Beautiful hotels within two hours of London
Best country hotels within two hours of London
Cliveden House - Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
Taplow
History, opulence and a tantalising whiff of scandal enrich a stay at this palatial Italianate mansion in National Trust gardens and parkland.
Gravetye Manor
East Grinstead
Deep in the Sussex countryside, a romantic Elizabethan manor house, built by an ironmaster for his bride, stands amid 1,000 acres of historically important gardens, pleasure grounds and woodland.
Old Parsonage Hotel
Oxford
‘A stone’s throw from everything Oxford has to offer’, Jeremy Mogford’s second hotel (see preceding entry) impressed our inspectors with its ‘peaceful, classy vibe’.
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
You can paddleboard on the river, stroll to see the deer in Richmond Park, and feel a world away from central London at this smart, multifaceted Thames-side hotel.
Hever Castle B&B
Edenbridge
If Anne Boleyn could return to her childhood home, she would be astonished to find a ‘wonderful B&B for history lovers’, housed in a ‘Tudor village’ in landscaped parkland with Italian garden, Japanese tea house and 35-acre lake.
The Pig in the Wall
Southampton
This little piggy, the babe in the litter of Robin Hutson’s Pig hotels, is set in a crenellated Georgian house and former pub built into the city’s medieval wall.
Gonville Hotel
Cambridge
Overlooking Parker’s Piece common, a large, family-owned hotel with a ‘friendly, personable feel’. Smartly updated, it is a ‘comfortable’ place, with jazz evenings, spa treatments, drinks and meals on the lawn.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
Filled with vintage glassware, chandeliers, mirrors and sculptures, Annie Rowley’s ‘artful’ B&B is in a Georgian house, featured in Pevsner’s guide to Hertfordshire.
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
More a stylish gastropub than a community hub, this historic inn has a following of foodies, who rave about its 'delicious meals'.
The Fox at Willian - Complimentary Gin & Tonic Special Offer
Willian
By the parish church in a quiet village mentioned in the Domesday Book, this inviting pub is a popular gathering place, liked for its ‘relaxed, jolly atmosphere’.
The Farmhouse at Redcoats - Foodie Staycation Package Special Offer
Hitchin
In serene countryside, this well-restored old farmhouse, its many features dating from the 15th Century, stands in large, landscaped gardens.
Old Bank Hotel
Oxford
Jeremy Mogford’s conversion of the old Barclays Bank gets credit from a Guide insider for its 'brilliant location, right in the city centre'.
Drakes
Brighton
Indulge in a Pornstar Martini in the sea-facing cocktail bar at this stuccoed, bow-fronted Georgian seafront hotel, for this is Brighton, after all – hip, tolerant and fun.
Duke House
Cambridge
Tucked away in the city centre, within minutes of its historic colleges, this boutique B&B bolt-hole has a modern elegance in keeping with the house’s Victorian age, plus a pretty courtyard.
Artist Residence Brighton
Brighton
Bohemian Brighton is artfully encapsulated in this Regency town house with its cool vibe, quirky furnishings and neighbourhood café-bar.
Sopwell House Hotel
St Albans
A favourite hangout of the England football team, the former home of Lord Louis Mountbatten is ‘well-run’, with contemporary bedrooms, cosseting suites, a good choice of eating and drinking spaces, and a magnificent spa.
Brightonwave
Brighton
A five-minute stroll from the pier, this Kemptown B&B in a row of Victorian town houses, has some ‘lovely little touches’.
University Arms
Cambridge
Town meets gown at this splendid city hotel, a revamped 19th-century coaching inn, which reopened in 2018 after an £80 million make-over.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
Filled with vintage glassware, chandeliers, mirrors and sculptures, Annie Rowley’s ‘artful’ B&B is in a Georgian house, featured in Pevsner’s guide to Hertfordshire.
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.