The Best Country Hotels In The UK

This boutique hotel in the New Forest is home to some of the most wonderful views in the country. The hotel itself has sleek interiors and a variety of generous rooms, as well as forest cabins and cottages for families. Surrounded by meadows, cabins have king-sized beds, bunk beds for children and ensuites with rainfall showers and freestanding baths, while cottages also have kitchenettes, and dining and living areas with snug log fires. If you have little ones in tow, relax at the spa and enjoy rustic fare from Italian restaurant Hartnett Holder & Co (by Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder) while children swim in the pool during allocated family times, and explore the estate on the hotel’s bikes. The hotel also organises regular wellness retreats which include forest runs, spa treatments, exercise classes in the Herb House, and PT sessions.

Rooms from £405 per night.

Visit LimewoodHotel.co.uk

If you really want to escape city life, book a room at Middleton Lodge near the Yorkshire Dales. The hotel prides itself on excellent service and outstanding food – the estate’s newly reopened fine-dining restaurant Forge is headed up by chef Jake Jones (ex-L’Enclume). Guests are treated to an inventive tasting menu featuring dishes like trout with preserved blackcurrant and toasted quinoa; Cornish cod with English sparkling wine and leeks in bone marrow; and caramelised apple and thyme tart. Elsewhere on the estate, guests can head to the relaxed all-day Coach House for excellent dishes made with local produce, and explore the local area using the hotel’s bikes. Accommodation-wise, there are rooms in the main house, self-catered cottages or shepherd huts – some with copper baths. The hotel’s newest addition is the Forest Spa with treatment huts, a cosy lounge and a heated outdoor pool. 

Rooms from £215 per night.

Visit MiddletonLodge.co.uk

The Signet Collection is behind SL-favourite The Mitre Hampton Court and Barnsdale Lodge. Last year, it opened The Retreat at Elcot Park in west Berkshire – which has already established itself as a go-to spot for families and those looking for a luxe staycation at an affordable price. In a Grade II-listed 18th-century building (once home to Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley), the hotel has 55 individually designed bedrooms and impressive grounds with views of the Wessex Downs. There are two restaurants, an all-day brasserie and a pan-Asian restaurant, as well as a whisky tasting room, tennis courts, and an outdoor infinity pool, complete with a Whispering Angel bar. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a spa, and a courtyard housing a bakery, coffee shop, hair salon and wine store. 

Rooms from £185 per night.

Visit ElcotPark.com

Callow Hall in the Peak District opened its doors two years ago and within a few months was named The Sunday Times Hotel of the Year thanks to its excellent facilities and stunning interiors by Isabella Worsley. Surrounded by ancient woodland and 35 acres of wild open space, the hotel is light and bright, with characterful prints, fabrics and artwork by young British artists. There are 15 bedrooms in the main house, plus two newly opened treehouses nestled withing the grounds. Worsley teamed up with Blue Forest – the group behind The Fish and Chewton Glen – to design each one. Ideal for families and groups, each treehouse sleeps up to five across two bedrooms. They also have bright open-plan living areas with kitchenettes and a private wraparound deck with rolltop copper baths. Guests can use the hotel’s main facilities, including the restaurant and spa.

Rooms from £200 per night.

Visit Wildhive.uk

Few places have created a buzz in the UK’s hotel scene like new members club Estelle Manor – a sister property to Mayfair’s exclusive Maison Estelle. Created by Sharan Pasricha, the founder of Ennismore, this private country club is in the small Oxfordshire village of Eynsham. Members have access to the Grade II-listed house and over 3,000 acres of beautiful parkland. There are 108 bedrooms and suites across the main house, two nearby buildings and the new Stables and Walled Garden buildings. Guests can also stay in woodland cottages and private houses on the estate. Among some of the most impressive facilities on this list, there’s a riviera-inspired outdoor terrace with a 25m swimming pool and shaded sun beds, as well as four restaurants including the informal Brasserie for brunch and casual suppers. Elsewhere, you’ll find grand sitting rooms, and a clubhouse designed for all your needs – think workspaces, a café, a kids club and a gym with a Pilates studio. A George Northwood salon is also in the works. Coming soon, the venue will open the Roman-inspired Eynsham Baths, a spa with five pools, a bathing hall, thermal cabins and treatment rooms. 

Prices available on request.

Visit EstelleManor.com

For a memorable staycation within easy reach of the capital, Beaverbrook is a quintessentially English country-house hotel on a 470-acre estate in the Surrey Hills. The main house has 18 elegant bedrooms, while the Garden House has a further 11 with woodland views. For full seclusion, choose the Coach House and its botanically inspired bedrooms that can be interconnected. Here, you’ll also find the thermal spa, which has a sauna, ice fountain, outdoor pool, relaxation lounge, and six treatment rooms including a couple’s suite. Beaverbrook also attracts guests for its international dining options; the Japanese Grill serves sushi and sashimi platters, as well as signature dishes like turbot nigiri and charcoaled wagyu. Stop for drinks in one of the two bars – we like Sir Frank’s with its cool art-deco design and classic cocktails. 

Rooms from £550 per night.

Visit Beaverbrook.co.uk

The sister property to Cliveden House, Chewton Glen in the New Forest is just minutes from the coast and is surrounded by 130 acres of countryside. Guests can stay in the main hotel, set in a restored 18th-century house, but we like the treehouses for a high-end luxe experience in nature. Each is suspended 35 feet above ground, where you can spend the night stargazing and soaking in an outdoor hot tub. Breakfast hampers are delivered daily, and you can also order room service, chef-prepared dinners and private spa treatments – every need is catered for and brought to your treehouse door, so you never need to leave. This year, the hotel has introduced workshops at The James Martin Cookery School. Using produce from local suppliers, guests can choose from over 30 classes, from Italian classics and British comfort dishes to pastry masterclasses and kids’ workshops. Just be sure to make time to relax in the spa with its 17m pool, hydrotherapy pool, aromatherapy saunas and steam rooms.

Rooms from £410 per night.

Visit ChewtonGlen.com

Hertfordshire hotel The Grove caters for every type of guest – couples, families and groups. One of our favourite options on this list – mainly because of the excellent dining options and friendly service – we recommend a stay in the new Century Mansion rooms which overlook the landscaped gardens. With interiors by Martin Hulbert Design, rooms and suites showcase the hotel’s 16th-century features, like mouldings, fireplaces and curved bay windows. Each one is individually designed, while bathrooms have freestanding baths and Bamford toiletries. One of the hotel’s main draws is the food; there are fine dining, buffet and Indian restaurants to choose from, as well as communal areas where you can enjoy sushi platters or afternoon tea. Elsewhere, the Sequoia Spa has recently been refurbished and now offers treatments by Bamford, and the property has one of the best championship golf courses in the south east.

Rooms from £370 per night.

Visit TheGrove.co.uk

Glebe House is in the small east Devon town of Colyton. Inspired by rustic ‘agriturismo’ in Italy, the hotel is set on a 15-acre estate which includes a farm supplying most of the ingredients at the restaurant – everything else is sourced from neighbouring farms or foraged locally. Inside, there are five beautiful bedrooms featuring plush furnishings. We like The Old Kitchen Room with its pretty pink pastels, indoor wood burner and freestanding bath behind a chic rattan divider. Glebe House also has a tennis court, swimming pool and casual dining restaurant serving some of the best Devonshire food. With far-reaching views over the rolling Coly Valley, and a short drive from the Jurassic coast, think of this as a slow-living foodie retreat.

Rooms from £150 per night.

Visit GlebeHouseDevon.co.uk

One of the more affordable options on this list, Double Red Duke is a modern gastropub in the Oxfordshire part of the Cotswolds. Ideal for a foodie staycation, guests can stay in one of six spacious rooms above the restaurant; expect bold patterned wallpaper, plush headboards and cosy lighting, while some even have freestanding baths. Food is at the heart of each stay, as guests are treated to the best local produce for breakfast and all-day dining. There’s also a fantastic Sunday lunch menu; roast dinners with all the trimmings are served by a roaring fire in the main dining room, before generous desserts arrive with lashings of custard or homemade ice-cream. Guests can also book treatments in the shepherd’s hut using 100 Acres products.

Rooms from £180 per night.

Visit CountryCreatures.com

Hampton Manor, West Midlands

Best For A Foodie Weekend

Family-run Hampton Manor was made for foodies. The boutique hotel is a ten-minute drive from Birmingham International station, yet it’s surrounded by 45 acres of woodland. It specialises in one or two-night stays where diners can enjoy the best of British cuisine. Once home to Michelin-starred Peel’s, its signature spot is now the multimillion-pound, purpose-built Grace & Savour, which gained its own star at last year’s awards. The kitchen is led by head chef David Taylor – previously of three-Michelin-starred Maaemo in Oslo – and his wife Anette. Guests can enjoy fine dining in a relaxed setting surrounded by a walled garden, then stay overnight in one of the adjoining rooms. There’s also the option to stay in the main house where you can spend the evening in the games room, enjoy a wine tasting session or learn how to make cinnamon buns at the cookery school. Elsewhere on site, Smoke is another destination restaurant – more laid-back than Grace & Savour but the food is just as delicious – which is also home to a bakery in the AM where you can stop for coffee and pastries. Overall, it’s the friendly service and excellent food which will make you want to return.

Rooms from £195 per night.

Visit HamptonManor.com

Following a multi-million-pound renovation a few years ago, Bovey Castle is now one of Devon’s best hotels. The 40-minute drive from Exeter is a scenic one, passing rolling hills and winding country paths towards Dartmoor National Park – the team can pick you up from the station if you’re not driving. Upon arrival, friendly staff will help get you settled into your room. Look out for beautiful period features among grand interiors – think oak panelling, fireplaces and mullion windows. The 60 bright and spacious rooms, along with 22 self-catered lodges scattered across the leafy grounds, are cosy and inviting. Here, the facilities are excellent. Guests can use the championship golf course, tennis court, putting green, and a spa with an indoor pool and fitness centre. There are endless outdoor pursuits to be had, from clay pigeon shooting to archery and tours of the beautiful moors – all led by an enthusiastic team of expert locals. Stop for drinks at the champagne bar before dining at one of its two award-winning restaurants, Great Western Grill and the more casual Smith’s Brasserie.

Rooms from £259 per night. 

Visit BoveyCastle.com

Grade II-listed, 19th-century, Italianate-style Leonardslee House has ten ensuite bedrooms leading off an ornately galleried landing. Each is the work of a different British designer, such as Nina Campbell and Christopher Farr, and an echo of the flower-filled gardens outside – expect floral fabrics and wallpapers as well as hand-picked antiques and chandeliers. The property is set within the historic woodland gardens of the Leonardslee Estate and sits on top of a valley with panoramic views. Guests have complimentary admission to the gardens where there is a wallaby enclosure and a deer park. Guests can enjoy afternoon tea and 21-course tasting menus at Interlude, take part in wine tastings on the estate’s three-acre vineyard, and have picnics in the garden.

Rooms from £420 per night.

Visit LeonardsleeGardens.co.uk