10 beautiful hotels within two-hours of London
10 beautiful hotels within two-hours of London
Gravetye Manor
East Grinstead
Jeremy and Elizabeth Hosking’s beloved and beautiful Elizabethan manor house stands in glorious gardens, amid 1,000 acres of woodland.
Cliveden House
Taplow
As you approach this glorious Italianate Thames-side summer palace designed by Charles Barry and set in 376 acres of National Trust grounds, it ‘feels as if you are on the film set of Pride and Prejudice’, says a Guide insider (see also Chewton Glen, New Milton).
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
Bang on the banks of the Thames between Richmond and Petersham, this former Georgian mansion turned ‘classic English hotel with a modern twist’ sits in a riverside garden and terrace.
The Pig in the Wall
Southampton
The endearing little piglet of Robin Hutson’s Pig collection occupies a crenellated Georgian house set into the medieval city wall.
Hever Castle B&B
Edenbridge
The comforts are fit for a queen at this sumptuous B&B, in the Tudor-style Edwardian wings of double-moated 13th-century Hever Castle.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
In a pleasant market town, Annie Rowley’s artful B&B teems with vintage glassware, sculptures and ‘an unbelievable collection’ of objects.
Old Parsonage Hotel
Oxford
Built in the 1600s for a chop-house owner and chef, this gabled stone building has long opened its oak door to paying guests.
Gonville Hotel
Cambridge
Overlooking verdant Parker’s Piece, this large, family-owned hotel and spa are a short walk to colleges, shops and cafés.
More hotels near London
10 beautiful hotels within two-hours of London
Romney Bay House - Summer Coastal Break Special Offer
New Romney
With a superb sea view amid the elemental landscape of Romney Marsh, haunt of both writers and smugglers, this 1920s mansion was built by Clough Williams-Ellis.
The Dog at Wingham
Canterbury
Every Dog has its day, and Marc Bridgen’s canine-friendly gastropub-with-rooms has been garnering awards since his family took it on in 2016.
The Farmhouse at Redcoats - Farmhouse Foodie Staycation Special Offer
Hitchin
Undulating countryside spreads around this well-restored old farmhouse and its outbuildings, whose many characterful original features date back to the 15th century.
Drakes
Brighton
‘A really memorable experience without stuffiness or formality,’ write our trusted reviewers of this stylish boutique hotel on Brighton’s Marine Parade.
University Arms
Cambridge
You can’t miss the nods to the university at this ‘fantastic city hotel with stylish decor and superb food’ on Parker’s Piece green: Cambridge blue walls; corridor carpets striped like the student tie; and suites named after famous graduates, from Virginia Woolf to Stephen Hawking.
Duke House
Cambridge
In a quiet neighbourhood of Victorian terraced houses on the edge of Christ’s Pieces, this boutique B&B is well placed for those wishing to see the city.
Artist Residence Brighton
Brighton
Right-on Brighton rocks to a bohemian rhythm, encapsulated by Charlotte and Justin Salisbury’s mural-bedaubed hotel on a Regency square with view to the eerie remains of the West Pier.
Sopwell House Hotel
St albans
In extensive grounds, the former home of Lord Louis Mountbatten is today a ‘well-run’ hotel with contemporary bedrooms, cosseting suites, a choice of eating and drinking spaces, and a sleek spa.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
In a pleasant market town, Annie Rowley’s artful B&B teems with vintage glassware, sculptures and ‘an unbelievable collection’ of objects.
The Fox at Willian
Willian
By the parish church in a quiet village mentioned in the Domesday Book, this white-painted pub has been spruced up to become a contemporary country inn with well-cooked food and fresh-as-a-daisy accommodation.
Brightonwave
Brighton
One in a row of Victorian town houses, a five-minute stroll from the pier, this Kemptown B&B has some ‘lovely little touches’ that please appreciative guests.
Old Bank Hotel
Oxford
Jeremy Mogford indulges his passion for art and literature at his luxury city-centre hotel, where the walls are hung with works from his collection, with a library for residents to browse.
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.
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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.
