice of cake on arrival too. 

Food & drink: The restaurant is the main event. You’ll find fabulous fine dining (the Michelin Guide is sure to catch on soon) under huge timber joists in the brightly lit conservatory or on the terrace overlooking the landscaped gardens. Service is warm, prices are fair and there’s lots of local flavour, from Romney Marsh lamb to Kentish wines.

Our verdict: There’s little to recommend the location, but this luxury stay is almost faultless.

Reviewed: September 2023.

Eleven Didsbury Park, Manchester

Score: 4

Check rates at the Eleven Didsbury with Booking.com

Peak price: £180

The leafy suburb of Didsbury is famously well-heeled, and this Victorian townhouse hotel certainly holds its own. Communal rooms are almost womb-like, filled with tactile rich-toned fabrics and curiosities – from toucan bookends to Moroccan lanterns. The pretty walled garden, with century-old yew trees and a heated patio, feels a world away from the frenetic city centre of nearby Manchester.

Rooms: Snug is often a euphemism for shoebox, but not here. The smallest Snug still has wriggle room and a walk-in monsoon shower. We were upgraded to the cavernous Comfy, with a claw-foot roll-top bath in a geometric-tiled alcove. Attention to detail is everywhere, from the coffee pod menu for the in-room machine to the brimming bookcase (we only wish we were staying long enough to read all the books).

Food & drink: Small plates (such as the Thai butternut squash soup with roti) and mains are available, alongside a well-stocked bar. Take breakfast in the garden lounge, or on wicker chairs in the exposed brick conservatory. Or hang your order on the back of your door for room service. We couldn’t fault our fresh fruit salad and eggs benedict, but the full buffet (£16 when we stayed) is a little on the steep side for what it is.

Our verdict: Luxurious without being stuffy, this lovingly furnished bolthole feels joyously indulgent.

Reviewed: May 2023.

Dormy House Hotel & Spa, Cotswolds, England

Score: 4

Check rates at the Dormy House Hotel and Spa

Peak price: £409

A sense of calm embraces you the moment you step inside this tastefully modernised 17th-century Cotswold mansion.Greeted by personable staff, we wandered through a warren of interconnecting intimate lounges with flickering fireplaces and hushed voices, past a formal restaurant, The Back Garden, and the entrance to the House spa. It’s ideal for couples but you’ll need to book ahead to secure a spot. Whether you want to soak in the indoor pool, relax in the steamy outdoor hydro pool flanked by a fireplace, or perk yourself up with a lavender sauna and multi sensory shower (Caribbean rain, cold mist or tropical storm anyone?), there is just enough to keep you occupied. Treatment options are extensive and expertly performed, and you can head to a spa bar to unwind if you don’t fancy shedding your dressing gown.

Rooms: The 38 soothing bedrooms are awash with cream decor, Netflix on tap and heated bathroom floors. But the pale understated luxury left us wishing we’d known about the boot room downstairs before returning from a muddy walk.

Food & drink: Overlooking the garden, the restaurant has an eclectic aesthetic with Asian/Art Deco/mid-century touches. Large plates such as the ribeye steak(£46) with sides (£4-£7) were enjoyable. Breakfast is included.

Our verdict: Flawless service and luxury touches make this a restful rural sanctuary.

Reviewed: September 2022.

The Harbour Beach Club & Spa, Devon, England

Score: 4

Check rates at the Harbour Beach Club and Spa with Booking.com

Peak price: £319

Enjoy uninterrupted sea views from a wraparound terrace that makes the most of the secluded South Sands location. From the complimentary champagne welcome, daily ice cream and coffee on departure to the free resort activities, and boat and shuttle transfers to Salcombe harbour, you’ll feel well taken care of at the new sister property to Salcombe Harbour Hotel. Easy smiles, top-quality facilities (including a spa) and a stellar location make this a relaxing spot to while away lazy summer days.

Rooms: Our worry that an inland room at a waterfront hotel would be disappointing is unfounded. Rolling hills are visible from the balcony, sunlight floods through the skylights and a decanter of gin (and free soft drinks)awaits. Shades of green nod to a 1930’s coastal aesthetic, while a king-size bed, as well as twin wash basins and gold accents in the bathroom, add an understated touch of luxury.

Food & drink: A sea breeze and chilled soundtrack drift through the airy bar and restaurant. Its subtle nautical décor has hints of an Agatha Christie holiday home with rattan chairs and nostalgic art dotted around. Big portions are matched by big flavours; the chicken with morels is a highlight. Breakfast is a moreish buffet and à la carte affair.

Our verdict: Great service, thoughtful touches and an unbeatable location if you’re willing to splurge.

Reviewed: July 2022.

Hotel Endsleigh, Devon, England

Score: 4.5

Check rates at Hotel Endsleigh with Booking.com

Peak price: £290

This Dartmoor hotel was once the enviable rural retreat of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, who, in 1814, enlisted the help of landscape designer Humphry Repton to transform its grounds. Now part of The Polizzi Collection, both the Grade I-listed house and surrounding gardens are resplendent. Pick up a map and explore the 108 acres– you’ll discover follies, grottos, waterfalls and an arboretum, as well as a yew arch and fragrant rose walk with views down to the River Tamar.

Rooms: All 19 rooms have been elegantly designed by Olga Polizzi and many retain period features – we loved the fire buckets and hose reels on the landing upstairs. Our Classic Double (room 16), with its botanical paintings and roll-top bath (not all rooms have separate showers), overlooked the stables and clock tower. For the best garden views, choose one of the Repton rooms. Original hand-painted wallpaper is still on show in the Bedford rooms. A two-night stay is often required.

Food & drink: Venison, duck breast and turbot with seaweed beurre blanc were among the mains on our three-course dinner menu (£67.50), although many visit simply to enjoy a garden stroll followed by afternoon cream tea (£35).

Our verdict: Everything about Hotel Endsleigh is enchanting, including the attentive staff. A first-class escape.

Reviewed: May 2023.

How we review hotels

Unlike all other national UK travel magazines and newspaper travel sections, Which? Travel never accepts freebies. We pay wherever we stay.

All our hotel inspections take place anonymously. We book a standard double room online, just as you would, and we sample the hotel’s facilities, just as you would. We never let on that we are from Which?

That means no special treatment, no reviewer upgrades and no opportunity for the hotel to influence our verdict.

And no matter how badly the hotel fares, we always publish the review, warts and all.

Our ratings

We use an overall star rating for the hotel based on what we think you should expect for the type of accommodation (B&B, luxury hotel etc) and price.

All our ratings strictly adhere to the following criteria:

• 0 stars – A dreadful hotel. We would not recommend staying here.
• 1 star – A sub-standard hotel we think is well below average in its category.
• 2 stars – An adequate hotel we think has room for improvement.
• 3 stars – A solid hotel that meets our expectations.
• 4 stars – An excellent hotel we think is above average in its category.
• 5 stars – An exceptional hotel we think is among the best of its type.