The Top 50 Boutique Hotels in the UK unveiled

The Top 50 Boutique Hotels in the UK were unveiled on the 22 November 2022. The much-anticipated list is curated and voted by leading industry experts, hoteliers, travel writers and influencers.

This year’s number one is Lime Wood Hotel, set in the heart of the spectacular New Forest national park. Jumping up 18 places from last year’s list, Lime Wood Hotel features cosy eaves rooms as well as indulgent forest lodges. This secluded hideaway is home to the Herb House Spa, complete with indoor and outdoor pools with stunning forest views. With luxurious landscaped groups, Lime Wood Hotel is only 90 minutes from London and 20 minutes from the coast.

The Southwest of England dominated this year’s list with its stylish staycations taking 14 of the Top 50 spots, as well as the Lime Wood Hotel. Heckfield Place, in Hampshire took third place, weaving modern sustainability into the luxury boutique hotel experience seamlessly.

Close behind, with nine of the Top 50 is the Southeast where The Newt in Somerset came in at second place and with The Pig at Bridge Place and The Gallivant also topping the group. The Northwest of England is well represented with seven in the list from Cumbria and the Lake District, including Another Place and Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms. Scotland, with four from the list, including The Fife Arms and Foyers Lodge.

This year’s Highest New Entrant is Lympstone Manor at number five on the list. Based in Devon, this country house is set on 28 acres of grounds, including their 10-acre vineyard, elegant estuary suites and cosy shepherd huts by the water. Chef Michael Caines MBE heads up the Michelin-starred kitchen and focuses on seasonality and local produce.

Beaverbrook is this year’s Highest Climber, from 45th to 32nd. Set in the Surrey Hills, Beaverbrook is the quintessential English Country House. With each room named after a famous occupant, as well as the Gatsbyesque art-deco Bar, aptly named after Beaverbrook’s creative director, Sir Frank Lowe – this opulent boutique hotel is immersed in history.

This year’s award winner for Food & Beverage, Number One Bruton, in the heart of Somerset. Most Unique Experience was claimed by Gilpin Hotel & Lake House in Cumbria, and the Best Service award taken by Gravetye Manor, nestled in the Sussex countryside.

Chris Lowe, Group Director, Hospitality and Manufacturing at William Reed says “We’re delighted to be revealing this fantastic new list and see such strong movement in this year’s Top 50 Boutique Hotels. Our number one has jumped up 18 places from last year and the highest new entry is number 5 which is testament to those teams’ stellar efforts. With staycations continuing to be a focus for Britons, it is encouraging to see such strong regional presence this year and such a wide range of unique hotel experiences to enjoy.”

The Boutique Hotel list follows on from the success of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars, as well as the long running and ever-popular Top 50 Gastropubs. Now, consumers have the complete and definitive guide of where to eat, drink, and sleep throughout the UK.

The full list from 1 to 50, including special awards for food and beverage, best service and unique experience, is available to view here.

The Top 50 Boutique Hotels 2022 list is as follows:

1 Lime Wood Hotel, Hampshire
2 The Newt, Somerset
3 Heckfield Place, Hampshire
4 The Pig at Bridge Place, Kent
5 Lympstone Manor, Devon
6 Grantley Hall, Yorkshire
7 Artist Residence London, London
8 Idle Rocks, Cornwall
9 Thyme, Cotswolds
10 Padstow Townhouse, Cornwall
11 Yorebridge House, Yorkshire
12 Hambleton Hall, Rutland
13 Beaverbrook, Surrey
14 Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Cumbria
15 The Fife Arms, Scotland
16 The Queensberry, Somerset
17 Foyers Lodge, Scotland
18 Another Place, Cumbria
19 The Mandrake, London
20 Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire
21 Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall
22 Hotel Tresanton, Cornwall
23 Titchwell Manor Hotel, Norfolk
24 Watergate Bay, Cornwall
25 Wild Thyme & Honey, Gloucestershire
26 L'oscar London, London
27 Middleton Lodge, Yorkshire
28 Rothay Manor, Cumbria
29 The Gallivant, Sussex
30 The Tawny Hotel, Staffordshire
31 The Wild Rabbit, Oxfordshire
32 Calcot Manor Hotel, Cotswolds
33 Grays Court Hotel & Restaurant, Yorkshire
34 Number One Bruton, Somerset
35 Hampton Manor, West Midlands
36 The Rectory Hotel, Wiltshire
37 The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell, London
38 Hipping Hall, Cumbria
39 Cliveden House, Berkshire
40 Links House at Royal Dornoch, Scotland
41 Great Fosters, Surrey
42 Dormy House Hotel, Cotswolds
43 Henrietta Hotel, London
44 Gravetye Manor, Sussex
45 House of Gods, Scotland
46 The Samling Hotel, Cumbria
47 Seaham Hall, Durham
48 Linthwaite House, Cumbria
49 Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire
50 Number 38 Clifton, Somerset