Beautiful hotels within two hours of London
Best country hotels within two hours of London
Cliveden House - Cliveden Romance Special Offer
Taplow
Standing grandly above the Thames, in National Trust gardens and pleasure grounds, an Italianate mansion built by Charles Barry for the Duke of Sutherland ‘seems to have hosted everyone who is anyone’, from Winston Churchill to Lawrence of Arabia.
Gravetye Manor
East Grinstead
At the end of its mile-long drive, this Elizabethan manor house with glorious gardens and superb dining is, for many guests, the ultimate country house hotel.
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
A stroll from Richmond Park, with Thameside garden and terrace, this Georgian mansion is today an innovative hotel, wedding venue and members’ club, run by mother-and-daughter team Ruth and Samantha Trinder.
The Pig in the Wall
Southampton
The Babe of the litter, this crenellated Georgian house set into the 14th-century city wall is unique among Robin Hutson’s Pig collection in having no restaurant, nor a vast, prolific kitchen garden.
Hever Castle B&B
Edenbridge
Fit for a queen, this sumptuous B&B occupies the Tudor-style Edwardian wings of Hever Castle, the childhood home of ill-fated Anne Boleyn.
Old Parsonage Hotel
Oxford
Beyond the sturdy oak door of this handsome 17th-century stone dwelling, Jeremy Mogford’s country-house-in-the-city hotel has a more bookish, bohemian, clubby feel than its sister enterprise.
Starborough Manor
Edenbridge
Approached by a long, tree-lined drive, Daisy and Clive Hayley’s B&B is the ‘perfect weekend getaway’, an ideal base for exploring Kent's stately homes and castles.
The Barn at Roundhurst
LURGASHALL
A ‘stunningly restored’ 17th-century threshing barn in the South Downs national park is the heart of Moya and Richard Connell’s rural B&B/restaurant and working organic farm.
Gonville Hotel
Cambridge
An easy walk to colleges, shops and cafés, this large, family-owned hotel overlooking Parker’s Piece has a ‘friendly, personable feel’.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
‘Every corner contains a curiosity’ at Annie Rowley’s ‘artful’ B&B in a historic market town.
More hotels near London
Best country hotels within two hours of London
The Dog at Wingham - Dinner, Bed and Breakfast from £99 per Person per night Special Offer
Canterbury
A passion for Kent produce, a monthly dining club, tee times and transport to nearby golf clubs, including Royal St. George’s, are among many reasons to commend Marc Bridgen’s village gastropub.
The Fox at Willian - Complimentary Gin & Tonic Special Offer
Willian
In a quiet village mentioned in the Domesday Book, this inviting pub by the parish church is a ‘popular’ gathering place for locals and townies on a getaway.
The Farmhouse at Redcoats - Glass of Fizz on Arrival Special Offer
Hitchin
In serene countryside, this well-restored old farmhouse, its many characterful features dating from the 15th century, stands in large landscaped gardens.
Drakes
Brighton
Two bow-fronted Regency town houses with views of the iconic Palace Pier are home to a boutique hotel that counts Cate Blanchett and Kylie among past guests
Duke House
Cambridge
You can stroll from this elegant B&B on the edge of Christ’s Pieces park to Cambridge's historic colleges, just as the current Duke of Gloucester did when this Victorian house was his home.
Artist Residence Brighton
Brighton
You are invited to imagine you are visiting a friend’s house when you drop into Charlotte and Justin Salisbury’s bohemian seafront hotel and social hub – albeit a friend with outré tastes in art.
Sopwell House Hotel
St Albans
In extensive grounds, the former home of Lord Louis Mountbatten is today a ‘well-run’ hotel with contemporary bedrooms, cossetting suites, a choice of eating and drinking spaces, and a sleek spa.
Brightonwave
Brighton
In a row of Victorian town houses, a five-minute stroll from the pier, this Kemptown B&B has some ‘lovely little touches’.
Romney Bay House
New Romney
Amid the evocative, sheep-grazed wetlands of Romney Marsh, between golf course and shingle beach, an Edwardian house built by Clough Williams-Ellis is now ‘a lovely, secluded hotel’.
Old Bank Hotel
Oxford
Oxford alumni get a discount on rooms from Sunday to Thursday at Jeremy Mogford’s smart hotel on the ‘High’, opposite the university church of St Mary’s and the Bodleian Library.
University Arms
Cambridge
Designer Martin Brudnizki had such palpable fun in creating interiors for this large ‘but still intimate’ hotel, transformed by architect John Simpson with a portico modelled on that of the Ritz in Paris.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
‘Every corner contains a curiosity’ at Annie Rowley’s ‘artful’ B&B in a historic market town.
A Room with a View
Brighton
Steps from the beach in arty Kemptown, this ‘immaculately presented’ Regency house is a bright, modern B&B where guests receive a ‘cheerful, friendly’ welcome.
When it comes to the end of the week we are all in the mood for a bit of escapism, but we don’t want to tire ourselves out with long travel times to get there. Those who live in and around the city are blessed with a bounty of hotels, inns, spas and retreats that make for the perfect weekend trip from London.
Whether it’s a jaunt to the university city of Cambridge or a romantic break at a historic inn in Oxford; a Tudor inspired getaway in Kent (a.k.a the garden of England) complete with tours at some of the UK’s most famous vineyards, or a coastal trip to Southhampton. The variety of hotels near London provides a feast for ardent travellers who are short on time.
Boutique hotels in Hertfordshire, only a short drive outside London, as well as being easily accessible by train, include luxury spa breaks as well as decadent pubs with rooms. Hop on the train and Brighton is not far from London, offering retro beach holidays as well as a vibrant nightclub scene.