The Peak District is the UK’s first national park, and it’s still its busiest, a place for adventure in the great outdoors, reconnecting with nature, or just being surrounded by it. Whatever you want to get from this beautiful, serene landscape, there’s the right accommodation for you, including something luxurious if you’re looking for a rural escape with all the trappings of comfort and elegance. Our recommendations for luxury hotels in the Peak District includes some exceptional country house hotels, converted from some of the elegant manor houses this region is rife with, it also includes a spot in Buxton perfect for the Summer Arts Festival, and a spa hotel with an incredible view.
For a country house hotel
- Fischer's Baslow Hall is a neatly symmetrical manor house in a fantastic location and with a fabulous Michelin-starred restaurant, which is certainly the centrepiece of the hotel. It’s visually very chintzy, with floral drapes, fabrics and wallpapers, open fireplaces, antique furnishings and plenty of tassels, but the cuisine is very contemporary British, and quite innovative. There are just 11 rooms. And you’re very close to Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall.
- Once upon a time the Peacock at Rowsley was the Dower House for Haddon Hall, the seat of the Dukes of Rutland, and you can still see some of the Rutland furnishings today, mixed with contemporary pieces to create a stylish, luxurious feeling collection of 15 rooms and suites. This is the kind of hotel where you’ll be greeted with afternoon tea, and offered camomile tea before bed, and there will always be a fire roaring if cosiness is required. The restaurant has 3 AA Rosettes, so it will not disappoint. You’re surrounded by miles and miles of countryside to explore, and the hotel will help you out there too, offering a ‘walk of the day’ recommendation every day at breakfast.
- On the edge of the Chatsworth estate in the heart of the Peak District, the Cavendish Hotel has stunning views onto the estate and surrounding countryside. Inside, this elegant country house hotel has 24 spacious rooms, some with four-poster beds, some oak beams, and most of them with lovely antiques and luxurious fabrics. There’s also an award-winning restaurant known for its seasonal, local produce with a rural twist.
For a romantic stay
- Pretty Buxton’s The Old Hall Hotel claims to be Britain’s oldest hotel, and it certainly looks the part from the outside, clad in ivy, up to its towers with their flags. Apparently this is where Mary Queen of Scots liked to stay when she came to take the waters in Buxton, and she’s just the first of a line of historical figures who have apparently graced these halls. It’s also old enough to have its own resident ghosts. We can’t say which of the 35 rooms and suites you’re likely to come across them in, but our Guru’s prefer the Classic bedrooms or those with four-poster beds, for their chintz wallpaper, heavy draped curtains and antiques. You’re just across the road from the Opera House, and they serve food in both the Wine bar and the restaurant.
- The Manor House is an unassuming Georgian-era manor in Brassington, one of the Peak District’s picturesque country villages, in an excellent spot between Chatsworth, Sudbury and Tissington. There are just three guest rooms in the house, all of them dressed in a florally French country style, with impressive roll-top baths and vintage linens. Your view is of the house’s pretty gardens and the terrace. This is an intimate place, perfect for a country escape walking or exploring. And there’s a golf course nearby.
For a luxury hotel with a pool
- There aren’t too many hotels in the Peak District with a pool or spa. Some have a small spa or a single treatment room, but Losehill House is an exception, with a large Thalgo spa and a heated, indoor pool. The spa has beautiful, soothing views of the surrounding countryside, as do many of its 23 rooms. It also has an excellent restaurant and quiet gardens. This is the perfect relaxing escape.
For great value
- The George Hotel is a 500 year old country inn, and reputed to be the original building behind ‘The Feathers’ in ‘Jane Eyre’. These days it’s a little more luxurious inside, with four-poster beds and a good collection of antiques and comfortable contemporary furnishings. It also has an award-winning restaurant, one of the best in the area, with 2 AA Rosettes. And you’re within the boundaries of the Peak District National Park.
Still not sure which to book?
