You may have to save up for a night at some of them, but if you do fork out the cash, rest assured that you'll be getting the best room in the house…
Wedgewood Suite at Monkey Island Estate, Berkshire
Look up: The Wedgewood Suite's crowning glory is the ceiling.
Monkey Island Estate
A little hotel rooms It may not be Grade I listed, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Monkey Island Estate in Berkshire. You only have to look up to see where the name comes from – the room’s sumptuous ceiling is plastered end-to-end with decadent white mouldings and bands of pastel blue, as is the famous Wedgwood pottery. It dates back to the room’s time as part of the Duke of Marlborough’s private fishing retreat in the 18th century, as do the sweeping dark wood panelling and rows of windows that provide near-360-degree views across the estate’s manicured lawns and the River Thames. As one-of-a-kind as it gets.
Blanc de Blancs Suite at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire
Don't forget to enjoy a glass of red wine in the Blanc de Blanc suite at Le Manoir
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Hotel Belmond
This garden suite on the ground floor of Raymond Blanc's famous restaurant and rooms is a paradise for chromophobes. The sofa, the woodwork, the art, the organic linens, the Calacatta marble in the vanity, the elegant curtains cascading down the canopy – from head to toe, everything is serenely white. Raymond apparently took inspiration from a party he attended at the Palace of Versailles in France, which becomes clear once you see the sparkling crystal chandeliers, glittering mirrors, paneled walls and vintage chairs. Open a bottle of wine and enjoy your alabaster kingdom; just be careful not to spill.
Bishops Quarter at Boys Hall, Kent
Boys' Hall / Katie Longley
Boys' hall
All nine rooms in Boys Hall, a Kent house built in 1616, are full of delightful, crooked-beamed character. But it’s the top suite, Bishops Quarter, that really steals the show. It’s thought to have served as a refuge for Charles I when he fled Parliamentarian troops in the 17th century, and the wood panelling surrounding the room is thought to be a thank-you gift from the sovereign (lost from Windsor Castle, no less). The period features are contrasted with contemporary art, a bold metal tree-shaped chandelier, and splashes of rich colour like the turquoise ceiling. A high-quality marble bathroom, larger than most London flats, invites you to linger in the freestanding, roll-top bath – appropriately painted a royal shade of gold.
Bedroom two at At the Chapel, Somerset
Windows add wow factor to Bruton's At the Chapel
In the chapel
Right on the high street of trendy Somerset town Bruton, At the Chapel offers the holy trinity of superb minimalist style, original architectural features and superb cuisine. Set in a deconsecrated 18th-century church, its restaurant space and many of the eight bedrooms are flooded with light thanks to large lancet windows. Of all the rooms, number two is perhaps the most beautiful, thanks to its distinctive triple-arched window, complemented by a strip of stained glass. In contrast, dark floors, mid-century chairs and a simple light wooden headboard, as well as a clean marble bathroom, give the space a cool 21st-century update.
The Lady Olga Suite at Endsleigh Hotel, Devon
The Lady Olga Suite is the embodiment of character and style
Paul Massey / Endsleigh Hotel
This quirky split-level room, full of original features, is one of the latest from hotelier extraordinaire Olga Polizzi at Endsleigh Hotel, a country house set in 100 acres of rolling woodland and gardens by the River Tamar. Set in a former stable block, its dormer windows and sloping ceilings made it challenging to design, but from the moment you step out of the courtyard into a hallway lined with an 18th-century statue and a ring of botanical Colefax and Fowler wallpaper, the mood is cosy. Take a seat at the antique French desk at the top of the stairs and sip freshly brewed coffee rustling from the in-room pantry.
Love Nest Lodge at The Bell in Ticehurst, East Sussex
Get cozy in the Love Nest at The Bell
Saltwick / The Bell at Ticehurst
It’s hard to pick just one standout room at The Bell pub in East Sussex. The Benefit of Doubt has a tree that appears to be growing through its centre and a copper bath in the sink; The Then and Now has soaring wooden beams overhead, chandeliers and an old dentist’s chair. But one of the lodge’s newer rooms, the Love Nest, really packs a romantic punch with its bird’s nest exterior, unique curved walls, crackling log burner and double shower. Climb the spiral steps and you’ll find a private roof terrace overlooking the cottage gardens, blooming with bee-friendly herbs and flowers.
Room 24 at Another Place, Cumbria
The colors of Room 24 at Another Place reflect the surrounding nature
Another place
It’s all about the views at Ullswater Hotel Another Place – you’re right on the shores of Cumbria’s second-largest lake, with stunning panoramas of its glittering expanse winding against a backdrop of rolling hills. But if you can tear your eyes away from the windows in Room 24 (also known as the Ullswater Lake View Suite), you’ll be further rewarded with stripes of unusual wallpaper and soft furnishings that reflect the hues of nature in deep greens, golds and russets. It’s spacious, but if you’re looking for more – say, two bedrooms – Willow Cottage has its own stylish twist; it was designed by Interior Design Masters winner Lynsey Ford.
Royal Lochnagar Suite in Gleneagles, Perthshire
The aesthetics of the Royal Lochnagar Suite are anything but subdued.
Gleneagles
If you’re craving unfettered Scottish luxury, the Royal Lochnagar Suite at the storied Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire delivers in a riot of timeless royal opulence. A wooden four-poster bed with tasseled canopies; chic local prints on the walls and accent pillows; a marble hallway and bathroom; and perhaps the best views in the hotel, stretching out over the Glendevon and Ochil Hills. The bar is complimentary (and fully stocked with premium spirits), the air is filled with the scent of fresh flowers, and staff will come and press your clothes for dinner at the two-Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant.
Room three at Margate House, Kent
Room three at Margate House is full of light
Margate House
Striped lampshades, wavy headboards, rattan chairs – Room Three at the newly opened Margate House takes a playful approach to seaside style. Situated just steps from Margate’s seafront, overlooking Dalby Square Gardens, the space features large windows to let in light and quirky artwork (available to buy) that highlight the town’s artistic pedigree. With muted pink tones covering the walls, it’s the perfect calming retreat to return to after a day exploring Dreamland or Turner Contemporary. As a final local touch, even the Haeckel toiletries are made from seaweed handpicked in Margate.
Grand Heritage Room at The Ned, London
Check out Lutyens' original design in The Ned
Ned
For a pleasant stay, the capital is full of OTT luxury hotels that will simply amaze you (Appendix A: Wing of the manor house (The Rosewood, a 6,000-square-foot palace that even has its own postcode). However, if your budget doesn’t exceed tens of thousands of pounds a night, you’ll still get sublime style and history in The Ned’s Grand Heritage Room, located on the fifth floor of the Grade I-listed hotel and retaining period features from when architect Sir Edward ‘Ned’ Lutyens designed it for the Midland Bank in 1924. Expect French polished walnut panelling, marble fireplaces and silk-lined poufs. And, of course, access to the Ned’s exclusive gym and spa is part of the deal.
Cowley Manor Suite at Cowley Manor Experimental, Gloucestershire
New look for Cowley Estate's master suite
Cowley's Experimental Mansion
Recently acquired by the Experimental Group – the brains behind London’s Hotel Henrietta and Paris’s Grand Pigalle, among others – Cowley Manor has been reimagined as a decadently contemporary design destination. Of the many beautiful rooms renovated by Dorothea Meilichson, the standout is the Cowley Manor Suite, which makes a strong statement with a simple scheme of geometric patterns and bold colours (not to mention a desperately cool terracotta bathroom). A private wraparound terrace offers unbridled views across the south-facing gardens, just the place to set up shop with a glass of Champagne and while away the afternoon.
Lantic Bay Suite at Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall
Calming, simple and timeless: Lantic Bay Suite in Fowey
Fowey Hall Hotel
The view is outstanding: sweeping views over the rambling rooftops of the chic Cornish port town of Fowey, the sparkling estuary and the green farm fields beyond. On a sunny day, sitting on the terrace watching the boats go by is the best thing ever. But the Lantic Bay Suite, which sleeps two adults and two children, also has understated contemporary interiors that nod to the coastal setting without falling into cliché (a nautical-striped duvet here; an abstract painting in sea tones there). Good news for families: the hotel offers complimentary childcare, baby monitors and even a butler who will deliver bottles 24/7, so it’s not a case of style over substance, either.
Barnsdale Rutland
This country house hotel near picturesque Rutland Water – part of England’s smallest county, Rutland – is just a couple of hours from London, making it ideal for a relaxing weekend getaway – especially with its newly opened Signet Spa, which has a Jacuzzi and sauna overlooking the hills. The jewel in its crown? The Fort Henry Suite, which also benefits from unrivalled views. As for the interiors, the classic yet eclectic scheme has been perfectly put together by the teams behind Elcot Park and The Mitre. There’s a sumptuous bed, a fireplace – and the ultimate in luxury: a copper bath for long, languid soaks. You might find it hard to leave your room, but if you can tear yourself away, enjoy a roast or a hearty meal in The 1970 Brasserie, which has a magnificent orangery.