12 Great Hotels For A One-Night Stay
Plenty of country hotels stipulate a two-night minimum stay – especially at the weekends – but there are options not far from London where you can stay for just one. From affordable spots to ultra-luxe properties, here are 12 worth knowing about.
AFFORDABLE
The Bull in Charlbury, Cotswolds
Last year, the team behind The Pelican in Notting Hill (and now The Hero in Maida Vale) opened a pub in the Cotswolds. The Bull at Charlbury, a small town in west Oxfordshire, has the charm of the group’s London pubs, with chic minimalist interiors and crowd-pleasing dishes. Set in a former inn dating back to the 16th century, the pub has a cosy dining room and garden with further seating. The kitchen only uses trusted local suppliers, so the menu is very seasonal. Dishes are cooked on the BBQ, and on Sundays there are whole animals on an open fire – think slow-cooked lamb with all the trimmings. There are ten bedrooms upstairs.
Rooms from £130 per night
Visit THEBULLCHARLBURY.COM
The Grosvenor, Hampshire
Simon and Teresa Henderson recently turned a rundown inn into The Grosvenor, a destination hotel with 34 bright rooms. Some lead straight into the garden, while others have exposed brick walls and views of Stockbridge marshes. There’s also a three-bedroom cottage if you’d prefer a self-catered stay. Guests are spoilt for choice in terms of food and drink – the restaurant has a daily changing menu while the 1882 bar has real style thanks to its excellent cocktail menu and plush design. The hotel also has a library and lounge for relaxed evenings.
Rooms from £160 per night
No. 42 by GuestHouse, Margate
One of our favourite hotel brands thanks to its friendly service and smart interiors, Guesthouse opened a property on Margate High Street last summer. Its 18 rooms and three suites have the group’s signature soft, neutral décor with plush decorative accents and nautical touches that nod to the seaside location. The rooftop bar is only open during the summer, but there’s the cosy Pearly Cow restaurant – think generous brunch dishes and sharing plates served in a buzzy dining room. There’s also a lounge bar for nightcaps, and a small spa with treatment rooms for facials, massages or soaks in large copper bathtubs. The team will even collect your luggage from the train station while you explore the town before checking in.
Rooms from £155 per night
Visit GUESTHOUSEHOTELS.CO.UK
Holm, Somerset
In the quiet village of South Petherton, Holm is a restaurant with rooms that has been designed with one-night stays in mind. Led by chef Nicholas Balfe (also behind Brixton’s Salon and Levan in Peckham), the team showcases the very best local produce at the restaurant, with a regularly changing menu comprised of inventive dishes. Guests can settle into the village’s slow pace of life on a Saturday afternoon, with cocktails in the pretty courtyard and garden, before sitting down to a tasting menu with optional paired wines. Dinner could include dishes like ricotta agnolotti with tomato butter, trout crudo with summer peas, and meadowsweet custard with strawberries. Upstairs, there are seven light and bright en-suite bedrooms, as well as a communal living area.
Rooms from £140 per night on a B&B basis
Visit HOLMSOMERSET.CO.UK
Stanwell House, New Forest
After an extensive renovation, Stanwell House recently reopened its doors. Now a boutique hotel on the edge of the New Forest, the Georgian townhouse has been thoughtfully restored with feminine, country-inspired interiors – think neutral tones with fun pops of colour, reupholstered headboards and pretty printed wallpaper. Downstairs restaurant Samphire showcases locally sourced ingredients, with menus reflecting the region's coastal and countryside influences, while The Orangery serves cocktails and afternoon tea. Guests have the New Forest on their doorstep, with numerous walking routes to explore. Lymington Sea Water Baths are also only a short distance away.
Rooms from £150 per night
Visit STANWELLHOUSE.COM
LUXE
The Swan, Southwold
For a quintessential British stay, look no further than The Swan in Southwold. Here, suites have been given a modern twist with colourful velvet sofas and neon accents. Its excellent restaurant, The Still Room does wonderful things with local, organic produce, while its charming ‘Butler on the Beach’ service provides guests with a picnic hamper, blankets, deck chairs and buckets and spades. Guests can visit the nearby Adnams Brewery & Distillery for tasting sessions, or explore Minsmere Reserve, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Rooms from £225 per night
Visit THESWANSOUTHWOLD.CO.UK
Experimental Group; Mr. Tripper
Cowley Manor, Cotswolds
Last summer, Experimental Group launched its first UK project outside London with the beautifully redesigned Cowley Manor. The 17th-century manor house in the Cotswolds has 36 spacious rooms, alongside a garden room, bar and lounge – home to Experimental Cocktail Club Cotswolds. One of the highlights is the restaurant headed up by chef and friend of SL Jackson Boxer. Diners can try modern European dishes in the impressive dining room; as with all of Jackson’s food, simple ingredients are elevated with inventive twists. Elsewhere, the hotel has a 50-cover outdoor terrace, library, a spa with a heated indoor pool and an outdoor pool area where guests can order food and drink to their sun loungers. During an overnighter, be sure to explore the hotel’s vast grounds.
Rooms from £250 per night
Leonardslee House, West Sussex
Grade II-listed, 19th-century, Italianate-style Leonardslee House has ten en-suite bedrooms leading off an ornately galleried landing. Each is the work of a different British designer, such as Nina Campbell and Christopher Farr, and an echo of the flower-filled gardens outside – expect floral fabrics and wallpapers offset with antiques and chandeliers. The property is set within the historic woodland gardens of the Leonardslee Estate and sits on top of a valley with panoramic views. Guests have complimentary admission to the gardens where there is a wallaby enclosure and a deer park, and can also enjoy afternoon tea and 21-course tasting menus at Interlude, take part in wine tastings on the estate’s three-acre vineyard, and have picnics in the garden.
Rooms from £375 per night
Visit LEONARDSLEEGARDENS.CO.UK
Experimental Group; Mr. Tripper
ULTRA-LUXE
Coworth Park, Ascot
Part of the Dorchester Collection, Coworth Park is perhaps the best hotel in Berkshire. Expect five-star service, luxe interiors and excellent food. Attentive porters make your arrival smooth, while the friendly staff assist with everything from personalised in-room amenities to arranging horse riding, tennis lessons, and countryside activities for children. Across 240 acres of parkland, lakes and meadows, couples can enjoy outdoor adventures at the equestrian centre and polo field or explore nearby heritage sites in the Berkshire hills. The interiors here are just as impressive, with four-poster beds, free-standing baths and characterful features such as original fireplaces and exposed beams. The hotel also has three on-site restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith. From the basket of ornately sculpted bread served with whipped butter to delicate showcases of British produce, each dish is thoughtfully prepared and executed.
Rooms from £530 per night
Visit DORCHESTERCOLLECTION.COM
Estelle Manor, Cotswolds
Few places have created a buzz on the UK’s hotel scene like Estelle Manor – a sister property to Mayfair’s exclusive Maison Estelle. Created by Sharan Pasricha, the founder of Ennismore, this private country club is in the small Oxfordshire village of Eynsham. Members have access to the Grade II-listed house and over 3,000 acres of beautiful parkland. There are 108 bedrooms and suites across the main house, two nearby buildings and the new stables and walled garden buildings. Guests can also stay in woodland cottages and private houses on the estate. Among some of the most impressive facilities on this list, there’s a riviera-inspired outdoor terrace with a 25m swimming pool and shaded sun beds, as well as four restaurants including the informal Brasserie for brunch and casual suppers. Elsewhere, you’ll find grand sitting rooms, and a clubhouse designed for all your needs – think workspaces, a café, a kids club and a gym with a Pilates studio. Most recently, the hotel opened the Roman-inspired Eynsham Baths, a spa with five pools, a bathing hall, thermal cabins and treatment rooms.
Rooms from £500 per night
Visit ESTELLEMANOR.COM
The Grove, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire hotel The Grove caters for every type of guest – couples, families and groups. One of our favourite options on this list – mainly because of the excellent dining options and friendly service – we recommend a stay in the new Century Mansion rooms which overlook the landscaped gardens. With interiors by Martin Hulbert Design, rooms and suites showcase the hotel’s 16th-century features, like mouldings, fireplaces and curved bay windows. Each one is individually designed, while bathrooms have freestanding baths and Bamford toiletries. One of the hotel’s main draws is the food; there are fine dining, buffet and Indian restaurants to choose from, as well as communal areas where you can enjoy sushi platters or afternoon tea. Elsewhere, the Sequoia Spa has recently been refurbished and now offers treatments by Bamford, and the property has one of the best championship golf courses in the region.
Rooms from £370 per night
Visit THEGROVE.CO.UK
Four Seasons, Hampshire
This ultra-luxury hotel recently underwent an extensive renovation. In the quaint Hampshire village of Hook, it’s surrounded by 500 acres of parkland on the Dogmersfield estate. Rooms range from spacious doubles to luxury suites, including Speciality Suites which have separate living areas for families. Last year, the hotel updated its kids club, where little ones can be dropped off to enjoy arts, crafts and games, while adults relax at the award-winning spa or enjoy a romantic meal at the Wild Carrot restaurant.
Rooms from £555 per night
Visit FOURSEASONS.COM
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