Once a builder’s merchants, now a stunning restaurant with eight rooms. The Merchant’s Yard in Tideswell in the heart of the Peak District is a little hidden gem. The eight rooms all on the ground floor are large and luxurious with the attention to detail usually reserved for boutique hotels.

Wellbeing and holistic travel are reshaping the luxury hotel experience, creating retreats that rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. These hotels understand that true luxury means slowing down, restoring balance and connecting with nature—all without sacrificing comfort.

Travel in 2025 is all about places with personality — smaller hotels, B&Bs, slower rhythms, and a stronger connection to local life. Forget the obvious names; this year it’s about authenticity, design with soul, and destinations that still feel a little under the radar.

Chewton Glen is one of Britain’s great country house hotels for good reason. Set in 130 acres on the edge of the New Forest, a short walk from the sea, it blends style and polish with real warmth. The latest chapter is a standout refurbishment by London studio Goddard Littlefair, which has reimagined some of the rooms, the bar, Dining Room and drawing rooms with an elegant, lived-in feel. Think parquet underfoot, velvet sofas, handmade wooden tables, soft lavender and green tartans and herringbones, and open fires glowing wherever you turn. It’s sophisticated and classic, and it suits Chewton Glen beautifully.

Greenway Hotel and Spa in the Cotswolds features beautiful interiors, fantastic food (the best sticky toffee pudding ever) and brilliant spa.

Pubs with rooms are competing with some of the best boutique hotels and rightly so. They’re stylish, affordable and serve fabulous food.

Michelin-Starred Restaurants in London

The latest Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland has unveiled an impressive list of one-star restaurants in London, showcasing a range of exceptional dining experiences. Whether new to the Michelin family or have retained their well-deserved stars, these restaurants promise outstanding cooking, impeccable service, and a memorable gastronomic journey.

Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Great Britain & Ireland 2025

The latest Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland has been announced, revealing the restaurants that have retained their prestigious stars. From world-class three-star institutions to one-star gems, these restaurants represent the very best in fine dining. Whether you’re after a truly unforgettable experience or simply a meal worth travelling for, these Michelin-starred establishments guarantee excellence on every plate.

The award-winning design of Five Acre Barn is pretty cool! This gorgeous British B&B is on the Suffolk coast a short drive from Aldeburgh. Dog-friendly, it has just five rooms. Contemporary rooms and a delicious breakfast make it one of the best places to stay in the area.

Fritton Lake, Suffolk/Norfolk borders - family and dog-friendly place to stay with plenty of things to do. Great food - think hearty dishes, cosy fireplaces, tennis, boating lake and year-round heated swimming pool.

Whatley Manor: A Commitment to Sustainable Luxury

The Gin Trap Inn is one of the best places to stay on the North Norfolk coast, with one of the best restaurants too..

Lime Wood Hotel and Spa, one of the best country house hotels in the UK

Is this the perfect London hotel...?

Cubitt House - an exceptional collection of pubs and pubs with rooms across London including The Grazing Goat and The Princess Royal.

Beaverbrook in Surrey, one of the best luxury hotels and spas in the UK. I reviewed in April 2024.

Church Farm B&B in Suffolk. The perfect B&B between Lavenham and Bury St Edmunds.

Longueville Manor is the best hotel in the Channel Islands. Independently owned this traditional and luxurious hotel and spa ticks all of the boxes when it comes to location, food, wine, service, gardens and spa.

Some of the best boutique hotels in the city! A hideaway in Marrakech, a glorious bolthole in London, a cute boutique hotel in Florence, a hip hideaway in Palermo, a little hidden gem in Pimlico, a luxury spa hotel in Bath and an elegant hotel in Lisbon.

The best private rentals for 2023 from a windmill in Suffolk and a private villa in Thailand to a gorgeous beach house in Norfolk with a private pool.