The George of Stamford

For Walter Scott, the view of Stamford from this historic coaching inn was ‘the finest twixt Edinburgh and London’. Our readers’ appreciation extends beyond the view. ‘The staff are lovely, the hotel is lovely and the town is lovely,’ they say. ‘Splendid hotel, staff very friendly, personable and well trained.’ Owned for 50 years by Lawrence Hoskins, The George cleaves to traditional values. Accommodation ranges from singles to four-poster rooms. ‘Our bedroom and bathroom were spacious and up to date; the lighting was very good. The bathroom had the best shaving mirror I’ve ever used.’ You can have a cream tea by the fire or in the courtyard, drink bubbly in the Champagne Bar, or don best bib and tucker to dine in the Oak Room, where the signature roast sirloin arrives on a silver-domed carving wagon. The food in the Garden Room is more modern, with pasta, steaks, a shellfish platter and a plant-based menu. (John and Elspeth Gibbon, David Sefton, and others)