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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Best romantic hotels
Featured Hotels with Special Offers
Burleigh Court
Stroud, Gloucestershire
New Year Special Offer
There are stunning views across the Golden Valley from this Georgian mansion, a smart but friendly hotel with fine-dining restaurant.
The Priory
Wareham, Dorset
'A Night To Remember' Special Offer
There's certainly nothing monastic about this much-loved hotel, in a 'wonderful building with a cleverly added glass dining room' looking out over gardens bordered by the River Frome.
Plas Dinas Country House
Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Two Night Spring D,B&B Special Offer
With its romantic bedrooms and views across the Menai Strait, the former country residence of the Armstrong-Jones family offers 'exceptional yet relaxed service and great food', writes a reader this year.
The Dog at Wingham
Canterbury, Kent
Super Special Two Night Special Offer
More a stylish gastropub than a community hub, this historic inn has a loyal following of foodies who rave about its 'delicious meals' as well as its 'lovely quiet rooms'.
Forss House
Thurso, Highland
'Magical Christmas' Special Offer
Under the big skies of Caithness, wrapped in woodland and a curve of the River Forss, this Georgian mansion offers the grandeur of Scottish country house living but with modern-day warmth and comforts.
Hambleton Hall
Oakham, Rutland
'Summer Escape' Special Offer
Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
York, Yorkshire
'Tailor-Made Break' Special Offer
Just over a mile from York, this imposing William and Mary country house in 20 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland offers 'luxurious rooms and amazing food'.
Hartwell House
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
'Three Nights for the Price of Two' Special Offer
The Scarlet
Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
'Essence of Scarlet' Special Offer
Lords of the Manor
Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
'Taste of the Cotswolds' Special Offer
'Our stay was wonderful – the staff, the food and our lovely room were exceptional,’ readers wrote of a stay at this luxury hotel, a historic country house, extended in the 1800s for the Witts family, rectors and later Lords of Upper Slaughter.
Headlam Hall
Darlington, Co. Durham
'Summer Escape' Special Offer
The real charm of this grand country house, with sweeping gardens, terraces, oak panelling and swish spa along with a convenient location in a hamlet a few miles from the A1 lies in its warm and informal atmosphere.
Pen-y-Dyffryn
Oswestry, Shropshire
20% Discount off Dinner B&B July/August Special Offer
'A hidden gem on the Welsh border', the Hunter family's 'highly dog-friendly' hotel, in a Georgian former rectory, can again bask in the praise from our readers,
Cary Arms & Spa
Babbacombe, Devon
Early Bird Special Offer
Knockinaam Lodge
Portpatrick, Dumfries And Galloway
'Knock 30 Package' Special Offer
Where the road ends and the Irish Sea begins, this former Victorian hunting lodge with a private cove is secluded, unapologetically traditional and rich in comforts and good food.
The Devonshire Arms
Skipton, Yorkshire
Four Nights for the Price of Three Special Offer
A former 17th-century inn, which is part of the Duke of Devonshire's 30,000-acre estate at Bolton Abbey, is today an impressive country-house hotel, with fine dining and a spa.
Shieldaig Lodge
Gairloch, Highland
'Festive Celebrations' Special Offer
Whale-watching, spectacular sunsets and starry, starry nights are among the wonders at this Victorian former hunting lodge on a wooded estate lapped by Loch Gairloch.
Penally Abbey
Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
There are sublime sea views from this hilltop Gothic beauty, run by a dedicated and creative family, with elegant bedrooms and gourmet dining by candlelight.
Southernhay House
Exeter, Devon
25% Discount Two-Night Mini-Break Special Offer
The Cavendish
Baslow, Derbyshire
Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
With the Chatsworth estate on the doorstep, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire's Peak District hotel has had a ravishing makeover to complement the superb food in its restaurants.
The Crown Inn
Surrey
Midweek Two Night Stay Special Offer
History feels very present at this half-timbered, jettied medieval inn overlooking village green, with a choice of atmospheric four-poster rooms and contemporary accommodation, real ales on tap, and an eclectic menu served in a panelled dining room.
Blue Hayes
St Ives, Cornwall
'Two Nights Free' Special Offer
After a day browsing the galleries of this buzzy, arty town, you can escape the crowds to sit serenely sipping cocktails in the sub-tropical gardens at this peaceful small hotel which doesn't allow drop-ins or children under ten.
The Traddock
Settle, North Yorkshire
Summer Midweek Special Offer
Family run, dog-friendly and beloved of readers, the Reynolds' small country house hotel is praised for the comfort, service and ambitious cooking.
Scarista House
Isle Of Harris, Western Isles
Last minute Easter Break Special Offer
The long drive is worth it to this edge-of-the-world location, where a Georgian manse, with pretty, traditional rooms and superb food, overlooks a long sandy beach.
Plas Tan-Yr-Allt Historic Country House B&B
Porthmadog, Gwynedd
'Three Offers in One' Special Offer
There's history a-plenty in this upmarket B&B, which has breathtaking views over the Glaslyn estuary to the Rhinog mountains. Its bedrooms are named after former famous residents.
Cringletie House
Peebles, Scottish Borders
'Summer Break' Special Offer
It's worth the expense to stay and eat in this 'lovely and historic house with delightful staff', conclude readers. Relaxed and easygoing, the Victorian Scottish baronial hotel on a 28-acre estate has plenty of comfy seating around log fires in bar and lounges.
The Castle Hotel
Bishop's Castle, Shropshire
'20% Discount Summer' Special Offer
Perennial popular, professionally run but relaxed, this former coaching inn with views to the Shropshire hills, is an ideal base for walkers and a perfect stopover within sight of the Welsh border.
The White Horse
Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk
Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
The superb setting of the Nye family's hotel overlooking salt marshes to the sea and Scolt Head Island is matched by 'exceptional food and service', say readers who go back year after year.
Askham Hall
Penrith, Cumbria
Luxury Foodie Mid-Week Break Special Offer
With a Michelin-starred restaurant, Grade II listed garden, 17th-century pele tower and French drawing room, Askham Hall sounds as if it might be very formal; not a bit of it. 'The most homely stately hotel we have ever stayed in,' reports one reader.
The Cookie Jar
Alnwick, Northumberland
Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
A jar of cookies in the bedroom is just one of the quirks at this fun, intimate boutique hotel, with bedrooms that mix vintage and modern, contemporary British cooking, great service – and Alnwick Castle a stroll away.
More Best romantic hotels
Number One Bruton
Bruton, Somerset
With its bright yellow front door and rhubarb-pink sitting room, this Georgian town house with cottages, forge and Michelin-starred dining is 'classic and chic, a place exuding love and care'.
Lime Wood
Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Batty Langley's
London, London
Within a Georgian house in a trendy corner of East London once home to Huguenot silk weavers, Peter McKay and Douglas Blain set out to weave a fantasy of their own.
Killiane Castle Country House and Farm
Drinagh, Co. Wexford
Attached to a 15th-century fortified tower house, the Mernagh family's farmhouse B&B offers both history and comfort. Guests are welcomed to this lived-in and loved home with tea or coffee and home-baked biscuits.
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.
Hever Castle B&B
Edenbridge, Kent
Anne Boleyn's childhood home, reimagined by William Waldorf Astor as a fairytale moated castle, the seat of a Tudor courtier, stands in landscaped grounds with an Edwardian 'Tudor' village, home to this exceptional B&B.
Portobello Hotel
London, London
Beyond the Doric portico of a white stucco neo-classical mansion, this boutique hotel captures the eclectic charms of glamorous and bohemian Notting Hill.
Prestonfield
Edinburgh
With peacocks in the garden, kilt-wearing staff, fire-warmed sitting rooms and antiques at every turn, this 17th-century country house is an indulgent experience.
Summer Lodge
Evershot, Dorset
Country-house luxury abounds at this child-friendly, dog-friendly hotel, a Georgian mansion, its ‘well-maintained gardens a huge joy to visit’.
The Falcondale
Lampeter, Ceredigion
A 19th-century Italianate villa in 14-acre grounds, with views across the gently rolling Teifi valley, is today a hotel and popular wedding venue with an in-house beauty parlour and romance in its very fabric.
Pale Hall
Bala, Gwynedd
The chef holds a Michelin green star for his superb tasting menus at this neo-Jacobean Victorian country pile in wooded grounds on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, where past guests have included Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill.
Kilcamb Lodge
Strontian, Highland
In a 'beautiful location on the shore' of Loch Sunart where otters swim in the waters and red squirrels scamper around the land, this 18th-century lodge offers country-house comforts and plenty of Scottish flair, ranging from tartan fabrics to home-made shortbread.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe, Lancashire
Overlooking the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this sprawling 18th-century manor house is joyously traditional, with stone-flagged floors, open fires and bags of atmosphere.
Drakes
Brighton, Sussex
For a romantic escape or a stylish seaside retreat, this quintessential British beachfront hotel, offers an unparalleled coastal setting in the heart of Brighton.
Cley Windmill
Holt, Norfolk
One of the UK's most unusual B&Bs, this windmill on the old quay in reed beds beside the River Glaven has bedrooms of great character in the mill itself, with more contemporary accommodation in outbuildings.
Brockencote Hall
Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey
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.
The Bell at Skenfrith
Monmouthshire
Huddled below wooded hills, beside a stone bridge over the River Monnow, this whitewashed former 17th-century coaching inn is delightfully at ease in the landscape.
Hotel Tresanton
St Mawes, Cornwall
In 'the most 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.
Burgh Island Hotel
Bigbury-On-Sea, Devon
The Rose & Crown
Snettisham, Norfolk
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House
Windermere, Cumbria
Lakeland luxury at its finest comes courtesy of Gilpin, with its Michelin-starred dining, private hot tubs in the majority of its indulgent rooms and attentive staff. Its flagship rooms are extravagantly large glass-cube spa suites that extend over a pond and offer private garden, spa room and circular bath.
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Great Milton, Oxfordshire
For 40 years, Raymond Blanc has held two Michelin stars at this beautiful country-house hotel 'and it's not surprising – every mouthful of every meal is a triumph', say Guide insiders.
Darwin's Townhouse
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Named in honour of Shrewsbury's famous son, this Grade II* listed Sandford House, moments from the Severn towpath, has evolved into a B&B full of Darwin references, with animal and plant wallpapers, maps and natural history objets.
Artist Residence Oxfordshire
South Leigh, Oxfordshire
A 16th-century village inn has been reinvented as a fun, bohemian hangout, with rustic-chic bedrooms, upcycled furniture, modern artworks, good pub grub and an irrepressible sense of fun.
Dart Marina
Dartmouth, Devon
Big picture windows frame views of the Dart at this cool, contemporary hotel with a leisure vibe, uncluttered chic bedrooms, relaxed gourmet dining in the riverside restaurant and alfresco.
Viewfield House
Isle Of Skye, Highland
With porte cochère, crenellated tower and fine Victorian interiors, this country house overlooking Loch Portree is redolent of the history of the Macdonald family.
The Gallivant
Sussex
East Coast America meets South Coast England at this single-storey, coastal-chic hotel with interesting room choices, good, locally sourced food, and uncrowded sandy beach just over the spectacular dunes.
Augill Castle
Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
With its towers and battlements this Victorian-folly castle, in 15 acres of grounds, looks imposing yet 'you actually feel like it is your castle'.
The Rookery
London, London
With the feel of a private club rather than a hotel, this 'very special place' lies behind the 18th-century facade of three shop-houses in a once-notorious area that is now filled with hip eateris and bars.