The Best Hotels To Book In And Around Westward Ho!

Complete your holiday to Devon with one of these great hotels near the seaside village of Westward Ho!, England – all bookable on Culture Trip.

The only place in the UK to have an exclamation mark in its name, Westward Ho! in North Devon was named after local Victorian author Charles Kingsley’s popular historic novel of the same name. It’s continued to attract holidaymakers for generations, thanks to its wide range of seaside activities and fantastic coastal location in Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village and surrounding area is full of period properties of all shapes and sizes, from B&Bs to boutique hotels and guest houses. Book a stay on Culture Trip and explore the flat, golden beaches, surf spots and grasslands surrounding this pretty, southerly village.

1. The Waterfront Inn

Boutique Hotel

This incredibly cute boutique inn is within Westward Ho! itself, on the waterfront as the name suggests. The family-friendly property offers 11 elegant rooms of varying sizes and shapes, that are ready to welcome all manner of travellers from solo to larger groups. You’ll be well fed at the restaurant downstairs which provides great grub, with a focus on seafood – which isn’t much of a surprise, seeing as the sea is right on the front door.

2. Morans Bed and Breakfast @ Lower Lodge

Bed and Breakfast

At first glance, this place looks like a classic B&B – but it has an unconventional story. With the sea reclaiming the land and drawing closer and closer to the front door of Lower Lodge, the owners decided to move the property, brick by brick, to a safer spot – earning it the local title of “the house what moved”. Still the closest property to the beach in Westward Ho!, Morans offers homey rooms and a delicious breakfast in bed for guests who plan to take it slow and easy on their trip to Devon.

4. The Royal Hotel

Hotel

This elegant, Regency-era hotel’s foundations go back as far as the 1600s, making this a real heritage property. Its recent renovation was sympathetic to that history, leaving interiors that give a light, contemporary feel and the most of the riverside location, with fantastic views from most rooms. The Royal is in central Bideford, just seconds from the Tarka Trail cycle path and with Westward Ho!, Instow beach and the coast path just a few minutes’ walk away.

5. The Hoops Inn & Country Hotel

Pubs with Rooms

If a thatched roof gives you the wow factor, The Hoops Inn is for you. Another lovely heritage property based in Bideford, this 13th-century, Grade II-listed pub comes with four-poster beds, or even rooms in the stables. Fresh local seafood is served in the restaurant, plus many rooms are dog friendly – a bonus for pet owners. Cross your fingers for good weather, because the hotel gardens come with landscaped beds and ancient trees, wooden footbridges and picnic benches for a quiet moment’s reading.

6. Instow Barton

Bed and Breakfast

This B&B in central Bideford is charming, inside and out. The interiors are awash with colour and light, and the lush garden is the perfect place to relax after a day by the sea in neighbouring Westward Ho!. Instow Barton is run by couple Caroline and Colin, who put their heart and soul into the in-house catering: French cuisine made from local seasonal produce.

7. Old Keepers Cottage

Cottages

This lovely rural cottage, out in the rolling Devonshire hills, offers huge gardens and land to explore. It’s the perfect spot to reconnect with nature, listen to the birds and watch the river flow by. A hearty home-cooked breakfast is provided by hostess Lucy, who maintains a home-from-home feel for her guests, with a Steinway piano in the hall just begging you to play it.

8. Tors Top Bed & Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast

Expect peace, quiet and tranquility while staying at this lovely B&B, found in a refurbished former gatekeeper’s cottage up on top of the Kipling Tors – raised high lands that look out to the coast and Westward Ho! below. Choose one of the handful of rooms for plenty of privacy at this cosy, well-equipped stay.

Extend your Devon holiday by checking in to one of the best bed and breakfasts in the county, or one of the best spa retreats. You can book through Culture Trip. Fill your itinerary with the best family days out in Devon, or zero in on the seaside by exploring Ilfracombe. Get to know Devon’s culinary side with a food and drinks tour of the area.

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