London’s first hotel is a gorgeous Victorian masterpiece, situated in the heart of Mayfair. Originally known as the Brown Private Hotel, it first opened in 1837, the same year Queen Victoria ascended to the throne when she was 18. Brown’s was known for its high-profile clientele, including American president Theodore Roosevelt and journalist Rudyard Kipling who is said to have written The Jungle Book during his stay. The hotel also made its mark in history as the site of London’s first successful telephone call made by its inventor Alexander Graham Bell in 1877. Today, with its lavish and individually decorated rooms, it is one of the city’s most beautiful hotels.
Claiming to be the oldest inn in the UK, The Olde Bell is undoubtedly one of the oldest hotels in the world. Founded in AD 1135, the Old Belle first operated as a guesthouse for visitors of the nearby Benedictine Priory. For centuries, its bell which can be seen hanging over the door would ring to signal the arrival of an important guest in the village to the priory’s monks. Famed for its rich history, the inn has drawn many notable guests over the years from Sir Winston Churchill and Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor and Dustin Hoffman.
Situated on Brighton’s famous seafront, The Grand Brighton was opened in 1864 as the original ‘Palace By The Sea’. Designed by celebrated architect John Whichcord Jr, Brighton’s newest hotel featured a beautiful white façade, elaborate decor and impressive service as well as the very first lift outside of London, formerly known as a “vertical omnibus”. Today, the 156-year old hotel is home to 201 beautiful rooms spread out across seven floors around its original striking staircase.
Widely considered to be the oldest hotel in Scotland, Kenmore is situated within the rugged Scottish Highlands in its quaint namesake village. Originally built as a tavern in 1502, the inn provided accommodation and refreshments for travellers and locals. In 1672, Laird Colin Campbell leased the building to his wife and a servant and it became the Kenmore Hotel. Steeped in history, Kenmore rose to fame after Oliver Cromwell’s army dined here in the 17th century, deciding to spare the hotel rather than destroying it like the buildings nearby. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also spent some of their honeymoon here and the Queen wrote about Kenmore’s beauty in her journal, which has made it a popular tourist destination.
Originally built to accommodate rail travellers from London, The Midland Hotel in Manchester was a defining feature of the UK’s famous railway hotels. First opened in 1903, the striking hotel was built by the Midland Railway for those travelling via the former Manchester Central Railway Station located nearby. Built by architect Charles Trubshaw, the stunning 4-star hotel took five years to complete and has firmly remained one of Manchester’s most glamorous places to stay.
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Located in the town of Blanchland in northwest Durham, this quaint medieval hotel began life as a guesthouse for the newly-formed Blanchland Abbey. Built in 1165, monks and abbots from the priory would seek refuge here and it was used as a guesthouse for 400 years until the dissolution of the Abbeys of England in 1539. The building then moved from family to family until it was taken over by the Lord Crewe’s Charity and established itself as a spot for lead miners, who worked nearby, to enjoy a pint after work. Since then, the Lord Crewe Arms has cemented its reputation as a great place to stay or have a drink, with its cosy pub set in a medieval vaulted crypt.
Nestled on the coast of north Wales in the seaside town of Llandudno, St George’s Hotel dates back over 100 years. First opening its doors in 1854, the hotel was built by Isaiah Davies when he was just 24 years old and was the first luxury seafront hotel in the town. St George’s has been extended several times over the years and has played host to several notable guests including Dean Liddell, whose daughter Alice inspired Lewis Carroll’s children’s story Alice in Wonderland.
A pub, hotel or inn has existed at The Kings Arms Hotel in Surrey for over 300 years. The building is thought to have started life as a small-scale brewing business after it was bought by widowed sisters Mary Spurling and Mary Johnson in 1648. It wasn’t until 1709 that the building gained its license as an inn and was named the Queens Arms after Queen Anne, who was on the throne at the time. By 1772 it was changed to the Kings Arms following the reign of King George III. In recent years, the Kings Arms Hotel has been transformed into a boutique hotel featuring a bar, lounge and terrace.
Another hotel that claims to be the oldest in the UK, the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich has a long and rich past. Herbert de Losinga, the first Norman Bishop of Norwich had his original palace here, so it’s thought to have been a site continuously used for hospitality since the mid-1090s. The Maids Head also has ties to royalty, Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII’s first wife, was entertained here and one of the bedrooms is associated with Queen Elizabeth following her visit to Norwich in 1578. Today, the oldest parts of the building date back to the 15th century and the Maids Head is hailed as a classically British hotel.
Bordered by the stunning coast of northern Wales, this waterside hotel is often regarded as the jewel of the dreamy village of Portmeirion. Originally built in the 1850s as a Victorian villa, architect Clough Williams-Ellis converted the building into a hotel in the 1920s to be the focal point for his Italianate style village. Described as one of the most picturesque summer residences on the coast of Wales, Williams-Ellis retained much of the Victorian interior including the elaborate Italian fireplace, the library carvings from the Great Exhibition of 1851 and a beautiful 18th-century clock. With its magical setting and fairy-tale appearance, Hotel Portmeirion is a romantic spot along the Welsh coastline.
Perched in the village of Crawfordsburn in Northern Ireland’s County Down, the Old Inn is a rural retreat near the seaside town of Bangor. Established in 1614, the historic property is famed for being a favourite haunt of C.S. Lewis, author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, who was said to have enjoyed drinking there. Although the Old Inn has more recently had a few modern features added, its original 17th century thatched roof remains and it is one of the country’s much-loved hotels.
This traditional country inn can be found in the bustling town of Burford, known as the “Gateway to the Cotswolds”. Dating back to 1480, the Highway Inn has been a popular resting spot for over 500 years. With its rambling old timber and stone façade, the inn features 11 individually decorated rooms, in a modern English country house style. The building has retained its original fireplaces as well as its magnificent medieval courtyard.
Sitting in the centre of Scotland’s port city and connected to Glasgow Central Station, this stunning hotel has been one of Glasgow’s much-loved landmarks for over 130 years. Formerly known as the Central Hotel, the voco Grand Central Glasgow first opened its doors in 1883 and was designed by renowned architect Sir Rowand Anderson and has survived two World Wars as well as the Great Depression. With its plethora of famous guests over the years including Charlie Chaplin and The Beatles, the Victorian hotel has earned a reputation as a place for glitz, glamour and even the occasional royal guest.
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Proudly standing tall over Bristol’s city centre, the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel has been welcoming guests for more than 150 years. The idea for this luxury hotel was dreamed up in 1863 by Walter William Hughes, who ran a firm of estate agents and appraisers in the city. After a few years of construction, the building opened in 1868 as the Royal Hotel, welcoming plenty of famous faces such as Winston Churchill, Cary Grant and Tommy Steele. Following several refurbishments and owners, the hotel was bought by Marriott in 2000 and became the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel.
Towering high above its namesake chalk cliffs and set within 376 acres of parkland in southeast England, Cliveden House was first built in the 1660s by George Villiers, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham. It’s believed that the Duke built the luxury house for his mistress, the Countess of Shrewsbury. The Countess’ husband the Earl was said to have challenged the Duke to a duel where the Earl was mortally wounded. The country house is best known as the site of the illicit affair between Secretary of State John Profumo and model Christine Keeler during the 1960s. Since opening as a luxury hotel in 1985, the Grade I-listed building is often regarded as one of the grandest hotels in the world.
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Regarded as the “original railway hotel”, this boutique hotel in London’s Kings Cross has been a stopover for travellers for almost 170 years. The hotel opened in 1854 and stood at the heart of the capital’s revolutionary new age of steam travel and instantly became a glamorous must-visit destination in the city. Designed by renowned Victorian architect Lewis Cubitt, the hotel was built to be stylish and eye-catching among London’s growing skyline. In recent years, the Grade II-listed building has been lovingly restored to its former glory, retaining much of Cubitt’s original design, from its façade to the lavishly re-designed rooms. With its timeless luxury, the Great Northern Hotel is one of the most iconic hotels in the UK.
Situated in the quiet Victorian village of Betws-y-Coed in Wales, the Royal Oak Hotel has art history at its roots. Dating back to the 1840s, the hotel was originally the summer base for landscape artist David Cox and his students to capture the beauty of nearby Snowdonia. After other artists followed his lead, the Betws-y-Coed Artist’s Colony was established. Today, one of Cox’s original paintings of an oak tree hangs above the hotel’s fireplace while historical prints and etchings decorate the walls. Set in a pretty former coaching inn, the current building dates back to the 1860s and it continues to be a popular stopover on the way to Snowdonia.
Dating back to at least 1883, the Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland is one of the oldest hotels in Scotland. A former coaching inn, it has been a much-loved stopover for generations of travellers in the Highlands. With over 100 years to its name, the hotel has a colourful history, with past visitors such as the notorious Red Army Faction members Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, who signed the visitors’ book when they were on the run from the German secret service. Following the completion of the Kylesku Bridge located nearby, the hotel has become a must-visit destination for those travelling along the scenic North Coast 500 route.
Built in the 1850s in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, this luxury hotel started life as the headquarters of Ulster Bank. Designed in an Italianate style by Glasgow architect James Hamilton, the exterior features sculptures depicting Justice, Commerce and Britannia looking down from the impressive façade. The building was the bank headquarters for years until it was transformed into the 5-star Merchant Hotel in 2006. Today, the magnificent Grade A-listed hotel is an award-winning establishment.
A historic gem in the heart of the beautiful Brecon Beacons, the Angel Hotel crowns the picturesque market town of Abergavenny. Established in 1829 the building was formerly a private home until it grew to become one of the best known coaching inns on the London to Fishguard road in South Wales. Built in an elegant Georgian style, the Angel Hotel has since become an award-winning family-run luxury accommodation and popular wedding venue.
Dubbed “the jewel in the Hastings Crown” the story of this magnificent Irish castle is intertwined with conflict and intrigue. Completed in 1625, it was built by James Shaw and his wife Isabella Brisbane. The castle served as a place of refuge for Protestants during the Civil Wars and also came under attack during the 1641 rising when the Gaelic Irish fought against the Scots and English settlers. Following centuries of private ownership, Sir Billy Hastings bought the building in 1966 and it became a hotel. Today, Ballygally Castle is renowned as one of the most haunted places in Northern Ireland. According to legend, Shaw’s wife Lady Isabella plunged to her death after giving birth to their son and her apparition is said to regularly visit the castle.
Built in 1891 as the “Leeds and County Liberal Club”, this impressive hotel is located in one of the most striking terracotta brickwork buildings in Leeds. Designed by local architects Chorley and Connon, who were active Liberals and club members, the party wanted a lavish political club to reflect their standing in the city. Following the decline of the Liberal Party, club membership also depleted and by the 1920s parts of the buildings were let as offices. In the early 2000s, the Eton Group transformed the building into the 4-star Quebecs Hotel. Retaining much of the club’s original characteristics such as its grand oak staircase and tall stained glass windows, the hotel has been frequented by a number of notable guests including Coldplay, Vic Reeves and Russell Brand.
Set within the town of Bushmills on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast, the oldest part of this elegant retreat is thought to date back to around 1608. Originally a coaching inn, it was a haven for saddle sore travellers in need of a rest stop on their way to Giant’s Causeway. Famed for being the town with the oldest whiskey distillery in the world, the inn was a favoured spot for sampling whiskey. In the 1820s, the inn became a hotel following the redevelopment of the town but sadly went into decline following the arrival of a tram link to the Causeway in the 1890s. The hotel has recently been restored to its former glory, and tourists continue to flock there to stay while visiting the world-renowned distillery.
Considered Europe’s first “Grand Hotel'', The Langham has been a defining feature of London’s West End for more than 100 years. First opened in 1865, those in attendance of the grand opening included the Prince of Wales and plenty of Victorian high society. With its electric lights, air conditioning, hydraulic lifts and plenty of other innovations which transformed the hotel industry, the Langham quickly gained a high-class reputation, drawing royalty, musicians and artists from all over the world. French emperor Louis Napoleon III spent much of his enforced exile at the hotel and author Charles Dickens also spent some of his time here.
The Balmoral is one of Edinburgh’s most breathtaking hotels, soaring high above the city’s Old Town. Its story begins in 1895 when W. Hamilton Beattie and A.R. Scott won a competition to design The Balmoral, then known as The North British Station Hotel, owned by the British Railway Company, which opened its doors in 1902. It was the only residential building erected on the south side of Princes Street and is one of the great railway hotels of the golden age of train travel. In 1990 it was bought by Balmoral International Hotels and reopened as The Balmoral Hotel (Balmoral meaning “majestic dwelling” in Gaelic). A landmark hotel, The Balmoral was the spot where J.K Rowling finished writing the last book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Hailed as a stunning example of Edwardian architecture, this beautiful hotel is perfectly positioned within the historic city walls of Derry’s Cathedral Quarter in Northern Ireland. The historic building was originally built in the 1800s as two grand townhouses before it was purchased in 1899 by a private member’s club known as the Northern Counties Club, which once hosted the likes of author W.B. Yeats and artist Derek Hill. It was remodelled by renowned architect Alfred A Forman in the early 20th century. Much of Forman’s signature style can still be seen in the present Grade B1-listed building, which was transformed into the luxury hotel you see today in 2016.
Possibly one of the most famous crescents in the world, this magnificent honey-coloured hotel is a sparkling symbol of the historic city of Bath. Built between 1767 and 1775, the Royal Crescent was designed by John Wood the Younger as a series of lavish houses. With its gorgeous views overlooking the River Avon and unparalleled architecture, the crescent became Bath’s most desirable address, attracting the richest of the city as well as royalty. It wasn’t until 1971 that Number 16 and Number 15 were combined to become the Royal Crescent Hotel. Considered one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture in England, the 5-star hotel is easily one of the most beautiful too.
Sitting in the heart of London, the Claridge’s of today may be glamorous but the hotel had surprisingly humble beginnings. In the early 19th century, Claridge’s started life as a single house in Mayfair before it was bought by William and Marianne Claridge in 1854 who created a hotel out of five adjoining buildings. Following a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 1860s, the hotel became popular with heads of state and royalty throughout Europe. Savoy owner Richard D’Oyly Carte bought the hotel in 1893 and during the 1920s it became a party hot spot thanks to its breathtaking ballrooms. Claridge’s has now cemented its reputation as one of the most opulent hotels in the UK.
This adorable inn in Lancashire has been linked to royalty since the 1300s. It was originally a small manor house lived in by the keepers of the Royal Forest of Bowland for the Bowland family. It wasn’t until the 1700s that the building was turned into a resting place for travellers en route to and from Lancaster, who would stay for the night before continuing their long journeys. Today, The Inn At Whitewell remains part of the Duchy of Lancaster Estate and in recent years was visited by the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh who enjoyed lunch there.
Possibly London’s most recognisable hotel, the story of The Savoy traces back to the late 19th century. First opened in 1889 in the heart of the city by theatre showman Richard D’Oyly Carte, it was the first purpose-built deluxe hotel in Britain. With its luxury Art Nouveau decor, state-of-the-art design and first-class service, The Savoy became an instant hit with the richest, most famous and most glamorous from around the world such as actors John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe. The Savoy has also been popular with royalty, most notably Edward, Prince of Wales who regularly enjoyed dining there with his friends and wife.