The Best Hotels Near Brighton, England

The Gingerman group knocked it out of the park when they added rooms to their acclaimed gastropub in Hove. All 11 rooms have king-sized beds with Hypnos mattresses, cocktail-stocked minibars and complimentary beach bags stuffed with mats and towels. As for the food, highlights include Irish rock oysters, venison with celeriac puree and fried kale and 40-day Himalayan salt-aged Delmonico steak. Meanwhile, Palace Pier is 25 minutes away by bus, and the beach is right outside your door.

This 900-year-old castle, a 45-minute drive from Brighton, in the thatched-roof village of Amberley once hosted Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II. Now part of the Relais & Châteaux boutique group, it retains all of its grandeur, including an imposing portcullis and topiary-edged grounds with a tennis court, a putting course and a croquet lawn. Rooms, complete with timber ceilings, span from modern Classic iterations to Premier Deluxe options with fireplaces, while the restaurant serves small plates of citrus-cured salmon and roasted cauliflower with coconut.

Constructed in the 1920s by an antique specialist who reclaimed materials from ancient buildings, “grandiose” is a good starting point for describing this collection of mock-medieval mansions. Bailiffscourt is known for its spa, which features relaxation rooms and a heated outdoor infinity pool. Dinner in the dining hall keeps things local, featuring sparkling wine from Sussex and meats and cheeses sourced from nearby farms. It’s located 45 minutes from Brighton and just 12 minutes from Arundel Castle.

Perfectly positioned for South Downs rambling, this ivy-covered B&B in rural Steyning, 25 minutes from Brighton, is within easy reach of hiking trails. When you’re not out and about, luxuriate in the grounds, take a dip in the heated pool, and challenge your travel companions to table tennis or snooker. Breakfast is served in the smart conservatory, featuring cooked classics along with the Springwells Signature – porridge topped with caramelised demerara sugar, double cream and whisky.

On the southern edge of the South Downs National Park, 45 minutes from Brighton, this gastropub welcomes visitors with a roaring fire, exposed red-brick walls and pints of local beer. The ever-changing seasonal menu features English fare, such as pigeon, sole and wild mushrooms, while it’s complemented with additions like curry sauce and chorizo. Rooms are named after former landlords and echo the pub’s cosiness with cable-knit pillows, vintage furniture and Nespresso coffee machines.

Television personality James Braxton, as seen on Antiques Road Trip, owns this delightful old coaching inn – but his sons run the place, so you won’t find him pottering around. It’s furnished with all sorts of curios, as you might expect, such as milk-churn bar stools, vinyl records and a leather pommel horse, while head chef Matt Pask specialises in pies like shepherd and fish. The village of Wartling has excellent access to the medieval manors and forested hills of High Weald, and Brighton is around a 50-minute drive away.

This five-star luxury hotel, 50 minutes from Brighton, sits at the north-western edge of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Keen birdwatchers will be able to spot great tits and thrushes in the adjoining National Trust woodland. Back at the Utopia Spa, guests can enjoy signature treatments, including a champagne-and-truffle facial and a basalt lava stone massage, before tucking into the 10-course seasonal menu at AG. Former Michelin-starred chef Johnny Stanford designs the menu, favouring dishes like confit trout paired with cep custard and sweet vinegar.

Half an hour’s drive from Brighton and just north of the Seven Sisters white cliffs, Saltmarsh makes an ideal base for exploring the South Downs Way. Set in a restored 16th-century farmhouse, its interiors epitomise countryside living – think wooden beams, fireplaces and wall antlers. Owner Nina and her team like to keep things local: the coffee at the hotel is roasted in nearby Litlington, while teas are from Kent & Sussex Tea Co and scones are freshly made at the hotel. Help yourself to wine and gin and tonic at its snug honesty bar after a day out exploring the South Downs National Park.