Best luxury hotels in the UK

Sometimes it’s worth splashing out on a special hotel stay. Thankfully, the UK has plenty of luxury getaways that will leave you feeling indulged rather than ripped off. 

To help you book without worrying, our undercover inspectors have stayed at hundreds of UK hotels, and bring you honest and impartial reviews that you can trust.

The high-end properties below all impressed our inspectors with one, The Marcliffe in Aberdeen scoring the full five stars due to its superb service. Others, such as Middleton Lodge Spa in Yorkshire, has stunning facilities, while the Hotel Endsleigh in Devon was praised for its unforgettable setting.

A five-star stay doesn’t have to break the bank, either, as our inspectors were wowed by The Roseate in Reading and Voco in Cardiff, which were less than £160 per night.

Every luxury hotel listed scored at least four stars from our inspectors, which indicates an 'excellent' hotel. 

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

The best luxury hotels in the UK we’ve visited 

• The Marcliffe, Aberdeen

• The Mitre Hampton Court, London

• Middleton Lodge, Yorkshire

• The Roseate, Reading

• Boys Hall, Kent

• Eleven Didsbury Park, Manchester

• Harbour Beach Club, Devon
• Dormy House Hotel & Spa, Cotswolds
• Hotel Endsleigh, Devon
• Voco St David's, Cardiff
• Grand Central Hotel, Belfast

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The best luxury hotel we’ve visited in Scotland

The Marcliffe, Aberdeen

Peak price £185

Rating Five stars

Check rates at the Marcliffe

From the moment you climb the sweeping drive of this Victorian manor house on the outskirts of Aberdeen, to the waistcoated staff who swing open the doors and usher you into a reception warmed by a blazing fire, every minute at the Marcliffe feels special. There is no bling, no gold wallpaper or cocktail-snapping influencers, not even a hot tub in the small spa. The tartan carpets, high tea in the drawing room and impeccable service feel almost old-fashioned, but it’s this elegance that appeals and keeps minor royals – who can’t fit into nearby Balmoral – coming back.

Rooms Bedrooms in muted greys and browns, with reproduction Chippendale desks, don’t especially wow, but they're spacious. The locally made mattresses are wonderfully comfortable, and crucially you’ll find snacks, robes, same-day laundry service and other amenities that are slowly being cut at other properties.

Food & drink Guests still dress for dinner, lending a sense of occasion to taking whisky in the deep armchair of the drawing room, before being escorted to tables with crisp white linen and rattan chairs in the Conservatory restaurant. Locally caught langoustines in chilli and garlic, and sirloin of Aberdeenshire beef, are exquisitely presented and taste excellent. With prices for mains starting at £25, it’s also brilliant value. You’re back in the morning for the sort of breakfast buffet Willy Wonka would dream up: smoked haddock, grilled kippers, salmon and everything else you could possibly want. Staff are exceptional. Able to answer any question you ask about the food, they're smartly dressed but make sure dining here still feels comfortable and relaxed.

Our verdict It's the value that makes this the best UK hotel we've stayed at in the UK in the past seven years. To be so completely swept off your feet for less than £200 (including breakfast) makes The Marcliffe remarkable. 

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the March 2025 issue of Which? Travel.

The best luxury hotels we’ve visited in England

The Mitre Hampton Court, London

Peak price £288

Rating Four stars

Check rates at The Mitre Hampton Court

King Charles II was onto something when he ordered The Mitre to be built for guests of Hampton Court Palace in 1665. Overlooking the River Thames, this stylish boutique guesthouse couldn’t have a better location if you’re visiting the royal address (even better, a pair of £60 entrance tickets are free with your stay). 

Rooms Tasteful interior design and vibrant art breathes life into this Grade II-listed, 40-bedroom guesthouse. Pastel panelled walls, an original fireplace, deep plum armchairs and a sprawling king-sized bed almost distract us from the view and thrum of cars crawling in traffic over Hampton Court bridge.

Food and drink Complimentary Pimm's is served at check-in, then attentive waiters in the 1665 Brasserie and the riverside terrace (there are four eateries) easily juggle a wedding next door, couples sipping Bollinger and young families in an upmarket yet unstuffy setting. Our short rib burger (£20) is cooked to perfection. And while the included breakfast buffet in the Boathouse is generous, a moreish full English set us up for the day (£13).

Our verdict A romantic, slightly isolated bolthole, but ideal if you’re off to the Palace. 

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the May/June 2025 issue of Which? Travel.

Middleton Lodge spa hotel, North Yorkshire

Peak price £305

Score Four stars

Check rates at Middleton Lodge

With a grand, tree-lined drive and Georgian stone buildings set amid a sprawling 200-acre estate, Middleton Lodge is a relaxing retreat. A forest spa sits at its heart and, beyond the thickets, an outdoor pool beckons. Although it’s serene, we have reservations about getting into the pool on a grizzly day in Yorkshire. These soon melt away as we slip into the welcoming, balmy water. It’s difficult to believe we’re minutes from the A1 as we swap gentle laps for a dip in the toasty hot tub before reclining on fireside sofas. Access to the spa for up to two and a half hours, costs £90 per person. Treatments are additional (however, a two-course dinner is included in the price).

Rooms Our Coach House ‘comfy’ room is an idyllic terraced cottage with duck-egg blue sash windows and a door bordered by pink roses. Inside, exposed beams, handmade wooden furniture and a claw-foot freestanding bath continue the chic, country aesthetic. A tartan throw on the indulgent super king-sized bed, and olive and cream wallpaper add homely touches to the neutrals elsewhere.

Food and drink The Coach House’s menu is inspired by produce grown in the bountiful on-site walled garden, and is where the onions in our deliciously rich soup come from. Our tasty fresh spaghetti topped with bolognese and whipped (extremely garlicky) aioli uses locally sourced lamb. The continental breakfast is just as impressive, with steal-one-for-later tasty granola bars, sizeable buttery croissants made by an in-house pastry chef and baps cooked to order.

Our verdict A pricey Yorkshire pile, especially with add-ons, but the spa oasis and flavourful dinner are worth the splurge.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the January 2025 issue of Which? Travel.

The Roseate Reading, Berkshire

Peak price £121

Rating Four stars

Check prices at The Roseate Reading

A red carpet lines the steps up to the Queen Anne-style property, and the opulence continues inside with vaulted ceilings, columns and plush, heavy drapes. The Roseate has the hallmarks of a five-star hotel, with its small sauna and steam room. However, scuffed walls, sagging lobby sofas and pleasant yet inattentive staff mean it falls short of a true five-star experience. 

Rooms Our room is part of The House – a separate apartment-style block. It’s neutral and minimalist, except for deep-sapphire velvet chairs and arty orb lighting. In contrast, the palatial classic room in the main house, with mahogany and baroque furniture and fuchsia and taupe walls, better matches the hotel’s sumptuous style (for £24 to £38 more). 

Food & drink Our crispy-skinned seabass with herby crushed potatoes is tasty, but small for £28. The continental buffet breakfast is more generous, and our cooked-to-order chunky stack of American pancakes (included) is indulgently drenched in syrup and topped with bacon. 

Our verdict A stay here is a steal, but the cheapest rooms lack the decadence of the main house. 

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the March 2025 issue of Which? Travel.

Boys Hall, Kent

Peak price £287

Check rates at Boys Hall with Booking.com

Rating 4.5 stars

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 is 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.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the September 2023 issue of Which? Travel and fact checked in April 2025.

Eleven Didsbury Park, Manchester

Check rates at the Eleven Didsbury with Booking.com

Peak price £210

Rating Four stars

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 centuries-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.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the May 2023 issue of Which? Travel and fact checked in April 2025.

Dormy House Hotel & Spa, Cotswolds, England

Peak price £465

Check rates at the Dormy House Hotel and Spa

Rating Four stars

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 to £7) were enjoyable. Breakfast is included.

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

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the September 2022 issue of Which? Travel and fact checked in April 2025.

The Harbour Beach Club & Spa, Devon

Peak price £350

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

Rating Four stars

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-sized 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

Peak price £255

Check rates at Hotel Endsleigh with Booking.com

Rating 4.5 stars

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.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the September 2022 issue of Which? Travel and fact checked in April 2025.

Best luxury hotel we’ve visited in Wales

Voco, Cardiff

Peak price £151

Check prices at Voco

Rating Four stars

In 1998, St David’s Spa, Wales’ first five-star hotel, opened on Cardiff docks. Looking like a cruise liner jutting into the bay, it was hailed as the latest addition to ‘Cool Cymru’. Almost 30 years later, renamed Voco and now owned by InterContinental, it’s sleekly luxurious rather than hip. We prefer it this way. Everything works. There’s no trendy lighting or confusing app. The staff are friendly, without acting like they’ll be fired if they forget to smile. We love the lobby, flooded with light by its seven-storey atrium, and the spa with its 15-metre swimming pool. Even better are the views across the bay towards the undulating roof of the Welsh Senedd. 

Rooms Standard rooms are a decent size, with understated decor and tasteful seascape paintings. Guests can enjoy a dip in a deep bath with fancy toiletries. 

Food & drink Breakfast is in the Tir a Môr (Land and Sea) restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking across the bay in three directions. It’s busy, but the fast turnover means the abundant buffet remains fresh and appealing. 

Our verdict No longer cool, but incredibly good value.

Best luxury hotel we’ve visited in Northern Ireland

Grand Central Hotel, Belfast

Peak price £162

Check rates at Grand Central Hotel

Rating Four stars

In many ways, this former 23-storey office building towering above Belfast’s skyline reflects the growing swagger of the Northern Irish capital. From the roped-off lift where the concierge whisks guests up to the luxury cocktail bar on the top floor, to the all-day dining in front of dramatic double-height floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge bistro, you could almost be in New York. 

Rooms Apart from a flash of turquoise on the bedspread throw, our spacious room with its grey geometric carpet and pale furnishings is smart but lacks flair. That hardly matters, though, when you get rainfall showers, down duvets and a 50-inch flatscreen TV at this price. 

Food & drink The flagship is the Seahorse restaurant, which holds an AA Rosette. Here, leather banquettes, marble tables and a large mural of Belfast mythology set a stunning backdrop for ambitious cooking. Dishes include rack of Mourne lamb (£30) and Dublin Bay prawn ravioli. Breakfast is available, too, and everything from the Thompson’s tea to the Bushmills in your porridge is local and delicious. 

Our Verdict A hotel fit for a capital. 

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