13 Hidden Gem Hotels In The UK
FOR COASTAL VIEWS:
Pier House, Cornwall
If you’re planning an end-of-summer break in Cornwall, Pier House is a great lesser-known hotel. Close to Charlestown’s Georgian harbour, it’s a coastal inn with serious character. The hotel recently underwent a multi-million-pound refurbishment, restoring many of its Georgian features. All27 rooms, most with sea views, have high ceilings, vintage touches and serene décor that encourages guests to slow down. Downstairs, the restaurant serves locally caught seafood and seasonal dishes, while the Harbourside Inn offers pub classics and real ales. Guests can relax with afternoon drinks on the terrace and explore the harbour’s cobbled quays (which you might recognise from BBC’s Poldark).
Visit PIERHOUSEHOTEL.COM
FOR AN ESCAPE INTO NATURE:
The Cavendish Hotel, Derbyshire
Housed within the sprawling 35,000-acre Chatsworth Estate, The Cavendish is a luxe country house hotel with real character. Interiors are inspired by Scandinavian and Scottish design, with hand-painted lampshades, curated art from the Devonshire collection and colourful textiles that lift the honey-coloured stone walls. Rooms range from cosy doubles to the impressive four-poster suite, many with sweeping views across the Peak District. Guests can dine in the formal Gallery Restaurant or the relaxed Garden Room, both headed up by chef Adam Harper, who champions local produce from estate farms and nearby fisheries. Expect dishes like barbecued monkfish with smoked mussel sauce or hand-rolled linguine with wild mushrooms. Outside, the south-facing terrace offers uninterrupted views of Chatsworth’s parkland – perfect for sundowners or afternoon tea.
FOR SOHO FARMHOUSE VIBES:
Outbuildings, Dorset
For Soho Farmhouse vibes without the high-end price tag, Outbuildings is a family-run hotel in west Dorset. Perfect for a winter staycation, there are ten newly converted outbuildings to choose from. Each one is built from reclaimed wood and sleeps between two and six guests with a cosy double room with handmade beds, log burners and spacious bathrooms – some have freestanding baths while others have stylishly designed shower rooms. Guest can order in-room dining, visit The Cart Shed for elegant plates in the rustic barn and make use of the ‘butler bar’ service. You can also order breakfast hampers, enjoy champagne in the woods, book a session in The Hay Barn Cinema and visit animals on the farm.
Visit HOLIDAYOUTBUILDINGS.COM
FOR SOMETHING NEW:
Louma, Dorset
Surrounded by the wild beauty of Dorset’s Marshwood Vale, Louma is a 17-key retreat that feels blissfully off-grid – yet it’s just a couple of hours from London. Surrounded by rolling farmland, woodland trails and vineyard views, it’s an ideal place to slow down and appreciate the seasons, whether you’re enjoying summer picnics or autumn skies. Rooms span cosy shepherd’s huts, luxe barns and the Main House, all complete with natural textures and sweeping views of the local area. Families are warmly welcomed, with tailored experiences like horse riding to Charmouth Beach and feeding farm animals. Over at the Wellness Barn, there are indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, TechnoGym and holistic therapies by Wildsmith Skin, as well as outdoor sound baths and a yoga deck atop the nearby Cow Barn. Dining is farm-to-fork, with open-air feasts and sparkling wines made on-site – two of which recently won Gold and Bronze at the 2025 Wine GB Awards.
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FOR A COSY WEEKEND:
The Old Bell Hotel, Wiltshire
Reputedly England’s oldest hotel, The Old Bell has been welcoming guests since 1220. Next to Malmesbury Abbey, this Grade I-listed building has been restored with bold wallpapers, curated antiques and a Texan twist courtesy of its owners. Rooms range from cosy coach house doubles to grand master suites with four-poster beds and Abbey views. The Saints & Sinners restaurant serves classic British dishes, while the Tyger Bar is where you’ll want to settle down with cocktails. Afternoon tea by the fire, a cocktail masterclass, or a history walk through town are all part of the experience. Plus, it’s well located to explore the wider Cotswolds area.
Visit OLDBELLHOTEL.CO.UK
FOR TRADITONAL SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY:
Dornoch Station, Scottish Highlands
Reopened in 2023 after a full renovation, Dornoch Station brings Highland character to life with Marine & Lawn’s signature mix of vintage charm and bold interiors. Just steps from Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the hotel’s 89 rooms have lodge-like warmth with tartan accents, nautical touches and views across the golf course and Dornoch Firth. Bar Ross and The Golden Gorse restaurant serve seasonal Scottish fare, while amenities include a putting green, bike hire and a fitness room. Interiors nod to the area’s golf legacy, with vintage memorabilia and cosy communal spaces. Whether you’re here to play a round or explore the rugged and beautiful coastline, Dornoch is a well-appointed base.
Visit MARINEANDLAWN.COM
FOR A REMOTE STAY:
Hell Bay Hotel, Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly offer the kind of staycation that’s a world away from the rest of the UK. England’s most westerly hotel, Hell Bay, is a luxurious retreat on the wild island of Bryher. The 25 suites are light-filled and coastal in style, with Lloyd Loom furniture, soft linens and sea or garden views. The hotel’s 3 AA Rosette restaurant is a highlight, serving island-sourced seafood and produce in an elegant dining room overlooking the Atlantic. Guests can unwind in the heated outdoor pool, book treatments in the secluded spa shed or join yoga sessions in the garden studio. The Crab Shack, open in summer, offers rustic seafood feasts just steps from the beach.
Visit HELLBAY.CO.UK
FOR A FOODIE WEEKEND:
The Terrace, Isle of Wight
Set above Ventnor’s seafront in a restored Victorian villa, The Terrace is a restaurant with six individually styled rooms, each with sweeping sea views of the Isle of Wight. Guests are treated to a four-course breakfast and a daily wine tasting in the 900-bottle cellar, where the focus is on accessible, characterful wines. Interiors are chic and considered. Original features have been carefully restored, there’s plenty of natural light and some have freestanding bathtubs overlooking the ocean. The relaxed, residential atmosphere makes it feel more like a private home than a hotel. From June to September, a weekly set-menu dinner showcases Isle of Wight produce in a communal, dinner-party-style setting. Dinner could begin with English sparkling wine and slow cooked pork rillette, followed by mains of grilled monkfish or seabass, and raspberry parfait for dessert.
Visit THETERRACEIOW.CO.UK
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FOR AN AFFORDABLE STAY:
The Queens Arms, Somerset
Tucked into the rolling hills on the Dorset-Somerset border, The Queen’s Arms is a Georgian pub with rooms that’s earned its place among the West Country’s nicest properties. Owned by a local family with serious foodie credentials, the inn offers ten individually styled bedrooms, a two-bedroom cottage and a warm welcome for dogs. Inside, expect tartan-clad armchairs, unique antiques and a relaxed atmosphere that encourages lingering over a G&T at the bar. Chef Rich Townsend’s menu is a celebration of farm-to-fork fare, with dishes like citrus-cured monkfish and cider-battered fish and chips. The pub’s terrace overlooks sheep-dotted ridges, and six circular walks start right from the door – including a climb to Cadbury Castle, which is rumoured to be King Arthur’s Camelot.
Visit THEQUEENSARMS.COM
FOR A HIGHLANDS ESCAPE:
Killiehuntly Farmhouse, Cairngorms
A design-led hotel in the middle of the Cairngorms, Killiehuntly is a beautifully restored 17th-century stone farmhouse. Part of the Wildland conservation project, the house has four Scandi-styled bedrooms and offers communal dining and a curated experience that’s as much about nature as it is about comfort. Guests can share candlelit suppers around the farmhouse table, enjoy yoga in the wellness studio, or unwind in the outdoor sauna and plunge pool. Activities range from guided nature walks and wild swimming to pony picnics and fly fishing. Interiors are simple yet warm, with sheepskin throws, a wide variety of books and views of the surrounding 4,000-acre estate.
Visit KILLIEHUNTLY.SCOT
FOR A CITY BREAK:
Lido Townhouse, Bristol
Just steps from the restored Victorian Lido in Clifton, this five-bedroom Georgian townhouse offers affordable accommodation with spa access included. Interiors are calming and contemporary, with muted tones, local artwork and a residential feel. Each room is thoughtfully designed with handmade beds, fine linens and organic toiletries, plus extras like Nespresso machines, and fluffy robes and towels. Guests can swim in the open-air pool, book massages or relax in the steam room before dining at the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant next door. The perfect spot on a sunny day, expect flavoursome seafood dishes, fresh pasta and an excellent wine list.
Visit LIDOBRISTOL.COM
FOR A NIGHT NEAR LONDON:
The Beacon, Kent
The Beacon in Tunbridge Wells is a recently restored arts and crafts country house turned boutique restaurant with rooms. Surrounded by 17 acres of woodland and spring-fed lakes, it has just seven bedrooms upstairs, including the standalone Summer House cabin. Each one is individually designed with vintage furnishings, velvet drapes and tubs overlooking the surrounding landscape. It’s also a great choice for foodies. The Hearth Restaurant serves smart-looking seasonal plates by chef Scott Goss, while the spacious garden, lined with pretty parasols, serves cocktails and charcuterie. The property runs retreats throughout the summer months, as well as stand-up paddleboard yoga sessions on its private lake.
Visit THE-BEACON.CO.UK
FOR R&R:
Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is home to some of Wales’s best hotels, including Grove of Narberth, tucked away in the Narberth hills. All 13 rooms in the main house have modern country interiors, while several cottages with equally cosy features are dotted around the estate. The food is a real highlight – Fernery restaurant holds 4 AA rosettes thanks to its sustainable approach to fine dining, while the brasserie is a little more relaxed for long lunches and Sunday roasts. Sustainability is big focus, too – all the hotel’s electricity is 100% clean and renewable, a biomass boiler supplies all the heating and hot water, and the estate even has its own boreholes for fresh spring water.
Visit GROVENARBERTH.CO.UK
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