The Hotel Guru
20 of the Best Boutique Hotels in the UK

20 of the Best Boutique Hotels in the UK

Blakes, which opened in London in 1981, is now widely considered to be the world’s first boutique hotel, and back in the day London hoteliers weren’t too shy about copying the individual quirky format. And boutique hotels, some with more claim to the name than others, are now found everywhere! Including rural Norfolk, the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Wight — just to name a few of the destinations where you’ll find one of our recommendations for the 20 best boutique hotels in the UK.

These days the term ‘UK boutique hotel’ is reasonably broad, and boutique hotels in the UK are sometimes hotels with particularly great design, or a particularly unique or imaginative mansion conversion, as well as those small, upscale and gorgeously personalised and detailed hotels that the term was originally coined for. And our list of the best UK boutique hotels has been fairly liberal about the term too. We also have some boutique pubs with rooms on the list, and some great value hotels that we think tick many ‘boutique boxes’, but that are probably too affordable for them to qualify. All 20 of our recommendations for the best UK boutique hotels have great bars and/or restaurants though. All are small, and all have plenty of unique charm.

Some of our UK Boutique Hotel Collections:

Boutique Hotels for a Special Occasion

Where better to start than at Blakes? In a quiet residential street behind South Kensington its home is an imposing but discreet building with 41 rooms. Still one of the best boutique hotels in London, actress Gwyneth Paltrow described it as "a super-chic design hotel but comfortable and sexy" and she pretty well nails it. The classic darker rooms with their rich fabrics and Eastern art will be a little too opium den for some tastes but there are brighter, whiter rooms which are equally luxurious. The cocktail bar and restaurant are well thought-of.

Best Boutique Hotels in London

The Franklin is in the centre of Knightsbridge, but you probably won’t have spotted it, it’s a perfectly discreet hotel, in a couple of converted townhouses in an elegant row, associated with the private Egerton Gardens. There are 35 rooms and suites, and the designer has taken a lot of care to make this feel like an inviting private home, rather than a hotel. Albeit a home with zero clutter, a neat, mainly monochrome colour scheme and a lot of mirrored surfaces. The food is Italian and inventive, and the bar and restaurant are gorgeous, plus there’s a gym and small hamman.
Since 1718, Hazlitt's has been a fixture of the Soho literary scene, a Frith Street Georgian townhouse which has always felt a bit more private club than hotel, and in the best possible way. Stay here, in one of the 30, individually decorated rooms and suites, and you’ll feel like more than just a guest. The decor is traditional and elegant: think wood panelling and the odd bust — and no plasma screen TVs.
The intimate, 13 room Zetter Townhouse in hip, fairly-central Clerkenwell, is an offshoot of the larger, modernist Zetter Hotel. But it’s properly boutique, with some really fantastic vintage pieces and a quirky, eclectic Cool Britainia vibe. And an excellent afternoon tea offering.

Best Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh

There’s really nowhere else like The Witchery by the Castle, a classic boutique hotel at the luxury end of the market offering a super special stay. Impressively Gothic on the outside, and next to the gates of Edinburgh Castle on the Royal Mile, The Witchery only has nine rooms, all flamboyantly decorated, with gilded ceilings, wood panelling and swathes of velvet in all the colours of a throne room. Romantic and theatrical, expect oil paintings, four-poster beds, vast bath tubs and complimentary champagne.

The Most Romantic Boutique Hotels in the UK

The Gore’s London location is unbeatable, close to the museums, Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall for starters. Its reputation is also unbeatable, it’s been a staple on the British hotel scene since 1892, and this is where the Rolling Stones launched their ‘Beggars Banquet’ album, so it’s cool too. And I hazard to propose that the decor is unbeatable too —think dark wood panelling, velvet, extra curtains to divide rooms, metallic damask, beautiful mirrors, paintings everywhere, great lighting. The bar is famous for its long G&Ts, and the restaurant is overseen by a chef with a Michelin star.
The Forest Side is a Gothic mansion surrounded by 43 acres of gardens and land just outside Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District. The decor is charming: think plush contemporary fabrics and silvery surfaces, but the restaurant and the views are the big draw cards here. The restaurant gained a Michelin star after only six months, and everything looks amazing as well as tasting amazing. This is the perfect spot for a romantic mini-break.

The UK’s Best Boutique Escapes

The wonderfully reinvented Fife Arms in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, has sprung from the vivid imagination of gallery owners and art dealers, and they’ve drawn on their taste and creativity in these 46 individually themed rooms — varied and eclectic themes! But it isn’t just the owners who’ve been involved with this project, it seems like the whole local community has been involved, and as well as its own original art, the Fife Arms has its own tartan and its own, impressive collection of taxidermy. This is a magical highland stay, and a fantastic opportunity for art lovers and anyone who appreciates a maximalist aesthetic.

In the smart, market town of Sedbergh in Cumbria, The Black Bull is a smart coaching-inn, recently refurbished to make the most of its original features, but to also make it elegantly modern. It still feels like the best sort of traditional English pub in a fantastic, outdoorsy location, but the interiors are lighter, airier and more elegantly minimal.
Equidistant between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, Hipping Hall is a charming restaurant with ten rooms and beautiful surroundings. The bedrooms range in size and style, with both contemporary and traditional decor an option, but it’s the restaurant that will really impress you. Try the tasting menu for a string of good surprises and wines to match.

Best Boutique Hotels by the Beach

Fowey’s Old Quay House Hotel is a small, minimalist property in a fantastic spot right on Fowey’s harbour. Crisp yet comfortable, this is the kind of boutique hotel with contemporary artworks and elegant lines, but it’s the waterfront views and the award-winning restaurant that elevate this hotel, and allow it to make the cut. And you’re just ten minutes from the Eden Project.
Hillside, in Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight, is a charmingly Scandi-chic, thatched Georgian villa overlooking the sea. The collection of Danish furniture in these 12 rooms is beautifully offset with simple white walls and CoBrA inspired abstract paintings. The fact that Hillside was at one time the home of the poet John Sterling is respected too, charmingly displayed in photographs and documents on the walls of the bar. The restaurant offers fine European dining with a Scandinavian twist, prepared using the finest ingredients from their own garden. And there’s a tennis court.
There’s nothing between the Royal Hotel and the ocean except a stretch of golden, pebbly beach. In historic Deal, in Kent, this elegant, 18 room hotel has hosted the likes of Admiral Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton in its time, and some of the staircases probably still creak in just the same way. Though the rooms have been modernised a great deal; they’re light and airy and decorated in pale blues and greys. Downstairs the restaurant is chic, with some great Naval memorabilia, and a promising menu.

Best Boutique Pubs with Rooms

Brighton’s Ginger Pig offers a great pub experience with 11, industrial chic rooms atop. The wood floors and smoke green walls are a great backdrop for their blend of modern and vintage furnishings, and the pub, bar and restaurant are all popular with locals as well as visitors to Brighton.
If you’re looking for something a bit special in the Peak District then The Farmhouse at Mackworth is a property to consider: this recently refurbished, 18th century farmhouse turned gastro pub and ten room hotel, is now beautifully light and airy, with contemporary art works, and indulgent details. The food is good and hearty.
The Kinmel Arms is a boutique village pub with a gourmet restaurant and lots of original art. There are only four rooms, and it’s all very simple, but the details elevate it beyond being a pub. The food is really superb, the wine list is award-winning and the surrounds are relaxing and rural. It’s a great escape.

Best Value Boutique Hotels in the UK

The Artist Residence Oxford is a country pub and restaurant with just five comfy, imaginatively decorated rooms. You’re just 15 minutes from Oxford and close to the Cotswolds too, so it’s convenient and very romantic. The restaurant especially, which is very William Morris, but with Tracy Emin style neon art. Walk to the picturesque local village through the wheat fields, or blow all your money at the local garden centre, which is apparently the Harrods of the Cotswolds. Oscar Wilde would probably hole up here and write a novel.
The Gunton Arms is a country inn on a country estate in Norfolk, which has recently been lavishly restored and its eight rooms elevated from comfortable country pub rooms to something more. The views of the thousand acre park are relaxing, the location is superb, the art is well chosen and the food is really excellent.
Timbrell's Yard is a Grade II Listed former manor house in Bradford-upon-Avon. Its conversion into a boutique hotel has been fairly sympathetic, and the resulting rooms are now quite minimally decorated, but many original features remain — beamed ceilings, fireplaces and funny sized windows, for example. The pub and restaurant have a similar feel, and the menu is ‘hearty’.

Still not sure which to book?

Browse through our Guru’s recommendations for London's 10 Best Boutique Hotels?
or the 10 Best Boutique Hotels in Cornwall? or the 11 Best Boutique Hotels in Devon?
Or you could try the 9 Best Boutique Hotels in the Lake District?
You can browse by location, searching for the best places to stay in London for example,
or start by looking at all our recommendations for the best places to stay in the UK?
Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised help and advice.
- Blakes London (South Kensington) 45 rooms from $436
  
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  Romantic  -  Good for couples.
  Quirky  -  An experience!
  Landmark  -  Comes with a reputation.
  Boutique
  Recommended by  -  Mr & Mrs Smith, Tablet, Frommers, Kiwi Collection, Michelin Travel
  
  The grandaddy of boutique hotels, theatrical creation of actress and designer Anouska Hempel; a decadent and moody institution on the edge of Chelsea. Individually themed rooms are crammed full of oriental and Indian antiques, plus there's an excellent restaurant. See More
  
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- Hazlitt's London (Soho) 27 rooms from $268
  
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  Full of character
  Lively area - In the thick of the action.
  Traditional
  Boutique
  Recommended by - Mr & Mrs Smith, I Escape, Tablet, Frommers, Good Hotel Guide
  
  This charming Georgian boutique hotel is full of character and literary associations. Since 1718 Hazlitt's has been in the thick of it on vibrant Frith Street in the heart of Soho. Elegant wood-panelled rooms are the perfect base, relax with a book or explore the city. See More
  
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- The Gore Hotel, Starhotels Collezione London (Kensington) 50 rooms from $243
  
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  Restaurant  -  Restaurant 190 Queen's Gate is overseen by Michelin starred chef Daniel Galmiche.
  Sights nearby  -  Great location for the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park.
  Romantic  -  Good for couples.
  Full of character
  Recommended by  -  Tablet
  
  A quintessentially British townhouse that prides itself on spectacular service with laid back vibes. Classic-styled rooms house period pictures, antiques & comfortable beds. Restaurant 190 Queen's Gate offers contemporary classic dishes and Bar 190 superb G&Ts! Spot on location for city exploring See More
  
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- The Witchery by the Castle Edinburgh (Old Town) 9 rooms from $468
  
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  Foodies  -  Serving Scottish beef, lamb, game, the Witchery's famous steak tartare, briny-fresh seafood platters and even some haggis.
  Romantic Break  -  The glamourous, plush yet cosy interiors with love seats, four poster beds, and plenty of candles are perfect for couples
  Sights nearby  -  In the heart of the Old Town on Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile
  Full of character  -  Theatrical red & gold, velveted rooms
  Recommended by  -  Frommers, Good Hotel Guide
  
  Superbly located at the gates of the Castle, on the Royal Mile, sits this intimate, Gothic hotel. The rooms are luxurious, romantic & eccentric – think candlelit, wood paneling and plenty of velvet. Enjoy delicious Scottish food in the equally atmospheric restaurant. See More
  
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- Hipping Hall Hotel Kirkby Lonsdale (Lancashire) 10 rooms from $242
  
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  Total relaxation  -  An ideal spot to recharge and refresh, with deep soaking tubs, spa treatments, magnificant scenery and immpecable service.
  Foodies  -  The hotel's restaurant serves up mouthwatering, award winning cuisine, in a spectacular setting- foodie heaven!
  Great walks  -  Whether it be the Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District, there is much countryside to cover.
  Sights nearby  -  Nearby Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage is a great afternoon trip.
  Recommended by  -  Mr & Mrs Smith, Good Hotel Guide
  
  Equidistant from the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, Hipping Hall makes a great spot to rest ones head after countryside rambling and local exploring. Sleeping in slick, crisp rooms and with a memorable dining experience - its a great find for all. See More
  
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- Old Quay House Hotel Fowey (Cornwall) 11 rooms from $256
  
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  Beach Life  -  Nearby seaside activities range from sailing to surfing, fishing to feasting and everything in between
  Romantic Break  -  A classic English romantic getaway with gourmet dining and romantic suites with sea views
  Great walks  -  Wonderful walking all around this area, a particualr favourite is the picturesque Hall Walk, which ends in pretty Polruan
  Sights nearby  -  The ruins of St Catherine’s Castle sit on the edge of the town and command spectacular views of the harbour
  Recommended by  -  Good Hotel Guide, Kiwi Collection, Sawdays, Tablet, I Escape
  
  A luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Fowey with estuary views and contemporary charm. Rooms boast wonderful views and simple minimalist style. The locally popular terraced restaurant serves an inventive menu of local seafood. An ideal spot for a romantic mini-break. See More
  
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- Royal Hotel, Deal Deal 18 rooms from $109
  
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  Romantic Break  -  A luxurious coastal property within easy access of London. Ideal for a romantic weekend away.
  Fishing  -  Try your hand at angling from the picturesque Deal Pier.
  Sights nearby  -  Visit Deal Castle built during the reign of Henry VIII.
  Views  -  Great views from hotel
  
  An elegant coastal hotel situated in Kent's historic town of Deal. Expect a well-crafted mix of traditional and contemporary styles throughout. A chic restaurant serves up locally inspired dishes and you'll find activity abound in the local area. Ideal for a weekend break. See More
  
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- Timbrell's Yard Bradford on Avon (Bradford-on-Avon) 17 rooms from $91
  
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  Local exploring  -  Head into Bath, 15 minutes away from Timbrell's Yard, and wander around the historic city seeing all the sights
  Value chic  -  A lovely stay at great value-what more could you ask for?
  Great walks  -  Wander through the gorgeous Prior Park Landscape Gardens
  Sights nearby  -  Pop over and see the historic Farleigh Hungerford Castle
  Recommended by  -  I Escape, Mr & Mrs Smith
  
  Timbrell's Yard is located on the banks of the river Avon. Set in a Grade II listed building, and with recently refurbished, smart boutique rooms with plenty of muted tones and wooden features. Enjoy hearty food in the restaurant! Ideal for couples or a pitstop for families heading west See More
  
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- The Ginger Pig Brighton (East Sussex) 11 rooms from $128
  
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  Foodies  -  Hosting a highly acclaimed restaurant serving top-notch gastropub grub.
  Sights nearby  -  Take a tour of the unusual Royal Pavillion in Brighton.
  Great walks  -  Take long walks along the coastal promenade.
  Restaurant  -  Recommended.
  
  Don't let the 'pub with rooms' title put you off, this is a seriously chic spot. Smart rooms mix traditional and modern styles with steel grey walls contrasting against the light parquet floors. The bathrooms are uber luxurious and the restaurant and bar serve exemplary food and cocktails. See More
  
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- The Farmhouse at Mackworth Derby (Mackworth) 10 rooms from $122
  
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  Designer  -  Colourful chairs, exposed brick walls and mismatched furniture give this hotel a contemporary, designer touch
  Lively  -  A playlist of club classics, champagne, cocktails and big groups give the bar a very lively feel
  Country Escape  -  Just a stones throw away from the Peak District, this is a chic rural retreat
  Weddings  -  Boasting an impressive venue 'The Folly', licensed for ceremonies
  
  Recently refurbished 18th Century farmhouse now boasting cool, slick decor. Rooms are light and airy with soft pastel hues, indulgent bathrooms, contemporary artworks and sink-into beds. Dine on modern British fare, sample regional ales and spend days exploring the beautiful Peak District. See More
  
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- The Forest Side Grasmere (Keswick Road) 20 rooms from $255
  
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  Foodies  -  Enjoy some absolutely exquisite meals at their Michelin starred restaurant — an absolute must!
  Great walks  -  The Lake District is home to many breathtaking hiking trails
  Sailing  -  Hire a rowing boat on nearby Grasmere
  Romantic  -  Good for couples.
  Recommended by  -  Mr & Mrs Smith
  
  Recently renovated, The Forest Side is a romantic gothic mansion just outside Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District. Offering chic and spacious accommodation with plenty of light hues, this dog-friendly spot boasts 43 acres of superb gardens and stunning cuisine. A top-notch country retreat! See More
  
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- The Fife Arms Braemar, Aberdeenshire 46 rooms from $410
  
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  Other Activities  -  Stalking and shooting all available by arrangement
  Artworks  -  Picasso, Freud, Bruegel to name just a few
  Opulent  -  Check out the Royal Suites
  Fishing  -  Fishing on the Dee
  
  High Victoriana meets modern luxury at the miraculously reinvented Fife Arms in Braemar. A destination as much as a place to stay, come here to celebrate and relax, or to walk, stalk or fish. Hotel of the Year, The Sunday Times. See More
  
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- The Gunton Arms Thorpe Market, Norfolk 8 rooms from $122
  
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  Views  -  Views of the deer park
  Restaurant  -  Recommended.
  Birdwatching  -  Good birding near the hotel.
  Sailing  -  Can be booked nearby.
  Recommended by  -  I Escape, Sawdays
  
  Lavish, recently restored country inn on a country estate. Much modern art from a famous collector. Bags of character and excellent Mark Hix inspired food. See More
  
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- Artist Residence Oxfordshire South Leigh, Oxfordshire 9 rooms from $179
  
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  Local exploring  -  You're ideally located both for Oxford and the The Cotswolds.
  Restaurant  -  The Masons Arms is open all day and serves delicious modern British cuisine
  Sights nearby  -  Oxford is just a 15 minute drive away
  House party feel  -  Be prepared to meet people.
  
  With five lovely rooms tucked in the eaves, a further three in the converted outbuildings with private terraces and a quirky Shepherd's Hut at the end of the garden, this Inn with rooms is the perfect romantic or weekend bolthole. Just 15 mins from Oxford and easy access to the Cotswolds. See More
  
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- The Black Bull, Sedbergh Cumbria 18 rooms from $127
  
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  Country Escape  -  A country inn with good food and surrounded by fabulous walking country
  Sights nearby  -  Local attractions include Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal, and Sizergh Castle
  Great walks  -  From the doorstep onto the Howgill Fells, or in Yorkshire Dales
  Restaurant  -  Recommended.
  
  A smart market-town, coaching-inn with quietly classy food and a modern, relaxed style that retains a traditional pub feel but subtly updated. Calm and welcoming rather than pretentious, and only minutes from the M6 motorway. See More
  
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