Any time is a good time to get away but especially so if it’s a special occasion. You may feel the need to indulge in a luxury staycation but maybe you aren’t sure where to go. The UK has many luxury hotels each offering their own unique experience.
If a romantic break in places that involve beautiful rolling English countryside, produce plucked from the hotel garden, four-poster beds, fireplaces and quality time at a 5-star spa is what you are craving, then these hotels are well worth exploring.
We’ve put together a list of 5 luxury UK breaks for couples who want more than just a standard hotel stay. These hotels offer an “experience” that’s authentic, mindful and focused on staying true to its origins.
Read: 5 Unique Mini-Moon Ideas
1. Dormy House, The Cotswolds
The first on our list of luxury UK breaks for couples is Dormy House. If cosy corners and log fires sound like your perfect getaway, then Dormy House is the hotel for you. Set on a 400-acre estate in an idyllic location in the heart of the Cotswolds, this area has inspired some of the country’s best writers from Jane Austen to JRR Tolkien.
The Dormy House blends farmhouse chic and sumptuous interiors to make a perfect rural retreat. Where better to relax than in the House Spa, complete with comfy loungers, a 16m indoor infinity pool, a salt steam room and a double treatment massage where you can treat yourself to a couple’s massage.
Locally sourced ingredients and high-welfare rare breed meats are at the heart of the hotel restaurant’s philosophy. In-season vegetables are picked fresh from the hotel’s garden.
The Dormy House is dog friendly too. So if getting away for a luxury weekend with your loved one wouldn’t be complete without your four-legged friend, then this hotel is perfectly suited to you and your pooch. Dogs are welcome to wander almost everywhere in the hotel and of course, there are acres of ground for you to take those romantic walks.
This hotel feels like a home away from home with personalised service. When you arrive there is someone waiting by your car to take your bags for you.
We love the Dormy House because it manages to blend an authentic countryside experience with a modern feel. You could say that it was almost made for millennials who want the best of both worlds.
2. The Gainsborough, Bath
The Gainsborough in Bath is the only hotel to have natural thermal water pumped directly into it. Set beneath a glass atrium, the spa honours the healing traditions of the region. With 11 treatment rooms and an array of treatments to choose from, it’s perfect for couples who want to be pampered and indulge in complete relaxation. After a treatment, you can sink into a two-poster bed in a luxurious room with refined decor.
The award-winning Dan Moon restaurant with its Georgian architecture, original artwork and impressive wine wall offers exquisite cuisine inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients in a sophisticated yet informal environment.
It’s all about location with the Gainsborough. Set in the heart of this historic city, it has direct access to the shopping district and some of the best restaurants in the area. This ensures your experience is as much outside as it is in. During Covid, it’s great to have a luxurious base from which to explore the surroundings rather than being totally reliant on indoor activities.
3. Coworth Park, Ascot, Berkshire
Set on 200 acres of land at the edge of Windsor County Park, Coworth Park is magnificent but arguably best experienced in the spring and summer when the plants and flowers come alive. Only a 45-minute drive from London, you can escape here to find idyllic relaxation, an oasis of calm and a Michelin star fine dining restaurant. Most rooms include a 4-poster bed, split between the main mansion house and the old horse stables, now converted into spacious bedrooms.
Coworth Park has a classic but modern feel and is fit for the royals. Prince Harry stayed here the night before his wedding.
The eco-friendly spa, consciously built into the hillside is a must for couples looking for a relaxing getaway.
Being part of the Dorchester collection, renowned for top class service, you get that 5-star luxury experience but within a very intimate setting. Coworth is quintessentially British, from its rose gardens to its equestrian heritage. You really get a sense of old-world charm here, just with facilities and trimmings fit for the 21st century.
The best thing about staying here is that nothing feels over the top, even in plush surroundings. It’s effortlessly stylish.
4. The Newt, Somerset
The Newt has recently been transformed into a modern luxury hotel, with experience at its heart. The sister hotel to the outstanding Babylonstoren wine estate hotel in South Africa is ideal if you’re looking for a luxury UK break with real style. Imagine a slice of Cape Town flavour in a Somerset setting and you have The Newt.
Similar to its South African counterpart, food and drink are a high priority, as are the gardens which sprawl across the expansive estate. Glass buildings abound bringing the outdoors in wherever you are on the property.
The centrepiece of the estate is the egg-shaped walled Parabola garden, now planted with a comprehensive collection of 460 British apple trees, of 267 varieties, arranged in a Baroque-style maze.
With a state-of-the-art pressing space, the team is able to create the highest quality cider. Visit the bottling plant and bar, mushroom house, History of Gardening Museum and thatched ice cream parlour.
The focus here is on wellness and utilising the vast grounds of this modern country estate. The service is exceptional.
We love The Newt because it is 5-star without being or feeling flashy.
5. Cliveden House, Berkshire
While Prince Harry spent the night before his wedding at Coworth Park, Cliveden House is where Meghan Markle spent hers. Set on National Trust grounds, you can drink in the splendour of over 400 acres of Berkshire’s rural beauty. Enriched with antique furniture and period features, it has stayed true to its roots whilst also providing a luxurious setting for a luxury UK break.
With history emanating from every corner of this hotel, the feel is more old school romance. The Victorian three-storey mansion sits on a 400-foot high brick terrace or viewing platform.
Rooms offer different features including a four-poster bed, a working fireplace, a freestanding bathtub and an outdoor hot tub, so be sure to ask for the room with the feature that appeals to you.
Foodies will delight in the knowledge that the town of Bray is nearby, the gastronomic village made famous by Heston Bluemnthal’s Fat Duck restaurant.
We love Cliveden House for its opulence, scale and grandeur, high ceilings and magnificent grounds.
Book a luxury UK break today
Now that you know some of the best destinations for luxury UK breaks for couples, we can help you plan your next trip. Contact us with any questions that you may have about any of these destinations and more. We look forward to helping you fulfil all of your travel needs and ensure that you have a fun, relaxing and luxurious break.
