The Good Hotel Guide is the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain & Ireland, and also covers parts of Continental Europe. The Guide was first published in 1978. It is written for the reader seeking impartial advice on finding a good place to stay. Hotels cannot buy their way into the Guide. The editors and inspectors do not accept free hospitality on their anonymous visits to hotels. All hotels in the Guide receive a free basic listing. A fee is charged for a full web entry.
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10 of the best beach hotels on the South Coast
There are few places are more beautiful than the UK's south coast, home to the the 630 mile stretch that is the South West Coast Path, running from Minehead in Somerset to
Beach Hotel, Bude
Featured Hotels
Cary Arms & Spa
Babbacombe, Devon
25% Discount Autumn/Winter Special Offer
A cosy beamed pub is the warm heart of this hotel, in the shelter of wooded, red sandstone cliffs that reminded the young Queen Victoria of 'a ballet or a play where nymphs appear'.
The Nare
Veryan-In-Roseland, Cornwall
'Four Day Break' Special Offer
Overlooking subtropical gardens and sandy Carne Beach, the Ashworth family's hotel delights readers with its country-house style, superlative service and retro classics in the dining room.
The Old Coastguard
Penzance, Cornwall
Winter Escape Special Offer
In an enchanting Cornish fishing village not far from beaches and gardens, the Inkin brothers' third pub with rooms has long been a firm favourite with readers.
Soar Mill Cove Hotel
Salcombe, Devon
'Stay Longer Save More' Special Offer
You'll find everything you need for a holiday at this family-run, child-friendly, dog-friendly hotel tucked away in a valley, with a path to a secluded sandy beach.
Boskerris Hotel
St Ives, Cornwall
Just four minutes by train from arty downtown St Ives, this adults-only 1930s hotel is a serene refuge from the bustle, with views over the clear waters of St Ives Bay.
Hotel Tresanton
St Mawes, Cornwall
In an idyllic location, cascading down the cliffs at St Mawes with views to St Anthony's lighthouse, Olga Polizzi's seaside hotel continues to delight readers. Once home to a yacht club, it is spread across a cluster of houses and has a feel of the French Riviera about it.

The Pig on the Beach
Studland, Dorset
Hogwarts in style, this fairytale 1820s marine villa with its jumble of roofs, gables, gargoyles, towers and dormers, is set in gardens running down to a sandy beach. It delivers the usual Pig magic, with its dressed-down interiors, mismatched furniture, casual vibe, house bedrooms, shepherds' huts, thatched dovecotes, and a kitchen garden.

The Gallivant
Sussex
East Coast America meets South Coast England at this single-storey, seaside-chic hotel with appealing room choices, fantastic locally sourced food, a spa cabin, beach yoga workshops, and a vast expanse of sands, washed by the English Channel, just over the spectacular dunes.
More hotels on the South Coast
Beachcroft Hotel
Bognor Regis, Sussex
Luxury Beach Hut Suite Special Offer
A stay in Felpham inspired William Blake to write of 'England's green and pleasant land', but it's the beach that draws holidaymakers to the de Savarys' South Coast hotel.
The 25 Boutique B&B
Torquay, Devon
This delightfully eccentric boutique B&B, a stroll from Torquay's seafront, has won numerous awards for its singular style and luxurious standards. Run with great warmth by Andy and Julian Banner-Price, it is known for its funky features, state-of-the-art touches and fastidious attention to detail.
Talland Bay Hotel
Talland-By-Looe, Cornwall
There is great food and serious fun to be had at this clifftop hotel on the South West Coast Path, its interiors filled with whimsical touches, its bedrooms all unique, its subtropical gardens a wonderland of witty sculptures.
Watersmeet
Woolacombe, Devon
'An exceptional seaside hotel', with views from the rooms and terrace to secluded Combesgate beach below, this family-friendly hotel is a former Edwardian gentleman's retreat.
The Seaside Boarding House
Burton Bradstock, Dorset
High on the cliff top above Chesil Beach, this is an effortlessly hip, relaxed, fun hotel with a Cape Cod vibe, light and airy bedrooms, a bar serving cocktails and seriously good cooking in the restaurant.
Belle Tout Lighthouse
Eastbourne, Sussex
A beacon of hospitality on a remote cliff-top between the English Channel and the rolling downs, this decommissioned 19th-century lighthouse found new purpose in 2010 as a unique B&B. It offers superb 360-degree views from the lantern room, taking in the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs and the South Downs.
Hotel Meudon
Falmouth, Cornwall
Meandering down to a private beach, glorious sub-tropical gardens enfold this secluded Victorian mansion.

The Gallivant
Sussex
East Coast America meets South Coast England at this single-storey, seaside-chic hotel with appealing room choices, fantastic locally sourced food, a spa cabin, beach yoga workshops, and a vast expanse of sands, washed by the English Channel, just over the spectacular dunes.

Captain's Club Hotel
Christchurch, Dorset
Berthed on the banks of the Stour since 2006, this child-friendly, dog-friendly, glass-and-steel hotel, with the sleek lines of a cruise liner, was built for leisure and family fun, with casual and more formal dining.

Albion House
Ramsgate, Kent
This chic and stylish small hotel, in a beautifully restored Regency building that once hosted the future Queen Victoria, has lovely public spaces for relaxing, drinking or dining, and an enviable clifftop position on a garden square above the sands and Royal Harbour.
There are few places are more beautiful than the UK's south coast, home to the the 630 mile stretch that is the South West Coast Path, running from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset, not to mention an array of award-winning beaches and seaside activities.
When it comes to things to do however, the water takes precedence. This is a part of the UK that's ahead of the game when it comes to taking care of the environment, and with little wonder considering its natural beauty. Visitors delight in Blue Flag beaches that meet strict criteria for cleanliness, and of course, everyone is always asked to be respectful of the landscape.
From beginners to experts, one of the most popular activities by the sea is surfing. Amongst the best places to surf head to the likes of Fistral Beach in Newquay, Croyde Bay in North Devon, Crackington Haven in North Cornwall, Perranporth in Cornwall and Bantham in the South Hams. Then again, for those who prefer to swim, take a dip at Man O'War Beach at Lulworth, Tunnels Beach at Ilfracombe, Broadsands Beach at Combe Martin, Sharrah Pool at Dartmoor, Hope Cove and Thurlestone Arch near Salcombe, South Cornwall's Lantic, Lantivet and Lansallos beaches, or The Lizard Peninsula's Cadwith, Coverack and Mullion Cove. Don't forget there's also a host of places where you can take part in other water sports as well, ranging from boat hire to kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, water skiing and more.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the South Coast is that it really is a holiday destination for everyone. While families delight in the wealth of outdoor adventures, tucking into ice creams, seafood, cream teas and ciders as you go about your day, many are also thrilled by the dog-friendly destinations. There are plenty of walks along the clifftops as well as further inland, and of course many of the hotels are thrilled to welcome four-legged friends alongside their owners. Equally, few things make for a romantic getaway quite like strolling along secluded sands, visiting sub tropical gardens, dining in bijoux restaurants and taking trips to attractions like the open air Minack Theatre at Porthcurno or visiting the beautiful private island, Burgh Island.