The British four-star hotels that offer lashings of luxury for less
Sensational staycations for the cost-cutting era: For a five-star stay on a budget, try these British FOUR-STAR hotels – they offer lashings of luxury for less
- The AA sets the standard for rating hotels in the UK, with many four-star stays impressing the AA’s inspectors
- Guests at Jersey’s Club Hotel & Spa can enjoy ‘outstanding’ Michelin-starred cuisine at its Bohemia restaurant
- The Scarlet Hotel, an eco-hotel on the Cornish coast, is ‘strikingly modern’ and offers ‘magnificent views’
Dreaming of a five-star staycation stay, but don’t have the budget to match?
Luckily, Britain is brimming with ultra-luxe four-star hotels that give five-star establishments a run for their money, offering Michelin-starred restaurants, sophisticated decor and magical views at a more affordable price.
Here MailOnline Travel has rounded up 25 incredible four-star properties – from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast – that have been recommended by the AA, the organisation that sets the standard for inspecting and rating accommodation in the UK. It’s time for four-star hotels to step into the limelight…
Gravetye Manor Hotel, West Hoathly, West Sussex
Sussex’s Gravetye Manor Hotel is a ‘quintessentially English country house with a real “wow” factor’
Bedrooms and bathrooms have ‘luxurious finishing touches’. Above is the ‘Exclusive Deluxe’ room
Pictured is Gravetye Manor Hotel’s ‘truly outstanding’ Michelin-starred restaurant, which has also earned three AA rosettes
With croquet, fishing, a Michelin-starred restaurant and 35 acres of gardens to explore, there’s plenty to keep guests entertained at this 17-bedroom Elizabethan mansion, which enjoys a ‘tranquil setting’ in the Sussex countryside, around 30 minutes from London.
It’s an AA ‘Inspectors’ Choice’ hotel summed up as a ‘quintessentially English country house with a real “wow” factor’.
The AA inspector who passed judgment says: ‘One of the first country house hotels in Britain, it remains an excellent example of its type.’
Of the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, which has also earned three AA rosettes, the inspector says: ‘The excellent, seasonal, award-winning cuisine based on ingredients from the kitchen garden and local suppliers is truly outstanding.’
Bedrooms and bathrooms have ‘luxurious finishing touches’ while the day rooms boast open fires, creating ‘a relaxing atmosphere’.
A room for two at Gravetye Manor Hotel costs from £360 per night.
The Painswick, Painswick, Gloucestershire
The Painswick has had a varied history, including being a vicarage, guest house and hotel
Pictured above is where The Painswick’s ‘not-to-be-missed afternoon tea is served’
This characterful Inspectors’ Choice property dating back to the 18th century is found in the historic wool town of Painswick, with the rolling hills of the Cotswolds on its doorstep.
The AA inspector who popped by says: ‘The Painswick has had a varied history… including being a vicarage, guest house and hotel. The ornate architecture has been preserved, with the old chapel still evident and many aspects of the Arts and Crafts era still in place.’
Top food is in place, too, thanks to the two-AA-rosette Painswick Restaurant. The inspector comments: ‘The afternoon tea is not to be missed, showcasing the best local and home-made produce, including pork pies, Scotch eggs and the lightest of scones.’
A room for two at The Painswick, with breakfast included, costs from £200 per night.
Airds Hotel and Restaurant, Port Appin, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
The view of Scotland’s Loch Linnhe from the four-star Airds Hotel and Restaurant – a ‘luxurious environment where attention to detail and fine food are of paramount importance’
‘Airds shows how appearances can be deceiving, as its modest scale and appearance give little indication of what lies beyond the threshold,’ the AA says of Airds Hotel and Restaurant
Each of the 11 rooms in this Highlands hotel on the West Coast of Scotland ‘provides style and luxury’, and some offer views over Loch Linnhe, framed by the Morvern mountains.
The AA’s inspector awarded the hotel an Inspectors’ Choice accolade and three AA rosettes for its ‘culinary excellence’, commenting: ‘Airds shows how appearances can be deceiving, as its modest scale and appearance give little indication of what lies beyond the threshold.
‘Once inside, you are in a luxurious environment where attention to detail and fine food are of paramount importance. The lounges are cosy and inviting, with log fires, welcoming sofas and service that is both top-notch and friendly.’
A room for two at Airds Hotel and Restaurant, including breakfast, costs from £295 per night.
Barnsley House, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The idyllic Barnsley House lies in the Cotswold village of Barnsley, four miles (6.4km) northeast of Cirencester
Rooms at Barnsley House are ‘packed with guest extras and little luxuries, including plasma TVs in the bathrooms’
This Inspectors’ Choice hotel lies in the Cotswold village of Barnsley, four miles (6.4km) northeast of Cirencester.
When guests book a stay, they can enjoy a range of amenities including a cinema, a tennis court and the Garden Spa with treatment rooms, sauna, steam room and an outdoor hydrotherapy pool.
All rooms, notes the AA inspector who visited, ‘have garden views and are packed with guest extras and little luxuries, including plasma TVs in the bathrooms’.
The inspector continues: ‘The delightful gardens, originally designed in the late 1950s by the previous owner and award-winning gardener Rosemary Verey and her husband, include a fruit and vegetable area where much of the produce comes from for the delicious cuisine on offer in The Potager restaurant [which has two AA rosettes].’
A bed and breakfast room for two at Barnsley House costs from around £399 per night.
Brockencote Hall Country House Hotel, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire
Brockencote Hall Country House Hotel, pictured, is set in 70 acres of ‘stunning’ Worcestershire parkland
Brockencote Hall Country House Hotel is heralded for its three-AA-rosette restaurant, where dishes ‘revolve around the seasons’
This Victorian country manor house – an Inspectors’ Choice recipient – is set in 70 acres of ‘stunning’ Worcestershire parkland, around a 30-minute drive from both Birmingham and Worcester.
As well as featuring a scenic fishing lake and tennis courts, this dog-and-family-friendly hotel is heralded for its three-AA-rosette restaurant, in which dishes ‘revolve around the seasons and their local suppliers [with a] focus very much on the purity of flavours’.
The AA inspector’s post-stay verdict notes a terrace and gardens that are ‘beautifully landscaped’ and private dining rooms, restaurant and public areas that are ‘classically decorated with a colour palette of damson, light grey and lavender’.
A room for two at Brockencote Hall Country House Hotel – with breakfast included – costs from £140 per night.
Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Each ‘beautifully decorated’ guest room at Gloucestershire’s Calcot & Spa is ‘equipped with modern comforts’
Calcot & Spa’s health and leisure spa includes an indoor pool (above), high-tech gym, massage tables, and complementary therapies
This Inspectors’ Choice hotel sits four miles (6.5km) outside the market town of Tetbury amid the Cotswolds countryside. ‘Cistercian monks built the ancient barns and stables around which this lovely English farmhouse is set,’ the AA inspector dispatched to the property says.
Each ‘beautifully decorated’ guest room, the inspector notes, is ‘equipped with modern comforts’, while the ‘sumptuous’ sitting rooms feature crackling log fires in the winter and look out over the hotel’s ‘immaculate gardens’.
There are two dining options at the hotel: the ‘elegant’ conservatory restaurant with two AA rosettes and the more informal Gumstool Inn.
The inspector adds that there’s also a health and leisure spa that includes an indoor pool, high-tech gym, massage tables, complementary therapies and more. A supervised creche and children’s ‘playzone’, meanwhile, are ‘a real bonus for families’.
A bed and breakfast room for two at Calcot & Spa costs from £354 per night.
Cavendish Hotel, Baslow, Derbyshire
Cavendish Hotel (above), dating back to the 18th century, is ‘delightfully’ situated on the outskirts of the Peak District village of Baslow
Pictured is Cavendish Hotel’s elegant Gallery Restaurant, which has been awarded three AA rosettes
Cavendish Hotel, dating back to the 18th century, is ‘delightfully’ situated on the outskirts of the Chatsworth Estate – home to the seat of the Duke of Devonshire – in the Peak District village of Baslow.
‘All rooms enjoy far-reaching views across the estate and benefit from the slightly elevated position. Bedrooms are elegantly appointed and offer a host of thoughtful amenities including Temple Spa toiletries in the bathrooms,’ reveals the AA inspector who assessed the property.
The public areas of the Inspectors’ Choice hotel are furnished with period pieces, and guests ‘have a choice of dining in either the informal conservatory Garden Room or the elegant Gallery Restaurant’ – the latter of which has been awarded three AA rosettes.
A room for two at Cavendish Hotel costs from £263 per night.
Dormy House Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire
Dormy House Hotel is set within the 400-acre grounds of Worcestershire’s Farncombe Estate
Above is Dormy House Hotel’s The Loft suite. ‘The best traditions are retained here – customer care, real fires, comfortable sofas and afternoon teas,’ notes the AA
This retreat is housed in a 17th-century farmhouse within the 400-acre grounds of Worcestershire’s Farncombe Estate and offers ‘stunning views’ of the nearby village of Broadway.
The food is easy on the eye, too. The two restaurants at the Inspectors’ Choice hotel – Back Garden and MO – have been awarded three AA rosettes, with the AA inspector that did the inspection describing the food as ‘an interesting choice of exceptional dishes created by a skilled kitchen brigade’.
The inspector notes that the hotel also boasts ‘a luxury spa offering a wide range of treatments, a swimming pool, a Veuve Clicquot Champagne nail bar, a gym and thermal suite’, adding ‘the best traditions are retained here – customer care, real fires, comfortable sofas and afternoon teas’.
A bed and breakfast room for two at Dormy House Hotel costs from £309 per night.
Hambleton Hall, Oakham, Rutland
This ‘delightful’ country house – originally built as a hunting lodge in 1881 – is wrapped in ‘beautifully manicured grounds’
Bedrooms at Hambleton Hall are ‘stylish, individually decorated, and equipped with a range of thoughtful extras’
This ‘delightful’ country house – originally built as a hunting lodge in 1881 – is positioned on the Hambleton Peninsula, which juts into Rutland Water, an East Midlands reservoir to the east of the town of Oakham.
Guests enjoy ‘spectacular views’ of the water from the property, which is wrapped in ‘beautifully manicured grounds’ that are ‘a delight to walk in’.
Inside the hotel, which was established over 40 years ago by Tim and Stefa Hart, those that check in will sleep in bedrooms that are ‘stylish, individually decorated, and equipped with a range of thoughtful extras’ and can repair during the day to a ‘cosy bar and a sumptuous drawing room [that] both feature open fires’.
The food, meanwhile, is highly rated. The ‘elegant’ restaurant has a Michelin star and four AA rosettes, with the AA’s inspector describing the cooking as ‘very accomplished’ and noting that some of the ingredients are grown in the hotel’s own grounds.
A room for two at Hambleton Hall, with breakfast and a morning paper included, costs from £375 per night.
Homewood, Bath, Somerset
Homewood is located in ‘attractive’ Avon Valley parkland, close to Bath and the Longleat estate
Bedrooms at Homewood are ‘stylishly and comfortably appointed, and many enjoy splendid countryside views’
This hotel is located in ‘attractive’ Avon Valley parkland, close to Bath and the Longleat estate.
Guests are promised a ‘fantastically fun time’ at the grand Georgian manor, which has been recently transformed by its new owners, with impressive additions ‘including a delightful terrace with outdoor dining and sumptuous lounges’.
The AA inspector that assessed the property adds: ‘Bedrooms are stylishly and comfortably appointed, and many enjoy splendid countryside views. The spa and leisure facilities are notable, and a meal in the Olio restaurant [which has two AA rosettes] should not be missed.’
A room for two at Homewood costs from £170 per night.
L’Horizon Beach Hotel and Spa, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands
The 106-bedroom L’Horizon Beach Hotel and Spa enjoys a ‘truly wonderful setting on the golden sands of St Brelade’s Bay’ on Jersey
A room for two at L’Horizon Beach Hotel and Spa, pictured, costs from £113 per night
This 106-bedroom hotel lies on the south side of Jersey in a ‘truly wonderful setting on the golden sands of St Brelade’s Bay’. It was bestowed the coveted Inspectors’ Choice award this year.
It has an interesting history – the property was originally built as a private seaside villa in 1850 and was originally owned by George Hicks, grandfather of Sir Seymour Hicks, who built London’s Globe Theatre. During World War II, when the Germans occupied the Channel Islands, the property was used as a military headquarters by the German High Command.
The AA inspector that checked in praises the establishment’s ‘relaxed atmosphere and excellent facilities’, and notes: ‘Bedrooms are stylish and have a real contemporary feel, all with plasma TVs and a host of extras. Many have balconies or terraces and superb sea views.’
The hotel’s spacious public areas include a spa and leisure club and there’s a two-AA-rosette restaurant, The Grill, that serves locally caught seafood.
A room for two at L’Horizon Beach Hotel and Spa, with breakfast included, costs from £175 per night.
Langshott Manor, Horley, Surrey
Langshott Manor, set amid ‘beautifully landscaped grounds with an ancient moat’, lies on the outskirts of the Surrey town of Horley
Each bedroom at Langshott Manor, such as the Henry VIII Suite pictured, has been designed with ‘flair and imagination’
Guests can live like modern-day lords and ladies at this Inspectors’ Choice Tudor manor, which is set amid ‘beautifully landscaped grounds with an ancient moat’ on the outskirts of the Surrey town of Horley.
The AA inspector that rated it says: ‘The stylish public areas feature a choice of inviting lounges with polished oak panelling, exposed beams and crackling log fires.
‘Each bedroom – whether in the manor itself or in one of three mews buildings on the grounds – has been designed with flair and imagination. Expect sumptuous furnishings, Egyptian linens, and deep baths. The Mulberry Restaurant overlooks a picturesque pond and offers an imaginative menu. Perfect for an intimate exclusive wedding or celebration.’
And your four-legged friends are in luck – some rooms are dog-friendly. A room for two at Langshott Manor costs from £152 per night.
Lygon Arms Hotel, Broadway, Worcestershire
Lygon Arms Hotel, set in the Cotswolds village of Broadway, has been welcoming guests for over 600 years
A room for two at Lygon Arms Hotel costs from £215 per night. Above is the hotel’s pool
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds village of Broadway, this historic property has been welcoming guests for over 600 years, the AA reveals.
The hotel boasts a range of classic bedrooms and suites – one of which, now known as the Charles I suite, is said to have hosted King Charles before battle during the English Civil War in 1649. ‘A Coat of Arms sits above the traditional fireplace to mark his royal visit,’ says the hotel website.
The AA inspector dispatched to inspect the property says: ‘Completely and sympathetically refurbished, the Lygon Arms offers an array of deeply comfortable lounges and small intimate snugs – many with open fires. The large inviting courtyard is an ideal setting for summer dining.’
They add that the Lygon Bar and Grill, with one AA rosette, is ‘not to be missed’, as its dishes ‘celebrate the best of local and seasonal ingredients’.
A room for two at Lygon Arms Hotel costs from £215 per night.
Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Mallory Court Hotel and Spa, located on the outskirts of Royal Leamington Spa, is an ‘idyllic retreat set in 10 acres of landscaped gardens with immaculate lawns and an orchard’, says the AA
Pictured is Mallory Court’s ‘state-of-the-art’ Elan Spa. A room for two costs from £135 per night
Mallory Court Hotel and Spa, located in the heart of Warwickshire on the outskirts of charming Royal Leamington Spa, is an ‘idyllic retreat set in 10 acres of landscaped gardens with immaculate lawns and an orchard’, says the AA.
As well as the Inspectors’ Choice award, Mallory Court has bagged three coveted AA rosettes for its restaurant. It’s a ‘treat’ to dine at this eatery, according to the inspector that visited.
They also note ‘luxuriously decorated bedrooms with wonderful views’ and the ‘state-of-the-art Elan Spa’.
A room for two at Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa costs from £150 per night.
Northcote, Langho, Lancashire
Northcote (pictured) lies beside The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen has overseen Northcote’s restaurant, which has a Michelin star and four AA rosettes, since the age of 23. Pictured is the chef’s table at the restaurant
Northcote, an Inspectors’ Choice hotel, is nestled near Clitheroe in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley beside the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and is housed in a 19th-century manor house.
Chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen has overseen the restaurant, which has a Michelin star and four AA rosettes, since the age of 23. ‘This is a gastronomic haven, and guests frequently return to sample the delights of its famous kitchen,’ says the AA inspector who had the oh-so-terrible task of assessing the property.
They add: ‘Each of the luxury bedrooms has its own identity with sumptuous fabrics and soft furnishings, sophisticated lighting and ultra-modern bathrooms. The garden lodge rooms are particularly impressive.’
A room for two at Northcote costs from £200 per night.
Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa, Nantwich, Cheshire
Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa is set in 38 acres of gardens, pasture and parkland in the village of Worleston in Cheshire
Rookery Hall features a two-AA-rosette restaurant, a health club and spa, and dog-friendly rooms
This ‘fine 19th-century mansion’ – an Inspectors’ Choice – is set in 38 acres of gardens, pasture and parkland in the village of Worleston in Cheshire, and it caters to a range of guests.
There’s a health club and spa for those prioritising rest and relaxation and dog-friendly rooms for guests keen on using the hotel as a base for epic countryside walkies. Foodies, meanwhile, have a two-AA-rosette restaurant to experience.
A bed and breakfast room for two at Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa costs from £207 per night.
Rufflets Hotel, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Built for a baron in 1924, the ‘charming’ Rufflets Hotel sits just outside the historic university town of St Andrews
Rufflets Hotel has ‘stylish, spacious bedrooms’ that are ‘individually decorated’. They include the Gilroy Suite (pictured), The Orchard Suite, and Turret Rooms, which have their own seating areas
This Inspectors’ Choice hotel sits in a parcel of countryside just outside the historic university town of St Andrews.
Built for a Dundee baron in 1924, the ‘charming’ property features a ‘well-stocked bar, a choice of inviting lounges and the delightful Seasons Restaurant (two AA rosettes) that serves imaginative, carefully prepared cuisine based on seasonal produce’.
The visiting AA inspector adds: ‘The stylish, spacious bedrooms are individually decorated, and include the Gilroy Suite, The Orchard Suite (separate from the main building), and Turret Rooms, which have their own seating areas… families are very welcome, and the hotel is a popular wedding venue.’
A room for two at Rufflets Hotel, including breakfast, costs from £245 per night.
Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton, Devon
Art Deco Saunton Sands Hotel in Devon has 87 bedrooms, a two-AA-rosette restaurant and direct beach access
Above is Saunton Sands Hotel’s ‘marine vitality pool’, which offers stunning views thanks to a floor-to-ceiling window
Stunning sea views and direct access to three miles of golden Saunton Sands beach ‘are just two of the highlights’ at this popular hotel on the North Devon coast, says the AA.
The Art Deco property, which opened in 1933, has 87 bedrooms, with the majority of the sea-facing rooms featuring balconies.
But the AA notes that ‘splendid views can be enjoyed from all the public areas, which include comfortable lounges’.
The hotel’s main restaurant has snapped up two AA rosettes, and for a spot of alfresco dining, there’s an outside grill with tables overlooking the sea.
A bed and breakfast room for two at Saunton Sands Hotel costs from £256 per night.
Storrs Hall Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria
The ‘imposing’ Storrs Hall Hotel, which sits on the shore of lake Windermere in Cumbria’s Lake District National Park
At Storrs Hall Hotel, the ‘individually styled bedrooms are generally spacious and boast impressive bathrooms’
This ‘imposing Georgian mansion’, turned into a hotel in 1892, sits on the shore of lake Windermere in Cumbria’s Lake District National Park.
Describing the hotel, which is set amid 17 acres of landscaped grounds, the AA says: ‘There are numerous lounges to relax in, furnished with fine art and antiques. Individually styled bedrooms are generally spacious and boast impressive bathrooms.’
Don’t miss the ‘elegant’ two-AA-rosette restaurant – it offers fine views across the lawn to the lake and fells beyond, according to the inspector that rated the property.
A bed and breakfast room for two at Storrs Hall Hotel costs from £200 per night.
The Club Hotel & Spa, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Above is the bar at Jersey’s Club Hotel & Spa, a ‘swish, townhouse hotel’ that features ‘stylish, contemporary decor throughout’
All the guest rooms at the Club Hotel & Spa have power showers and wide-screen TVs
This ‘swish, townhouse hotel’ is located close to the centre of Jersey’s capital, St Helier, and features ‘stylish, contemporary decor throughout’.
The Inspectors’ Choice establishment features a spa with an outdoor pool, a rooftop terrace garden with a gin honesty bar where customers can mix their own G&Ts – and guest rooms with power showers and wide-screen TVs.
Make sure to arrive with an appetite – the hotel offers casual bistro dining and is home to the Michelin-starred, two-AA-rosette Bohemia, a sophisticated eating option that ‘continues to offer outstanding cuisine’.
A room for two at The Club Hotel & Spa costs from £179 per night.
The Queensberry Hotel, Bath, Somerset
The Queensberry Hotel, pictured, is a ‘charming family-run hotel’ on a quiet street near Bath’s city centre
The Queensberry Hotel’s spacious bedrooms offer deep armchairs, marble bathrooms and a range of modern comforts
You’ll find this ‘charming family-run hotel’ – comprised of four ‘delightful’ townhouses – on a quiet street near Bath’s city centre, with valet parking an added perk.
‘The spacious bedrooms offer deep armchairs, marble bathrooms and a range of modern comforts. Sumptuously furnished sitting rooms add to The Queensberry’s appeal and allow access to the very attractive and peaceful walled gardens,’ the AA notes.
And foodies take note – this Inspectors’ Choice hotel has a three-AA-rosette restaurant ‘with innovative menus based on outstanding cooking’.
Rooms at The Queensberry Hotel are priced from £153 for two people sharing.
The Scarlet Hotel, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Cornwall
The very stylish and well-equipped bedrooms at The Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall are categorised into five types: Just Right, Generous, Unique, Spacious (pictured) and Indulgent
Above is the sauna at The Scarlet Hotel, which is described as a ‘strikingly modern property’ with ‘magnificent views’
The ‘rugged clifftops’ by the tiny Cornish village of Mawgan Porth, north of Newquay, are the setting for this Inspectors’ Choice four-star.
Built as an eco-hotel, it’s described as a ‘strikingly modern property’ with ‘magnificent views’.
The AA continues: ‘The very stylish and well-equipped bedrooms are categorised into five types: Just Right, Generous, Unique, Spacious and Indulgent. The Ayurvedic spa is exceptional and encompasses the rejuvenation of the whole body and mind.’
The dining is special, too. There’s a two-AA-rosette restaurant ‘in tune with the hotel’s environment policies’ serving ‘fresh, seasonal and local produce’.
Rooms at The Scarlet Hotel are priced from £255 for bed and breakfast for two.
The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, Lancashire
The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village, set on 100 acres of Lancashire countryside, is a ‘tranquil and relaxing place to stay’
Rooms at The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village are priced from £200 for bed and breakfast for two
Escape to the Lancashire countryside in style with a stay at this family-owned-and-run hotel set on 100 acres of land a few miles east of Blackpool, in the village of Wrea Green.
The visiting AA inspector labels it a ‘tranquil and relaxing place to stay’ with ‘luxurious’ bedrooms and a spa that offers guests ‘a wide selection of treatments’ including the ‘signature Aqua Thermal Journey’.
The AA Inspector adds: ‘Food is another highlight, whether eaten in The Orangery restaurant [two AA rosettes] or any of the nine outlets within the village.’
Rooms at The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village are priced from £200 for bed and breakfast for two.
St Ermin’s Hotel, Westminster, London SW1
St Ermin’s Hotel, pictured, is a ‘grand and modern sanctuary in the heart of busy Westminster’
The AA says that ‘no detail has been overlooked’ at St Ermin’s Hotel, where double rooms are priced from £503
‘A grand and modern sanctuary in the heart of busy Westminster’ is the AA’s verdict on this London establishment, which has been garlanded with an Inspectors’ Choice award.
The hotel, which opened in 1899, is steeped in history – Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive, also known as Churchill’s Secret Army, took over a floor of St. Ermin’s Hotel for its headquarters during World War II, whilst MI6 were stationed two floors above, the hotel’s website reveals.
According to the AA, the hotel’s courtyard ’offers sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the city’, while the ‘day rooms are fresh, modern and innovative, with a respectful nod to the building’s former character’.
‘No detail has been overlooked,’ says the AA, adding: ‘Food is served in the popular Caxton Grill [two AA rosettes].’
Rooms at St Ermin’s Hotel are priced from £503 for two.
Rudding Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Rudding Park is set in beautiful parkland three miles (4.8km) south of the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate
Above is the outdoor hydrotherapy pool at Rudding Park’s impressive spa with treatment rooms
This Inspectors’ Choice hotel is set in beautiful parkland three miles (4.8km) south of the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate.
It dates back to the early 19th century, but has ‘stylishly contemporary and elegant’ interiors.
Gourmands should make a beeline for Horto, the hotel’s three-AA-rosette restaurant, which ‘showcases produce from the hotel’s own kitchen garden to produce innovative, award-winning dishes’.
The visiting AA inspector adds: ‘Carefully prepared meals are served in the relaxed Clocktower which has a striking pink chandelier as its centrepiece, and the stylish bar and conservatory lead to a generous terrace which is perfect for eating alfresco.’
Other facilities include an impressive spa with treatment rooms, a gym, a private cinema, and an adjoining 18-hole, par-72 golf course.
Prices at Rudding Park start at £315 for dinner, bed and breakfast.
For more information, visit www.ratedtrips.com.
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