My favourite UK hotels of 2021
One week to Christmas, and everything in the UK seems to be falling apart, doesn’t it? I hope you’re all staying safe, and keeping hopeful for the festive season despite everything that is going on. As the end of the year approaches, I’ve started reflecting on everything that has happened in 2021, and despite spending a large chunk of the year in lockdown, I’m immensely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to travel in the in between - whether that was around the UK, or on brief trips to Ireland and Portugal.
Of course, a lot of my staycationing around the UK was for the purpose of writing ‘British Boutique Hotels’ (speaking of which, I’m running a giveaway to win a signed copy over on my Instagram - go check it out!). I thought it would be worth recapping my absolute favourite hotels that I visited for the first time below. You can be assured that each of these is beautiful and unique in design, has a delicious food offering (one of the most important things for me when staying somewhere), and a beautiful setting to feel like you’ve truly escaped the everyday. Make sure to add these to your 2022 staycation hit list - and if you want a full write up, you can always get your hands on a copy of the book…
Family-run Middleton Lodge is a stunning Georgian estate in north Yorkshire. Encompassing various outbuildings that made up the original estate such as the Dairy and the Coach House, each part of the hotel has been lovingly constructed and designed by owners James and Rebecca. Rooms are cosy and rustic in a farmhouse-chic style, many of which feature neutral colour palettes and copper bathtubs big enough for a small family - some even have outdoor hot tubs too. The food is one of the hotel’s greatest strengths - with a menu championing what’s in season, most of the produce you’ll eat is all grown on site in the hotel’s beautiful walled gardens or sourced locally, resulting in artfully presented and delicious fare.
Okay, so technically this year wasn’t my first time visiting The Newt (which is probably my favourite hotel in the entirety of the UK), but it was the first time staying at the hotel’s Farmyard, its brand new development which opened in May this year. Set apart from the main house among the estate’s apple orchards, expect Scandi-style standalone rooms, featuring slick, contemporary furnishings and even in-room steam pods. The Farmyard is also home to its own pool, honesty bar (where guests can help themselves to drinks and cake throughout the day) and restaurant, the open-plan, laidback Farmyard Kitchen, where small sharing plates are served each evening. Ferry yourself to and from the main house and gardens in cute little buggies - as Farmyard guests, you’ll have the same access to the hotel’s other restaurants, as well as the main spa. If you have yet to visit The Newt, I’d definitely recommend staying a night here and another in the main house, so you can experience the best of both.
Owned by same couple behind Hauser & Wirth, this luxury boutique hotel nestled in the Cairngorms national park provides a visual feast for the eyes as soon as you step inside. Almost every single nook, corner, and crevice here features artwork of some kind - from the hand-painted ceilings in the drawing room, to walls and staircases bedecked with taxidermy; oh, and don’t forget the stuffed deer adorned with angel wings, hanging from the ceiling in the aptly named ‘The Flying Stag’, the hotel’s relaxed pub. Days at The Fife Arms are spent on long hikes exploring the surrounding landscape (visit in the winter, and you’ll be able to ski), or pootling around the quaint town of Braemar, before retiring to the dining room for delicious, Scottish fare. Follow this up with a tipple in the whiskey bar, which features hundreds of whiskies from around the world.
I’d eaten at Thyme several times before over the years, but 2021 was the year I first stayed at this luxury country house hotel in the Cotswolds. An impressive estate that encompasses several honey-coloured lodges and renovated barns, bedrooms are unique and individually designed by owner Caryn: expect plush furnishings, rich colour schemes, and generous bathtubs in each of them. Meanwhile, the stunning and converted Ox Barn is where you’ll gather for hearty British fare every day - in the summer, guests spill outdoors onto the terrace for a drink among the rose gardens, and spend the day lounging by the pool. The best thing about Thyme? It’s very much a family affair here, with owner Caryn designing each part of the hotel, son Charlie behind the helm in the kitchen, and daughter Milly overseeing the property’s brand and marketing.
Another family-run hotel, Hampton Manor’s unlikely location just outside Birmingham makes it a bit of a hidden gem, but it firmly deserves to be on your radar. Formerly the residence of Sir Robert Peel, this historic manor has been beautifully renovated by owners James and Fjona to encompass William Morris wallpapers, plush interiors, and unique colour schemes in every room. This hotel is definitely one for foodies - meals are split between the hotel’s two restaurants (a third is set to open next year): Smoke, the wood-fired grill nestled in the kitchen gardens, and Michelin-starred Peel’s. Little touches are what make your stay special, from homemade chocolate chip cookies in your bedroom, to the friendly staff who will snap a Polaroid picture of you toasting s’mores over the fire pit after dinner.
