Rich Beattie
Only the Queen could live better
From the bustling cities of London and Glasgow to the refined countryside, the UK has an impressive array of hotels and resorts worthy of being called “world’s best.”
That’s the judgment of the expert panelists who chose the best hotels in the UK for Forbes Traveler...
Only the Queen could live better
From the bustling cities of London and Glasgow to the refined countryside, the UK has an impressive array of hotels and resorts worthy of being called “world’s best.”
That’s the judgment of the expert panelists who chose the best hotels in the UK for Forbes Traveler...
Rich Beattie
Only the Queen could live better
From the bustling cities of London and Glasgow to the refined countryside, the UK has an impressive array... more
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06/02/08
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1
The Balmoral
Edinburgh, Scotland
An Edwardian grand hotel, The Balmoral nevertheless is infused with a modern flair by its Rocco Forte takeover and Olga Polizzi makeover in 1997. The brown sandstone exterior sits solidly on Edinburgh’s main drag, Princes Street, right above the Waverley Train Station, with the hotel’s landmark clock tower letting travelers know how much time they have to catch their train. Inside, the lobby’s marble floors reflect the hotel’s imposing nature, but just off the lobby, the Drawing Room’s up-to-date sofas and chairs show that the modern flair is never far behind.
2
Bovey Castle
Devon, England
To experience the natural beauty of the British Isles without making a trip to remote Scotland, pay a visit to this superb hotel in Dartmoor National Park. Rolling moorlands surround this spectacular Edwardian mock-Tudor mansion on a hilltop. Built in 1906, it evolved into one of the grandest country estates in Britain during the '20s and '30s before being neglected. Brought back to life in 2004, it's a place that today is especially recommended for golfers (the course was designed in the '20s to rival Gleneagle and Turnberry) and hikers. But with the '20s' heyday cued by a collection of vintage cars parked out front, it's also ideal for anyone who loves old-fashioned elegance à la the Orient Express.
3
The Cadogan
London, England
Located in the middle of Knightsbridge's ultrafashionable Sloane Street (called "the new Bond Street" these days) is this historic hotel with the feel of an Edwardian townhouse. Indeed, the property originally opened its doors back in 1887, and in its early years it had a certain notoriety: Actress Lillie Langtry, "close friend" of King Edward VII, used to stay here, and Oscar Wilde was arrested in room 118 in 1895 (and all three have suites named after them). Today it's within a few minutes' walking distance of many of the capital's chicest designer boutiques. The interior is somewhat schizophrenic: Its blend of period Edwardian and relatively contemporary styles tends to clash, though it certainly makes for an eclectic environment.
4
Chewton Glen
Hampshire, England
A standard-setter since it opened in 1966, this country-house hotel is set in the New Forest, the red brick manse and its sun-streaked public rooms stuffed with deep downy chintz furnishings and English antiques, along with just enough contemporary touches to please the antitraditionalist. This exquisite property is more of a retreat than a full-service resort: Its spa, nine-hole par-3 golf course, rolling expanse of lawn and English country pursuits make it popular with weekending Londoners and wealthy Europeans on holiday, but some über-active Americans might grow restless.
5
Claridge's
London, England
Claridge's is a one-off, managing to be both a bastion of British traditionalism as well as a bold trendsetter, exuding a sense of charisma and timeless style. Never resting on its laurels, it stays ahead of the game by constantly reinventing itself -- first spotting the trend for celebrity chefs, for instance, and securing Gordon Ramsay and with him a Michelin star. At the same time, it's a temple to 1930s Art Deco chic, with the marble checkerboard hall, the exuberant sweeping staircase, Lalique glass panels, ornate ironwork and banisters, mirror paneling and signature emerald-striped china. At Claridge's, for all its newfound popularity with a young and fashionable crowd, the grandeur remains undimmed.
6
The Connaught
London, England
There is an actual, if not metaphoric, whiff of beeswax and brass polish at the prestigious Connaught. In fact, with its wood paneling, majestic mahogany staircase and leather fenders, it has the quintessentially English atmosphere and style of a gentleman's club. However, having managed to keep the outside world at arm's length, the hotel has had to make certain concessions to a more egalitarian age. Women in trouser suits for instance, or mini bars in the bedrooms, once considered improper, are now the norm here. When the hotel closes for six months in mid-2007 to create 35 additional rooms in a fresher contemporary style, as well as an indoor swimming pool and health club, it will be brought firmly into the 21st century. Even so, many regulars no doubt will continue to prefer to get things done the old-fashioned way, summoning their floor butlers to mix them a gin and tonic or unpack their bags; it is this kind of service, after all, for which the Connaught is justly famed.
7
Covent Garden Hotel
London, England
Intimate and idiosyncratic, the former hospital that is now the Covent Garden Hotel is a bijou hideaway that captures the spirit of the neighborhood after which it is named. In an area known for its colorful traffic-free side streets filled with cafés and one-off boutiques, the hotel's fun and eclectic style attracts a bohemian crowd of actors and film stars. The entrance hall is suitably dramatic, with a curtain stretched across the proscenium arch, like a stage set in the theater. To one side is lively Max's brasserie with a striking zinc-topped bar; step on by and the theatrical fantasy continues in the 53-seat cinema, outrageously kitted out in chic Poltrona Frau leather armchairs.
8
Cowley Manor
Gloucestershire , England
Perhaps it is this estate that inspired Lewis Carroll (he was a frequent guest) to pen Alice in Wonderland. There's something very Mad Hatter about its über-contemporary landscape -- perhaps it's the lime-green couches, cowhide chairs and Hemphill fabrics that make it feel wild and otherworldly. But there's still a regal, refined sensibility. Few hotels outside of London have managed to be both provincial and urbane, but Cowley succeeds, with its Italianate main house, world-class spa and quirky touches. Until you step out into the 55-acre expanse, in fact, you'd think you were in a hip city hotel.
9
The Dorchester
London, England
The Dorchester, in recent years, has benefited not so much from a face-lift as from serious reconstructive surgery. Injected with new life after a 2003 multimillion-dollar renovation, with new spa, new restaurants and new suites, the place positively hums with energy. The endless lobby is now a veritable orgy of gleaming gold and marble, filled morning to midnight with a constant flow of models and maiden aunts, Asian businessmen and Savile Row suits. Shot through with a strong, sometimes campy sense of theater, the Dorchester is all about escapism; you can indulge your Highland fantasies at the Scottish-themed Grill with its outlandish Braveheart-style murals and tartan upholstery, or imagine yourself in decadent 1930s China in the elegant China Tang bar.
10
Dukes Hotel
London, England
Set beside Green Park in a quiet cul de sac in the heart of Mayfair, this traditional townhouse is perhaps one of the most quiet and peaceful of urban hotels. Turn-of-the-century gas lamps at the entrance set the sedate Victorian tone. Inside this mini-grand, interiors are restful and unostentatious, making it perfect for romantic (and secret) assignations, especially in the conservatory and rose-scented central courtyard with its small fountain. The covert sense of suppressed sinfulness continues to the moody paneled bar, which draws Londoners along with hotel guests for its excellent dry martini cocktail and list of rare cognacs.
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