Christmas is fast approaching, and there’s a good chance you still haven’t done all of your shopping. We get it, people are hard to buy for, and your mum doesn’t like receiving wine, soap, or jewellery she won’t wear, but fear not. We know exactly what she wants: a stay at one of the best hotels in Europe, three of which are right here in Britain.
The people over at Condé Nast Traveller (CNT) are experts on all things luxury travel, and every year they come out with a ‘gold list’ – the world’s most sumptuous hotels as chosen by the publilcation’s editors. This year, three UK hotels made the cut, and they’re all pretty gorgeous.
By far the most pricey of our hotels named was the Connaught, situated in Mayfair in London and starting at around £750 a night, but going all the way up to £3260 for a suite. The attention to detail here is crazy, as CNT describes: ‘Minibars are disguised as chinoiserie cabinets; bed heads are hand-embroidered.’ There’s a restaurant, which the mag describes as the ‘focus of a stay’, a spa, and multiple classic bars to kick back and enjoy a very expensive cocktail.
Next, comes Lime Wood in the middle of the New Forest national park. You can book a night’s stay here for only £400, which, while not cheap, is quite a bit more affordable than the three grand on offer in Mayfair. CNT describes Lime Wood as ‘a byword for holistic excellence, utilizing its surroundings to put nature, relaxation, and nourishment front and center,’ which sounds utterly delightful. If you do fancy splashing out, book yourself into one of the lakeside cabins, carefully designed and with views over the entire park. If you’re in need of a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this is the place for you.
Finally, the Fife Arms in the east of Scotland has rooms starting at £292 a night, but offers a variety of weird and wonderful themed rooms including Victoriana, ‘Scottish Culture’ and ‘nature & poetry’. According to CNT, ‘the real joy of the Fife Arms is that it’s great fun: You’ll find everyone here, from out-of-towners to locals with their dogs—not to mention a team of wry, wise-cracking staff.’ It’s also right next to the Cairngorms national park, so also ideal for a little break from reality.
You can discover the rest of Condé Nast Traveller’s favourite hotels in Europe here.
Where to stay according to Time Out
Condé Nast Traveller isn’t the only one recommending the best hotels in Britain. We’ve got lists of the cosiest places to stay, the best family friendly spots, the most incredible treehouses, and even some stunning castles you can stay overnight in.
Plus: three of Europe’s most desirable islands to visit in 2025 are in the British Isles.
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