Pepper your year with fabulous weekend staycations, by checking into one of these hot properties, says Sarah Marshall. From courthouse dramas to rock star stays – these are the top UK hotels to book in 2020.
Read the Wise Living guide to travel trends in 2020 and where to go on holiday this year.
Top UK hotels 2020 – brilliant new hotels to try
Short weekend breaks help bridge the gap between holidays which seem – increasingly – to be too far apart. For maximum benefit, stay closer to home, where more time can be spent unwinding and relaxing without the stress and hassle of hanging around in airports.
Admittedly, the British weather is unpredictable at any time of year, but with beautifully designed hotels frequently eclipsing their geographical locations – it doesn’t really matter if you’re outside or in.
So, if you plan to make 2020 a year for exploring Great Britain, make sure you book one of these exciting new stays.
Read the Wise Living guide to cosy getaways – 5 award-winning hotels to visit this autumn and winter.
The Albion Rooms, Kent
Over the past few years, an influx of artists has breathed new life into Margate’s tired arcades and faded pavilions. The Turner Contemporary Gallery and Dreamland amusement park both regularly attract crowds. Now those wanting to stay the night can rock ‘n’ roll out of bed when The Libertines open their new hotel this spring, overlooking Margate’s bandstand and the sea.
Along with seven rooms, there’s a recording studio (which the band are already using) and a performance space, The Waste Land (currently hosting poetry readings and live music). Frontman Pete Doherty has already given it the thumbs up by sinking a pint at the bar.
How: No rate yet available. Visit facebook.com/thealbionroomsmargate.
The Harper, North Norfolk
Taking residence in a former glass-blowing factory, The Harper intends to bring a touch of quirky luxury to an unspoilt stretch of North Norfolk’s coastline. Expect large rooms (categories are Big, Bigger and Biggest), sauna, hot tub, retro games room, and a dining menu focused on seafood. There’s also a cosy lounge with a wood burner and plenty of nooks to slip into and sip glasses of wine.
Borrow bikes and cycle to Blakeney village, ramble along one of several hiking trails, or enjoy being ferried between various country ale houses as part of The Harper’s own pub crawl.
How: Rooms from £175 per night, including breakfast. Visit theharper.co.uk.
Billesley Manor, Stratford-upon-Avon
This grand Elizabethan manor is by no means new, but a flattering facelift has been planned for early 2020, reviving the 16th century property to its former grandeur. Following previous improvements made to the spa, gardens and guest rooms, there are plans to update the reception and great hall.
It’s a good excuse – if any were needed – to visit this slice of Stratford-upon-Avon’s literary history. Shakespeare wrote his 20th play, As You Like It, in the library, and historians believe his wedding to Anne Hathaway took place in the 11th century All Saints Church which occupies the hotel’s grounds.
How: Doubles from £150 per night with breakfast. Visit billesleymanor.com
The Wave Glamping, Bristol
Bristolians are famously outdoor types, but when you can’t easily get to the coast, new artificial surfing lagoon The Wave comes to the rescue. Opened in November last year, the 180-metre lake is a 16-minute drive from the city in Almondsbury. Featuring wave-making technology capable of generating up to 1,000 waves per hour, it’s already attracted enthusiasts eager to tackle 1.8metre swells. Beginners, meanwhile, can stay safe with 50cm.
Everyone knows the best time to surf is early in the morning, and visitors will have the opportunity to rise ‘n’ ride when 25 safari-style glamping tents launch in April.
How: No rates yet available. Visit thewave.com.
Holmes House, London
London’s Baker Street is inextricably linked to fictional hero Sherlock Holmes, but do some detective work of your own and you’ll find another great discovery. Packed with independent bars and boutiques, Marylebone Village has an upmarket, bohemian feel. The opening of Chiltern Firehouse in 2013 lent some A-list attention to the postcode, and now a new hotel is cementing the area’s fame.
Spread across four Georgian buildings, 118 guest rooms feature marble bathrooms with freestanding tubs, quirky antiques and vinyl record players. In the restaurant, Kitchen At Holmes, the menu is a globetrotting adventure, while a fashionable bar features nightly DJ sets.
How: Doubles from £250 with breakfast. Visit holmeshotel.com.
Bodmin Jail, Cornwall
More than 200 years ago, people would have parted with hefty amounts of cash to get out of this brick build in Bodmin; later this year, when a visitor centre and hotel open on the site, there will be queues forming to get in.
Built in 1779 for King George III, Bodmin Jail was one of Britain’s first modern prisons with individual cells, heavily used following the Napoleonic Wars. From May, that past will be resurrected through immersive attraction Dark Walk, regaling a turbulent history of smugglers, abandoned mines and public executions.
A second phase of the £40 million development will take place later this year when a 70-room hotel opens in the Grade II listed building. Book an ‘after dark’ adults-only paranormal evening led by a resident medium, and you could meet some of the characters forced to call this place home.
How: No rates yet available. Visit bodminjail.org.
The CoURT by CODE Pod Hostels, Edinburgh
Another former jailhouse, where the only bars are those stocking drinks, The CoURT is a recent addition to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Once a 19th century courthouse and holding cells, it’s now a luxury hostel, where rooms are a steal at £12 per night. There are 200 smart pods to choose from (equipped with USB sockets, an LED light and privacy curtain) – and an additional 12 private cells for more claustrophobic sleepers.
Many features of the A-list Georgian building have been preserved, and there’s also an underground tasting room for sampling whiskies and local craft beers.
How: Pod bed dorms from £11.90 per night; private cells from £45.90 per night. Visit codehostels.com/hostels/the-court/.
The Mayfair Townhouse, London
Owned by Iconic Luxury Hotels – who also look after the New Forest’s Chewton Glen and Cliveden, where Meghan Markle spent the night before her wedding – this classy addition to the London hotel scene promises a discreet hideaway in one of the capital’s most sought-after spots.
Opening this autumn, seven townhouses have been renovated to house 172 rooms and suites – all given a modern take on Georgian period design. Even if you don’t spend the night, it’ll be worth sampling the Art Deco elegance of the Dandy Bar.
How: No rates yet available. Visit themayfairtownhouse.com.
