My favourite UK hotels of 2020
As we draw closer to the end of 2020, I've had time to reflect and look back on the past year - and what a year it's been! I've cancelled a lot of travel plans as I'm sure many others have (thanks, Covid), so other than a short stint in Amsterdam, and a few trips to Italy over the summer, all of my holidaying in 2020 has been around the UK. I've realised how many incredible spots we have on our doorstep - and how discovering a new hotel on home ground can be just as exciting as abroad. I've been very lucky to stay at many amazing hotels for the first time this year, but below I've curated a list of the very best of the best - the ones that I can't wait to race back to next year, and which I'm determined to visit time and time again.
The Newt, Somerset
I had high expectations for The Newt before visiting, having had it on my hit list since it opened to rave reviews last year - and my stay certainly didn’t disappoint. A gorgeous Georgian manor renovated with slick contemporary touches, on a sprawling (and beautifully kept) estate, The Newt really does offer something entirely unique. The gardens are incredibly maintained, with thoughtful details and touches throughout the property: you could easily while away an entire day hopping between the Cyder Press, Story of Gardening exhibition, and farm shop, all located within the hotel grounds. The food is just as special (almost all produce is homegrown on the estate), with a delicious breakfast offering included in the room rate. For those that like to be pampered, the spa is stunning and provides a blissful retreat; while bedrooms feature freestanding bathtubs and four posters.
Read a full review from a previous stay here.
The Mitre Hampton Court, Greater London
A boutique hotel with a history dating back to 1665, The Mitre is located just opposite Hampton Court, and boasts strong connections to the palatial home of Henry VIII. The recently renovated property houses 32 bedrooms, each named after members of Henry’s court: you’ll find bold colour schemes balanced against quirky prints in each of the rooms, as well as generous rolltop bathtubs with views over the river. The hotel retains many of the building’s original quirks, such as sloping ceilings and narrow corridors, but the colourful de Gournay wallpapers and elegant interiors bring the place to life. With an impressive three restaurants under The Mitre’s roof, each offering hearty British-Mediterranean fare (make sure to order the addictively tasty Nutella bombolini), the appetite of any gourmand will be satisfied here. If you’re looking to escape the city for a stylish staycation without going very far, add this one to your list.
My stay here was gifted, but all opinions are my own. I do not accept and write about gifted stays unless I truly enjoy them.
Foxhill Manor, Worcestershire - The Cotswolds
It feels like almost a lifetime ago when I visited Foxhill Manor back in February, but this hotel has stayed in my memory ever since. Functioning as a private house hotel, Foxhill really is rather special: featuring only eight bedrooms, the property is strictly open only to its hotel residents. You won’t find any formal restaurant here: instead, the house is a private playground for its guests, and you’re encouraged to pop into the kitchen each day to chat to the chefs, who will whip up whatever you fancy. Choose to eat delicious three-course dinners and tasty breakfasts wherever you like, whether that’s the cinema, the drawing room (with a stunning view over the Cotswold hills), or even in bed! With bedrooms each featuring individual touches, from four posters to twin bathtubs, Foxhill provides pure luxury and is a perfectly romantic recluse.
Read a full review from a previous stay here.
My stay here was gifted, but all opinions are my own. I do not accept and write about gifted stays unless I truly enjoy them.
Lime Wood, Hampshire
Lime Wood isn’t exactly a newcomer on the hotel scene, and before staying over the summer, I’d been wanting to visit for a while - it definitely didn’t disappoint. A beautiful Georgian manor set in the New Forest, interiors here are elegant and pastel-coloured, with the glitzy bar featuring soft furnishings and lots of cosy nooks to curl up under the skylight roof. Bedrooms are just as luxurious, with rolltop bathtubs and four poster beds, as well as fresh strawberries and homemade shortbread upon arrival. Days are spent in the impressive spa and exploring the surrounding New Forest - end the evening by dining in Angela Hartnett’s Italian-inspired restaurant.
Read a full review from a previous stay here.
Number One Bruton, Somerset
A quaint Georgian townhouse in the heart of stylish Bruton, Number One is a boutique hotel that any design lover will enjoy. Marrying quirky wallpapers, vintage furniture and pastel coloured bathtubs across its twelve bedrooms, you’ll find maximalism at its most elegant here. Breakfast is served in Osip restaurant, one of the most exciting culinary openings in Somerset in many years - and alone worth a trip to Bruton. This is a fantastic spot to make your base when exploring Somerset.
Beaverbrook, Surrey
The former abode of Lord Beaverbrook (who rubbed shoulders with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill), Beaverbrook is a stunning manor on a sprawling estate in Surrey. Interiors are sophisticated and glamorous, with elegant floral touches, and feminine colour schemes. Bedrooms are named after famous guests, and feature complimentary mini-bars stocked with fresh snacks every day. Meanwhile, breakfast is a generous affair, and the Japanese Grill serves some of the best sushi I’ve ever eaten in the UK. Days here are spent in the hotel’s impressive spa, relaxing by the outdoor pool, and exploring the grounds - before winding down with cocktails in the glitzy bar and ending the evening in the cinema.
Read a full review from a previous stay here.
The Painswick, Gloucestershire - The Cotswolds
Situated in the quaint village of Painswick, this hotel describes itself as a ‘home from home’. Featuring 16 bedrooms with plush, elegant interiors, and home baked cookies on arrival, you’ll feel welcome as soon as you arrive. Curl up by the fire in the drawing room with freshly baked scones in the afternoon, while the cosy restaurant is where you can expect delicious meals in the evening. The gardens offer endless views over the rolling hills, and there’s an utterly relaxed atmosphere throughout the property…in the summer it is positively blissful, and it almost feels like you could be in Europe.
Read a full review from a previous stay here.
My stay here was gifted, but all opinions are my own. I do not accept and write about gifted stays unless I truly enjoy them.
The Rectory, Gloucestershire - The Cotswolds
Once a former rectory, this hotel is a honey-coloured Cotswold house, with a beautifully kept private garden and swimming pool. The hotel houses 18 bedrooms, each furnished in muted tones and plush fabrics, with plenty of rolltop bathtubs, and homemade shortbread on arrival. The property exudes laidback luxury, with guests invited to while away the hours in the ground-floor restaurant, the beating heart of the hotel - this is one to add to the list for any gourmand. I can’t think of a more joyful place to escape to in summer, where diners spill into the garden and enjoy drinks al fresco - in the colder months, The Rectory is just as inviting, with crackling fires in the drawing room and a cosy atmosphere throughout.
Read a full review from a previous stay here.
My stay here was discounted on a press basis but all opinions are my own.
