The Most Romantic Hotels in the UK
While it might not hold the amorous reputation of France or Italy, the UK is a great destination for those in search of a romantic retreat. Whether you want to watch the sun go down over the London skyline, walk the Cornish coast or take a boat out in the Lake District, we’ve found the most romantic places to stay in the UK.
1. L’Oscar London
Boutique Hotel
L’Oscar works ‘70s disco and vaudeville into a mix that shouldn’t work but does. It’s located in the vibrant central London district of Holborn, an easy walk away from the theatre district and a string of excellent restaurants. Of course, if you decide to spend most of your time in the imaginatively decorated hotel, you’ll be well rewarded for it, with a restaurant run by a Michelin Star chef, and rooms filled with the kind of 1930s flair you’d expect to see in a Frank Capra movie. The building was originally a Baptist church and much of the furniture was salvaged from that era and converted – all of which helps couples enjoy a “religious experience” during their stay.
2. Prestonfield House, Edinburgh
Hotel, Luxury
Few hotels can claim to be both surrounded by countryside and located right next to a city centre – but Prestonfield House fulfils the boast. It takes just 10 minutes to drive from the hotel to Princes Street, and the grounds sit on the edge of the enormous Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s dormant volcano. You couldn’t ask for a better slice of gothic romanticism. The exterior is austere, but inside you’ll find leopard print rugs, velvet upholstery, poster beds and ubiquitous wood-grained surfaces. The staff do everything to ensure you never need to leave (including going clothes shopping for you) but if you do, croquet and golf sit right on the doorstep. You can have a tipple in either the Tapestry Room or the Leather Room (no, really), and the Rhubarb restaurant provides a varied menu of Scottish dishes and an 800-bottle wine list.
3. The Mandrake Hotel, London
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
When a hotel is named after a plant which is referred to in the Bible as an aphrodisiac, you know you’re in for an intimate experience. In fact, this hotel, hidden in the upmarket Fitzrovia district, is something of a surprise. Walk past the front door and you’ll be greeted with a secret garden which looks as if it would be just as at home in Bali or Costa Rica as it is in London. Wooden terraces surrounded by tropical plants intersect the network of 30 marbled rooms. The best of them have free-standing baths and four poster beds, and the penthouse even has its own hot tub. The common areas have high ceilings, stone walls and velvet chairs, a theatre and a Parisian-style restaurant.
5. 10 Castle Street, Dorset
Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel, Hotel
The sleepy village of Cranborne, Dorset, is every bit the stereotypical English hideaway you’ve seen in countless romcoms, and 10 Castle Street is where the American protagonist would stay. Built as Queen Anne House in 1703, it has since been transformed into an endlessly welcoming space with several large lounge areas, a billiards room, two bars and even a play area for children which is exclusive to guests (and members). There are just nine bedrooms, all spacious and adorned with carved wood and embroidery, and the high class atmosphere flows out in the expertly designed garden and the restaurant with its Italian-style menu.
6. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
Spa Hotel, Hotel
Undoubtedly the most well-known Roman spa town in the UK, Bath is uniquely beautiful and practically begging for couples to come and explore its ancient streets. It would seem almost criminal to travel there and stay in a cookie-cutter modern hotel, so why not stay somewhere which completely embodies the town’s history and architecture? Being the only hotel in Bath with access to the city’s thermal waters, the Gainsborough has its own Roman spa right there in the building. That alone should be enough to beckon guests into its 98 neo-Georgian bedrooms, but there’s more: bathrooms with underfloor heating, a modern restaurant with a creative menu and a range of therapies to compliment the time spent in the thermal pools.
7. Danesfield House, Buckinghamshire
Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel, Hotel
Looking out towards Danesfield House you could be forgiven for hearing the Downton Abbey theme music playing in your head. The white battlemented walls, tree-lined entrance and lines of flowers all scream period drama, and the feeling doesn’t let up any when you get inside. The house has been a beacon in the Chilterns for 200 years, and care has been taken to preserve this, with the oak-panelled Great Hall, antiquated sconces lining the hallways and a fresco-lined swimming pool. The rooms keep things a bit more modern, without sacrificing one iota of luxury, and return customers can expect special gifts in their rooms when they arrive.
8. Number 38 Clifton, Bristol
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
9. Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Fort William
Boutique Hotel
10. The Old Quay House, Cornwall
Hotel
11. The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
Chain Hotel, Spa Hotel, Luxury
Of all the hotels on this list, The Balmoral is probably the one you’ve heard of. This behemoth has been an Edinburgh institution for over 100 years, changing ownership several times but never losing its charm. The massive entrance hall looks like it was plucked from the top of Olympus, with huge white pillars and big murals adorning the walls. Between the 168 bedrooms and 20 suites, there’s plenty of variety depending on how much money you’re willing to part with, but in any case you’ll be met with warm earth-tones, big beds and if you’re lucky, a fireplace. The Number One restaurant has cultivated a healthy reputation for fine dining, or you can visit the Brasserie or take afternoon tea in the astonishing Palm Court room. Finally you and your significant other can head to the spa to enjoy an ESPA treatment or relaxing steam in the sauna.
12. Hotel Gotham, Manchester
Hotel
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