Here are the Good Hotel Guide’s Editor's Choice top 10 seaside hotels.
2022 Editor's Choice Seaside Hotels
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
Romney Bay House
New Romney
Marsh wetlands, a long shingle beach for head-clearing walks, and vast skies form the landscape in which this white mansion sits. Noel Coward and the Astors used to party here, and the house retains its 1930s charisma.
Trefeddian Hotel
Aberdovey
With a welcome as large as the stupendous views from its perch above Cardigan Bay, this family-run hotel is perfectly situated for hearty outdoor activities, from golf (with a view of the sea) to sailing, paddle- boarding and pony-trekking.
Driftwood Hotel
Porthscatho
Seaside views don’t get much better than from this dreamily located hotel overlooking Gerrans Bay – and you can get to the beach easily along its own pathway. All but one of the comfortable, boho-chic rooms look out on to the coast.
The Colonsay
Isle of Colonsay
Escape to this harbourside hotel, which enjoys views across to Jura and welcomes the locals in the bar and well-regarded restaurant. A restful sleep is assured in the modern rooms; awake refreshed to explore the island’s white-sand beaches.
Viewfield House
Isle of Skye
Sweeping views of the Sound of Raasay from the 20-acre grounds are complemented by fine Victorian interiors
– stuffed eagles, Turkey carpets, antique furniture, a grand piano. After a full Scottish, go sailing aboard the family yacht.
Tresanton
St Mawes
All the bedrooms in this shipshape former yacht club have glittering sea views, and you can dine outside on its waterside terraces. The nautical feel – even the staff wear blue and white uniforms – adds a touch of Riviera glamour.
The Henley
Bigbury-on-Sea
There’s a touch of nostalgia at this Edwardian bolthole with a panorama of the Avon estuary from its sun terrace. Tumbling plants and towering potted palms, Lloyd Loom chairs, vintage wallpapers and velvet quilts recall a gentler era.
The Gallivant
Camber
This adults-only hotel over the road from the sand dunes is a seriously funky little place, with a cool Californian vibe. It offers half-board-only overnight stays, which include elevenses, English vino and a yoga session on the beach.
The Pig on the Beach
Studland
You will love being beside the seaside at this eccentric, gabled and turreted villa, with shabby-chic bedrooms, vintage bric-a-brac, excellent food served in the
conservatory and sun-squinting views of the chalk cliffs of Studland Bay.
Rosleague Manor
Letterfrack
Go wild on the Atlantic Way at this pink Regency house, with sloping lawns and views across Ballinakill Bay in Connemara. Interiors are filled with antiques, plump sofas, brass beds and log fires. Seven rooms have sea views.
2021 Editor's Choice Seaside Hotels
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
Soar Mill Cove Hotel
Salcombe
You get the very best of the British seaside at Keith Makepeace’s family-friendly hotel. A trail leads to the uncrowded beach, bedrooms have sea views, the menu is rich in seafood and there is easy access to the South West Coast Path.
The Nare
Veryan-in-Roseland
Not only does this family-friendly hotel have beautifully landscaped gardens leading to a secluded bay, but it also has two boats for outings on the ocean. You can explore the creeks and rivers of the Cornish coast by yacht or motor launch.
The White House
Herm
Where better than an island for an idyllic seaside stay? Car-free Herm may be small, but it has sandy beaches in spades. Everything is an easy stroll from the delightfully old-fashioned harbourside hotel, with dazzling views.
Rathmullan House
Rathmullan
It may be on the Wild Atlantic Way but this family-run hotel also has a three- kilometre beach on the shores of Lough Swilly at the bottom of its garden. There are lough views from some of the rooms, and the restaurant features local seafood.
Scarista House
Isle of Harris
The sea may be a tad frosty from the three-mile stretch of sand in front of this Isle of Harris hotel, but it’s gloriously remote and crowd free. Try your hand at sea sports on the island, including surfing, kayaking and sailing.
Artist Residence Brighton
Brighton
For somewhere that encapsulates the spirit of bohemian Brighton, look no further than this mural-bedaubed hotel, with views to pebbles and pier. There’s a fun atmosphere, with cocktails and ping-pong as well as sea views and street art.
The Pig on the Beach
Studland
Robin Hutson’s litter of Pig hotels is known for its foodie credentials, but in this one the specials on the menu come with a sea view. A path leads down to Studland Bay and the hotel’s beach hut; spa cabins look on to the waves.
The Ship Inn
Elie
With its own cricket team and a pitch on the beach a stone’s throw away, this Scottish pub looking out across the Firth of Forth is pretty unique. Games are tide dependent but the bay views from nautical rooms should bowl you over all the time.
St Aidan Hotel & Bistro
Seahouses
The day starts with breakfast in sight of golden beaches and Bamburgh Castle. Then you can take a boat trip to see puffins on the Farne Islands, hike along the coast, and use the binoculars in the rooms to scan harbour and horizon.
Gwesty Cymru
Aberystwyth
Room 6 is the one to book for a bath with a sea view at this hotel overlooking the Victorian promenade and Cardigan Bay. If you visit in winter, take a seat on the lawn and watch the starlings return to roost under the pier at sunset.
2020 Editor's Choice Seaside Hotels
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
Soar Mill Cove Hotel
Salcombe
It's just a ten-minute walk to a beautifully uncrowded beach through National Trust land from this ocean-facing hotel, purpose built for families and fun.
Talland Bay Hotel
Talland-by-Looe
Sub-tropical gardens with spectacular sea views are lent an extra touch of magic by the witty artwork that fill them at this 'quirky' hotel, which also features unusual furnishings within.
Romney Bay House
New Romney
Amid the evocative, sheep-grazed wetlands of Romney Marsh, between golf course and shingle beach, an Edwardian house built by Clough Williams-Ellis is now ‘a lovely, secluded hotel’.
The Blakeney Hotel
Holt
With its quayside position overlooking the boats of north Norfolk's salt marsh estuary towards Blakeney Point, this large, family-friendly hotel, established in 1922, has a loyal following.
Porth Tocyn Hotel
Abersoch
This homely, family-friendly hotel, just outside Abersoch, with glorious views of Cardigan Bay, continues to get things right year after year, which is why its loyal guests keep on returning.
Rathmullan House
Rathmullan
Second-generation owners Mark and Mary Wheeler continue a 60-year tradition of welcoming guests to their Georgian-cum-Victorian house in landscaped grounds and gardens, with a sandy beach on Lough Swilly.
Tresanton
St Mawes
A seaside hotel with serious style, Olga Polizzi's glowing white collection of cottages and former yacht clubhouse cascading down the hillside is a cross between New England and Mediterranean Riviera.
The Pierhouse
Port Appin
There are glorious views to Lismore and Mull across Loch Linnhe from the dining room and sun terraces of this hotel in a 'magic, peaceful place', once a drop-off point for steamships.
The Royal Hotel
Ventnor
'Beautiful views of the bay', 'outstanding staff' and lovely sub-tropical gardens see guests returning to book their favourite room year after year at this 'wonderful hotel' whose afternoon teas were once enjoyed by Queen Victoria.
The Gallivant
Camber
Amid coastal gardens, across the road from the important wildlife habitat of Camber dunes, Harry Cragoe’s adults-only hotel has the feel of a Californian motel.
Seaside Hotel of the Year 2019 (Cesar Winner)
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
The Nare
Veryan-in-Roseland
The prices might look 'eye watering' at Toby Ashworth's family-friendly, dog-loving Edwardian hotel in a fantastic position above sandy Carne beach, but they are 'great value for this level of luxury'.
2019 Editor's Choice Seaside Hotels
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
The White Horse
Brancaster Staithe
There are Brancaster oysters and beer- battered cod on the bar menu at this family-run inn with views across the salt marshes to the sea. Close by are miles of unspoilt honey-hued sandy beaches, perfect for kite-surfing.
Trefeddian Hotel
Aberdovey
A hotel for family holidays, not boutique or trendy, but relaxed, with the beach just across the road, sea-facing lounges, packed lunches to order, children’s supper, tea on the terrace, a putting green, and good, old-fashioned hospitality.
Cary Arms & Spa
Babbacombe
You can arrive by sea and moor at this secluded hotel, which clings to the cliffs above the Teign estuary. Beach huts in tropical coastal gardens have wall-to-wall glass doors, a sunbathing deck, views across Lyme Bay.
Hell Bay Hotel
Bryher
Outside, calm protected beaches and dreamy views of outlying islets. Inside, rooms with a breezy New England style, an acclaimed collection of Cornish art and a menu highlighting gloriously fresh produce from the Isles of Scilly. Its crab shack is a popular summer fixture.
Argyll Hotel
Isle of Iona
The best tables in the sun lounge gaze across the water to Mull at this owner-run hotel occupying a row of crofters’ cottages. Menus embrace locally caught fish, hand-creeled langoustines, crab and lobster, organic garden produce.
Tresanton
St Mawes
All bedrooms have views across Falmouth Bay to St Anthony’s lighthouse, at Olga Polizzi’s relaxed but stylish hotel. You can sail aboard a vintage yacht or just hang out in the Beach Club, lunch on oysters or a crab sandwich with champagne.
Artist Residence Brighton
Brighton
From sea-view balcony rooms to the basement Bunkhouse and ‘Below Deck’, this Regency seafront hotel is as cool and quirky as Brighton itself. Breakfast in The Set includes scrambled rare-breed Cacklebean eggs with local smoked mackerel.
The Seaside Boarding House
Burton Bradstock
On Chesil Beach, drawing inspiration from Edward Hopper’s Cape Cod, this is a hip but laid-back operation. All bedrooms have a sea view. You can eat on the terrace – crab sandwiches, home-made ices, Dorset cream tea.
The George Hotel & Beach Club
Yarmouth
On a shingle beach lapped by the waves, with sea-facing conservatory restaurant and terrace, this smart Guide newcomer occupies a historic town house between castle and pier. Many rooms have Solent or harbour views.
Treglos Hotel
Padstow
There is a real holiday vibe at this family- run, family-friendly hotel, with many sea- facing bedrooms, golf course, spa, partner surf school (‘coasteering’, kayaking, stand- up paddleboarding), and seafood platter lunches served on the deck.
2018 Editor's Choice Seaside Hotels
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
The Nare
Veryan-in-Roseland
The prices might look 'eye watering' at Toby Ashworth's family-friendly, dog-loving Edwardian hotel in a fantastic position above sandy Carne beach, but they are 'great value for this level of luxury'.
Cary Arms & Spa
Babbacombe
Perched above pebbly Babbacombe beach and bay, in the lee of tree-covered cliffs, this family-friendly hotel mixes traditional seaside inn with New England chic.
The Blakeney Hotel
Holt
With its quayside position overlooking the boats of north Norfolk's salt marsh estuary towards Blakeney Point, this large, family-friendly hotel, established in 1922, has a loyal following.
Porth Tocyn Hotel
Abersoch
This homely, family-friendly hotel, just outside Abersoch, with glorious views of Cardigan Bay, continues to get things right year after year, which is why its loyal guests keep on returning.
The White House
Herm
Time stands still at this country house – a family-friendly hotel since 1949, with fine-dining restaurant – on a tiny, car-free island of white-sand beaches.
Tresanton
St Mawes
A seaside hotel with serious style, Olga Polizzi's glowing white collection of cottages and former yacht clubhouse cascading down the hillside is a cross between New England and Mediterranean Riviera.
The Beach
Bude
Above sandy Summerleaze Beach, Susie and Will Daniel’s young-at-heart hotel is a great hang-out for surfers, sybarites and sun-seekers (Bude is officially one of the sunniest places in Britain).
The Pig on the Beach
Studland
Robin Hutson put the Pig in higgledy-piggledy with the most fanciful of his litter of porcine hotels (see index), set in a yellow seaside villa built in 1820 in romantic picturesque style, with gabled dormers, a turret and random roof line.
The Seaside Boarding House
Burton Bradstock
There's more than an air of Cape Cod about this white clapboard hotel above Chesil Beach, which could have come straight out of an Edward Hopper painting.
The Idle Rocks
St Mawes
A 25-seat cinema is a novelty at Karen and David Richards’ hotel in a village of white-painted houses on the Roseland peninsula, but no film can rival the wide-screen views over the Fal estuary from the waterside terrace.
2017 Editor's Choice Seaside Hotels
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
Soar Mill Cove Hotel
Salcombe
It's just a ten-minute walk to a beautifully uncrowded beach through National Trust land from this ocean-facing hotel, purpose built for families and fun.
The Nare
Veryan-in-Roseland
The prices might look 'eye watering' at Toby Ashworth's family-friendly, dog-loving Edwardian hotel in a fantastic position above sandy Carne beach, but they are 'great value for this level of luxury'.
Romney Bay House
New Romney
Amid the evocative, sheep-grazed wetlands of Romney Marsh, between golf course and shingle beach, an Edwardian house built by Clough Williams-Ellis is now ‘a lovely, secluded hotel’.
The White Horse
Brancaster Staithe
Amid a luminous, big-sky landscape of tidal salt marshes, with views to the sea and Scolt Head Island, the Nye family’s hotel enjoys a ‘brilliant location on the coast’.
Cary Arms & Spa
Babbacombe
Perched above pebbly Babbacombe beach and bay, in the lee of tree-covered cliffs, this family-friendly hotel mixes traditional seaside inn with New England chic.
Driftwood Hotel
Porthscatho
Sink into a recliner on the terrace at this cliff-top hotel, and you can gaze out at ‘panoramic sea views’ over Gerrans Bay – or lie back and think of New England, prompted by the seaside-chic decor.
The White House
Herm
Time stands still at this country house – a family-friendly hotel since 1949, with fine-dining restaurant – on a tiny, car-free island of white-sand beaches.
The Old Coastguard
Penzance
'A haven of tranquillity from the moment you arrive', this pub-with-rooms in a pretty Cornish fishing village gets full marks from readers who praise its 'amazing rooms, food and views'.
The Pig on the Beach
Studland
Robin Hutson put the Pig in higgledy-piggledy with the most fanciful of his litter of porcine hotels (see index), set in a yellow seaside villa built in 1820 in romantic picturesque style, with gabled dormers, a turret and random roof line.
The Idle Rocks
St Mawes
A 25-seat cinema is a novelty at Karen and David Richards’ hotel in a village of white-painted houses on the Roseland peninsula, but no film can rival the wide-screen views over the Fal estuary from the waterside terrace.
Hotels chosen in 2016
Editor’s Choice Seaside Hotels
Hell Bay Hotel
Bryher
You have to island-hop to reach this New England-style hotel on the rugged Atlantic west side of the smallest of the inhabited Isles of Scilly, but once there, the sense of escape is blissful.
The Colonsay
Isle of Colonsay
It's a scenic crossing from Oban to this island of white-sand beaches, where the one hotel stands on a hillside overlooking the harbour with views to neighbouring Jura.
The Henley
Bigbury-on-Sea
It's partly the lovely situation, with a 'stunning panorama' across the Avon estuary to Burgh Island, partly the warmth of the welcome that bring some of our readers back to this beachside bolt-hole time and again.
Dunvalanree in Carradale
CARRADALE
Alyson and Alan Milstead’s restaurant-with-rooms is ‘a lovely place, excellent for all its quirkiness,’ says a regular Guide reader in 2017.