As you may know, over the past 8 weeks, I have created a mini blog series of a weekend away to inspire you with the top 10 places to visit and have featured 80 incredible places to stay. I have shown you where to go if you want some luxury in your life, the best glamping places to visit and shown you where to go if you want a weekend in the city, by the sea and with your dog.
As we come to the end of the year I thought I would do a roundup of my overall top 12 places to stay out of all 80 properties featured (I tried to do just 10 but I couldn’t!) Hopefully this will tempt you to book your next holiday in the UK at one of these amazing places.
Cheshire Boutique Barns
Looking for a romantic spot, to maybe pop the question? Then it doesn’t get much better than Cheshire Boutique Barns. They are an award winning, 5*, unique, boutique retreat and they tick every box. When we arrived for our stay, we were made to feel so special and the luxury began as soon as we stepped through the door. They had lit candles around the barn and left a cute note to welcome us (due to covid-19 we weren’t able to meet the owners unfortunately) and left us fresh mint and lemon balm for our Gin and Tonics. The Cowshed boasts a real fire, and a wonderful hidden outdoor bath under a glass roof so you can lay in the bath or get cosy on the seats outside and listen to the rain hitting the roof or look up at the night sky and count the stars. It has a romantic mezzanine bedroom with THE comfiest White Company beds and quirky yet luxurious interiors fill every room in the barn. The Cowshed can sleep 4 people, so as well as the mezzanine bedroom, it also has a bedroom downstairs with another huge hidden bath in the room with shutters that open up to the living room. It really is bedroom and bath goals!
Read all about my stay at Cheshire Boutique Barns here.
Elmley Nature Reserve
Elmley is a 3,300-acre estate based on an island in the Thames and is situated just a stone’s throw away from North Kent. They do have cottages available, but for this blog, we aren’t interested in those, we want their shepherd huts, Bell tents, or The Salt Box. Each of their accommodation has its own individual charm but are all designed to create a perfect hideaway. Their shepherd huts and The Salt Box offer windows for walls so you can wake up to the sunrise and go to sleep watching the stars. They also have a very plush kingsize bed, an indoor and outdoor shower to experience, and spectacular views of the water and countryside that surrounds you. These stylish and indulgent accommodations are the only places in England where you can spend a night in a National Nature Reserve, so if you want to disappear from the world for a night or two and spend quality time with a loved one, then this is the place for you.
Gara Rock
Luxury critically-acclaimed clifftop hotel in Salcombe, Gara Rock has the best unspoilt panoramic coastal views. You can pick from rooms, suites, apartments and cottages to stay in so whether it’s a romantic holiday for 2 or a staycation with the family, you can find the perfect base for you. They are so much more than just a hotel too, with a delicious restaurant and bar to unwind with a bottle of wine and dinner in, a cinema room to cosy up to and watch your favourite film, and an indulgent spa with an indoor and outdoor pool which all overlook the sea. You can walk to Salcombe along the coast path which is a lovely walk and then get a boat over to the Island, but I believe they can even offer to drive you to the boat and back if you aren’t up to walking. If you are looking to escape the 9-5 and completely switch off, then this is the place for you.
For more information on what to do in and around Salcombe, check out my blog here.
Port Lympne Reserve
If you haven’t seen or heard of this place, get ready to book your next staycation as this place should really be on top of your list. Port Lympne Reserve is a breeding sanctuary for rare and endangered animals and wherever possible they aim to send animals born here to protected areas of wildlife. You can stay here for a night or two in some of the most incredible and once in a lifetime rooms. If you want to blow the budget and spend a night like no other then check out their Lion, Tiger, or Wolf Lodge. Not only are the rooms beautifully designed, full of luxury, style, and comfort but they are set within the lion’s natural and spacious habitat and feature picture windows in both the master bedroom and the open plan living area, meaning guests will be just a breath away from these magnificent animals. If that sounds a little scary and you don’t fancy a wake-up call from the lions, then they also offer plenty of glamping experiences. The treehouse allows you to immerse yourself in the 600-acre landscape surrounding the incredible home, or why not be transported to the plains of Africa as you sip a cocktail on your private decking of a luxury safari tent and marvel at the stunning wildlife that approaches the watering hole beneath the lodges. There is something for everyone here whether you want an unforgettable night away, want to be up close and personal with the animals, or fancy a fun camping experiences in the heart of a wildlife sanctuary.
For more information on what to do around Kent, click here.
Settle
Drink in the surrounding beauty in a truly tranquil spot in a private Norfolk parkland. SETTLE is home to three beautifully restored vintage railway carriages, a handcrafted lakeside cabin, and luxury canvas camping. Get back to nature, as you snuggle into a real bed and are surrounded by the quiet noises of the countryside around. There’s no need to skimp on comforts here either as the accommodations have a mix of beautiful built-in kitchens, an elegant WC and deluxe shower room, and the comfiest beds. The carriages have been lovingly restored with so many features remaining to give it an authentic touch and the Lakeside cabin has been handcrafted and thoughtfully designed that it really is hard to choose which one to stay in. You really won’t be disappointed with these luxury, romantic, unique stays and will want to come back again and again once you have experienced it for yourself.
Squirrels Nest
If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise…as the Squrriels Nest Treehouses near Powys are a luxurious glamping staycation like no other. Feel completely switched off from the outside world as you look out to the amazing view of the countryside that surrounds your treehouse. There are so many places to just chill and watch the world go by here, from laying in the hammocks that are strung between the stilts to getting cosy in the most comfortable bed and if that isn’t enough, then soak in the bubbles of your own private hot tub with a glass of fizz in hand. With your own kitchen area in and outside, you can cook up your very own romantic meal, or why not grab a bottle of wine and toast some marshmallows outside. Check out the bath in the Cadwollen’s Treehouse for the best bath out there!
The Fish Hotel
This quirky, country hotel nestled in a hillside in a 400-acre private estate in the delightful Cotswold countryside, is truly a luxury retreat. The Fish not only have rooms and suites for you to stay in but check out their adorable huts, fairytale treehouse, and incredible 6 bedroom farmhouse. Children and dogs are both welcome here and there are activities for both to keep them busy, such as a fun dog agility course, this really is the gateway to a world of relaxation and outdoor adventure. The Fish has some amazing places to eat too, If you fancy some fish, then definitely head to the laid back yet luxurious seafood-inspired restaurant The Hook, or if you are wanting afternoon tea then definitely try their Tipsy Tea for Hoogly tea-infused cocktails and don’t worry, the dog can join in too with their dog-friendly afternoon tea.
For more information on the Cotswolds, click on the following links, for the ultimate guide, dog friendly things to do, and the most picturesque villages to visit.
The Gallivant
Be prepared for inspiration by the sea at The Gallivant. With luxury around every corner, food made with love and comfort to make you smile. They create a warm environment to really make it feel like a home from home, with stylish bedrooms with roll-top baths, private deckings and cosy areas throughout the hotel to really unwind. There is an onsite spa offering you a mini oasis where you can get some relaxing treatments with a glass of fizz to really treat yourself. All the food they provide in their restaurant is virtually British and as locally sourced as possible, with many English wines to choose from as well, it would be rude to say no. If you are wanting to try out a yoga class then The Gallivant is for you, as they offer weekly classes from pilates to hosted English wine tastings, garden tours and kitchen skills, you really will be spoilt for choice when you stay here.
The Lake House
Nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside is a gorgeous lake on the grounds of historic Coddington Mill and on that lake sits the idyllic Lake house. Wake up to birds singing their morning song and be welcomed by ducks swimming up to your home for the weekend (you will also receive some special duck treats so you can feed them during your stay.) The cabin sleeps 2 people and due to his secluded, calming location, it makes for the perfect romantic trip. The living area is an incredible open-plan space, with a comfy corner sofa, a sweet kitchen where you can rustle up dinner, and a roaring fire to cuddle around in the winter months. The living area leads seamlessly into the bedroom and has a fabulous king-sized bed which sits by a large round window, giving you breathtaking views of the countryside that surrounds the home. In the summer months, you can fold the doors right back, that leads onto the decking and enjoy the flow of nature from outside to inside the cabin. However, one thing you can enjoy through all the seasons is the gorgeous copper bath that sits on the decking outside. Soak in lots of bubbles and why not treat yourself to the different kind of bubbles and watch the stars rise above your head.
The Pig Hotels
The Pig Hotels have seven country hotels around England including the beautiful New Forest, Cornwall, and Kent, so I couldn’t pick one for you to stay at as they are all perfect for a romantic retreat (I’m hoping to slowly make my way around each one!) They class themselves as restaurants with rooms as the focus of The Pig, is on the food they provide as they try and produce as much as they can themselves in their kitchen gardens or source from within 25-miles, so for foodie lovers, this is an unforgettable night away for you. The Pigs all offer various rooms, from cosy snugs in the main Hotel to quirky accommodations such as Forest cabins and huts in the New Forest, The bothy in Studland, and Garden Wagons in Harlyn Bay. I would recommend taking some time to find the best location for you and then seeing which room suits you best, or if you aren’t fussed on location then go and have a look at each Pig and see which room takes your fancy.
The Yurt Retreat
Get closer to nature at The Yurt Retreat and be prepared for luxury as soon as you step into your accommodation. Whether you want a laid back yurt, a beautiful treehouse, or a sweet roundhouse, there is something for everyone here. All the homes have stylish kitchens and bathrooms and for the ultimate luxury, there is even a woodland Sauna where you can really unwind. There’s no better place for a romantic UK break and to give your first clamping holiday a go whether you are looking for a last-minute break away from the world or fancy a long week’s holiday to properly explore the area, the Yurt Retreat makes for the perfect place. It truly is a magical stay with it being situated on an organic farm with wildlife surrounding the countryside. Each property is also south facing which means you can make the most of the sun and in the evening you can sit and watch the sun set.
Watergate Bay Hotel
Set on the most spectacular, two-mile surfing beach, Watergate Bay Hotel is the perfect destination for a staycation by the beach. With so many beautiful rooms to choose from whether you fancy a cosy snug or a whole suite, they have so many on offer and some with incredible views out to sea. They have 3 different places to eat so you can decide whether you want to unwind in an armchair in the winter or sit on the decked ocean-view terrace in summer with a cocktail or afternoon tea, or head to Zacry’s or the Beach Hut for more formal dining. There are so many fun activities to do on-site too, whether you want to get away for a coastal fitness break, try some yoga or pilates or why not try surfing while your here. If that’s not for you, then simply laze around in their spa all day and swim in the 25-meter infinity pool, put your feet up in the outdoor hot tub, or take time out for a treatment.
