10 beautiful hotels within two-hours of London
Cliveden House - Three for Two Short Break
Taplow
Having hosted everyone from Chaplin to Churchill, this ‘superbly refurbished’ Italianate mansion seduces visitors with the prospect of ‘luxurious country house living’.
Hever Castle B&B
Edenbridge
Double-moated 13th-century Hever Castle, the childhood home of ill-fated Anne Boleyn, is now home to a sumptuous B&B.
Gravetye Manor
East Grinstead
‘We have become addicted to this place,’ write trusted readers, following a return visit to this beautiful Elizabethan manor house (Relais & Châteaux).
Bingham
Richmond-upon-thames
Tourists should ‘forget fancy London hotels’, say readers, and instead head out to Ruth and Samantha Trinder’s hotel close to Richmond Park, with tranquil riverside garden and terrace.
The Pig in the wall
Southampton
While smaller than some of its rural siblings, the second of Robin Hutson’s Pig hotels, tucked into Southampton’s medieval city walls, is certainly not the runt of the litter.
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.
Number One Port Hill
Hertford
In a pleasant market town, Annie Rowley’s artful Georgian B&B is an Aladdin’s cave of vintage glassware, sculptures and ‘an unbelievable collection’ of objects.
Gonville Hotel
Cambridge
Overlooking verdant Parker’s Piece, this large, family-owned hotel is a short stroll to colleges, shops and cafes.
Old Parsonage Hotel
Oxford
‘We visit Oxford every year and the Old Parsonage never disappoints.’
Starborough Manor
Edenbridge
‘We had a lovely stay, a real treat.’ Guide inspectors could find nothing to fault at Daisy and Clive Hayley’s Georgian manor house B&B, remodelled in the late 1900s.
When it comes to the weekend 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. The good news is that we have some of the best boutique hotels within two hours of London, and we have selected 10 of them to tempt you into your next mini break…