United Kingdom
The Balmoral - Scotland
Edinburgh.
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At the head of Princes Street, The Balmoral pairs baronial romance with polished modernity: clocktower, marble lobby. Calming rooms and suites, many with Castle or Calton Hill views. Dine at Number One, sip at Bar Prince, unwind in the spa and pool. Steps to Waverley Station, Old Town, New Town. 9.8
Bathen House
Bath.
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​On the western edge of Bath, Bathen House Boutique Hotel occupies a handsome Edwardian villa of marble, antiques and soft Farrow-and-Ball hues. Cosseting rooms feature four-posters and roll-top baths. Linger over breakfast and afternoon tea, park on site, then stroll or bus to Georgian crescents, Roman Baths and independent boutiques. 9.8
Four Seasons Hampshire
Set on a 500-acre estate in Dogmersfield, Four Seasons Hampshire pairs an 18th-century manor with polished, family-friendly ease. Light-filled rooms feel country-calm. Ride at the equestrian centre, try falconry, cycle lanes, and unwind in the spa and conservatory pool. Dine at Wild Carrot. Windsor, Winchester and London sit within reach. 9.4
Grantley Hall
Near Ripon on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Grantley Hall is a Palladian mansion reborn: riverside lawns, chandeliers, quiet corridors. Sunlit rooms and suites feel opulent yet calm. Dine at Shaun Rankin and Bar & Restaurant EightyEight; linger in Three Graces Spa and pools. Gardens, moors and market towns close. 10
Glenapp Castle
Scotland
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Above the Ayrshire coast, Glenapp Castle is a turreted Victorian fantasy wrapped in woodlands, walled gardens and sea views. Cosseting rooms and suites feel antique-rich and serene. Linger over afternoon tea, dine seasonally, book spa treatments, and sail to Ailsa Craig. Remote yet reachable, with beaches, trails and forests nearby. 9.8 Read the article>>
Estelle Manor
On a 60-acre Oxfordshire estate near Blenheim, Estelle Manor is a grand, colonnaded country house reborn with contemporary gloss. Bedrooms feel cocooning; suites come with terraces. Laze by the pool, book the expansive spa, play racquets, and wander woodland trails. Lively restaurants and bars. Oxford, Cotswolds villages and rambles nearby. 9.8
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
In Great Milton, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons is a honey-stone manor wrapped in potager gardens and orchards. Elegant rooms and suites feel country-bespoke; some with fireplaces and terraces. Dine at Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, visit the cookery school, and wander the lawns. Oxford and the Cotswolds sit within easy, postcard distance. 9.8 Read the article>>
The Lygon Arms
The Cotswolds
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In Broadway’s honey-stone heart, The Lygon Arms is a storied coaching inn refreshed with contemporary country polish. Cosy rooms and suites, many with beams and fireplaces. Dine seasonally in the Grill, sip in the lounges, unwind at the spa and pool. Walk to boutiques and trails; Hidcote and Snowshill are nearby.
The Newt In Somerset
​In rolling Somerset countryside, The Newt is a reimagined Georgian estate of orchards, cyder cellars and exquisite gardens. Chic rooms hide in the House and Hadspen cottages. Swim in the glassy pool, wander the Roman Villa, spa, restaurants and bakery. Near Bruton’s galleries, hamstone villages and slow, pastoral lanes nearby. 9.7
Rockliffe Hall
​In County Durham near Darlington, Rockliffe Hall is a grand country estate of riverside lawns and polished service. Spacious rooms and suites feel calm and contemporary. Play the championship golf course, unwind in the spa and hydrotherapy pools, dine at The Orangery. Close to the Dales, coast and market towns. 9.6
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Beaverbrook
Set on a wooded Surrey estate, Beaverbrook is a whimsical country retreat of mint-green halls, murals and cinematic history. Rooms and cottages feel plush and playful. Laze at the Coach House Spa and pools, dine at The Garden House and Japanese Grill. Wander lawns, woodland trails, and the secluded gardens. 9.6
Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa
Chewton Glen, a grand country-house hotel on the edge of the New Forest, pairs classic rooms with dreamy treehouses. A stellar spa, indoor-outdoor pools, tennis, golf, and a cookery school shape unhurried days. The mood is polished and bucolic; woodland trails lead to Highcliffe’s beach and the Dorset coast nearby. 9.6
Cliveden House
Cliveden House, an Italianate mansion high above the Thames in Berkshire, offers stately rooms, tapestried salons, and National Trust gardens. The spa’s riverside pool, tennis, and boating from the private dock fill languid afternoons. The mood is grand yet intimate; Windsor, Bray’s Michelin tables, and woodland walks lie temptingly close. 9.6
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa is a honey-stone country house set on a 500-acre estate by Bath. Elegant rooms and cottages, Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones, and a soothing ESPA spa with pool, thermal suites, and gardens shape indulgent days. The mood is polished, equestrian, with rides and Cotswold villages nearby. 9.6
Gleneagles
Scotland.
Gleneagles, a grand sporting estate in Perthshire, pairs stately rooms with heather-rimmed horizons. Three championship golf courses, ESPA Life spa, and country pursuits from falconry to riding and off-road add adventure. Dining peaks at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie. The mood is polished and convivial, near Auchterarder and gateway to the Highlands. 9.4
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House brings intimate, contemporary-luxe to the Lake District near Windermere. Suites and spa lodges with hot tubs or cedar hot tubs; Michelin-starred SOURCE and pan-Asian Gilpin Spice. At the private Lake House, a spa, pool and lake views feel cocooning. The mood is romantic, foodie, country luxe.
9.6
Matfen Hall Hotel & Spa
Matfen Hall, a Grade II–listed country estate in Northumberland, blends stately grandeur with contemporary polish. Elegant bedrooms, a serene spa with pool, and varied dining in the orangery set indulgent days. A 27-hole championship golf course and landscaped parkland frame the scene, minutes from Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland villages, and Newcastle.
9.0
The Torridon
Scotland.
The Torridon is a Victorian baronial lodge on Loch Torridon, ringed by sandstone peaks. Cosy-luxe rooms, a famed whisky bar, and seasonal dining at 1887 meet gardens and kitchen produce. Days bring hiking, kayaking, and guided Munro adventures. The mood is wild, romantic Highlands, remote yet welcoming in Wester Ross. 9.0
Inverlochy Castle
Scotland.
Inverlochy Castle, a 19th-century baronial masterpiece near Fort William, sits beneath Ben Nevis amid lochs and lawns. Antique-filled rooms, drawing rooms with fires, and fine-dining salons set a hushed rhythm. Expect tennis, lochside strolls, fishing and clay shooting. The mood is romantic, old-world Highland grandeur, with Glenfinnan and Glencoe close. 9.4
SCHLOSS Roxburghe
Scotland.
Schloss Roxburghe, in the Scottish Borders near Kelso, pairs a baronial house with contemporary estate rooms and woodland lodges. An 18-hole championship golf course, fishing on the Tweed, clay shooting, and a sleek spa with an outdoor pool shape unhurried days. The mood is tweedy, luxurious, amid rolling parkland and rivers. 9.4
JA Mar Hall
Scotland.
JA Mar Hall, a baronial mansion on the River Clyde near Glasgow, mixes stately rooms with contemporary suites. A spa, pool, and championship golf course set the stage for unhurried days; woodland trails and clay shooting add country notes. The mood is polished, quietly grand, minutes from Loch Lomond, airport links, and city galleries. 9.0
Old Course Hotel
Scotland.
The Old Course Hotel overlooks St Andrews’ fabled 17th Road Hole and West Sands. Tartan-trimmed rooms and suites, Kohler Waters Spa, and dining at Swilcan Loft, Road Hole Restaurant, and the Jigger Inn shape days. The mood is polished, sporty heritage, steps from links, St Andrews lanes, and sea air. 9.6
100 Princes Street
Scotland.
100 Princes Street is an intimate Red Carnation hideaway on Edinburgh’s famous boulevard, facing the castle. Richly layered rooms and suites feel townhouse-private; a clubby lounge and bar, fires, and attentive service set the rhythm. The mood is elegant and cocooning, steps from Princes Street Gardens and the Old Town. 9.8
Rusacks St Andrews
Scotland.
Rusacks St Andrews overlooks the Old Course’s 18th and West Sands, a storied hotel reborn in tailored, golf-soul style. Elegant, tartan-tinged rooms and suites; rooftop 18 with sweeping views, steaks at The Bridge, and lively bar. The mood is polished heritage, steps from links, university lanes, and the North Sea. 9.4
The Hoxton Edinburgh
Scotland.
The Hoxton, Edinburgh, pairs Georgian townhouse bones with playful, design-led rooms from Shoebox to Biggy. A buzzing all-day lobby, restaurant, cocktail bar, and cowork-friendly corners set the scene. The mood is creative and sociable, in the West End near Princes Street, Haymarket, and the Old and New Towns. 9.6
Prestonfield House
Scotland.
Prestonfield House, a baroque mansion beneath Arthur’s Seat, swathes you in velvet, antiques, and candlelight. Individually styled rooms and suites, fireside salons, and Rhubarb restaurant set a decadent rhythm. Expect afternoon tea, gardens with peacocks, and discreet service. The mood is romantic, theatrical, minutes from Edinburgh’s Old Town yet secluded. 9.8
The Edinburgh Grand
Scotland.
The Edinburgh Grand, in a former bank on St Andrew Square, offers chic, apartment-style suites with kitchens and city views. A stylish lobby bar and Register Club serve cocktails and afternoon tea. Expect concierge polish, gym access, and walk-everywhere convenience to Princes Street, the New Town, and Waverley Station nearby. 9.4
The Scott
Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Scott, a restored Victorian mansion on the Pollock Estate, feels quietly aristocratic. Individually styled rooms with four-posters and rich fabrics, a cosseting lounge, and curated breakfast set an elegant pace. The mood is intimate, house-party chic, beside Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, a stroll from the Royal Mile nearby. 9.6
The Old Manse of Blair
Pitlochry, Scotland.
The Old Manse of Blair, a Georgian country house in Highland Perthshire, blends heritage with modern polish. Individually styled rooms and suites, cottages, and a seasonal, hyper-local restaurant anchor stays. Expect fires, gardens, and quiet luxury. The Cairngorms, Blair Castle, riverside walks and whisky distilleries sit temptingly close nearby too. 9.4
Heckfield Place
Heckfield Place, a restored Georgian manor in Hampshire, blends quiet grandeur with nature-led living. Rooms overlook lakes and ancient oaks; the Bothy by Wildsmith spa, cinema, and biodynamic Home Farm anchor days. Marle and Hearth by Skye Gyngell nourish. The mood is serene, discreetly luxurious, an hour southwest of London.
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