Top Cosy Hotels In The UK
Cosy interiors, open fires, intimate getaways for two and sumptuous food. These are all the ingredients that make for a cosy getaway as it gets cold and dark outside.
Having just launched their 2020 edition, the Good Hotel Guide, the bastion of independent hotel reviews, shares 10 of the top cosy hotels in the UK…
Little Barwick House, Yeovil
A warm welcome at Little Barwick
An award-winning restaurant with rooms, Little Barwick House in Somerset is a family effort, and very much a labour of love.
Restored and run by owners Tim and Emma, along with their sons Ben and Olly, Basil the German pointer, ponies Maverick and Billy and cats Max and Foxy, they have previously won a prestigious César Award from the Good Hotel Guide.
Year on year the hotel remains immaculately kept and presented. You are invited in with no pretension, a welcome log fire on chilly days and generous slices of cake and shortbread whenever you wish.
Lewtrenchard Manor, Okehampton
The sumptuous yet cosy drawing room at Lewtrenchard
A luxury manor house hotel in Devon, don’t let the grandeur of Lewtrenchard Manor fool you. This place is very much a cosy hideaway.
A family-run retreat nestled in a secluded valley beneath Dartmoor’s wild tors, the hotel is steeped in Jacobean history.
Spend your days roaming in the breathtaking countryside, and return to sink into sumptuous seating in wood-panelled drawing rooms. Admire the oil paintings and stucco ceilings and cuddle up by rococo fireplaces.
Glenfinnan House Hotel, Fort William
Cosiness in a spectacular setting
In a picture perfect location on the banks of Loch Shiel, Glenfinnan House Hotel is like something from J K Rowling’s imagination. Indeed the nearby Glenfinnan Viaduct railway bridge has featured in the Harry Potter films.
Across the bay from the National Trust for Scotland monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie, the hotel takes in views of Ben Nevis. Red deer roam on the surrounding estate.
Inside the elegant, tranquil lodge, log fires blaze and along pine-panelled walls hang an atmospheric collection of paintings. Among them is an impressive portrayal of the 1745 Jacobite Rising at Glenfinnan.
Here, guests relax in four-poster beds and dine on good food and drink while music creates a grand but homely Highland atmosphere. Just wait until you see this place in the snow!
Bank House, King’s Lynn
Comfort and Georgian elegance
This Grade II listed Georgian town house hotel is set on the quayside, in the heart of historic King’s Lynn. Bank House is named one of the Editor’s Choice boutique hotels in the new 2020 Good Hotel Guide.
The hotel has an eclectic style across its 12 bedrooms, all designed to feel sumptuously comfortable. Home-made cakes and Sunday roasts are a favourite, and it is the sister hotel of the equally cosy and wonderful Rose and Crown at Snettisham.
All Regency cartoons, antiques and river views, Bank House makes you feel you’ve stepped back in time… taking all your creature comforts with you.
Llwyndu Farmhouse, Barmouth
A welcoming B&B with a highly recommended restaurant included, Llwyndu Farmhouse sits on the coast of Snowdonia in the old fishing village of Barmouth. With views of Cardigan Bay, the farmhouse feels like a cocoon for tranquility and contemplation.
It has a history going back to 1581, and it continues to ooze rustic and historic character. Four poster beds, stone walls, a lounge with wood-burner and freshly landed fish served at dinner, true to the principles of the Slow Food Movement. All are a celebration of its location.
In particular, guests adore how brightly the stars shine at night when the sky is clear.
The Old Railway, Petworth
Revisit the golden age of rail travel
Stay in a Pullman Carriage at The Old Railway Station in Petworth, in the heart of The South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This completely unique hotel was formerly Petworth Railway Station, which was built in 1892. The colonial splendour shines through as you curl up in your room and imagine you’re being whisked away in the golden age of travel.
The hotel has its own tea room with a plentiful supply of tea, hot chocolate, cakes and cream teas. If you have a special occasion, staff will help you celebrate with flowers, chocolates and Champagne in your room.
Borrowdale Gates, Grange-in-Borrowdale
A luxury, four-star hotel nestled into the Borrowdale Valley, this award-winning hotel has a gentility about it that beckons you to tuck into afternoon tea.
Even if the winter rain is falling outside the windows, it’s fine. That’s an excuse for the open log fires to be lit after long walks! The rooms have their own patios, balconies or window seats so guests can soak up the panoramic Lakeland views in peace.
Chapel House, Penzance
Comfort, simplicity and wet weather gear to borrow!
White with splashes of contemporary colour characterise this historic boutique hotel in Penzance. Each of the six light, spacious bedrooms has a handmade oak bed. Views stretch over Penzance harbour and Mount’s Bay as far as Lizard Point.
Attention to detail is what makes this place unique, including cosy features that make it ultra-special at any time of year. A favourite is the top floor where there’s a free-standing bath under a sliding glass roof. So you can run a bubble bath and bathe in privacy in the open air!
There’s also homemade cake and a cup of tea on arrival, fireplaces to cuddle up by, and a well-stocked boot room. This contains everything from spare jackets, gloves, woolly hats, wellingtons and flippers to toothbrushes and shaving gear. Just in case you forget your own.
The Rose and Crown, Barnard Castle
Historic, rustic touches and exceptional food
An 18th century coaching inn, The Rose and Crown is one of the 2020 Good Hotel Guide Editor’s choice pubs with rooms.
Celebrated for its picture perfect location next to the Saxon church in Romaldkirk, it’s all exposed stone and beams and exceptional food.
Run by a family who have farmed in Teesdale for four generations, the bar has a log fire and flagged floors. The Courtyard bedrooms have a more contemporary style as well as sheltered outdoor seating.
The Inn at Whitewell, Lancashire
Eccentric charm in every room
Conjuring a sense of idiosyncratic aristocracy and home comforts, The Inn at Whitewell sits on the banks of the River Hodder. It’s brimming with blazing fires, antiques, paintings and eccentricity.
Tuck into hearty fare such as their famous Whitewell fish pie, and delight in the individual features of each room. There’s everything from a four poster bed in one to a grandfather clock in another. From every window you can enjoy views to the Forest of Bowland fells.
